InSnap vs ShareX
ShareX is the free, open-source power tool for Windows. InSnap is a cross-platform alternative that keeps the capture workflow simple and adds local OCR, recording and step-by-step guides.
If you only work on Windows and want deep automation, ShareX is hard to beat. If you work across a Mac and a Windows PC, or you want recording and documentation in the same app, InSnap covers the whole workflow without a stack of utilities.
Feature comparison
| InSnap | ShareX | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | macOS 14.4+ and Windows 10+ | Windows only |
| Capture and annotate | Yes | Yes |
| Scrolling / long screenshots | Yes | Powerful, but configuration-heavy |
| Screen recording | Built in (MP4, system audio, microphone, camera) | Requires FFmpeg for the best results |
| Step-by-step guides | Built-in recorder with export to PDF, Word, HTML, Markdown, SCORM or JSON | No |
| OCR | On-device, no upload | Not the main workflow |
| Setup | One hotkey, opinionated defaults | Highly configurable, more setup |
| Price | Free tier; Pro is a one-time purchase | Free and open source |
When to choose ShareX
- You are on Windows only and want maximum automation.
- You prefer an open-source tool and do not mind configuring workflows.
- You need ShareX's upload destinations and custom actions.
When to choose InSnap
- You use both a Mac and a Windows PC and want the same workflow on both.
- You want screenshots, recording and step-by-step guides in one app.
- You want OCR and smart erase to run locally, without uploading the image.
- You prefer a small set of good defaults over a large settings tree.
What InSnap adds
Guide recorder
Do a task once; every click becomes a step with a screenshot, marker and title. Edit and export the guide.
Read more →Local OCR
Box an error message or a log line and copy the text. Recognition runs on your computer.
Read more →Recording with audio
Record a region with system audio, microphone and optional camera, then edit or export.
Read more →FAQ
Is InSnap a full ShareX replacement?
On Windows it covers the common screenshot, annotation, scrolling capture, OCR and recording workflow with less setup. ShareX still has deeper automation and upload actions. On macOS, ShareX is not available.
Does InSnap record the screen?
Yes. It records a region to MP4 with optional system audio, microphone and camera. GIF recording and advanced video effects are part of Pro.
Is InSnap free?
The free tier covers capture, annotation, pinning, OCR, history and basic MP4 recording. Pro is a one-time purchase. Cloud is an optional subscription for hosted share links.
Is there a Linux build?
No. InSnap supports macOS 14.4+ and Windows 10+ only.
Related
Your next screenshot is one hotkey away.
macOS 14.4+ (Apple Silicon & Intel) · Windows 10+ (64-bit)