The Windows screenshot tool
that sits in the middle.
Windows capture tools fall into two camps: free but basic or power-user-heavy (Snipping Tool, Greenshot, ShareX), and mature but pricey (Snagit at $60+). PixelCopy is the polished, cloud-connected middle — free to start, $8/month for the cloud. Here's the honest breakdown.
| Feature | PixelCopy | Snagit | ShareX | Snipping Tool | Greenshot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region / window / fullscreen capture | |||||
| Scrolling (long-page) capture | |||||
| Modern annotation editor | |||||
| Screen recording (MP4) | |||||
| GIF recording | |||||
| Webcam overlay for recordings | |||||
| Pin capture on top of everything | |||||
| On-device OCR (grab text) | |||||
| Floating overlay after every capture | |||||
| One-click cloud sharing + short links | |||||
| Manage links: expiry · password · views | |||||
| Post to Slack / Teams / webhooks | |||||
| Automation (URL scheme / workflows) | |||||
| Beginner-friendly, guided workflow | |||||
| Free to use | |||||
| Price | Free · $8/mo Pro | ~$60 one-time | Free | Free | Free |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows + Mac | Windows | Windows | Windows |
Where each one wins.
No stacked deck — every one of these is a good tool, and some beat PixelCopy on price or reach. Here's where each fits.
vs Snagit
Where it wins: Snagit is mature, runs on Windows and Mac, and is a one-time purchase — no subscription if you don't want one. Its capture and annotation suite is deep and well-supported by TechSmith.
Where PixelCopy pulls ahead: But it's around $60 up front, its interface leans heavier and more enterprise, and it has no floating post-capture overlay or modern managed cloud-link workflow. PixelCopy gives you a lighter, faster flow, a real cloud account (links with expiry, passwords, and view counts), pin-to-screen, and a genuinely free tier — with Pro at $8/month if you want the cloud.
vs ShareX
Where it wins: ShareX is free, open-source, and astonishingly capable — capture, recording, OCR, and endless upload destinations and automation. For a tinkerer who wants maximum control at zero cost, it's hard to beat.
Where PixelCopy pulls ahead: The trade-off is the learning curve: ShareX is built for power users and its interface reflects that, and there's no first-party managed cloud account or dedicated support behind it. PixelCopy delivers the same core power through a polished, guided workflow, adds pin-to-screen and the floating overlay, and backs sharing with a real account (expiry, password-protected links, view analytics) plus human support.
vs Snipping Tool
Where it wins: Snipping Tool is free, built into Windows, and perfect when you just need a quick rectangle and a scribble. Nothing to install.
Where PixelCopy pulls ahead: It stops there, though: no scrolling capture, no pin-to-screen, no GIF, no cloud links, no floating overlay, and only light annotation. PixelCopy is the upgrade for when a basic snip isn't enough — and its local features are free too, so it costs nothing to keep both.
vs Greenshot
Where it wins: Greenshot is free, lightweight, and has been a trusted Windows staple for years, with a solid capture-and-annotate flow and handy export options.
Where PixelCopy pulls ahead: It's capture-only, though — no screen recording, no OCR, no pin-to-screen — and its editor feels dated. PixelCopy keeps the fast capture-and-mark-up flow and adds recording, GIF, OCR, pin, a modern editor, and cloud sharing.
Switching questions.
Try it free.
Every local feature is free forever. Installed in under a minute, signed for Windows 10 and 11.
Download for Windows