Snapok vs CleanShot X
CleanShot X is the best-known paid screenshot app on the Mac, with screen recording and a cloud for share links. Snapok covers the screenshot half of that job for free, adds UI-element snapping, a library you can search by the text inside images, and AI tools that run on your own model.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Snapok | CleanShot X |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $35 + $19/yr updates |
| Open source | AGPL-3.0 | No |
| Snaps to buttons, panels & menu bar items | Yes | Windows only |
| Scrolling capture | Yes | Yes |
| Annotation (arrows, text, blur) | Yes | Yes |
| Backgrounds, padding, shadow | Yes | Yes |
| Text recognition (OCR) | On-device | Yes |
| Library searchable by text in images | Yes | Capture history |
| Automatic sensitive-info masking | On-device | Manual blur |
| Translate screenshot, keep layout | Yes | No |
| Ask AI about a screenshot (your key) | Yes | No |
| Screen recording | No | Yes |
| Cloud upload & share links | Local only | Yes |
Competitor details checked on 2026-10-04 from each vendor’s site. Spotted something out of date? Open an issue.
Where Snapok is better
Free, with no update fee
CleanShot X Basic is $35 with one year of updates, then $19 a year to keep updating. Snapok is free and open source, and every update is included.
Snaps to individual controls
CleanShot captures windows; Snapok can also outline a single button, panel, Dock, or menu bar item under your cursor.
A library you can search by text
Every capture is recognized on-device, so searching for an error message finds the screenshot that shows it.
AI translation and masking
Translate a screenshot in place with your own model, and mask emails, phones, IDs, and keys automatically.
Where CleanShot X is better
Screen recording and GIFs
CleanShot X records video and GIFs with a built-in video editor. Snapok is screenshots only.
Cloud share links
CleanShot Cloud uploads and gives you a link, with team features on Pro. Snapok keeps everything local.
Maturity
CleanShot X has years of polish. Snapok is an early release that updates often.
The verdict
If you record your screen or share links daily, CleanShot X earns its price. If you mainly capture, mark up, and frame screenshots, Snapok does that for free and adds a searchable library and AI tools.
Related features
Frequently asked questions
Is Snapok really free compared to CleanShot X?
Yes. Snapok is open source under AGPL-3.0 with nothing to buy. CleanShot X costs $35 once with a year of updates, or $10 per user per month for Pro.
Does Snapok record the screen like CleanShot X?
No. Snapok focuses on screenshots. Keep macOS’s ⌘⇧5 recorder or another tool for video.
Can I use both?
Yes. Give each a different shortcut; Snapok’s default is ⌃⌘A and can be changed in Settings.
Other comparisons
Try Snapok free on your Mac.
Free and open source. macOS 14 or later, Apple Silicon and Intel.