Utilities · head to head
BetterTouchTool vs CleanShot X
BetterTouchTool
Utilities
Mac gesture, shortcut and automation customisation tool sold as a one-time licence with a lifetime tier
- From
- $12/one-time
- Rated
- -
CleanShot X
Utilities
Paid Mac screenshot and screen recording tool with annotation, scrolling capture and cloud sharing
- From
- $29/one-time
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: BetterTouchTool the preferences interface has hundreds of settings across many tabs, so getting one custom gesture working can take longer than with a dedicated single-purpose app.; CleanShot X there is no free tier at all, unlike Shottr, so a user has to commit 29 dollars before ever trying the full feature set beyond a trial.
- They diverge on capability: BetterTouchTool covers Gesture customisation, CleanShot X covers Annotation toolbar.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which BetterTouchTool and CleanShot X actually diverge.
| Attribute | BetterTouchTool | CleanShot X |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12/one-time | $29/one-time |
Identical on both: pricing model (One-time purchase), free tier (No), platforms (Mac), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Utilities).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in BetterTouchTool
- Gesture customisation
- Keyboard shortcut remapping
- Window snapping
- Touch Bar customisation
- Scripted actions
- Floating menus and widgets
Only in CleanShot X
- Annotation toolbar
- Scrolling capture
- Cloud sharing links
- Self-cleaning desktop
- Quick GIF and video recording
- All in one clipboard
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
BetterTouchTool
- A power user who wants every trackpad gesture and shortcut on the machine remapped to a specific actionnot CleanShot X
- Someone with accessibility needs who benefits from remapping input devices away from default behaviournot CleanShot X
- A user who wants window snapping bundled with much broader system customisation rather than a single-purpose appnot CleanShot X
- Someone already on a Setapp subscription who wants BetterTouchTool included rather than purchased separatelynot CleanShot X
CleanShot X
- A support or design team that shares annotated screenshots constantly and wants a polished result without extra editing stepsnot BetterTouchTool
- Someone who frequently captures long web pages or documents and wants a single stitched scrolling screenshotnot BetterTouchTool
- A user who wants a screenshot with no desktop clutter visible in the background without manually tidying firstnot BetterTouchTool
- A team that wants branded shareable links with custom domains rather than generic hosted image URLsnot BetterTouchTool
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
BetterTouchTool
- The preferences interface has hundreds of settings across many tabs, so getting one custom gesture working can take longer than with a dedicated single-purpose app.
- The Standard Licence stops receiving updates after two years unless renewed or upgraded to Lifetime, which is easy to miss and can leave a user on an outdated build.
- It is Mac only, offering nothing for a Windows machine in a mixed household.
- Because it can intercept almost any input, misconfiguration can make gestures or shortcuts behave unpredictably across different apps, which takes time to debug.
- It overlaps in function with several single-purpose tools such as Rectangle for windows or Karabiner-Elements for key remapping, so a new user has to decide whether they want one broad tool or several focused ones.
CleanShot X
- There is no free tier at all, unlike Shottr, so a user has to commit 29 dollars before ever trying the full feature set beyond a trial.
- App updates beyond the first year require an optional 19 dollar a year fee, which some users only discover after the first year lapses.
- Cloud Pro team features are a separate ongoing subscription on top of the one-time app purchase, so the full cost for a team is higher than the headline 29 dollars suggests.
- It is Mac only, so a mixed Windows and Mac team cannot standardise on one screenshot tool across both platforms.
- Its video recording is more basic than a dedicated screen recorder such as Kap or a full editor, so heavier video work still needs separate software.
Pricing, plan by plan
BetterTouchTool
$12/one-time- Standard Licence$12/one-time
- Free updates for two years
- App keeps working on the last version after that
- Single user licence
- Lifetime Licence$24/one-time
- Free updates for as long as the app exists
- Single user licence
- Also available bundled through Setapp
CleanShot X
$29/one-time- CleanShot X$29/one-time
- Permanent licence, keep the app forever
- 1GB of cloud storage included
- One year of app updates, optional 19 USD per year after
- Cloud Pro$8/month
- Per user, billed annually
- Branded sharing domains and self-destruct links
- SSO for team accounts
Which should you pick?
Choose BetterTouchTool if
- You need gesture customisation.
- You work on Mac.
- You also want keyboard shortcut remapping.
Choose CleanShot X if
- You need annotation toolbar.
- You work on Mac.
- You also want scrolling capture.
Questions people ask
- Is BetterTouchTool or CleanShot X better?
- Neither clearly leads. BetterTouchTool starts at $12/one-time and CleanShot X at $29/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, BetterTouchTool or CleanShot X?
- BetterTouchTool starts at $12/one-time and CleanShot X at $29/one-time.
- Does BetterTouchTool or CleanShot X run on more platforms?
- Both run on Mac, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is BetterTouchTool best used for?
- BetterTouchTool is most often used for a power user who wants every trackpad gesture and shortcut on the machine remapped to a specific action, someone with accessibility needs who benefits from remapping input devices away from default behaviour, a user who wants window snapping bundled with much broader system customisation rather than a single-purpose app, someone already on a setapp subscription who wants bettertouchtool included rather than purchased separately. Of those, a power user who wants every trackpad gesture and shortcut on the machine remapped to a specific action and someone with accessibility needs who benefits from remapping input devices away from default behaviour are not what CleanShot X is typically brought in for.
- What can BetterTouchTool do that CleanShot X cannot?
- BetterTouchTool covers Gesture customisation, Keyboard shortcut remapping, Window snapping, Touch Bar customisation. CleanShot X covers Annotation toolbar, Scrolling capture, Cloud sharing links, Self-cleaning desktop.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
BetterTouchTool: Is BetterTouchTool a subscription?
No. It is a one-time purchase, either a Standard Licence with two years of updates or a Lifetime Licence with updates indefinitely.
CleanShot X: Is CleanShot X a subscription?
The app itself is a one-time purchase. Only the optional Cloud Pro team plan and post-first-year update access are subscriptions or recurring fees.
BetterTouchTool: Can I get it without buying it directly?
Yes, it is included in the Setapp subscription bundle alongside other Mac utilities.
CleanShot X: Does CleanShot X include cloud storage?
Yes, 1GB is included with the base purchase; more storage and team features require the separate Cloud Pro subscription.
BetterTouchTool: Does it replace Rectangle or Karabiner-Elements?
It can cover much of what both do, since it includes window snapping and key remapping, but each of those apps is more focused on its single job.
CleanShot X: Is there a free version?
No. There is a trial but no permanent free tier, unlike Shottr.
Related pages
More on BetterTouchTool
More on CleanShot X
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