The Lightshot Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Lightshot 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.
Lightshot
The Insider’s Guide
Screenshot tool for selecting an area and sharing a link
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Lightshot’s own pages.
Made by Skillbrains · checked Nov 12, 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 Lightshot’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Lightshot’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 83 of the 96 other desktop utilities we grade
Lightshot is a screenshot app for Windows and Mac, with browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. You select any area of the screen, edit the capture, and upload it to get a short link. It also offers a similar-image search for a selected region. The site lists the download as free.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Lightshot, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You press a key, drag, and save or share.
- 1
Best for quick area screenshots shared as a link
Lightshot grabs a chosen area of the screen and can upload it for a short link.
- 2
It is free
Lightshot has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
Windows and macOS, with a browser extension too.
- 4
Area capture
Select any region of the desktop and capture it in two clicks.
- 5
Instant edit
Edit a capture while taking it, or later in the online editor.
- 6
Upload and short link
Uploads the image to the vendor's server and returns a short link right away.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 83 of 96
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Lightshot is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Lightshot at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Browser extension
- Made by
- Skillbrains
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for quick area screenshots shared as a link
Lightshot grabs a chosen area of the screen and can upload it for a short link. It is free, but sharing sends your image to the vendor's server, and the site's footer stops at 2022.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free on Windows and Mac, under 60% of the category's cheaper quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright with no cap listed and nothing locked. |
| Features | C | Area capture, quick edit, upload with a short link and similar-image search. There is no listed scrolling capture or screen recording, so it covers a narrow job. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record. You press a key, drag, and save or share. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows, Mac and browser extensions. All computers, with no phone app and no listed integrations. |
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 Lightshot is for
- Fits if you want a free screenshot tool that makes a link
- Works for people who take a screenshot a few times a day
Who it is not for
- Watch out: sharing uploads your image to the vendor's server
- Not for you if you want screen recording, as none is listed
- Skip it if you use Linux, as no app is listed
- Watch out: the footer shows 2009 to 2022, which suggests updates are rare
Good to know
Good for
- People who want a simple, no-cost screenshot tool
- Sharing a quick screenshot as a link
Worth knowing
- Sharing uploads the image to the vendor's server.
- The site's footer shows a 2009-2022 copyright, which suggests updates are infrequent.
- No Linux app is listed on the page.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Lightshot is free to use.
Free outright with no cap listed and nothing locked.
Lightshot
$0
The download page offers the app for free on Windows and Mac.
Read from app.prntscr.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Browser extension
Screenshot tool for selecting an area and sharing a link. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: screenshots, file sharing.
Area capture, quick edit, upload with a short link and similar-image search.
- Area capture
- Select any region of the desktop and capture it in two clicks.
- Instant edit
- Edit a capture while taking it, or later in the online editor.
- Upload and short link
- Uploads the image to the vendor's server and returns a short link right away.
- Similar image search
- Select an image on screen to find similar images.
- Gallery
- A signed-in My Gallery page keeps your uploaded screenshots.
- Browser extensions
- Extensions for Chrome and Firefox are linked from the site, alongside the desktop apps.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Browser extension
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Lightshot is made by Skillbrains.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
83/96
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Lightshot's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 83 of the 96 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 53 of 96) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Lightshot has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 97 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Lightshot’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 96
- AFree plan and trialAbove 53 of 96
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 96
- BEase of useAbove 34 of 96
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 62 of 96
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 52 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Lightshot is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
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
Lightshot is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 83 of the 96 other desktop utilities we grade.
What you could not
- Capture tools hooked into the operating system.
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- A real app for macOS and Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
What this rests on. Lightshot’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
Shottr, ShareX, Greenshot and Flameshot
The 4 tools Lightshot is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Shottr
Free plan · from $12 one-time
Small Mac screenshot tool with annotation, OCR and a ruler.
- Only Lightshot lists a Windows app.
- Only Lightshot lists a browser extension.
- Shottr can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
ShareX
Free
Free, open-source screenshot and screen recording for Windows.
- Only Lightshot lists a macOS app.
- Only Lightshot lists a browser extension.
- 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.
- Only Lightshot lists a browser extension.
- Greenshot is open source, according to its own site.
- Lightshot also covers file sharing.
- 3.0GPA
Flameshot
Free
Free, open-source screenshot tool with on-screen annotation.
- Only Lightshot lists a browser extension.
- Only Flameshot lists a Linux app.
- Flameshot is open source, according to its own site.
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 Lightshot free?
Yes. Lightshot is free to use.
How much does Lightshot cost?
Lightshot lists one plan. Lightshot: $0.
What platforms does Lightshot work on?
Lightshot is available on Windows and macOS. It also has a browser extension.
Does Lightshot have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Lightshot is listed for Windows and macOS.
Does Lightshot have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Lightshot is listed for Windows and macOS.
Is Lightshot open source?
Lightshot is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Who makes Lightshot?
Lightshot is made by Skillbrains.
What are the alternatives to Lightshot?
The closest alternatives to Lightshot in our directory are Shottr, ShareX, Greenshot and Flameshot.
How does Lightshot compare with other desktop utilities?
Lightshot's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 83 of the 96 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 10.
Is Lightshot good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Lightshot A for value for money. Lightshot has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Lightshot?
Lightshot is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Lightshot’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Skillbrains's own pages on 12 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 Skillbrains. Prices change, so check app.prntscr.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
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.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Lightshot, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/lightshot
- 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, "Lightshot: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/lightshot
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/lightshot/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after Lightshot, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 97 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- PeaZip Insider's GuideFree file archiver for Linux, macOS and Windows3.2 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 Lightshot’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. Lightshot is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Skillbrains. Prices and plans change: check app.prntscr.com before you buy.