What it does
CleanShot X is a macOS capture toolkit with screenshot markup, redaction, backgrounds and screen recording. Recording features include a webcam overlay, click highlights, key display and zooms, with MP4 or GIF output and optional cloud sharing.
Select a capture area, window or scrolling page, then use the capture overlay to save, copy or drag the result into another app. Before sharing, arrows, counters and highlights can explain the relevant controls. Blur, pixelation and solid redaction hide sensitive details. An editable CleanShot file keeps annotations and styling available for later changes.
The Background Tool adds spacing, shadows and reusable brand presets around a screenshot. Capture History can retain recent screenshots for up to a month, and on-device text recognition copies text from images. For a moving explanation, record the screen with optional camera, keystrokes and click highlights, then use Studio Mode to add animated zooms. MP4 and GIF output fit different publishing needs.
Basic is a one-time purchase of the full Mac app, one year of updates and 1 GB of cloud storage. Continued updates are optional after that year. Pro is a subscription with ongoing updates, unlimited cloud storage and team controls. Cloud use is optional for the app itself. The current version requires macOS 13 or later and has no direct free trial; the purchase includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Strengths
- Screenshot markup and presentation backgrounds are combined.
- Recordings can include click highlights, keystrokes and a webcam overlay.
Watch out for
- The current application requires macOS 13 or later.
- Basic includes one year of updates; later updates require renewal.
Best for
- Mac teams preparing product screenshots and short demonstrations
Sources
- CleanShot X for Mac (Oct 27, 2026)
- CleanShot X – Screenshots (Oct 27, 2026)
- CleanShot X – Pricing (Oct 27, 2026)
- CleanShot X – FAQ (Oct 27, 2026)
- CleanShot X – EULA (Oct 27, 2026)