One tool on every computer.
Teams with both Windows and Mac can use the same app, the same shortcuts, and the same shared library, instead of a different tool on each platform.
CleanShot X alternative
The CleanShot X alternative for Windows and Mac.
CleanShot X is one of the best screenshot apps on the Mac, but there is no Windows version. BaseShot gives you the same capture, annotate, and share workflow on both platforms, and the desktop app is free.
Download for Windows
Windows 10 (2004+) / 11 · x64
macOS 13.3+ · Apple silicon / Intel
Side by side
BaseShot vs CleanShot X
| Feature | BaseShot | CleanShot X |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | ||
| Mac | ||
| Desktop app price | Free | $35 one-time, 1 year of updates |
| Area, window & full-screen capture | ||
| Scrolling capture | ||
| Annotation & redaction | ||
| Backgrounds, padding & shadows | ||
| Text capture (OCR) | ||
| Screen recording with camera & audio | ||
| Automatic zoom on clicks | ||
| Local automatic captions | ||
| Cloud sharing | BaseShot Cloud, $6 per person a month | CleanShot Pro, $10–12 per user a month |
Everything in BaseShot
All the tools, on Windows and Mac.
Screenshots
- Capture an area, a window, or the full screen
- Scrolling capture, vertical or horizontal
- Copy text from anything on screen with OCR
- Arrows, text, highlights, and step counters
- Spotlight and redaction for sensitive details
- Backgrounds, padding, shadows, and aspect ratios
Screen recording
- Record a display, a window, or an area
- Camera, microphone, and system audio
- Automatic zoom on clicks, plus manual zooms
- Cursor styling, click effects, and keystrokes
- Noise reduction and captions made on your computer
- Export MP4 or GIF up to 4K
BaseShot Cloud
- Share any capture with one link
- Comments and replies, including from guests
- Public, password, team-only, or private links
- Search inside screenshots and recordings
- Update a capture and keep the same link
- Shared team workspace with roles
Why people switch
What BaseShot does differently.
Free where it matters most.
Capturing, annotating, recording, and exporting are free with no account and no watermarks. Pay only if you want cloud sharing.
Polished recordings on Windows too.
Automatic zoom, cursor effects, and captions generated on your computer work the same on Windows as on Mac, so every teammate can record walkthroughs that are ready to share.
Where CleanShot X still shines
- It is a mature, native Mac app with years of polish and deep macOS integration.
- You can buy it once instead of paying for cloud sharing.
- Extras such as pinning screenshots on top of other windows are built in.
QuestionsSwitching from