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Head-to-head · Screen Capture Software

Greenshot vs Snipping Tool

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Greenshot #5 in Screen Capture Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Greenshot
Snipping Tool #6 in Screen Capture Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 5 features Visit Microsoft

Greenshot leads on 1 check, Snipping Tool on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreGreenshot · 8.8/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresGreenshot · 4 of 5

Greenshot scores higher on our rubric for screen capture software: 8.8 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #6.

Greenshot offers scrolling capture; Snipping Tool doesn't. On desktop platforms, Greenshot gives you Both where Snipping Tool offers Windows.

Greenshot is the better fit for free basic capture on Windows and macOS. Snipping Tool is the better fit for windows users wanting a capable free default.

  • Greenshot fits best

    Free basic capture on Windows and macOS

  • Snipping Tool fits best

    Windows users wanting a capable free default

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Side by side

Feature Greenshot 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Snipping Tool 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.7
Ranking #5 in Screen Capture Software #6 in Screen Capture Software
Best for Free basic capture on Windows and macOS Windows users wanting a capable free default
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price — Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS Windows
Integrations 7 integrations 3 integrations
Features Greenshot 4/5 · Snipping Tool 2/5
Scrolling capture ✓ (best) —
Annotation tools ✓ ✓
OCR ✓ ✓
Browser extension Not checked yet Not checked yet
Cloud sharing ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Desktop platforms Both Windows
Export formats PNG, JPEG PNG, JPG
Our review
Pros
  • Captures regions, windows, and full screens on Windows and macOS
  • Adds text, shapes, highlights, blur, and pixelation to screenshots
  • Exports to files, clipboard, printers, email, and supported integrations
  • Captures freeform, rectangular, window, and full-screen images
  • Combines selected-area recording with microphone audio
  • Includes OCR, contact-detail redaction, annotations, and automatic saving
Cons
  • Scrolling web-page capture is limited to Internet Explorer
  • The Mac app costs a one-time fee and has fewer features than the PC version
  • OCR requires a plug-in with Microsoft MODI
  • Does not natively support scrolling capture
  • Limited to Windows
  • Does not provide cloud sharing
Our verdict

Greenshot is a desktop screenshot tool for people creating documentation, tutorials, bug reports, and other visual materials. On Windows, it captures a selected region, active window, full screen, or complete scrolling web pages in…

Read the review →

For everyday screen capture and quick visual documentation, Snipping Tool brings screenshots and selected-area screen recording together in a free Windows utility. It suits Windows users who want to capture a window, the full screen, or a…

Read the review →
  1. GreenshotScreen Capture Software 8.8Free plan
  2. Snipping ToolScreen Capture Software 8.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Greenshot — where it wins

    • Captures regions, windows, and full screens on Windows and macOS
    • Adds text, shapes, highlights, blur, and pixelation to screenshots
    • Exports to files, clipboard, printers, email, and supported integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Scrolling web-page capture is limited to Internet Explorer
    • The Mac app costs a one-time fee and has fewer features than the PC version
    • OCR requires a plug-in with Microsoft MODI
  • Snipping Tool — where it wins

    • Captures freeform, rectangular, window, and full-screen images
    • Combines selected-area recording with microphone audio
    • Includes OCR, contact-detail redaction, annotations, and automatic saving

    Where it doesn't

    • Does not natively support scrolling capture
    • Limited to Windows
    • Does not provide cloud sharing
  • Greenshot8.8/10 · Free plan

    A focused desktop capture tool with useful annotation and export options; Mac is paid and less feature-rich.

    Visit GreenshotFull verdict →
  • Snipping Tool8.7/10 · Free plan

    A free Windows capture utility for screenshots, selected-area recording, and quick edits.

    Visit MicrosoftFull verdict →

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update