The Xnip Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Xnip 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.
Xnip
The Insider’s Guide
Mac screenshot tool with scrolling capture and annotation
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Xnip’s own pages.
Made by Xnip · 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 Xnip’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Xnip’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
2.4
GPA, above 35 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade
Xnip is a Mac screenshot app that captures regions, windows and scrolling pages and opens each capture for markup straight away. It recognizes text on screen with an on-device engine and can pin images above other windows. The free version adds a watermark that paid options remove.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Xnip, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Free screenshots carry a watermark, and the listing shows two purchases with the same name at different prices.
- 1
Best for Mac screenshots you mark up right away
Xnip is a Mac screenshot app for regions, windows and scrolling pages, with markup and on-device text recognition.
- 2
Paid plans start at $0.42 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $4.99 per year (Xnip Pro).
- 3
There is a free plan
Free download from the Mac App Store; screenshots carry a watermark that the paid options remove.
- 4
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 5
Scrolling capture
Captures webpages, long chats, documents and code that extend past the screen into a single screenshot.
- 6
Window capture
Captures a window with its natural macOS shadow; holding Shift selects several windows to capture at once.
- 7
Annotation on capture
Markup, draw, pixelate, step-number and highlight tools open right after a capture, and the capture area can be resized while you work.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 35 of 186
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
It depends on the utility: a converter or a calculator is an afternoon.
Xnip at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $4.99 per year (Xnip Pro)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Xnip
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for Mac screenshots you mark up right away
Xnip is a Mac screenshot app for regions, windows and scrolling pages, with markup and on-device text recognition. Free screenshots carry a watermark, and the listing shows two purchases with the same name at different prices.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Xnip Pro is $4.99 a year, below 60% of the cheapest quarter of this category's subscriptions. The no-watermark in-app purchase is $7.99 once. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Free to download, but every screenshot carries a watermark until you pay. |
| Features | C | Scrolling and window capture, annotation, text recognition and pinned images. It does the capture job fully, which is a smaller job than a recorder-and-editor suite. |
| 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 | Mac only. The listing says macOS 13.5 or later and shows no Windows, phone or web version. |
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 Xnip is for
- Fits if you take screenshots on a Mac and mark them up straight away
- Works for people who want text lifted out of an image on the device
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want clean screenshots without paying, since the free version adds a watermark
- Skip it if you use Windows or a phone, as it runs only on Mac
- Too light for screen recording, which the listing does not mention
- Watch out: the same purchase name appears at $7.99 and $9.99 and the listing does not explain why
- Watch out: it needs macOS 13.5 or later
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who need scrolling screenshots of long pages
- Quick capture and markup from a single shortcut
- People who want OCR that runs on the Mac, not in the cloud
Worth knowing
- Mac only; the App Store listing says it requires macOS 13.5 or later.
- Free screenshots carry a watermark; removing it needs a paid in-app purchase.
- The listing shows two purchases with the same name at $7.99 and $9.99 and does not explain the difference.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$0.42
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Xnip has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4.99 per year (Xnip Pro).
Free to download, but every screenshot carries a watermark until you pay.
Free
$0
Screenshot capture and annotation; screenshots carry a watermark.
Xnip Pro Yearly Subscription
$4.99
per year, auto-renewing
Removes the watermark and includes access to features in future updates.
No watermark & Edit window
$7.99
one-time; a second purchase of that name shows $9.99
In-app purchase listed twice under one name at $7.99 and $9.99; the listing does not say how they differ.
The free plan
Free download from the Mac App Store; screenshots carry a watermark that the paid options remove.
Read from apps.apple.com 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: macOS
Mac screenshot tool with scrolling capture and annotation. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, screenshots.
Scrolling and window capture, annotation, text recognition and pinned images.
- Scrolling capture
- Captures webpages, long chats, documents and code that extend past the screen into a single screenshot.
- Window capture
- Captures a window with its natural macOS shadow; holding Shift selects several windows to capture at once.
- Annotation on capture
- Markup, draw, pixelate, step-number and highlight tools open right after a capture, and the capture area can be resized while you work.
- Text recognition
- Recognizes text anywhere on screen with an on-device engine; the vendor describes the app as fully offline.
- Pinned images
- Pins an image as an always-on-top floating window so a reference stays visible while you work in other apps.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Xnip is made by Xnip.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
35/186
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Xnip's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 35 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 33.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 55 of 186) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $0.42 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $2.99 for the category: 2 of the 36 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 23 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Xnip’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186
- CFree plan and trialAbove 8 of 186
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 186
- BEase of useAbove 78 of 186
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 186
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Xnip 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.
Your call
It depends on the utility: a converter or a calculator is an afternoon.
Xnip sits between: not beyond making, and not a weekend's work either. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $4.99 a year it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.
What you could not
- Capture tools hooked into the operating system.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Xnip’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, TextSniper, Snipaste, Lightshot and Flameshot
The 5 tools Xnip 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.
- Shottr can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.2GPA
TextSniper
Free trial · from $7.99 one-time
Mac menu bar tool that copies text from any part of the screen.
- Xnip has a free plan. TextSniper does not, though it has a free trial.
- TextSniper can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Xnip also covers screenshots.
- 3.0GPA
Snipaste
Free plan · from $8.99 one-time
Screenshot tool that pins images to the screen as floating windows.
- Only Snipaste lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Snipaste can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.0GPA
Lightshot
Free
Screenshot tool for selecting an area and sharing a link.
- Only Lightshot lists a Windows app.
- Only Lightshot lists a browser extension.
- Lightshot also covers file sharing.
- 3.0GPA
Flameshot
Free
Free, open-source screenshot tool with on-screen annotation.
- Only Flameshot lists Windows and Linux apps.
- 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
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 Xnip free?
Xnip has a free plan. Free download from the Mac App Store; screenshots carry a watermark that the paid options remove.
How much does Xnip cost?
Xnip lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Xnip work on?
Xnip is available on macOS.
Does Xnip have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Xnip is listed for macOS.
Does Xnip have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Xnip is listed for macOS.
Is Xnip open source?
Xnip is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Xnip 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 Xnip?
Xnip is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Xnip?
The closest alternatives to Xnip in our directory are Shottr, TextSniper, Snipaste, Lightshot and Flameshot.
How does Xnip compare with other desktop utilities?
Xnip's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 35 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 33.
Is Xnip good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Xnip A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $0.42 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $2.99 for the category: 2 of the 36 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Xnip?
It depends on the utility: a converter or a calculator is an afternoon.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Xnip’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 Xnip'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 Xnip. Prices change, so check xnipapp.com 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
- Xnip, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/xnip
- 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, "Xnip: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/xnip
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/xnip/guide
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See our other guides
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- 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 Xnip’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. Xnip is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Xnip. Prices and plans change: check xnipapp.com before you buy.