Capture, share, and enhance your digital work with ShareX, the ultimate free and open-source screenshot and screencast tool for Windows. Tailored for efficiency and power users, ShareX offers a wide array of features and has been actively developed for over 18 years, earning the trust of individuals and corporations alike.
What is ShareX?
ShareX is a free, open-source screen capture, file sharing, and productivity tool for Windows, developed by the ShareX team. It takes screen captures (fullscreen, region, scrolling, active window, etc.) or screen recordings (including GIF) as input and produces annotated images, recorded videos, or uploaded files to over 80 destinations as output. The application is open source on GitHub and accepts donations to support development.
What makes ShareX stand out?
- Extensive capture methods — Fullscreen, active window, monitor, region (rectangle, ellipse, freehand), last region, custom region, scrolling capture, screen recording (video and GIF), and auto capture.
- Versatile after-capture workflow — Annotate, add image effects, open in the built-in image editor, copy to clipboard, pin to screen, print, perform actions, analyze image, scan QR codes, or upload directly.
- Powerful annotation tools — In region capture and the image editor, use shapes (rectangle, ellipse, arrow, line), text, speech balloon, step, magnify, blur, pixelate, highlight, spotlight, crop, cut out, smart eraser, and more.
- Broad upload and sharing options — Upload files, folders, clipboard content, text, or URLs; supports many destinations and custom uploaders. After upload, shorten URLs, copy to clipboard, open URL, or generate QR code.
- Built-in productivity tools — Color picker, screen color picker, ruler, image effects, image beautifier, background remover, image comparer, combiner, splitter, thumbnailer, video converter, video thumbnailer, OCR, QR code generator, hash checker, metadata viewer, directory indexer, clipboard viewer, borderless window, inspect window, and monitor test.
- Lightweight and privacy-focused — No advertisements, respects privacy, and runs without an account.
Who should use ShareX?
- Power users and IT professionals — Automate screen capture workflows with custom hotkeys and after-capture tasks, bind complex upload actions, and manage screenshots efficiently.
- Content creators and educators — Capture tutorials, annotate screenshots, record GIFs or videos, and upload directly to image/ video hosts or social media.
- Developers and technical writers — Take scrolling screenshots of web pages or code, add callouts and highlights, and share via custom uploaders to bug trackers or documentation platforms.
- Casual users who want a free, ad-free alternative — Replace built-in Snipping Tool or paid software with a single app that handles capture, editing, and sharing.
What can you do with ShareX?
- Quickly capture and share screenshots — Press a hotkey to capture a region, automatically add effects like borders or drop shadows, and upload to Imgur or other hosts with a single click.
- Record your screen as GIF or video — Use screen recording (GIF or MP4) to create tutorials or bug reports, then share the link instantly.
- Extract text from images — Use the built-in OCR tool to recognize text from any captured region or image file.
- Organize and process multiple captures — Use the workflow system to automate repetitive tasks like saving, resizing, and uploading.
How does ShareX work?
After installation (available via Setup, Portable, Dev build, Microsoft Store, or Steam), ShareX runs in the system tray. When you press a hotkey, it captures the area you specify, then executes your chosen after-capture tasks (e.g., open in editor, upload). The application can be configured to show task windows like “After capture” or “Before upload” for additional control. All settings are customizable through the main interface.
Pricing
ShareX is completely free and open source. There are no paid tiers, no advertisements, and no account required. Donations are accepted here.
FAQ
Is ShareX free?
Yes, ShareX is free and open source. It contains no advertisements, does not require an account, and has no paid features.
What platforms does ShareX support?
ShareX is currently available only for Windows (Windows 7 and later). It does not have native macOS or Linux versions.
Does ShareX support screen recording?
Yes, ShareX can record your screen as a video (using FFmpeg) or as an animated GIF. You can also record audio if desired.
Can I upload to custom destinations?
Yes. ShareX supports over 80 built-in destinations (including Imgur, Dropbox, Google Drive, FTP servers) and allows you to create custom uploaders for any service with a web API.
How do I use ShareX to capture a scrolling window?
ShareX has a dedicated scrolling capture feature that lets you capture a long webpage or document by automatically scrolling and stitching screenshots together.
