InSnap vs the Windows Snipping Tool
The Snipping Tool is already installed on Windows 11, and Windows + Shift + S opens the snip bar. InSnap is the alternative when you need scrolling capture, offline OCR, richer recording, or the same workflow on a Mac.
For a quick snip on a single Windows PC, the built-in tool is the fastest option. An alternative matters when you regularly need a long scrolling page, text you can extract, a recording with a camera overlay, or one workflow across Mac and Windows. There is no Snipping Tool for Mac.
Feature comparison
| InSnap | Windows Snipping Tool | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | macOS 14.4+ and Windows 10+ (64-bit); one license covers both | Built into Windows 11. The Windows 10 version cannot record video |
| Capture and annotation | Area capture with window and UI-element detection; arrows, shapes, text, numbers, mosaic, spotlight, magnifier, watermark, Smart Erase | Rectangle, free-form, window and full-screen snips; pen markup and crop on still images |
| Scrolling capture | Yes, as a Pro feature: scroll inside the selection and it stitches the frames | No, it captures only what is visible |
| OCR | On-device OCR in the free version; select text on the image and copy | Text actions in Windows 11 can copy text from a snip |
| Screen recording | Area recording with system audio, microphone, click and keystroke effects; camera picture-in-picture and GIF are Pro | Windows 11 only: area or app window, microphone and system audio, MP4, basic trim. No webcam overlay or separate tracks |
| Sharing | Copy, save or pin to screen; optional Cloud links with an expiry date and password | No share link; copy or save, then share through Windows |
Product details were checked on 27 October 2026. Features change with Windows updates; verify them on Microsoft's support site before you rely on them.
When to stay with the Snipping Tool
- You work on one Windows 11 PC and need quick snips with simple markup.
- You do not need scrolling capture, a camera overlay or a second platform.
When to choose InSnap
- You capture long pages such as settings screens, chat threads or spreadsheets.
- You use both a Mac and a Windows PC and want one shortcut and one license.
- You want offline OCR, annotation one click from the selection, and optional expiring share links.
Honest limits
- OCR reads Chinese, English and Latin-script languages well, but not Japanese kana, Korean or Russian.
- Smart Erase is a local algorithm and works best on smooth or interface backgrounds.
- Scrolling capture, GIF and camera picture-in-picture are Pro features.
The long version
What the built-in Windows and Mac tools cover, and how to switch.
Read the guide →Windows screenshot shortcuts
Every built-in shortcut, and what InSnap adds.
Read more →Scrolling screenshots
Scroll inside the selection and InSnap stitches the frames.
Read more →FAQ
Is there a Snipping Tool for Mac?
No, it ships with Windows only. On macOS the built-in equivalent is the capture toolbar on Shift-Command-5, with annotation afterwards in Preview.
Can the Snipping Tool record video on Windows 10?
No, recording was added to the Windows 11 version. The Windows 10 Snipping Tool takes still snips only.
Does the Snipping Tool take scrolling screenshots?
No, it captures only what is visible. InSnap's scrolling capture is a Pro feature that scrolls inside the selection and stitches the result.
Is InSnap free?
Capture, annotation, pinning, OCR and basic recording to MP4 are free. Pro is a one-time purchase; Cloud is a separate optional subscription.
Related
Your next screenshot is one hotkey away.
macOS 14.4+ (Apple Silicon & Intel) · Windows 10+ (64-bit)