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Head-to-head · Screen Capture Software

Greenshot vs Spectacle

  • 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
Spectacle #7 in Screen Capture Software 8.2/10 Open source ✓ 1 of 5 features Visit KDE

Greenshot leads on 0 checks, Spectacle on 0, and 5 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 planonly Greenshot
  • Most featuresGreenshot · 4 of 5

Greenshot scores higher on our rubric for screen capture software: 8.8 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #7.

Greenshot is the better fit for free basic capture on Windows and macOS. Spectacle is the better fit for linux users needing basic screenshot annotation.

  • Greenshot fits best

    Free basic capture on Windows and macOS

  • Spectacle fits best

    Linux users needing basic screenshot annotation

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Side by side

Feature Greenshot 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Spectacle 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.2
Ranking #5 in Screen Capture Software #7 in Screen Capture Software
Best for Free basic capture on Windows and macOS Linux users needing basic screenshot annotation
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price — Open source
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS Linux
Integrations 7 integrations 1 integrations
Features Greenshot 4/5 · Spectacle 1/5
Scrolling capture ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Annotation tools ✓ ✓
OCR ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Browser extension Not checked yet Not checked yet
Cloud sharing ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Desktop platforms Both Not checked yet
Export formats PNG, JPEG PNG
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 the desktop, a monitor, a window, or a rectangular region
  • Includes arrows, text boxes, numbers, pen, markers, and effects for annotation
  • Offers configurable delays, keyboard shortcuts, and command-line capture options
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
  • Designed for Linux rather than other desktop platforms
  • Does not include scrolling capture
  • Does not include OCR or verified 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 →

Spectacle is KDE’s open-source screenshot application for Linux desktops, aimed at people who need to capture and mark up what is on screen. Capture choices include the entire desktop across all monitors, the current monitor, an active…

Read the review →
  1. GreenshotScreen Capture Software 8.8Free plan
  2. SpectacleScreen Capture Software 8.2Open source

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

  • Spectacle — where it wins

    • Captures the desktop, a monitor, a window, or a rectangular region
    • Includes arrows, text boxes, numbers, pen, markers, and effects for annotation
    • Offers configurable delays, keyboard shortcuts, and command-line capture options

    Where it doesn't

    • Designed for Linux rather than other desktop platforms
    • Does not include scrolling capture
    • Does not include OCR or verified 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 →
  • Spectacle8.2/10 · Open source

    A Linux screenshot tool with flexible capture options and built-in annotation.

    Visit KDEFull verdict →

More comparisons

All screen capture software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update