Snipping Tool vs Spectacle

Snipping Tool8.7Visit Spectacle8.2Visit

Higher score Snipping Tool #6 in Screen Capture Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 5 features Visit Microsoft

vs

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

• Snipping Tool fits best

  Windows users wanting a capable free default

• Spectacle fits best

  Linux users needing basic screenshot annotation

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Side by side

Feature	Snipping Tool 8.7/10 Visit ↗	Spectacle 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	8.2
Ranking	#6 in Screen Capture Software	#7 in Screen Capture Software
Best for	Windows users wanting a capable free default	Linux users needing basic screenshot annotation
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Open source
Free plan	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows	Linux
Integrations	3 integrations	1 integrations
Features Snipping Tool 2/5 · Spectacle 1/5
Scrolling capture	—	Not checked yet
Annotation tools	✓	✓
OCR	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Browser extension	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Cloud sharing	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Desktop platforms	Windows	Not checked yet
Export formats	PNG, JPG	PNG
Our review
Pros	Captures freeform, rectangular, window, and full-screen images Combines selected-area recording with microphone audio Includes OCR, contact-detail redaction, annotations, and automatic saving	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	Does not natively support scrolling capture Limited to Windows Does not provide cloud sharing	Designed for Linux rather than other desktop platforms Does not include scrolling capture Does not include OCR or verified sharing
Our verdict	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 →	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 →

Strengths and trade-offs

• 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

• 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

• Snipping Tool8.7/10 · Free plan

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

  Visit MicrosoftFull verdict →
• Spectacle8.2/10 · Open source

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

  Visit KDEFull verdict →