LICEcap vs Screenpresso (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, LICEcap grades higher than Screenpresso: 3.0 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
LICEcap grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
LICEcap
Lightweight free tool that records a screen area to an animated GIF
Free
Screenpresso
Windows screenshot and video capture with a built-in editor
Free plan
Which one is for you
Pick LICEcap if
- Fits if you only need short GIFs of your screen with no extras
- Works for people who want a tiny download
Look elsewhere if
- Too light for you if you want MP4 or audio, since neither is mentioned
- Skip it if you run a new Mac, as support is named only up to macOS 12.x
- Watch out: the latest release listed is v1.32 from June 2022
- Not for you if you want to edit the capture, as editing is limited to a title frame and text messages
Pick Screenpresso if
- Fits if you want a free way to capture and annotate on a Windows PC
- Works for people who need to blur sensitive data and are willing to pay for PRO
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you use a Mac or phone, since it is Windows only
- Skip it if you dislike branding: the free edition adds it to video and sharing
- Tight if you need OCR, 4K or automatic blurring, all PRO only
- Watch out: PRO has a year of updates, then an optional maintenance fee for later versions
- Watch out: the vendor names Windows 11 or Windows Server 2022 as its requirement
How we grade them
| 3.0GPALICEcapVery good | 2.4GPAScreenpressoFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree software under the GPL. No paid edition is listed. | CNo US dollar price could be confirmed: the pricing page showed ringgit. PRO is a one-time license with a year of updates, then an optional maintenance fee. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole program is free, with the source included in each download. | BA free edition with image capture, HD video with branding, a limited editor and sharing with branding, and it may be used at work. OCR, 4K and auto-blur need PRO. |
| Features | CRecords to GIF or LCF, with pause, text messages and mouse press display. It does that one job, a smaller one: no MP4 export or audio. | CScreenshots, video, an editor, libraries, sharing and blurring of sensitive data. The gaps in the listing: OCR, 4K and auto-blur are PRO only. |
| Ease of use | BMove the frame over the area and record. Nothing to set up, though no store rating is on record. | BNo store rating is on record, but it is a program you install and start using with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows and macOS, computers only. No Linux, phone or web version. | CWindows computers only, plus a Chrome extension. The vendor names Windows 11 or Windows Server 2022. |
| Best for | quick screen-to-GIF recording | Windows screenshots with a free edition |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: LICEcap and Screenpresso. How we grade
Where they differ
- LICEcap is open source, according to its own site.
- Screenpresso can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Screenpresso also covers screenshots.
In commonFree planWindowsScreen recording
At a glance
| LICEcap | Screenpresso | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | Not published |
| Free plan | None | Free edition: image capture, HD video capture with branding, a limited image editor and sharing with branding; may be used at work. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Cockos Incorporated | Learnpulse SAS |
| Price read from | cockos.com | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
LICEcap
- The page lists only GIF and LCF output; MP4 export and audio recording are not mentioned.
- The latest release listed is v1.32 from June 2022.
- The macOS build is listed for macOS 10.7 through 12.x; newer versions are not named.
- Editing is limited to a title frame and inserted text messages.
Screenpresso
- Windows only; the vendor's stated requirement is Windows 11 or Windows Server 2022, on x64 or ARM64.
- The free edition adds branding to video and sharing and has a limited editor; OCR, 4K and auto-blur need PRO.
- A PRO license includes one year of updates, then an optional maintenance fee applies for later versions.
- The pricing page showed its prices in Malaysian ringgit when read, so no US dollar price could be confirmed.
Key features
LICEcap
- Record to GIF or LCF
- Save directly to an animated GIF, or to the native LCF format, which allows higher compression and more than 256 colors per frame.
- Movable capture frame
- Move the capture frame while recording, so the recorded area can follow what you are showing.
- Pause and text messages
- Pause and restart a recording with a global hotkey, and insert text messages or a basic title frame.
- Mouse presses and elapsed time
- Optionally show mouse button presses and the elapsed time in the recording.
- Frame-rate limit
- Set a maximum recording frame rate to throttle CPU use on slower machines.
Screenpresso
- Screenshot capture
- Press Print Screen to capture a region, window or full screen with edge snapping, a zoom lens, delayed capture and scrolling-window stitching.
- Video capture
- Records the screen to lightweight MP4 files; the PRO page lists HD and 4K capture with system sound, webcam and automatic subtitles.
- Image editor
- A vector editor adds arrows, spotlights, speech bubbles, numbered steps and border effects; the PRO page lists a full-featured version.
- Workspace and libraries
- Every capture is saved to a workspace panel where files can be dragged into email clients and other programs, printed or copied.
- Sharing
- Publishes captures to 143 online services, to its own cloud for a short public URL, to PDF or email, or as a generated document.
- Sensitive-data blur and OCR
- PRO adds text capture from images and automatic blurring of sensitive information in an image or video.
Plans
LICEcap
Free$0
GPL free software for Windows and macOS; each download package includes the source.
Screenpresso
Pricing could not be confirmed. See screenpresso.com.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, LICEcap or Screenpresso?
As of Nov 13, 2026, LICEcap is free, and Screenpresso has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, LICEcap or Screenpresso?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both LICEcap and Screenpresso have a free plan.
Which platforms do LICEcap and Screenpresso run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only LICEcap lists a macOS app and only Screenpresso lists a browser extension. Both list a Windows app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.