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Productivity · head to head

Bluedot vs CleanShot X

Bluedot logo

Bluedot

Productivity

Bot-free meeting recorder and AI note taker that runs as a browser extension

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CleanShot X logo

CleanShot X

Utilities

Paid Mac screenshot and screen recording tool with annotation, scrolling capture and cloud sharing

From
$29/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bluedot has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bluedot cancelling ends access immediately and recordings are permanently deleted after thirty days, so the product is unsuitable as a meeting archive and any record you need to keep must be exported before the subscription lapses.; 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: Bluedot covers Bot-free capture, CleanShot X covers Annotation toolbar.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bluedot and CleanShot X actually diverge.

Attributes where Bluedot and CleanShot X differ
AttributeBluedotCleanShot X
Starting priceFree$29/one-time
Pricing modelPer recording user per monthOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Chrome, macOS, Windows, iOS, AndroidMac
CategoryProductivityUtilities

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Bluedot

  • Bot-free capture
  • Transcript-based video editing
  • Custom note templates
  • Record-only seat pricing
  • CRM and ATS push
  • Imports
  • Webhooks
  • SSO and SCIM

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.

Bluedot

  • A sales team where prospects decline to admit recording bots but the manager still needs call notes in the CRMnot CleanShot X
  • A recruiter conducting interviews who wants a structured summary per candidate without a visible third party in the callnot CleanShot X
  • A customer success team of thirty where only four people run calls, so per-recorder pricing costs a fraction of a per-seat competitornot CleanShot X
  • Cutting a short clip from a long call to share internally, done by deleting text from the transcript rather than opening a video editornot CleanShot X

CleanShot X

  • A support or design team that shares annotated screenshots constantly and wants a polished result without extra editing stepsnot Bluedot
  • Someone who frequently captures long web pages or documents and wants a single stitched scrolling screenshotnot Bluedot
  • A user who wants a screenshot with no desktop clutter visible in the background without manually tidying firstnot Bluedot
  • A team that wants branded shareable links with custom domains rather than generic hosted image URLsnot Bluedot

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bluedot

  • Cancelling ends access immediately and recordings are permanently deleted after thirty days, so the product is unsuitable as a meeting archive and any record you need to keep must be exported before the subscription lapses.
  • The Basic tier at $14 records audio only and caps recordings at one hour, which excludes most workshops, training sessions and long client calls and pushes anyone with real meetings to Pro.
  • The free tier gives five meetings in total rather than five a month, so it functions as an extended trial and cannot be used as a genuine free option for occasional users.
  • Recording without a visible bot removes the prompt that alerts participants, but not the consent obligation in jurisdictions requiring all parties to agree, and the product design makes that omission easy to overlook.
  • It is a small independent vendor in a category where Zoom, Microsoft and Google now bundle equivalent summarisation into subscriptions customers already hold, which is sustained pressure on both pricing and survival.

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

Bluedot

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5 meetings in total, not per month
    • Chrome extension and desktop and mobile apps
    • Basic integrations
  • Basic$14/month
    • Unlimited audio meetings
    • One hour maximum per recording
    • Webhook access
  • Pro$20/month
    • Video meetings as well as audio
    • No recording duration limit
    • Custom templates
  • Business$32/month
    • CRM and applicant tracking integrations
    • SSO and SCIM
    • Admin controls

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 Bluedot if

  • You need bot-free capture.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Chrome, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
  • You also want transcript-based video editing.
Bluedot review

Choose CleanShot X if

  • You need annotation toolbar.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want scrolling capture.
CleanShot X review

Questions people ask

Is Bluedot or CleanShot X better?
Neither clearly leads. Bluedot starts at Free 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, Bluedot or CleanShot X?
Bluedot has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bluedot and $29/one-time for CleanShot X.
Does Bluedot or CleanShot X run on more platforms?
Bluedot runs on Web, Chrome, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android. CleanShot X runs on Mac.
Can I use Bluedot for free?
Yes. Bluedot has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CleanShot X starts at $29/one-time.
What is Bluedot best used for?
Bluedot is most often used for a sales team where prospects decline to admit recording bots but the manager still needs call notes in the crm, a recruiter conducting interviews who wants a structured summary per candidate without a visible third party in the call, a customer success team of thirty where only four people run calls, so per-recorder pricing costs a fraction of a per-seat competitor, cutting a short clip from a long call to share internally, done by deleting text from the transcript rather than opening a video editor. Of those, a sales team where prospects decline to admit recording bots but the manager still needs call notes in the crm and a recruiter conducting interviews who wants a structured summary per candidate without a visible third party in the call are not what CleanShot X is typically brought in for.
What can Bluedot do that CleanShot X cannot?
Bluedot covers Bot-free capture, Transcript-based video editing, Custom note templates, Record-only seat pricing. CleanShot X covers Annotation toolbar, Scrolling capture, Cloud sharing links, Self-cleaning desktop.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bluedot: Does Bluedot join the meeting as a bot?

No. It captures through the browser extension or desktop app, so no additional participant is visible to anyone in the call.

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.

Bluedot: How is it priced?

Per workspace, with charges only for users who record. Free covers five meetings in total, Basic is $14, Pro is $20 and Business is $32 a month on annual billing.

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.

Bluedot: What happens to my recordings if I cancel?

Access ends at cancellation and recordings are permanently deleted after thirty days. Export anything you need to keep before you cancel.

CleanShot X: Is there a free version?

No. There is a trial but no permanent free tier, unlike Shottr.

Bluedot: Can I record video, not just audio?

Only from the Pro tier. Basic is audio only and limits each recording to one hour.

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