When it comes to taking screenshots on Windows 10, pressing the Print Screen key gets the job done. However, if you want to do more with screenshots, you’ll have to rely on apps like Snagit and ShareX to edit them and annotate them further. While Snagit is a paid app, ShareX is a free, open source tool. Both apps come with tons of tools to make your job easier.
But at the end of the day, if you had to choose between Snagit and ShareX, which would you choose? Should you go with ShareX as there are no license fees? Or is it the opposite?
This post will compare Snagit and ShareX to find better screenshot tool for Windows users. Since it will be a long chapter, let’s get straight to the point.
user interface
Over time Snagit’s user interface has improved a lot and the new version of Snagit offers a clean and minimal user interface. All tools for image editing and image annotations are cleverly placed, making them easy to access. The top toolbar displays Selection, Fill, Shape, etc. It includes almost all the basic tools such as Vehicle properties are on the right panel.
This design makes access easy and convenient. At the same time, you can access important functions like History or Rotate & Resize at the top.
Snagit also has a nifty tray icon that you can add to the side of your screen. Useful if you are not comfortable with keyboard shortcuts.
When it comes to ShareX, it can seem a bit overwhelming for beginners. All options and settings are interlocked in one left panel.
But the good news is that once you know your way around, it gets a little easier to understand.
ShareX works a little differently than Snagit when editing an image. Here, all your recent images and screenshots are displayed in the left panel and you need to right click and select Edit. Once inside, all the tools will be displayed at the top.
ShareX’s interface looks a bit dated. And while it has most of the basic tools, it takes some time to find the right one.
Ease of Use
As mentioned earlier, ShareX has all the options and settings on the left and it can seem a bit overwhelming at first. All the settings are there. It also supports several keyboard shortcuts for taking screenshots: the whole screen or a specific region.
In contrast, Snagit has the look and feel of a typical Windows application. While your favorites are on the top and sides, other advanced features are hidden in the menus. It may take some time to get used to all the menus.
Still, the learning curve isn’t too steep. You can take a screenshot by pressing the right combination of keyboard shortcuts or clicking the right tray menu icon.
Along with that, Snagit comes with ready-made presets for uploading your screenshots to frequently used applications like MS Word, Slack, Powerpoint and the like.
Although there are no designated keyboard shortcuts for this, you can access them from the Share menu at the top. And needless to say, this makes documenting tutorials incredibly easy.
File Uploads
Snagit and ShareX allow you to upload screenshots and images to facilitate online access. This gets you into the picture collaborating with a colleague online.
In the case of Snagit, you can use an FTP server to transfer the file. Or you can use the built-in Screencast option to share files. Note that you will need to log into the Screencast before accessing the file or URL.
On the other hand, ShareX keeps things simple. Uploads files and folders to Pastebin.
Uploading is fast and fast and uploads files publicly. This can be a problem if you are working on sensitive documents.
Post Capture Tools
Now comes the important part of both tools. At first glance, ShareX gives you many options for further tweaking and modifying screenshots. For example, you can highlight a track, add text balloons, add arrows and stickers, among others.
A useful addition is the Step feature, which automatically highlights the number of steps.
You can also change the default dimensions and pixel counts of tools.
Another nifty feature for pro users is the ‘Post-capture tasks’ set. As the name suggests, you can specify tasks that should be followed automatically when a screenshot is taken.
The list is extensive and requires some effort to know everything about the different tasks and tools. The good thing is, if you’re looking for editing and annotations, it lets you do them instantly.
By contrast, Snagit has a more diverse set of tools in its arsenal. For example, there are different styles for arrows and text. The best part is that you can mark a particular color or style as a Favorite.
Finally, the toolbar is customizable and you can adjust it to some extent according to your needs.
pricing
As mentioned earlier, ShareX is open source software and is freely available for Windows users. If you’re happy with the toolkit, you can also support it on Patreon.
ShareX vs. Snagit: Which Should You Use?
So should you choose Snagit over ShareX? Well, it depends on the type of your job.
If you’re looking for an occasional screen capture tool, ShareX is for you. It has all the basic tools for image editing and text annotations. While it has many options, you will need to take the time to learn about them. And for security reasons, you will have to be careful with the Install option. It doesn’t need any credentials and the installation process is almost instantaneous.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for more than just a screenshot tool, Snagit is the one for you. The editing tools are much brighter and you get a very diverse range. Plus, nifty features like Batch Actions and Screencasting take your business for a walk in the park. Like any other tool, it comes with a slight learning curve, but once you get past that, things get easier.
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