Utilities · head to head
CleanShot X vs Truecaller
CleanShot X
Utilities
Paid Mac screenshot and screen recording tool with annotation, scrolling capture and cloud sharing
- From
- $29/one-time
- Rated
- -
Truecaller
Utilities
Caller ID and spam blocking app that identifies unknown numbers by crowdsourcing users' contact books
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Truecaller 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.; Truecaller its caller ID database is built from other users uploading their contact books, which means a person's name and number can be listed without them ever installing or consenting to Truecaller directly.
- They diverge on capability: CleanShot X covers Annotation toolbar, Truecaller covers Caller ID.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CleanShot X and Truecaller actually diverge.
| Attribute | CleanShot X | Truecaller |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29/one-time | Free |
| Pricing model | One-time purchase | Free tier plus subscription |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Mac | iOS, Android |
Identical on both: 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 Truecaller
- Caller ID
- Spam blocking
- Call recording
- SMS spam filtering
- Truecaller for Business
- Premium profile controls
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 Truecaller
- Someone who frequently captures long web pages or documents and wants a single stitched scrolling screenshotnot Truecaller
- A user who wants a screenshot with no desktop clutter visible in the background without manually tidying firstnot Truecaller
- A team that wants branded shareable links with custom domains rather than generic hosted image URLsnot Truecaller
Truecaller
- Someone wanting to identify unknown numbers calling from delivery services, banks or scam operationsnot CleanShot X
- A user who wants unknown-sender SMS automatically filtered out of the main inboxnot CleanShot X
- A small business wanting its verified name and logo to show when it calls customersnot CleanShot X
- A person who wants to check whether their own number is unexpectedly listed and request removalnot 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.
Truecaller
- Its caller ID database is built from other users uploading their contact books, which means a person's name and number can be listed without them ever installing or consenting to Truecaller directly.
- Removing a number requires actively finding and using the unlisting tool; it is opt-out, not opt-in, so most people never realise they need to do this.
- The free tier is ad-supported, and ads appear on the call screen itself, which some users find intrusive during otherwise mundane phone use.
- Call recording availability depends on local law and has been restricted or removed in some regions and OS versions, so it cannot be relied on everywhere.
- Regulatory and app-store scrutiny of the contact-upload model has led to restrictions or bans in some countries, so availability and feature set are not consistent globally.
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
Truecaller
Free- FreeFree
- Caller ID and spam blocking
- Ad-supported
- Limited profile privacy controls
- Premium$2.99/month
- Ad-free
- See who viewed your profile
- Priority spam list updates
Which should you pick?
Choose CleanShot X if
- You need annotation toolbar.
- You work on Mac.
- You also want scrolling capture.
Choose Truecaller if
- You need caller id.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android.
- You also want spam blocking.
Questions people ask
- Is CleanShot X or Truecaller better?
- Neither clearly leads. CleanShot X starts at $29/one-time and Truecaller at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CleanShot X or Truecaller?
- Truecaller has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/one-time for CleanShot X and Free for Truecaller.
- Does CleanShot X or Truecaller run on more platforms?
- CleanShot X runs on Mac. Truecaller runs on iOS, Android.
- Can I use Truecaller for free?
- Yes. Truecaller 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 Truecaller is typically brought in for.
- What can CleanShot X do that Truecaller cannot?
- CleanShot X covers Annotation toolbar, Scrolling capture, Cloud sharing links, Self-cleaning desktop. Truecaller covers Caller ID, Spam blocking, Call recording, SMS spam filtering.
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.
Truecaller: How does Truecaller know who is calling me from an unsaved number?
It matches the number against a database built largely from other users' uploaded contact lists, plus spam reports from its user base.
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.
Truecaller: Can I remove my number from Truecaller if I never installed it?
Yes, Truecaller provides an unlisting search and removal tool at truecaller.com/unlisting, though you must find and use it yourself.
CleanShot X: Is there a free version?
No. There is a trial but no permanent free tier, unlike Shottr.
Truecaller: Does Truecaller read my messages or call content?
Truecaller states it does not access call or message content, only caller ID and spam-reporting metadata.
Related pages
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