snipping on mac

A snipping tool, also known as a screenshot utility, on your Mac, comes in handy a lot of times. Whether you are helping a friend or creating documentation, a great screenshot goes a long way.

If you are new to macOS, you may not know how to use the familiar snipping tool on Mac. On Windows, you search for an app called Snipping Tool, but things are a little different on macOS.

Worry not, though. We shall share how to use snipping tools on Mac, and these options are available on macOS Sequoia.

Using the built-in snipping tools on Mac

As I said, Macs are shipped with a built-in snipping tool, and it has improved drastically in the last few years. So, if you quickly need a screenshot of an app or the entire screen, you don’t have to wait for a third-party app.

Moreover, based on your requirements, you can use three methods to access the built-in snipping tool on Mac.

#1 Quick Key Shortcuts

Because the Screenshot utility is built into the OS, you can use a few keyboard shortcuts to snip the screen or an app window. These shortcuts are enabled by default.

But if they don’t work, you can navigate to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Screenshot. Make sure that these options are turned on. After that, fire away with the following shortcuts:

  • Shift + Command + 3: Use this to capture the entire screen. If you have two displays, it will capture the active display.
  • Shift + Command + 4: This shortcut lets you capture a portion of the screen. A crosshair will appear, and you can use it to capture a specific area.
  • Shift + Command + 4 + Space: This keyboard shortcut lets you snip a specific window. It makes use of the previous shortcut, but you can select a window and press Space to capture the screenshot.
  • Shift + Command + 6: This keyboard shortcut lets you capture the Touch Bar of your MacBook Pro.

Another impressive feature is the auto-copy option. While using any of the mentioned shortcuts, you can press the Control button to copy the screenshot to the clipboard.

builtin screenshots

#2 Built-in Screenshot.app

macOS also comes with a dedicated app called Screenshot. It is basically the same screenshot tool that we just used. However, you get more options and control. You can launch this app in two ways:

  1. Using Launchpad, where you can search for Screenshot
  2. By pressing Shift + Command + 5

Once you see the overlay, you can choose from a variety of Screenshot options. As you can see in the image below, the Screenshot app lets you snip the whole screen, window, or menu bar. It also offers a few options to record the screen.

You can customize these options to a small extent. However, as always, there are some limits that you would come across.

#3 The Touch Bar

If you have a MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar, you can use it to access the Screenshot utility.

First, you need to access Touch Bar settings and add the Screenshot button to the Control Strip. You can do it by going to System Settings > Keyboard > Touch Bar Settings > Customize Control Strip.

After this, you can tap the Screenshot button on the Touch Bar, and the overlay will appear. You can select an option from the Touch Bar itself or use the on-screen buttons.

Using third-party snipping tools for Mac

As you may have noticed, these options with the built-in snipping tool on macOS are limited. Though it is well integrated with macOS, you need more features for advanced needs—say content for a website or social media.

If you need better-looking, professional screen captures, you need to rely on third-party snipping/screenshot tools for Mac. Fortunately, you can choose between various options, including free and paid ones. Here is a quick overview of the best snipping tools you can get on macOS Sequoia.

#1 CleanShot X

CleanShot X has been our favorite macOS screenshot utility for years—for great reasons. It brings together a bunch of optimized features and an intuitive User Interface. So, regardless of your experience, you can create good-looking screenshots.

cleanshot snipping

Some amazing features of CleanShot X include OCR, editing presets, rich annotation, cloud sync, and native performance. Because it integrates so well with macOS, CleanShot X is the perfect alternative to the built-in snipping tool on your Mac. You can easily pick this if you need an all-in-one screenshot app.

You can get CleanShot X for $29 (one-time payment), $8/month (subscription), or Setapp. When you get it via Setapp, you get cloud-sharing options too.

#2 Monosnap

We completely understand if you don’t want to spend on a snipping tool. In that case, you should check out Monosnap. It is a lightweight yet feature-rich app that performs better than the built-in snipping tool. You can get it for Windows and Chrome as well.

monosnap snipping

Sure, it does not offer advanced editing features, but LightShot makes it easy to share screenshots via the web. It can instantly upload your screenshot and give you a shareable URL. You get 2GB of storage space and support for file formats like PNG, MP4, MOV, and WEBP.

You can use Monosnap free of cost for non-commercial use. However, enterprise plans are available, and they offer advanced collaboration features.

#3 Xnapper

Xnapper is a strong contender to CleanShot X and lets you create stunning screenshots for all needs. You get an amazing set of customization options, background, and preset dimensions. So, you can create that Twitter image or Facebook cover picture without worrying about the right ratio or resolution.

xnapper snipping

We also love how well Xnapper integrates with macOS. After setup, you can create good-looking screen snips in a few seconds. Though it is not as feature-rich as CleanShot X, Xnapper still packs options like redaction of sensitive content. It could use some more annotation tools, though.

Xnapper is available for free (with a watermark), but the premium plan starts at $29.99. Setapp is another way to get it.

#4 Snagit

Many tools we have covered so far offer a screen recording option. However, they are not enough when you want to create professional documentation or videos. In this case, you should check out Snagit by TechSmith. It also offers advanced options for audio recording and other presets.

snagit snipping

The interface of Snagit is simple and intuitive for most people. You can always use it as a simple screenshot tool. TechSmith has added a few AI-powered features, such as OCR, Simplify UI, and element recognition. It makes a huge difference if you deal with a lot of images from different parts of your Mac.

You can get a personal subscription to Snagit for $39 per year, and the perpetual license will cost $62.99 per user. TechSmith offers discounts for education and government alongside its free trial.

#5 Droplr

Sometimes, you need a snipping tool that works great on other platforms as well. If you work for a team of such nature, you should check out Droplr. Droplr is an all-in-one screen recording software that lets you work with audio and video capture options.

Droplr snipping

Droplr focuses more on seamless collaboration and sharing than it does on annotation features. However, it offers the same set of features on Windows, macOS, and Chrome. We’d recommend Droplr for those who need maximum control over their screengrab elements.

Droplr is a paid tool, and the initial subscription for individuals will start at $6 per month. Enterprise versions are costlier, but you can check out its 3-day free trial.

#6 Shottr

Shottr is another worthwhile addition to this list because of its lightweight nature. While it offers an amazing set of features, it doesn’t consume system storage or resources. Instead, you can access Shottr from the menu bar and enjoy its multiple screen capture methods.

shottr snipping

You get some amazing options like scrolling screenshots, OCR, QR, resizing options, markup tools, and newly added backgrounds. These features make it easy to create stunning screenshots on your Mac. You can use it as a screen ruler or editor as well. More so, Shottr receives regular updates.

You can get the full license of Shottr for just $12 or join the Friends Club for $30 and try experimental/beta features. There is a 30-day free trial, too.

Comparing the snipping tool options on Mac

Here’s a quick table to help you decide what works for you:

ToolBest ForKey FeaturesPricing
CleanShot XBest overall snipping toolOCR, editing presets, rich annotation, cloud sync, seamless macOS integration$29 (one-time), $8/month, or via Setapp
MonosnapBest free optionLightweight, instant sharing with URLs, 2GB storage, multiple file format supportFree for non-commercial use; enterprise plans available
XnapperBest for beautiful screenshotsCustomization, background options, redaction tools, preset dimensionsFree (with watermark), Premium: $29.99
SnagitBest for screen recording & editingScreen/audio recording, AI features like OCR and Simplify UI, element recognition$39/year (subscription), $62.99 (perpetual)
DroplrMulti-platform snipping ToolScreen recording, audio/video capture, seamless sharing, multi-platform compatibility$6/month (individual); enterprise plans available
ShottrBest lightweight Snipping appScrolling screenshots, OCR, markup tools, resizing, screen ruler, lightweight performance$12 (full license), $30 (Friends Club), 30-day free trial

Final words

And there you have it! Whether you’re using macOS’s built-in tools or going all out with a third-party app, you’re now ready to capture your screen like a pro. Happy snipping!

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