ShareX for Mac: 7 Best Alternatives in 2026

# ShareX for Mac: The Best Alternatives for macOS Users in 2026

Looking for ShareX for Mac? Here's the short answer: ShareX doesn't exist for macOS. It's Windows-only. That's unlikely to change.

But don't worry. Several Mac alternatives offer the same powerful features. Screenshot capture, screen recording, annotations—they're all covered.

Switching from Windows? Just heard about ShareX? This guide covers the 7 best alternatives for macOS. We'll compare features and pricing. You'll find the right tool for your workflow.

Why ShareX Isn't Available for Mac

ShareX is an open-source screenshot tool. It's wildly popular on Windows. The app is free and packed with features. Custom capture regions, annotation tools, GIF recording, cloud upload—it has everything. So why no Mac version?

It comes down to how it's built. ShareX uses Windows-only tech. That means .NET Framework and Windows APIs. These won't work on macOS. The developers considered a Mac port years ago. But it would mean building from scratch. That's a huge task for a volunteer team.

The good news? macOS has tons of screenshot tools. Many match or beat ShareX. Some are free. Others cost a one-time fee. A few need subscriptions. Let's find your best fit.

What Makes ShareX Great (And What to Look For)

Before we list options, let's look at what ShareX users love. These features help you find the right Mac match.

Many capture modes: ShareX offers full screen, active window, region, scrolling, and freehand. Grab exactly what you need. No cropping later.

Built-in markup tools: Arrows, shapes, text, blur, pixelate, numbered steps, speech bubbles—all built in. Mark up screenshots right after capture. No need for another app.

GIF recording: One of ShareX's best features. Record your screen as a GIF directly. No video files. No extra steps. Perfect for tutorials and bug reports.

Cloud upload: ShareX works with many cloud services. Capture, upload, get a link. All in one smooth flow. No manual file handling needed.

Custom actions: Perhaps ShareX's most underrated feature. Set up actions that run after capture. Resize, add watermarks, upload, copy to clipboard. Fully automated.

Free and open-source: No cost, no subs, no limits. Donations fund it. A loyal community keeps it running.

When picking an option, focus on features you actually use. A developer sharing bug reports has different needs. A designer making marketing images needs different tools. Not every ShareX feature exists on Mac. Focus on what matters most.

7 Best ShareX Alternatives for Mac in 2026

Here are the 7 best ShareX alternatives for Mac in 2026:

1. ScreenSnap Pro — Best overall ShareX replacement ($29 one-time)
2. CleanShot X — Most feature-rich option ($29+)
3. Shottr — Best free option
4. Flameshot — Best open-source option
5. Monosnap — Best for cloud-first workflows (free/$3.75/mo)
6. Lightshot — Best for quick screenshots (free)
7. macOS Built-in Screenshot — Best for minimalists (free)

Let's explore each option in detail.

1. ScreenSnap Pro — Best Overall ShareX Replacement

Pricing: $29 one-time purchase

Want the closest Mac match to ShareX? ScreenSnap Pro delivers. It packs screenshot capture, GIF recording, markup tools, and cloud sharing into one fast app. All for a one-time price.

Key features:

• Multiple capture modes (full screen, window, region)
• 11 annotation tools including blur, pixelate, and arrows
• GIF recording directly to file or cloud
• Instant cloud upload with shareable links
• 22+ gradient backgrounds for polished screenshots
• OCR text extraction from images
• Pin screenshots to stay on top

ScreenSnap Pro nails the capture-to-share flow. ShareX users will feel at home. Take a screenshot. Mark it up. Share a link—all in seconds. Pay once, own it forever. No monthly fees like many rivals.

Best for: Developers, designers, and anyone who wants ShareX-like features without subscriptions.

2. CleanShot X — Most Feature-Rich Option

Pricing: $29 (or $8/month for cloud features)

CleanShot X is the top pick in most "ShareX for Mac" threads. And for good reason. It's polished, powerful, and gets regular updates. Check our CleanShot X options guide for more info.

Key features:

• Scrolling capture for long webpages
• Screen recording with video editing
• Built-in annotation tools
• Quick access overlay
• Cloud storage (with subscription)
• OCR text recognition

CleanShot X shines in polish and style. Screenshots look great right away. The Quick Access overlay keeps recent captures one click away.

The catch: Video features require the Pro subscription ($8/month). For screenshots only, the base license works fine.

Best for: Users who want premium polish and don't mind the subscription model.

3. Shottr — Best Free Option

Pricing: Free

Shottr does a lot for a free app. It handles most ShareX-style tasks. Zero cost. See how it stacks up in our ScreenSnap Pro vs Shottr guide.

Key features:

• Region, window, and full screen capture
• Scrolling screenshots
• Basic annotation (arrows, shapes, text)
• OCR text extraction
• Pixel-perfect measurement tools
• Color picker

Shottr is built by one developer. Made for speed. It launches fast, captures fast, and stays out of your way. The markup tools are more limited than paid options. They cover the basics well.

What's missing: No GIF recording, limited cloud features, fewer annotation options.

Best for: Budget-conscious users, developers who need measurement tools, anyone testing before committing to paid options.

4. Flameshot — Best Open-Source Option

Pricing: Free and open-source

Coming from ShareX's open-source world? Flameshot shares that spirit on Mac. It's free. Built by the community. Easy to tweak.

Key features:

• Flexible capture interface
• Built-in markup tools
• Upload to Imgur directly
• Works on Mac, Linux, and Windows
• Custom keyboard shortcuts

Flameshot's interface shows up right when you capture. Mark up instantly. It's not as smooth as paid options. But the price (free) and freedom are hard to beat.

What's missing: No GIF recording, no cloud storage (beyond Imgur), occasional rough edges.

Best for: Open-source enthusiasts, Linux users switching to Mac, anyone wanting cross-platform consistency.

5. Monosnap — Best for Cloud-First Workflows

Pricing: Free tier available, $3.75/month for Pro

Monosnap focuses on cloud storage and team sharing. Share lots of screenshots with teammates? It makes that flow faster.

Key features:

• Screenshot and video recording
• Cloud upload with team workspaces
• Basic annotation tools
• Works with Slack, Jira, and more
• Links to AWS, Google Cloud storage

The free tier includes basic capture and limited cloud storage. Pro adds more storage. Also custom domain and priority upload speeds.

What's missing: Annotation tools feel dated, requires account creation, subscription model for serious use.

Best for: Teams, enterprise users, anyone deeply integrated with cloud workflows.

6. Lightshot — Best for Quick Screenshots

Pricing: Free

Lightshot keeps things simple. Capture a region. Annotate quickly. Share. That's it. Looking for more options? Check our Lightshot alternatives for Mac.

Key features:

• Two-click screenshot capture
• Basic annotation (arrows, text, lines)
• Direct upload to prnt.sc
• Browser extension available
• Minimal resource usage

Lightshot is all about speed. Hit the shortcut. Drag a region. Add a note if needed. Share. For quick "look at this" screenshots, it's hard to beat.

What's missing: No GIF recording, limited annotation tools, no local save by default, privacy concerns with automatic upload.

Best for: Quick screenshots for sharing, users who value simplicity over features.

7. macOS Built-in Screenshot — Best for Minimalists

Pricing: Free (included with macOS)

Don't overlook what Apple gives you. Modern macOS has solid screenshot tools. Many users never find them.

Key features:

• ⌘ + Shift + 3: Full screen capture
• ⌘ + Shift + 4: Region selection
• ⌘ + Shift + 5: Screenshot/recording toolbar
• Timer delay options
• Floating thumbnail for quick markup
• Basic markup in Preview

The ⌘ + Shift + 5 toolbar debuted in macOS Mojave. It raised the bar. Set where to save. Toggle the floating thumbnail. Pick capture modes. All without extra apps.

What's missing: No cloud upload, limited annotation in Preview, no GIF recording, no scrolling capture.

Best for: Users who rarely need screenshots, minimalists, anyone avoiding third-party apps.

For more details on the built-in options, check out our complete guide to Mac screenshot shortcuts.

Feature Comparison Table

Which ShareX Alternative Should You Choose?

Here's the decision framework:

Choose ScreenSnap Pro if:

• You want ShareX-like features without subscriptions
• GIF recording and annotation matter equally
• You value one-time pricing
• Cloud sharing is part of your workflow

Choose CleanShot X if:

• You prioritize polish and presentation
• Video recording is important (with Pro subscription)
• You don't mind subscription pricing

Choose Shottr if:

• You want free and capable
• You need measurement/pixel tools for development
• GIF recording isn't essential

Choose Flameshot if:

• Open-source matters to you
• You use multiple operating systems
• You're comfortable with occasional rough edges

Choose macOS Built-in if:

• You rarely take screenshots
• Simplicity trumps features
• You want zero additional software

GIF Recording: A Key ShareX Feature

One of ShareX's most loved features is direct GIF recording. Capture your screen as a GIF. No video steps in between. This is great for:

• Bug reports showing behavior
• Quick tutorials
• Social media content
• Documentation

On Mac, not all options have this. ScreenSnap Pro and CleanShot X both do GIF recording well. This feature matters to you? Skip tools that lack it.

For a deeper dive, see our guide on how to record GIFs on Mac.

Annotation Tools Compared

ShareX's markup tools are top-tier. Arrows, shapes, blur, pixelate, speech bubbles, numbered steps. When moving to Mac, markup power matters.

The best markup comes from ScreenSnap Pro and CleanShot X. ScreenSnap Pro has 11 tools: blur, pixelate, counter, and more. CleanShot X offers a full toolkit with polish. Shottr and Flameshot cover basics. They lack extras like numbered steps or emoji stamps.

If markup is key to your work, read our full guide on how to mark up screenshots on Mac.

Can You Run ShareX on Mac with Wine or Virtualization?

Yes, in theory. You could run ShareX via Wine, CrossOver, or a Windows VM. In practice? Not worth the hassle:

• Wine/CrossOver: ShareX has issues, especially with capture
• Virtual machines: Adds bloat and can't capture the Mac desktop
• Boot Camp: Defeats the goal—you'd be in Windows

Native Mac options work much better. Save VMs for apps with no real alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ShareX available for Mac?

No. ShareX is Windows-only. No Mac version exists. The developers have no plans to port it. The technical effort would be too significant.

What is the closest ShareX alternative for Mac?

ScreenSnap Pro offers the closest feature set. Screenshot capture, GIF recording, annotation tools, and cloud upload—all in one app. CleanShot X is another popular choice. It has similar capabilities.

Is there a free ShareX alternative for Mac?

Yes. Shottr and Flameshot are both free. They cover most basic screenshot needs. macOS also includes built-in screenshot tools. These work well for simple captures.

Can I run ShareX on Mac using Wine?

Technically possible, but not recommended. ShareX's screen capture has compatibility issues with Wine. Native Mac alternatives work much better.

What ShareX features are hardest to replace on Mac?

ShareX's custom actions have no direct Mac match. These are tasks that run after capture. Most options offer basic "after capture" actions. But not full scripting. Region-to-GIF is also less common. Pick ScreenSnap Pro or CleanShot X if you need it.

Do Mac screenshot options work with M1/M2/M3 Macs?

Yes. All options in this guide work on Apple Silicon Macs. That includes M1, M2, M3, and newer. ScreenSnap Pro, CleanShot X, and Shottr run natively. Best speed guaranteed. The built-in macOS tools work on all Mac models.

Tips for Transitioning from ShareX to Mac

Switching from Windows to Mac means relearning habits. The good news? Most concepts transfer directly. Here are tips to make the transition smoother:

Learn new shortcuts: Mac uses ⌘ + Shift combos instead of the Windows Print Screen key. Start with the built-in ⌘ + Shift + 5 toolbar. Most third-party apps let you customize shortcuts to match your muscle memory. ScreenSnap Pro and CleanShot X both support custom key bindings.

Set your save spot: ShareX saves screenshots to a configured folder automatically. On Mac, you'll need to set this up in your chosen app. The built-in tools default to Desktop, but you can change this. See our guide on changing screenshot location on Mac.

Set up cloud early: Did you rely on ShareX's cloud upload feature? Turn on your Mac app's cloud integration right away. This keeps your capture-upload-share workflow smooth from day one. Both ScreenSnap Pro and Monosnap offer instant cloud upload with shareable links.

Rebuild your presets: Some Mac apps save markup styles and preferences. Had set colors, arrow sizes, or text formats in ShareX? Take time to recreate them in your new tool. ScreenSnap Pro remembers your last-used annotation settings.

Give it time: Every app has quirks. Use your new tool for a few days before judging. Small gripes often fade once you learn the workflow. The muscle memory will come.

Know the limitations: Some ShareX features simply don't have Mac equivalents. The extensive automation and scripting? Not available. But most daily screenshot needs are covered. Focus on what you actually use, not what you might use someday.

Choosing the Right Tool for Your Use Case

Different workflows need different tools. Here's a quick guide based on common use cases:

For developers sharing bug reports: Choose ScreenSnap Pro or Shottr. Both offer quick capture, annotation, and sharing. Shottr's measurement tools help with UI debugging. ScreenSnap Pro's GIF recording captures behavior that screenshots can't show.

For designers creating marketing assets: CleanShot X or ScreenSnap Pro. Both offer polished output and professional backgrounds. CleanShot X has more visual polish. ScreenSnap Pro includes 22+ gradient backgrounds for instant beautification.

For support teams documenting issues: Monosnap works well for teams. Cloud storage, team workspaces, and integrations with Slack and Jira streamline the handoff process.

For content creators making tutorials: ScreenSnap Pro's GIF recording and numbered annotation steps shine here. CleanShot X offers similar capabilities with video support (subscription required).

For casual users with basic needs: Start with macOS built-in tools or Shottr. Both are free. Both handle simple captures well. Upgrade later if you need more.

Making the Switch

Leaving ShareX for a Mac option doesn't mean giving up speed. The Mac screenshot scene has grown a lot. Several tools match or beat what ShareX does on Windows. The key is finding what fits your needs.

For most ShareX users, ScreenSnap Pro hits the sweet spot. Familiar features. Mac-native design. The markup tools feel natural. GIF recording just works. Cloud upload creates shareable links in seconds. Just like you're used to.

On a budget? Start with Shottr. It's free. Does a lot for daily screenshot tasks. You can go paid later if you need more.

Ready to level up your screenshots? Check our list of the best screenshot apps for Mac. More picks in our Greenshot for Mac and Snagit options guides.

Whatever you pick, good ShareX options exist for Mac. You don't have to settle. Switching systems doesn't mean downgrading tools.