MacShot is a free, open-source screenshot and screen recording tool for Mac. It packs in features usually found only in paid apps, like annotation, blur, scroll capture, OCR, and one-click uploads, all with no price tag. It is built in pure Swift and AppKit, so it stays light and lives quietly in your menu bar.

Key Features

• Instant Capture: A global hotkey freezes your screen so you can select a region, snap to a window, or capture the full screen, even across multiple monitors.
• Click-to-Edit Annotations: Add arrows, shapes, text, numbered markers, and more, then click any annotation to edit its color, style, or position, with full undo and redo.
• Scroll Capture: Select a region and scroll. MacShot stitches everything into one tall image using Apple Vision.
• Screen Recording: Record any area as an MP4, at up to 120fps, or as a GIF, with system audio, microphone, and mouse highlights, plus a built-in trim editor.
• Smart Censor: Pixelate, blur, fill, or erase sensitive areas. MacShot can auto-redact emails, phone numbers, and API keys, and detect faces.
• Beautify: Add one of 30 gradient backgrounds, a macOS window frame with traffic lights, shadow, padding, and rounded corners.
• OCR and Translate: Pull text out of a screenshot using Apple Vision, then copy it, translate it into over 30 languages, or search it.
• Upload Anywhere: Send a screenshot straight to Google Drive, imgbb, or any S3-compatible service, with the link copied to your clipboard instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is MacShot free?

Yes. MacShot is completely free and open source forever, with no paid tier.

What macOS version does MacShot need?

MacShot needs macOS 12.3 or later, and it works on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.

How do I install MacShot?

You can install it with Homebrew using the command brew install --cask macshot, or download the DMG from GitHub and drag it into Applications.

Does MacShot support languages other than English?

Yes. MacShot supports 40 languages and auto-detects your system language, though you can switch it anytime in Preferences.

Is MacShot a free alternative to CleanShot X?

Yes. MacShot covers much of the same ground as CleanShot X, including annotation, scroll capture, screen recording, and cloud uploads, but it is free and open source instead of paid.

Can MacShot record my screen as a GIF?

Yes. MacShot can export a screen recording as either an MP4 video or a looping GIF.