Free native screenshot tool for macOS

The screenshot tool I wanted on my Mac.

Capture an area, window, or display. Then copy, save, edit, or find it again without breaking your flow.

Mac App Store release coming soon Read the launch post

Free, at least for now
No account
No uploads or analytics

PxlShot Quick Access panel with recent capture thumbnails and copy, save, edit, and delete actions

Built for the everyday screenshot

The useful parts are already here.

PxlShot covers the workflow I use every day: grab the right pixels, mark up what matters, hide what should stay private, and get the result where it needs to go.

Capture without hunting through menus

Grab an area, window, or display from the menu bar. Area capture and recent history also have customizable shortcuts.

Do the next thing right away

Quick Access keeps copy, save, edit, delete, drag, and recent captures one click away.

Explain the screenshot

Add arrows, lines, shapes, text, highlights, freehand notes, and numbered steps. Crop it, style the background, or place another image on top.

Remove the private stuff

Blur, pixelate, or permanently redact details. Privacy effects are flattened into the exported image.

Find the shot again

Recent captures stay in a searchable local history with retention controls you choose.

Copy text without an upload

Extract text from the current crop, review the result, and copy it when you are ready. OCR runs locally on your Mac.

A closer look

Native Mac UI. No mystery cloud.

PxlShot annotation editor — A focused editor with the tools that make screenshots useful.

PxlShot permanent redaction tools — Permanent privacy tools for information that should not leave the image.

PxlShot recent capture history — A local history when you need to get back to a recent capture.

PxlShot privacy settings — No account, uploads, analytics, telemetry, or server-side OCR.

Private by default

Your screenshots are not a data source.

PxlShot has no account system, server component, analytics, telemetry, advertising, or network entitlement. Captures and text recognition stay on your Mac.

Read the PxlShot privacy policy

Still building

More is coming. Tell me what would make it better.

I want PxlShot to be a free but genuinely useful alternative to the paid screenshot apps. The first version covers the core workflow, and I already have more on the list.

If a missing feature would make PxlShot your default screenshot tool, email me or use the contact page. Real requests will shape what I build next.

A few quick answers

Is PxlShot really free?

Yes. I am giving it away for free, at least for now. There is no subscription or account.

What version of macOS does it need?

PxlShot requires macOS 14 or newer.

Does OCR upload the screenshot?

No. Text recognition runs on the Mac. You can review the result before copying it.

PxlShot for macOS

Free, private, and almost ready for the Mac App Store.

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