CleanShot X
Mac screenshot and screen recording app with a one-time license
What is CleanShot X?
CleanShot X is a Mac app for screenshots and screen recordings. It covers scrolling capture, annotation, text recognition, MP4 and GIF recording and a built-in video editor, with optional cloud links for sharing. The Basic license is a one-time purchase that includes a year of updates, and the Pro subscription adds unlimited cloud storage and team features.
CleanShot X is a paid product, starting at $35 one-time payment, including one year of updates. See every plan
Good for
- Mac users who take and annotate many screenshots
- Buyers who prefer a one-time license to a subscription
- Support and product teams sharing quick captures by link
Worth knowing
- macOS only, requiring macOS 13.0 or newer. The vendor says there are no plans for a Windows version.
- There is no free trial; purchases are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- The $35 Basic license includes one year of updates; later updates need an optional $19 per year renewal.
- Unlimited cloud storage, custom domains, team features, SSO and SCIM need the Pro subscription.
Key features
- Screenshots and scrolling capture
- Capture an area, a window, the full screen or scrolling content in either direction, with a self-timer, crosshair and magnifier.
- Screen recording
- Record to MP4 or GIF with microphone and computer audio, a camera overlay, and keystrokes and clicks shown on screen.
- Built-in video editor
- Add zooms, refine cursor movement and adjust backgrounds on a screen recording without leaving the app.
- Annotation and backgrounds
- Highlight or hide parts of a screenshot, add annotations, and place captures on styled backgrounds from 20 presets.
- Text recognition
- Copy text out of any image and read QR codes, with on-device recognition in more than 30 languages.
- CleanShot Cloud
- Upload a capture to get a share link with password protection, self-destruct timers and video transcription. Basic has 1 GB; Pro is unlimited.
CleanShot X pricing
- Starts at
- $35 one-time payment, including one year of updates
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| CleanShot Basic | $35one-time payment; optional update renewal at $19 per year | The Mac app to keep, with one year of updates and 1 GB of CleanShot Cloud storage. A license is active on one Mac at a time. |
| CleanShot Pro | $10per user / month, billed annually | Always up to date, with unlimited cloud storage, custom domain and branding, team features, SSO and SCIM. |
Read from cleanshot.com on Oct 4, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with CleanShot X before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Lifetime licenseOne-time license for $35
CleanShot Basic is a pay-once license that keeps working indefinitely. It includes one year of updates, and renewing updates afterwards is optional at $19 per year.
Stated on cleanshot.com - Annual discount17% off Pro with yearly billing
The pricing page marks yearly billing for CleanShot Pro as 17% cheaper than monthly, at $10 per user per month billed annually.
Stated on cleanshot.com - Education30% educational discount
Entering a university-issued email address gives 30% off. For Cloud Pro or update renewals, CleanShot asks students to email from their university address.
Stated on cleanshot.com - Other savings20% off for PixelSnap customers
Existing PixelSnap 2 customers get 20% off CleanShot, according to the pricing page.
Stated on cleanshot.com - Other savingsIncluded with Setapp
CleanShot is also available through a Setapp subscription, which bundles it with more than 200 other apps.
Stated on cleanshot.com
CleanShot X alternatives
- CleanShot X vs Screen Studio
From $9/mo
- CleanShot X vs Loom
Free plan · from $18/mo
- CleanShot X vs Tella
Free trial · from $13/mo
Featured in
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Common questions
Is CleanShot X free?
No. CleanShot X is a paid product, starting at $35 one-time payment, including one year of updates.
How much does CleanShot X cost?
CleanShot X lists 2 plans. CleanShot Basic: $35 one-time payment; optional update renewal at $19 per year. CleanShot Pro: $10 per user / month, billed annually. Prices were read from cleanshot.com on Oct 4, 2026.
What platforms does CleanShot X work on?
CleanShot X is available on macOS.
Does CleanShot X offer any discounts?
CleanShot X publicly lists the following: One-time license for $35; 17% off Pro with yearly billing; 30% educational discount; 20% off for PixelSnap customers; Included with Setapp.
Does CleanShot X have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 4, 2026. CleanShot X is listed for macOS.
Does CleanShot X have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 4, 2026. CleanShot X is listed for macOS.
Is CleanShot X open source?
CleanShot X is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 4, 2026.
Does CleanShot X have a student discount?
30% educational discount. Entering a university-issued email address gives 30% off. For Cloud Pro or update renewals, CleanShot asks students to email from their university address.
Who makes CleanShot X?
CleanShot X is made by MTW.
What are the alternatives to CleanShot X?
The closest alternatives to CleanShot X in our directory are Screen Studio, Loom and Tella. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with CleanShot X.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 4, 2026.