Spectacle AlternativesScreenshot Capture Tools & Screen Recorders like Spectacle

Spectacle is described as 'Simple application for capturing desktop screenshots. It can capture images of the entire desktop, a single monitor, the currently active window, the window currently under the mouse, or a rectangular region of the screen' and is a screenshot capture tool in the photos & graphics category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Spectacle for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox apps. The best Spectacle alternative is ShareX, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Spectacle are Greenshot, Flameshot, Ksnip and FastStone Capture.

Spectacle iconSpectacle
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Spectacle is a simple application for capturing desktop screenshots. It can capture images of the entire desktop, a single...

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Spectacle alternatives page was last updated May 10, 2025
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  1. ShareX icon

    ShareX

     759 likes
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    Open-source screen capture and file sharing tool with recording, editing, and annotation features. Supports 4K, dark mode, theming, offline use, and offers a lightweight, ad-free experience without tracking user data.

    241 ShareX alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    • Steam
    Main window

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Screen Recording
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Screenshot OCR
    4.  Capture Video
    5.  Edit screenshots
    6.  Built-in Image editor
    7.  Share Videos
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  GIF recording
    10.  Support for Hotkeys
    11.  Record videos
    12.  Share screenshots

    ShareX VS Spectacle

     

    • ShareX is the most popular Windows alternative to Spectacle.

    • ShareX is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Spectacle.

    • ShareX is Free and Open SourceSpectacle is also Free and Open Source
    • ShareX is CustomizableSpectacle is not according to our users
  2. Greenshot icon

    Greenshot

     712 likes
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    Lightweight screenshot tool offering OCR, exports to Office apps and online storage, integration with external commands, supporting 32 languages and minimal space requirement.

    199 Greenshot alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    image editor (no stamp with greenshot)

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Image Annotations
    2.  Usability
    3.  Annotate Screenshot
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  No registration required
    6.  GPLv3
    7.  Edit screenshots
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Portable
    10.  Full-page Screenshot
    11.  Upload Screenshot
    12.  OCR

    Greenshot VS Spectacle

     

    • Greenshot is the most popular Mac alternative to Spectacle.

    • Greenshot is Freemium and Open SourceSpectacle is Free and Open Source
    • Greenshot is Lightweight and CustomizableSpectacle is not according to our users
  4. Flameshot icon

    Flameshot

     224 likes
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    Flameshot is a free, open-source screenshot tool that is cross-platform compatible, offering customization, editing features, CLI scripting, and direct Imgur uploads for seamless sharing. It provides an intuitive user experience through features like area selection, annotations, and saving options.

    66 Flameshot alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
    Powerful, yet simple to use open-source screenshot software

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  User friendly
    3.  Customizable
    4.  Privacy focused
    5.  Configurable

    Features

    1.  Drawing on screenshot
    2.  Annotate Screenshot
    3.  Edit screenshots
    4.  Selecting part of screen
    5.  Upload directly to Imgur
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Shortcut keys
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Instant edit screenshots
    10.  Blur Filter
    11.  Highlighter
    12.  Filenames patterns

    Flameshot VS Spectacle

     

    • Flameshot is the most popular Linux alternative to Spectacle.

    • Flameshot is Free and Open SourceSpectacle is also Free and Open Source
    • Flameshot is Lightweight and CustomizableSpectacle is not according to our users
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  6. Ksnip icon

    Ksnip

     61 likes
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    Ksnip is a Qt based cross-platform screenshot tool that provides many annotation features for your screenshots.

    51 Ksnip alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    Annotations

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Customizable
    3.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Image Annotations
    2.  Annotate Screenshot
    3.  Blur Filter
    4.  Edit screenshots
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Upload directly to Imgur
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Built-in viewer
    9.  Upload Screenshot
    10.  No registration required
    11.  Command line interface
    12.  Tabbed interface

    Ksnip VS Spectacle

     
  7. FastStone Capture icon

    FastStone Capture

     221 likes
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    A powerful, lightweight, yet full-featured screen capture tool that allows you to easily capture and annotate anything on the screen including windows, objects, menus, full screen, rectangular/freehand regions and even scrolling windows/web pages.

    171 FastStone Capture alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CN flagChina

    Platforms

    • Windows
    FastStone Capture screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Screen Recording
    2.  Image Annotations
    3.  Capture mouse pointer
    4.  Portable
    5.  Support for FTP
    6.  Annotate Screenshot
    7.  Upload Screenshot
    8.  Join Images

    FastStone Capture VS Spectacle

     

    • FastStone Capture is the most popular commercial alternative to Spectacle.

    • FastStone Capture is Paid and ProprietarySpectacle is Free and Open Source
    • FastStone Capture is LightweightSpectacle is not according to our users
  8. Snipping Tool icon

    Snipping Tool

     229 likes
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    Snipping Tool is a screen capture utility that allows users to take screenshots of specific objects or full screens, annotate them, and save or share the captured images or videos.

    144 Snipping Tool alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Snipping Tool screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Annotate Screenshot
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  OCR
    6.  Screen Sharing
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Bundled with Windows

    Snipping Tool VS Spectacle

     
  10. PicPick icon

    PicPick

     194 likes
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    Provides versatile screen capture options, built-in image annotation, color picking and palette, precision measurement tools like ruler and protractor, hotkey customization, clipboard and multi-format support, simple tray access, sharing, and portable operation.

    192 PicPick alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • KR flagSouth Korea

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    PicPick screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Full-page Screenshot
    2.  Edit screenshots
    3.  Portable
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Record desktop activity
    6.  Share screenshots
    7.  Color Palette
    8.  Tabbed interface

    PicPick VS Spectacle

     

    • PicPick is the most popular SaaS alternative to Spectacle.

    • PicPick is Free Personal and ProprietarySpectacle is Free and Open Source
  11. Snagit icon

    Snagit

     199 likes
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    Advanced screen capture and recording tool enabling image or video captures directly from your screen. Includes editing features like callouts, transparency, and effects to enhance visuals. Organize and easily share creations through documents, presentations, or favorite applications.

    190 Snagit alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Snagit screenshot 1

    Top Snagit Features

    1.  Full-page Screenshot
    2.  Edit screenshots
    3.  Upload Screenshot
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  No registration required
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Annotate Screenshot
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  OCR
    10.  Dark Mode
    11. YouTube icon  Upload directly to YouTube
    12.  Auto Scrolling

    Snagit VS Spectacle

     
  12. Lightshot icon

    Lightshot

     204 likes
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    Captures selectable screen regions for Windows and Mac, offers instant uploading, quick editing, and sharing through short URLs, supports saving locally, annotating, clipboard copying, browser add-ons, upload history access, and operates without heavy system use.

    175 Lightshot alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • RU flagRussia

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Google Chrome
    • Wine
    • Mozilla Firefox
    LightShot's site prnt.sc or prntscr.com
    Warning

    The Lightshot app generates URLs that are easy to guess or scrape, making it alarmingly easy for anyone to view grabs of private messages or intimate photos.

    Bundleware

    Offers to install Russian software Yandex Alisa, Yandex Browser and other products from Yandex company.

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Annotate Screenshot
    2.  Edit screenshots
    3.  Instant edit screenshots
    4.  Low memory usage
    5.  Override print-screen hotkey
    6.  Share screenshots
    7.  Upload Screenshot
    8.  Built-in editor
    9.  Downscale Retina Display
    10.  Colored Text
    11.  Native application
    12.  Browser extension

    Lightshot VS Spectacle

     
  13. NormCap icon

    NormCap

     21 likes
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    OCR powered screen-capture tool to capture information instead of images.

    56 NormCap alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    NormCap screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  OCR
    2.  Cross-Platform
    3.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    4.  Screenshot OCR
    5.  Image to text
    6.  Portable
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  High-dpi support

    NormCap VS Spectacle

     
  14. Evernote Web Clipper icon

    Evernote Web Clipper

     102 likes
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    Save anything you see online - including text, links and images - into your Evernote account with a single click.

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Internet Explorer
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari
    • Opera
    • Firefox
    Evernote Web Clipper screenshot 1

    Evernote Web Clipper Features

    1.  Annotate Screenshot
    2.  Web Clipper
    3.  Save web page for offline use
    4.  Website screenshots
    5.  Screenshot OCR
    6.  Instant edit screenshots
    7.  Browser extension
    8.  Microsoft Edge extension
    9.  Image recognition

    Evernote Web Clipper VS Spectacle

     

    • Evernote Web Clipper is the most popular Web-based alternative to Spectacle.

    • Evernote Web Clipper is Free and ProprietarySpectacle is Free and Open Source
  15. Shottr icon

    Shottr

     20 likes
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    Shottr is a small, fast, human-sized screenshot app built for those who care about pixels. It was crafted with Swift, optimized for M1, and is completely free at the moment.

    79 Shottr alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Shottr screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  OCR
    2.  Measurement-Tools
    3.  Screenshot OCR
    4.  Annotate Screenshot
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  No registration required
    7.  Full-page Screenshot

    Shottr VS Spectacle

     
12 of 184 Spectacle alternatives