CleanShot X review
A capable Mac capture suite, with cloud collaboration on Pro and no free plan.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
CleanShot X brings screenshots, screen recording, annotation, editing and sharing together in a macOS app. It suits Mac users who need to explain visual material, capture scrolling content or distribute recordings and screenshots through shareable links. Capture options include area, window, fullscreen, timed and scrolling screenshots; recordings export as MP4 or GIF. On-device OCR and QR-code reading extend its capture workflow beyond simply saving an image.
Its editing tools cover arrows, text, shapes, blur, pixelation and spotlight, with video controls for smart zooms, cursor adjustments, backgrounds and motion blur. That makes it a broader capture and polish toolkit than a basic screenshot utility. CleanShot Cloud adds uploads and sharing, with comments, transcripts, access controls and password-protected links. Buyers focused on local captures and editing may find this breadth useful, while those seeking a non-Mac option should look elsewhere.
According to the vendor's pricing page, CleanShot Basic costs $35 one-time and includes the Mac app, one year of updates and 1 GB of cloud storage. CleanShot Pro is $10 per user per month, billed annually; it adds ongoing updates, unlimited cloud storage, custom domain and branding, advanced sharing and security, SSO and SCIM. There is no free plan. Basic fits someone who wants a one-time license and modest cloud storage; Pro is the relevant tier for teams needing its sharing and access features. The recurring, annually billed Pro price and Mac-only platform make it a poor fit for users seeking free software or cross-platform coverage.
CleanShot X pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Captures scrolling pages, timed shots and full-screen or window views
- Combines annotations, on-device OCR and MP4 or GIF recording
- Cloud sharing adds comments, transcripts and protected links
- Where it doesn't
- Runs on macOS only
- No free plan; Basic starts at $35 one-time
- SSO and SCIM are limited to the Pro plan
CleanShot X fact sheet, pricing and score →
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