Snipping Tool
Snipping Tool: A free Windows capture utility for screenshots, selected-area recording, and quick edits. Ranked #6 of 61 in Screen Capture Software by our editors (8.7/10); pricing: Free plan; best for windows users wanting a capable free default.
At a glance
- Editor score8.7 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forWindows users wanting a capable free default
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Annotation toolsYes
- Founded1975 · Redmond, Washington, USA
- Facts checked19 Sep 2026
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
Our verdict on Snipping Tool
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 chosen region, then make quick edits without paying for a separate capture product. The range of capture shapes and built-in annotation tools also makes it useful for marking up instructions or highlighting details before sharing them through Windows options.
Its editing and text tools are a notable strength for a built-in utility. Captures can be cropped and marked with pens, highlighters, shapes, or emojis, with undo and redo available. OCR extracts text for copying, while quick redaction can obscure detected email addresses and phone numbers. A delay timer from 1 to 5 seconds helps when a capture needs to include an on-screen state that is not immediately ready. Screenshots save automatically to the Screenshots folder; image export formats include PNG and JPG. Screen recordings can include microphone audio, and Snipping Tool integrates with Clipchamp, Paint, and Windows sharing.
The main trade-off is scope. Microsoft says scrolling capture is not natively supported, so users who need to capture long webpages or documents will need another tool. Windows sharing is available, but this is not a cloud-sharing workflow. Feature availability can vary by Windows version and region. Choose Snipping Tool for free, practical capture and annotation within Windows; look elsewhere if scrolling capture or cloud sharing is central to your process.
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Snipping Tool pricing
Snipping Tool fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Scrolling capture | No |
| Annotation tools | Yes |
| OCR | Yes |
| Browser extension | Not verified |
| Desktop platforms | Windows |
| Cloud sharing | Not verified |
| Export formats | PNG, JPG |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows |
| Integrations | 3 integrations: Clipchamp, Paint, Windows sharing |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | microsoft.com |
| Facts checked | 19 Sep 2026 |
Snipping Tool integrations
Snipping Tool lists 3 integrations on its own site.
- Clipchamp
- Paint
- Windows sharing
Alternatives to Snipping Tool
- SnagitA polished capture and editing toolkit for teams that can budget for an annual subscription.9.3
- ShareXA flexible Windows capture toolkit with scrolling screenshots, OCR, recording and upload workflows.9.1
- ZightA cross-platform capture tool with team workflows, integrations, and a free plan.9.0
See all Snipping Tool alternatives →
Snipping Tool vs the competition
- Snipping Tool vs Snagit
- Snipping Tool vs ShareX
- Snipping Tool vs Zight
- Snipping Tool vs Greenshot
- Snipping Tool vs Spectacle
- Snipping Tool vs Screenpresso
Compare Snipping Tool with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Snipping Tool is ranked in 6 of our directories.
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Featured on iTechGuides
Snipping Tool is listed in our Screen Capture Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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