You’re going to need to capture an image on your monitor at some point in your life. It could be for an important investor meeting. It could be for reporting software bugs. It could be for Twitter laughs. Unfortunately, Windows’ old PrtScn capture-to-Clipboard key has limited use, even when paired with Paint or Paint 3D for image-editing purposes. You’ll need the power and flexibility that screen-capture utilities provide.
The screen-capture field comprises standalone apps, as well as tools built into more robust packages. There are even two free ones bundled into Windows 10. Our How to Take Screenshots in Windows 10 feature highlights that pair, plus the other available options (though Windows’ offerings don’t focus on screen recording). If you’re a Windows user ready to upgrade, learn How to Take Screenshots in Windows 11. Alternatively, check out How To Take Screenshots on a Mac or on any other device.
This article, on the other hand, covers both still-image and video/screen-animation capture. The highlighted software runs the gamut from simple, free apps included with your PC’s operating system to premium, third-party utilities that add deep mark-up capabilities, GIF creation, and optical character recognition (OCR) tech. Not covered here are dedicated video-editing suites, such as Corel VideoStudio, CyberLink PowerDirector, or Pinnacle Studio. Professional educators should consider even more powerful (and more expensive) education-focused products, such as Adobe Captivate and Techsmith Camtasia, for their video sessions. Gamers can enjoy screen capture features using the Nvidia GeForce Experience app, Opera GX browser, or Steam.
Regardless of the software you choose, you can be certain that you’ll be able to grab images and create videos as you please. Here are the screen-capture apps you should explore.
Why We Picked It
This Mac- and PC-compatible app lets you snap a screenshot, capture a scrolling screen, or edit content by adding text, highlights, arrows, and other items. In addition, the built-in screen recorder lets you save your desktop or webcam actions as an MP4 file or animated GIF. Snagit also has OCR capabilities, so you can find and replace text in images. When you’re done with your project, you can send it to Gmail, PowerPoint, Twitter, Word, and numerous other destinations, including TechSmith’s own Screencast (for storage) and Camtasia (for advanced video editing).
Who It’s For
Featuring more than 14 million users, Snagit is one of the world’s most popular screen-capture utilities. Snagit is also our Editors’ Choice winner for screen-capture utilities, thanks to its long list of powerful, versatile features. So if you’re willing to pay for screenshots, go with this top-tier app.
PROS
- Integrated GIF maker
- Panoramic scrolling capture
- Lets you create and share custom, themed templates
- Exports to cloud storage across operating systems
- Mobile app Wi-Fi syncing
- OCR functionality
- 4K support
CONS
- File syncing requires third-party cloud storage
- Relatively expensive
Droplr
Best for Businesses
Why We Picked It
A Droplr subscription grants access to a wide variety of screen-capture tools. You can take screenshots and mark them up with text and emojis, record your screen along or webcam feed, or create animated GIFs. A single account seamlessly syncs files across the browser extension, desktop app, and mobile apps.
Who It’s For
Droplr is even more useful for enterprise teams. With it, you can upload and organize files in shared cloud storage so your colleagues (or even the public) can access them. Optional premium add-ons provide extra professional perks, such as analytics tools and custom domains.
PROS
- Easy screen-capture and editing
- 4K video screen-recording
- Premium enterprise add-ons
- Mobile companion apps
- Cloud storage and team file sharing
CONS
- No OCR
- Limited file types
- No free option
Screencast-O-Matic
Best for Free Captures With a Premium Upgrade
Why We Picked It
Screencast-O-Matic is a free screen-capture utility that lets you take screenshots and record up to 15 minutes of footage from your computer’s screen or webcam (or both simultaneously). If that’s all you need, you won’t have to spend a dime. That said, upgrading to the Deluxe ($4 per month, billed annually) or Premier ($6 per month, billed annually) plans adds many other features.
Who It’s For
Screencast-O-Matic is for people who want a free service with premium options. The Deluxe tier lets you draw and zoom, create speech-to-text captions, record computer audio, leverage a green-screen filter, and import narration and music. It also removes the recording time cap and unlocks video-editing features. The Premier tier builds upon Deluxe by adding a stock image library, secure data backups, sharing and collaboration tools, and an ad-free, branded website. Screencast-O-Matic is compatible with Chromebooks, Macs, and PCs.
PROS
- Screen capture and video recording
- Capable free version
- Premium video editor
- Mobile companion apps
- Online storage and publishing
CONS
- Lacks OCR functionality
- Only exports images as PNG files
- No scrolling capture
Ashampoo Snap
Best Snagit Alternative
Why We Picked It
For your money, you get plenty of premium features with Ashampoo Snap. You can make GIFs, grab text with the OCR tool, capture scrolling windows, and leverage the powerful image editor. Improved 4K recording performance makes Snap great for saving and sharing high-quality videos on a variety of platforms. A few missing features and the occasional technical issue hold this one back from greatness.
Who It’s For
Ashampoo Snap may not be as well-rounded as Snagit, the top dog in the screen-capture utility space. Still, it’s also not quite as expensive, making it an excellent affordable alternative. Ashampoo Snap works on PCs. For mobile capture, check out Ashampoo’s standalone Android app Droid Screenshot.
PROS
- Multi-language OCR support
- GIF maker
- Live 4K video editing
- Built-in image editor with numerous borders and effects
- Can share images to many destinations
CONS
- Relatively expensive
- Lacks Wi-Fi syncing
- Occasional technical issues
NexSnap
Best for Adding Visual Flair
Why We Picked It
NexSnap is a basic, screenshot-only app for desktops and web browsers. For just $10 per year, NexSnap Pro unlocks mobile apps and cool editing features, including 3D graphical effects, HD exports, and custom backgrounds. The free version watermarks your work, but it does the job if your needs are minimal.
Who It’s For
Anyone who wants to add visual flair to their snaps. NexSnap’s intuitive interface and wide array of visual flourishes make it quick and easy to take screenshots and make them look a lot cooler before sharing. That holds true whether you subscribe or not.
PROS
- Easy to use
- Adds cool visual effects to screenshots
- Affordable yearly subscription
CONS
- Lacks video capture capabilities
- Extremely limited free version
Vimeo Record
Best for Screen Recording
Why We Picked It
Vimeo is a high-quality YouTube alternative for artists and professionals, and Vimeo Record is the service’s free video recording utility. With it, you can record unlimited clips (up to two hours each) of your screen or webcam (or both). It also lets you upload recordings to your Vimeo account.
Who It’s For
People who don’t want to pay for video recording. Although most apps in this roundup lock video recording behind a paywall, Vimeo Record gives it to you for free. Paid subscribers gain even more from the service, as they can share Vimeo Record with multiple members across the same team. Send quick video messages between colleagues. Share feedback on projects. Monitor analytics. However, unlike other utilities on this list, Vimeo Record only records and edits video. It can’t capture screenshots. Vimeo Records works on PC browsers as a free Google Chrome extension.
PROS
- Free, unlimited screen and video recording
- Integrates with the larger Vimeo hosting platform
- Intuitive interface
CONS
- Lacks screenshot functionality
- Only works as a Chrome browser extension
- Team features require paid Vimeo subscription
Windows Snip and Sketch
Best for Free Screenshots
Why We Picked It
We would be remiss to overlook Windows Snip & Sketch, the upgraded version of Snipping Tool. This free screen-capture tool, which is baked into Windows 10 and Windows 11, lets you take screenshots and then annotate or resize images using a mouse, digital pen, or a finger on touch devices. Then you can save the marked-up images or export them to Mail, OneDrive, OneNote, Twitter, or other apps.
Who It’s For
Snip & Sketch is a simple app that only captures screenshots. It’s a serviceable choice for Windows users who don’t want to spend any money. Screen recording may be coming in a future update, but if you want to capture video using a default Windows utility right now, the operating system’s integrated Xbox Game Bar lets you do just that. Unfortunately, it only lets you video capture apps—you can’t record your desktop.
PROS
- Easily capture and annotate screenshots
- Eraser, highlighter, and measurement tools
- Save and export shots to social media
CONS
- No video capture
- Lacks voice recording
- Doesn’t capture scrolling windows
- Lacks advanced features, such as OCR support and a GIF creator
Buying Guide: Beyond PrtSc: The Best Screen-Capture Apps for 2022
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