Alternatives · Utilities
Xnip alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded Xnip alternative is Snipaste (3.0 GPA). It's also the best free one.
Xnip compared with 5 alternatives: Shottr, TextSniper, Snipaste, Lightshot and Flameshot.
Xnip has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4.99 per year (Xnip Pro). 4 of the 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan. One more offers a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a Xnip sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| XnipThis tool | Free plan · from $4.99/yr | Yes | macOS |
| Shottr | Free plan · from $12 one-time | Yes | macOS |
| TextSniper | Free trial · from $7.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS |
| Snipaste | Free plan · from $8.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Lightshot | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Browser extension |
| Flameshot | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
Price against what you get
Xnip starts at $0.42 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 2 of the 2 alternatives on this chart score higher and start lower: Lightshot and Flameshot.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Xnip
Shottr
Small Mac screenshot tool with annotation, OCR and a ruler
- Shottr starts at $12 one-time purchase (Basic Tier).
- Shottr can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Designers and front-end developers who measure pixels and colors on screen
TextSniper
Mac menu bar tool that copies text from any part of the screen
- TextSniper starts at $7.99 one-time purchase (license for 1 Mac).
- TextSniper has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Xnip.
- TextSniper can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- TextSniper also covers menu bar app.
- TextSniper does not cover screenshots, which Xnip does.
Suits: Copying text out of videos, screenshots, scanned PDFs and slides
Snipaste
Screenshot tool that pins images to the screen as floating windows
- Snipaste starts at $8.99 one-time, 1 device.
- Snipaste also lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Snipaste can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Developers and designers who pin reference images beside their work
Lightshot
Screenshot tool for selecting an area and sharing a link
- Lightshot is free.
- Lightshot also lists a Windows app and a browser extension.
- Lightshot also covers file sharing.
Suits: People who want a simple, no-cost screenshot tool
Flameshot
Free, open-source screenshot tool with on-screen annotation
- Flameshot is free.
- Flameshot also lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Flameshot is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: People who want the same free screenshot tool on Windows, macOS and Linux
Limits worth knowing in Xnip
- Mac only; the App Store listing says it requires macOS 13.5 or later.
- Free screenshots carry a watermark; removing it needs a paid in-app purchase.
- The listing shows two purchases with the same name at $7.99 and $9.99 and does not explain the difference.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Xnip?
The alternatives to Xnip in this directory are Shottr, TextSniper, Snipaste, Lightshot and Flameshot. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Xnip.
Is there a free alternative to Xnip?
Yes. Lightshot and Flameshot are free to use. Shottr and Snipaste have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Xnip alternatives work on Windows?
The Xnip listing does not include a Windows app. Snipaste, Lightshot and Flameshot list one.
Which Xnip alternatives work on Linux?
The Xnip listing does not include a Linux app. Snipaste and Flameshot list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Xnip?
Flameshot is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 6, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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