Best Free Snipping Tool Replacements For MacOS

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Best Free Snipping Tool Replacements For MacOS

Sharing information in textual format at all times is not ideal and can cause miscommunication or leave out key information in certain instances, causing other forms of communication, such as videos and pictures, to become more popularized in modern times. Using pictures also saves time and statistically grabs more attention than sentences stringed together

So let’s learn how we can take pictures of information on our screens and share them in conversations to make communication more effortless.

This article will be more useful for macOS users in general, but most of the tools mentioned in this article are cross-platform and function on other operating systems as well.

To begin, let’s first go over the free snipping tool that is already pre-installed on all macOS devices.

A Simple Walkthrough On Using Mac's Snipping Tool

To access the built-in snipping tool of Mac, click the following keys together.

  • Shift + Command + 5

This opens the snipping tool panel that will further give you more options on what you can capture. This feature also gives you the option to record your screen. Recording content on screens often helps people in creative professions such as content creation and gaming.

If you are in a situation where you are in a hurry and don’t have time to go through all the options to search for the most suitable one, you can alternatively take a screenshot of your entire screen or just a part of your screen.

  1. To take a screenshot of your entire screen, use the following keys
  • Shift + Command + 3

2. To take a screenshot of a selected part of your screen, use the following keys

  • Shift + Command + 4

In the second situation, after simultaneously clicking the mentioned keys, your cursor changes and can now be used to select the desired part of your screen.

This built-in snipping tool is free and can get the basics done for absolutely no extra cost.

The Advantage Of Using External Free Tools

The advantage of using third-party snipping tools that are free is that they provide features that the basic snipping tool of Mac lacks. Some of these features make a massive difference and can deliver much better results.

For example, in terms of cloud storage, the native tool only allows you to save locally, but tools like Loom and Monosnap allow you to instantly upload to the cloud and generate shareable links or integrate with Notion/Google drive.

In terms of screen recording, Apple’s built-in recorder is basic, but tools like Screencastify and Monosnap let you record your screen with webcam overlays, voice narration, and even provide team collaboration options.

Some Free Snipping Tools for MacOS

  1. Loom
  • It’s a free screen recording and snipping tool that’s perfect for quick communication. With Loom, you can easily capture your screen, your camera, or both at the same time. It’s awesome for creating tutorials, walkthroughs, or providing feedback.

  • The best part? Your recordings are instantly uploaded to the cloud, so you don’t have to worry about file sizes or sending attachments via email. Plus, it has handy features like built-in trimming, drawing, and even emoji reactions to make your videos more engaging.

2. Monosnap

  • This is a super handy tool that lets you capture screenshots, annotate them, and even record videos. You can grab your entire screen, just a window, or a specific area.

  • Plus, you can easily mark things up with arrows, text, and shapes. It supports high-quality video recording with webcam and audio, and it integrates nicely with cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive, making sharing a breeze. A solid all-in-one choice!

3. Screencastify

  • Perfect for educators and students, this lightweight Chrome extension lets you record your browser, desktop, or webcam directly from Chrome. Once you’re done, your recordings are automatically saved to Google Drive. You can share them with a link or export them as MP4, GIF, or MP3 files. It even has basic editing tools for trimming and adding text, making it great for quick tutorials or presentations.

4. Flameshot

  • If you’re looking for something more customizable, Flameshot is an awesome open-source snipping tool. You can capture your screen and immediately annotate it with arrows, shapes, text, and more.

  • One of its best features is flexibility—you can change hotkeys, adjust colors, and even use it from the command line. Plus, it supports quick uploads and sharing, perfect for power users!

5. Lightshot

  • This is a simple and lightweight option that focuses on fast screenshot capturing. With just a couple of clicks, you can select any area of your screen, add quick annotations, and save or copy the image. 

  • It’s great for instant sharing since it uploads screenshots to the cloud and generates shareable links on the spot. Plus, it even has an image search feature to find similar pictures online, which is pretty cool for a free tool.

Hope this helps you find the right snipping tool for your needs

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