The FastStone Capture Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about FastStone Capture 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.
FastStone Capture
The Insider’s Guide
Windows screen capture, annotation and screen recorder
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from FastStone Capture’s own pages.
Made by FastStone Corporation · checked Nov 13, 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 FastStone Capture’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on FastStone Capture’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 69 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade
FastStone Capture is a Windows program for taking screenshots of windows, menus, regions and scrolling pages, then marking them up in a built-in editor. It also records the screen to MP4 or WMV files and sells as a one-time license after a 30-day trial.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about FastStone Capture, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating is on record, but it is a program you install and start using with nothing to set up.
- 1
Best for Windows screenshots and recordings for a one-time price
FastStone Capture grabs windows, menus, regions and scrolling pages on Windows, marks them up and records the screen.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $29.95 one-time.
- 3
You can try it first
30-day trial, then a license is required
- 4
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 5
Capture modes
Grab windows, objects, menus, the full screen, rectangular, freehand or fixed-size regions and scrolling windows or web pages.
- 6
Built-in editor
Annotate with text, arrows, highlights, callouts and step numbers, blur an area, and apply edge effects, resizing and cropping.
- 7
Screen recorder
Record screen changes, microphone, speaker audio, webcam and mouse clicks to MP4 or WMV, with a timer and a basic video editor.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 69 of 186
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace FastStone Capture you would be making a video editor. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
FastStone Capture at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $29.95 one-time
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30-day trial, then a license is required
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- FastStone Corporation
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for Windows screenshots and recordings for a one-time price
FastStone Capture grabs windows, menus, regions and scrolling pages on Windows, marks them up and records the screen. It is $29.95 once after a 30-day trial. It runs on Windows only, and recordings save only as MP4 or WMV.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $29.95 once for a lifetime license with free upgrades, under a year of this category's middle subscription. A family license for up to 5 computers is $69.95. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A 30-day trial, then a license is needed. There is no free plan for Capture. |
| Features | B | Capture modes, an editor, a screen recorder, text capture and pinning. The listing names no gap in the core job, though recordings are limited to MP4 and WMV. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating is on record, but it is a program you install and start using with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Windows only. The vendor lists no Mac, Linux or mobile version, and it needs Windows 10 or 11. |
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 FastStone Capture is for
- Fits if you want a one-time purchase for screenshots on a Windows PC
- Works for people who capture scrolling pages and mark them up before sending
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you use a Mac, Linux or a phone, since there is no version for them
- Skip it if you want a free plan: after 30 days a license is required
- Too light for video work beyond MP4 and WMV recordings
- Watch out: it needs Windows 10 or 11
Good to know
Good for
- Windows users who want a one-time purchase instead of a subscription
- Documentation writers who annotate many screenshots
- People who record short screen videos without a separate recorder
Worth knowing
- Windows only: the vendor lists no Mac, Linux or mobile version.
- The vendor says it requires Windows 10 or 11.
- After the 30-day trial a license is required; there is no free plan for Capture.
- Screen recordings save only as MP4 or WMV, with MP3 for audio-only.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$29.95 one-time
To start
FastStone Capture is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $29.95 one-time.
Single license
$29.95
one-time
Lifetime license for one user, with free upgrades; the order page also lists a volume discount.
Family license
$69.95
one-time, for up to 5 computers
Lifetime license for home users covering up to 5 computers.
Trying it first
30-day trial, then a license is required
Read from faststone.org on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Windows
Windows screen capture, annotation and screen recorder. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, screen recording, video editing, screenshots.
Capture modes, an editor, a screen recorder, text capture and pinning.
- Capture modes
- Grab windows, objects, menus, the full screen, rectangular, freehand or fixed-size regions and scrolling windows or web pages.
- Built-in editor
- Annotate with text, arrows, highlights, callouts and step numbers, blur an area, and apply edge effects, resizing and cropping.
- Screen recorder
- Record screen changes, microphone, speaker audio, webcam and mouse clicks to MP4 or WMV, with a timer and a basic video editor.
- Text capture and pinning
- Pull text from an image with OCR and pin a screenshot on top of other windows like a sticky note.
- Send and save options
- Send captures to a file, clipboard, printer, email, an FTP server, or OneNote, Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents.
- Screen tools
- Includes a color picker, magnifier, crosshair and screen ruler, plus global hotkeys and automatic file naming.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
- Microsoft OneNote
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
FastStone Capture is made by FastStone Corporation.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
69/186
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
FastStone Capture's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 69 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 46.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 55 of 186) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. FastStone Capture’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186
- CFree plan and trialAbove 8 of 186
- BFeaturesAbove 113 of 186
- BEase of useAbove 78 of 186
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 186
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 FastStone Capture you would be making a video editor. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $29.95, 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 Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. FastStone Capture’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
ShareX, Greenshot, Snipaste, PicPick and Screenpresso
The 5 tools FastStone Capture is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
ShareX
Free
Free, open-source screenshot and screen recording for Windows.
- ShareX has a free plan. FastStone Capture does not, though it has a free trial.
- FastStone Capture can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- ShareX is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
Greenshot
Free plan · from $1.99 one-time
Free, open-source screenshot tool for Windows with an editor.
- Greenshot has a free plan. FastStone Capture does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Greenshot lists a macOS app.
- FastStone Capture can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.0GPA
Snipaste
Free plan · from $8.99 one-time
Screenshot tool that pins images to the screen as floating windows.
- Snipaste has a free plan. FastStone Capture does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Snipaste lists macOS and Linux apps.
- FastStone Capture also covers screen recording and video editing.
- 2.6GPA
PicPick
Free plan · from $30/yr
Windows screen capture, image editor and design tools in one app.
- PicPick has a free plan. FastStone Capture does not, though it has a free trial.
- FastStone Capture can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- FastStone Capture also covers video editing.
- 2.4GPA
Screenpresso
Free plan
Windows screenshot and video capture with a built-in editor.
- Screenpresso has a free plan. FastStone Capture does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Screenpresso lists a browser extension.
- FastStone Capture also covers video editing.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 FastStone Capture free?
No, FastStone Capture is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day trial, then a license is required.
How much does FastStone Capture cost?
FastStone Capture lists 2 plans. Single license: $29.95 one-time.
What platforms does FastStone Capture work on?
FastStone Capture is available on Windows.
Does FastStone Capture have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. FastStone Capture is listed for Windows.
Does FastStone Capture have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. FastStone Capture is listed for Windows.
Is FastStone Capture open source?
FastStone Capture is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does FastStone Capture integrate with?
FastStone Capture's listing names Microsoft OneNote, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint.
Who makes FastStone Capture?
FastStone Capture is made by FastStone Corporation.
What are the alternatives to FastStone Capture?
The closest alternatives to FastStone Capture in our directory are ShareX, Greenshot, Snipaste, PicPick and Screenpresso.
How does FastStone Capture compare with other desktop utilities?
FastStone Capture's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 69 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 46.
Could I make my own version of FastStone Capture?
To replace FastStone Capture 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 FastStone Capture’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from FastStone Corporation's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
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 FastStone Corporation. Prices change, so check faststone.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- FastStone Capture, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/faststone-capture
- 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, "FastStone Capture: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/faststone-capture
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/faststone-capture/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
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- Just Color Picker Insider's GuideFree portable color picker and editor for Windows and macOS3.2 GPA
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Mos Insider's GuideFree Mac menu bar utility for smooth mouse wheel scrolling3.2 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 FastStone Capture’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. FastStone Capture is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by FastStone Corporation. Prices and plans change: check faststone.org before you buy.