TextSniper
Mac menu bar tool that copies text from any part of the screen
What is TextSniper?
TextSniper is a small Mac app that recognizes text inside a screen selection and copies it to the clipboard. You press a shortcut and drag over a video frame, PDF, image or any other area whose text cannot be selected, much like taking a screenshot. It also reads QR codes and barcodes and can speak the captured text aloud. It is sold as a one-time purchase, directly or through the Mac App Store, and is included in Setapp.
TextSniper is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $7.99 one-time purchase (license for 1 Mac). See every plan
Good for
- Copying text out of videos, screenshots, scanned PDFs and slides
- Mac users who want text recognition that runs on the device
- Buyers who prefer a small one-time price to a subscription
Worth knowing
- Mac only, requiring macOS Catalina or newer, and the languages it recognizes depend on the macOS version installed.
- There is no standalone trial: the vendor points to Setapp's free week and offers a 7-day money-back guarantee on direct purchases.
- The vendor says it can misread text with a lot of symbols, such as computer code.
- A license is bought once, but the vendor says major upgrades and features come at an additional upgrade cost.
Key features
- Screen text capture
- Press the shortcut, drag over any part of the screen, and the text inside the selection is recognized and copied to the clipboard, ready to paste into another app.
- On-device recognition
- The App Store listing says recognition runs on the device with no internet connection, and the privacy policy says screenshots and text are not stored or sent to outside servers.
- QR code and barcode reader
- Captures a QR code or barcode shown on screen and converts it to text. An option in the settings opens captured links automatically.
- Text to speech
- Has the Mac read recognized text aloud, with a dedicated shortcut for capturing text with speech switched on.
- Languages by macOS version
- English only on macOS Catalina, growing to more than 25 languages on recent macOS versions, with vertical Chinese, Japanese and Korean text recognized from macOS Sonoma.
- Menu bar access and shortcuts
- Runs from the menu bar without a Dock icon, and the capture shortcut can be changed. An iPhone or iPad camera can also be used to capture text and send it to the Mac.
TextSniper pricing
- Starts at
- $7.99 one-time purchase (license for 1 Mac)
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- Free for 7 days through Setapp's trial; direct purchases carry a 7-day money-back guarantee
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| License for 1 Mac | $7.99one-time purchase | A direct license for a single Mac, sold through Gumroad. One button on the homepage still shows $6.99; the checkout price is $7.99. |
| License for 3 Macs | $9.99one-time purchase | A direct license for up to three Macs, sold through Gumroad and described as suited to multi-device, home and office use. |
| Unlimited License | $9.99one-time purchase (US Mac App Store) | The Mac App Store version. The homepage lists it at $11.99, but the US store listing shows $9.99. |
| Setapp | $14.99per month, through a Setapp membership | TextSniper with the rest of the Setapp catalog, free for 7 days. Setapp also lists a TextSniper-only subscription from $6.00 a year. |
Read from textsniper.app on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with TextSniper before you buy.
TextSniper alternatives
- TextSniper vs Shottr
Free plan · from $12 one-time
- TextSniper vs CleanShot X
From $35 one-time
Common questions
Is TextSniper free?
No, TextSniper is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free for 7 days through Setapp's trial; direct purchases carry a 7-day money-back guarantee.
How much does TextSniper cost?
TextSniper lists 4 plans. License for 1 Mac: $7.99 one-time purchase. License for 3 Macs: $9.99 one-time purchase. Unlimited License: $9.99 one-time purchase (US Mac App Store). Setapp: $14.99 per month, through a Setapp membership. Prices were read from textsniper.app on Oct 9, 2026.
What platforms does TextSniper work on?
TextSniper is available on macOS.
Does TextSniper have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. TextSniper is listed for macOS.
Does TextSniper have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. TextSniper is listed for macOS.
Is TextSniper open source?
TextSniper is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does TextSniper work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Who makes TextSniper?
TextSniper is made by Valerijs Boguckis.
What are the alternatives to TextSniper?
The closest alternatives to TextSniper in our directory are Shottr, CleanShot X, Microsoft PowerToys and ShareX. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with TextSniper.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026.