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Utilities · head to head

CleanShot X vs Magnet

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
Magnet logo

Magnet

Utilities

Mac App Store window manager sold as a one-time paid app, with no free tier

From
$4.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Magnet there is no free tier at all, so a user cannot try before buying beyond the Mac App Store return window.
  • They diverge on capability: CleanShot X covers Annotation toolbar, Magnet covers Keyboard shortcuts.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where CleanShot X and Magnet differ
AttributeCleanShot XMagnet
Starting price$29/one-time$4.99/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 CleanShot X

  • Annotation toolbar
  • Scrolling capture
  • Cloud sharing links
  • Self-cleaning desktop
  • Quick GIF and video recording
  • All in one clipboard

Only in Magnet

  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Drag to snap
  • Multi-display support
  • Mac App Store distribution
  • Menu bar access
  • Third display layouts

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

CleanShot X

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

Magnet

  • A user who wants the App Store handling licensing, family sharing and updates automaticallynot CleanShot X
  • Someone who prefers paying a small one-time fee up front over evaluating a free tool firstnot CleanShot X
  • A less technical user who does not want to install from GitHub or Homebrewnot CleanShot X
  • A family sharing one Apple ID that wants one purchase to cover multiple Macs in the householdnot CleanShot X

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Magnet

  • There is no free tier at all, so a user cannot try before buying beyond the Mac App Store return window.
  • It offers fewer customisation options than Rectangle, such as fewer configurable snap zones and less granular per-app behaviour.
  • Update cadence has historically been slower than the actively developed open source Rectangle project.
  • It is Mac only and App Store only, so it cannot be scripted, redistributed internally by a company, or installed outside Apple normal channels.
  • Being a small independent app, support depends on the developer responding to App Store reviews or email rather than a dedicated support team.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Magnet

$4.99/one-time
  • Magnet$4.99/one-time
    • Full app unlocked immediately, no trial gating
    • Mac App Store purchase and family sharing
    • Free updates through the App Store

Which should you pick?

Choose CleanShot X if

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

Choose Magnet if

  • You need keyboard shortcuts.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want drag to snap.
Magnet review

Questions people ask

Is CleanShot X or Magnet better?
Neither clearly leads. CleanShot X starts at $29/one-time and Magnet at $4.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CleanShot X or Magnet?
CleanShot X starts at $29/one-time and Magnet at $4.99/one-time.
Does CleanShot X or Magnet run on more platforms?
Both run on Mac, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is CleanShot X best used for?
CleanShot X is most often used for a support or design team that shares annotated screenshots constantly and wants a polished result without extra editing steps, someone who frequently captures long web pages or documents and wants a single stitched scrolling screenshot, a user who wants a screenshot with no desktop clutter visible in the background without manually tidying first, a team that wants branded shareable links with custom domains rather than generic hosted image urls. Of those, a support or design team that shares annotated screenshots constantly and wants a polished result without extra editing steps and someone who frequently captures long web pages or documents and wants a single stitched scrolling screenshot are not what Magnet is typically brought in for.
What can CleanShot X do that Magnet cannot?
CleanShot X covers Annotation toolbar, Scrolling capture, Cloud sharing links, Self-cleaning desktop. Magnet covers Keyboard shortcuts, Drag to snap, Multi-display support, Mac App Store distribution.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Magnet: Does Magnet have a free version?

No. It has always been a paid Mac App Store purchase with no free tier.

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.

Magnet: Can I share one purchase across my family Macs?

Yes, through Apple Family Sharing on the Mac App Store, the same as any other App Store app.

CleanShot X: Is there a free version?

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

Magnet: How is it different from Rectangle?

Magnet is a paid App Store app from the start; Rectangle is free and open source, with paid Pro features sold as a separate app.

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