The CleanShot X Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about CleanShot X in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
CleanShot X
The Insider’s Guide
Mac screenshot and screen recording app with a one-time license
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among screen recording and video tools, read from CleanShot X’s own pages.
Made by MTW · checked Oct 4, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from CleanShot X’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on CleanShot X’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 4, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 1 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about CleanShot X, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: press the shortcut, mark it up, drag it where it's going.
- 1
Best for screenshots and quick recordings on a Mac
CleanShot X is a Mac screenshot and recording app: scrolling capture, annotation, text from images, MP4 and GIF recording and a small video editor, for $35 once.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $35 one-time payment, including one year of updates.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
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.
- 5
Screen recording
Record to MP4 or GIF with microphone and computer audio, a camera overlay, and keystrokes and clicks shown on screen.
- 6
Built-in video editor
Add zooms, refine cursor movement and adjust backgrounds on a screen recording without leaving the app.
- 7
A 2.0 GPA, above 1 of 52
That is against the other screen recording and video tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace CleanShot X you would be making a video editor. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
CleanShot X at a glance
- Pricing
- Paid, from $35 one-time payment, including one year of updates
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- MTW
- Category
- Screen Recording & Video
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for screenshots and quick recordings on a Mac
CleanShot X is a Mac screenshot and recording app: scrolling capture, annotation, text from images, MP4 and GIF recording and a small video editor, for $35 once. That covers a year of updates and 1 GB of cloud, and later updates are $19 a year. It's Mac only with no Windows version planned, and there's no trial at all, only a 30-day money-back guarantee.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $35 once for the Basic license, with a year of updates and 1 GB of cloud storage. A one-off under a year of this category's $10 middle, and the app keeps working if you skip the optional $19 a year for later updates. |
| Free plan and trial | F | Nothing is free. No free plan, no trial, not even a limited one. All you get is a 30-day money-back guarantee, and that isn't trying before you pay. |
| Features | C | Area, window, full-screen and scrolling captures, annotations, 20 background presets, text recognition in 30-odd languages, MP4 and GIF recording with keystrokes shown, and an editor for zooms and cursor tidying. Screenshots done fully, which is a smaller job than video editing. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: press the shortcut, mark it up, drag it where it's going. The cloud is optional and the app is fine without it. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, macOS 13 or newer, and the vendor says a Windows version isn't planned. One operating system, no integrations on record, and a license runs on one Mac at a time. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who CleanShot X is for
- Fits if you take and mark up screenshots on a Mac many times a day
- Works for people who'd rather pay $35 once than subscribe
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on Windows, as it's macOS only and no Windows version is planned
- Not for you if you want to try before you buy, since there's no trial, only a 30-day refund
- Pricey if you want unlimited cloud storage, because that needs Pro at $10 per user a month billed annually
- Watch out: the $35 license covers one year of updates, and after that it's $19 a year to keep getting them
- Tight if you work across two Macs, as a license is active on one Mac at a time, and it needs macOS 13
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$35 one-time
To start
CleanShot X is a paid product, starting at $35 one-time payment, including one year of updates.
No free plan, no trial, not even a limited one.
CleanShot Basic
$35
one-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
$10
per 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.
Ways to pay less
Lifetime license
One-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.comAnnual discount
17% 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.comEducation
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.
Stated on cleanshot.comOther savings
20% off for PixelSnap customers
Existing PixelSnap 2 customers get 20% off CleanShot, according to the pricing page.
Stated on cleanshot.comOther savings
Included with Setapp
CleanShot is also available through a Setapp subscription, which bundles it with more than 200 other apps.
Stated on cleanshot.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Mac screenshot and screen recording app with a one-time license. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, screen recording, video editing, screenshots.
Screenshots done fully, which is a smaller job than video editing.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
CleanShot X is made by MTW.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
1/52
Other screen recording and video tools it is graded above
CleanShot X's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 1 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 39 of 52) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 53 screen recording and video tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. CleanShot X’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 39 of 52
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 52
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 52
- BEase of useAbove 20 of 52
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 52
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace CleanShot X you would be making a video editor. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 49 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools grade higher. It costs $35, paid once.
What you could not
- A video editor.
- Capture tools hooked into the operating system.
- Recording the screen with its sound, and somewhere to keep the video.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. CleanShot X’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Screen Studio, Loom and Tella
The 3 tools CleanShot X is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.6GPA
Screen Studio
From $9/mo
Mac screen recorder with automatic zooms and cursor smoothing.
- CleanShot X can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- CleanShot X also covers screenshots.
- Screen Studio also covers transcription.
- 2.8GPA
Loom
Free plan · from $18/mo
Screen and camera recorder for shareable video messages.
- Loom has a free plan. CleanShot X does not.
- Only Loom lists Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Only Loom lists a browser extension.
- 2.6GPA
Tella
Free trial · from $13/mo
Screen recorder with a built-in editor, layouts and 4K export.
- Only Tella lists a web app.
- Only Tella lists a Windows app.
- Only Tella lists a browser extension.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
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.
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.
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.
How does CleanShot X compare with other screen recording and video tools?
CleanShot X's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 1 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 2.
Could I make my own version of CleanShot X?
To replace CleanShot X you would be making a video editor. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from CleanShot X’s own pages on Oct 4, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from CleanShot's own pages on 4 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-09.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by MTW. Prices change, so check cleanshot.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- CleanShot X, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/cleanshot-x
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "CleanShot X: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 4, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/cleanshot-x
Know someone choosing between screen recording and video tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/cleanshot-x/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded screen recording and video tools after CleanShot X, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Screen Recording & Video Insider's GuideEvery one of the 53 screen recording and video tools we grade, compared
- DaVinci Resolve Insider's GuideVideo editing, color, effects and audio post-production in one app3.4 GPA
- Zencastr Insider's GuideFree podcast recording, chat-based editing and hosting in one app3.4 GPA
- Cap Insider's GuideOpen-source screen recorder with instant share links and an editor3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what CleanShot X’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. CleanShot X is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by MTW. Prices and plans change: check cleanshot.com before you buy.