Utilities · head to head
CleanShot X vs Rectangle
CleanShot X
Utilities
Paid Mac screenshot and screen recording tool with annotation, scrolling capture and cloud sharing
- From
- $29/one-time
- Rated
- -
Rectangle
Utilities
Free open source window snapping for macOS, with a separate paid Rectangle Pro for extra features
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Rectangle has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- 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.; Rectangle rectangle Pro is a separate app rather than an in-app purchase, so upgrading means installing and managing a second piece of software.
- They diverge on capability: CleanShot X covers Annotation toolbar, Rectangle 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 Rectangle actually diverge.
| Attribute | CleanShot X | Rectangle |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29/one-time | Free |
| Pricing model | One-time purchase | Open source, no licence fee |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
Identical on both: 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 Rectangle
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Drag to snap
- Multi-display support
- Almost full screen
- Rectangle Pro extras
- Open source core
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 Rectangle
- Someone who frequently captures long web pages or documents and wants a single stitched scrolling screenshotnot Rectangle
- A user who wants a screenshot with no desktop clutter visible in the background without manually tidying firstnot Rectangle
- A team that wants branded shareable links with custom domains rather than generic hosted image URLsnot Rectangle
Rectangle
- A developer who wants source-available window management with no cost and no accountnot CleanShot X
- Anyone replacing Magnet who does not want to pay even a small one-time feenot CleanShot X
- A user who installs software via Homebrew rather than the Mac App Storenot CleanShot X
- A power user who later wants Rectangle Pro extras but does not need them from day onenot 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.
Rectangle
- Rectangle Pro is a separate app rather than an in-app purchase, so upgrading means installing and managing a second piece of software.
- It is Mac only, so it offers nothing for a user who also runs Windows and wants one window manager everywhere.
- It has no official paid support channel, being a community open source project, so issues are handled through GitHub rather than a vendor support desk.
- Some very old or unusually built third party apps still resist Rectangle window snapping, a limitation shared with most third party window managers on macOS.
- Because it is not distributed through the Mac App Store, some users have to manually approve accessibility permissions and updates rather than getting silent App Store updates.
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
Rectangle
Free- RectangleFree
- Free and open source, no account needed
- Keyboard and drag window snapping
- Multi-display support
- Rectangle Pro$9.99/one-time
- Separate paid app, not an in-app unlock
- Cursor-following snap areas
- Per-app window size memory
Which should you pick?
Choose CleanShot X if
- You need annotation toolbar.
- You work on Mac.
- You also want scrolling capture.
Choose Rectangle if
- You need keyboard shortcuts.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Mac.
- You also want drag to snap.
Questions people ask
- Is CleanShot X or Rectangle better?
- Neither clearly leads. CleanShot X starts at $29/one-time and Rectangle at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CleanShot X or Rectangle?
- Rectangle has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/one-time for CleanShot X and Free for Rectangle.
- Does CleanShot X or Rectangle run on more platforms?
- Both run on Mac, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Rectangle for free?
- Yes. Rectangle has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CleanShot X starts at $29/one-time.
- 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 Rectangle is typically brought in for.
- What can CleanShot X do that Rectangle cannot?
- CleanShot X covers Annotation toolbar, Scrolling capture, Cloud sharing links, Self-cleaning desktop. Rectangle covers Keyboard shortcuts, Drag to snap, Multi-display support, Almost full screen.
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.
Rectangle: Is Rectangle really free?
Yes. The core app is free and open source with no feature gating or trial period.
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.
Rectangle: What does Rectangle Pro add?
Cursor-following snap areas, per-app window size memory and some additional layouts, sold as a separate one-time purchase app.
CleanShot X: Is there a free version?
No. There is a trial but no permanent free tier, unlike Shottr.
Rectangle: How is it different from Magnet?
Rectangle is free and open source; Magnet is a paid Mac App Store app from the start with no free tier.
Related pages
More on CleanShot X
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