The best screenshot tools, according to hackers
8 screenshot tools were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 3 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The three most recommended screenshot tools with the badge. Each figure is 5 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Works on Linux, macOS and Windows
Free cross-platform screenshot tool with powerful markup controls, loved for daily use on Linux, macOS and Windows. Critics most often report problems on Wayland with multiple monitors or scaling.
Native KDE tool, works well
Recommended as a fully featured, native screenshot tool on KDE that works well on Wayland. Some critics say common settings were moved behind menus after an update.
Solid Windows screenshot and video capture
Free Windows tool for screenshots and screen recordings, with annotation and upload built in. Critics say its video capture trails rivals like CleanShot and that upload features have quirks.
All 8 screenshot tools, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flameshot | 44 | 19 | 70% | 4 | 5 yrs6 owners | Approved |
| 2 | KDE Spectacle | 21 | 7 | 75% | 8 | — | Approved |
| 3 | ShareX | 10 | 2 | 83% | 5 | — | Approved |
| 4 | Windows Snipping Tool | 7 | 13 | 35% | 5 | — | — |
| 5 | CleanShot X | 6 | 2 | 75% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 6 | macOS screenshot tool | 5 | 3 | 63% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 6 | Shottr | 5 | 2 | 71% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 6 | ScreenFloat | 5 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same screenshot tool in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to screenshot tools that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.