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Utilities · head to head

Everything vs Shottr

Everything logo

Everything

Utilities

Instant filename search for Windows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shottr logo

Shottr

Utilities

Free Mac screenshot tool with annotation and OCR, with an optional paid tier for extra features

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Everything searches filenames only, not file contents, which is the deliberate trade for its speed; Shottr it lacks CleanShot X cloud link hosting and self-cleaning desktop features, so teams that share links constantly may find it thinner.
  • They diverge on capability: Everything covers Instant results, Shottr covers Pixel-precise annotation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Everything and Shottr actually diverge.

Attributes where Everything and Shottr differ
AttributeEverythingShottr
Pricing modelFree; donations acceptedOne-time purchase
PlatformsWindowsMac

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Everything

  • Instant results
  • MFT-based indexing
  • Tiny footprint
  • Regex and filters

Only in Shottr

  • Pixel-precise annotation
  • Built in OCR
  • Scrolling capture
  • Colour picker
  • Quick resize and export
  • Free core functionality

What people use each for

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

Everything

  • Finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on Windows Searchnot Shottr
  • Locating duplicates and stray files across large drivesnot Shottr
  • Navigating a machine with hundreds of thousands of filesnot Shottr

Shottr

  • A user who wants OCR and precise annotation without paying anything up frontnot Everything
  • Someone evaluating whether a screenshot tool is worth paying for before committing money, unlike CleanShot X which requires payment firstnot Everything
  • A user who occasionally needs a colour picker and is fine with the free tier for everything elsenot Everything
  • Anyone who wants a lighter alternative to CleanShot X without giving up scrolling capture or annotationnot Everything

Where each one falls short

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

Everything

  • Searches filenames only, not file contents, which is the deliberate trade for its speed
  • Windows and NTFS only: no macOS or Linux build, and non-NTFS volumes fall back to slower indexing
  • Requires administrator rights to read the Master File Table

Shottr

  • It lacks CleanShot X cloud link hosting and self-cleaning desktop features, so teams that share links constantly may find it thinner.
  • Pricing tiers and their exact contents have shifted and are inconsistently reported across sources, making it harder to know exactly what a given tier unlocks before buying.
  • The free tier periodically prompts to purchase, which some users find naggy over long term daily use.
  • It is Mac only, offering nothing for a Windows machine in a mixed environment.
  • Video and GIF recording is more limited than a tool built specifically for that, such as Kap or CleanShot X.

Pricing, plan by plan

Everything

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core functionality
    • Personal use

Shottr

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full capture and annotation for everyday use
    • Built in OCR included
    • Occasional prompt to consider purchasing
  • Basic$8/one-time
    • One-time unlock of extra features
    • Removes purchase prompts
  • Friends Club$25/one-time
    • Higher one-time tier
    • Access to experimental features and priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Everything if

  • You need instant results.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want mft-based indexing.
Everything review

Choose Shottr if

  • You need pixel-precise annotation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want built in ocr.
Shottr review

Questions people ask

Is Everything or Shottr better?
Neither clearly leads. Everything starts at Free and Shottr at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Everything or Shottr?
Everything starts at Free and Shottr at Free.
Does Everything or Shottr run on more platforms?
Everything runs on Windows. Shottr runs on Mac.
Can I use Everything for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Everything best used for?
Everything is most often used for finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on windows search, locating duplicates and stray files across large drives, navigating a machine with hundreds of thousands of files. Of those, finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on windows search and locating duplicates and stray files across large drives are not what Shottr is typically brought in for.
What can Everything do that Shottr cannot?
Everything covers Instant results, MFT-based indexing, Tiny footprint, Regex and filters. Shottr covers Pixel-precise annotation, Built in OCR, Scrolling capture, Colour picker.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Everything: Is Everything free?

Yes, free to use with donations accepted.

Shottr: Is Shottr free?

Yes, the core app can be used free indefinitely, with an optional one-time paid tier for extra features and no more purchase prompts.

Everything: Why is it so much faster than Windows Search?

It reads the NTFS Master File Table directly instead of crawling the filesystem, so indexing a whole volume takes seconds.

Shottr: Does Shottr do OCR?

Yes, built in OCR extracts text from a captured screenshot without needing a separate app.

Everything: Can it search inside files?

Only in a limited way. It is built for filename search, and full content search is not what it is for.

Shottr: Is there a subscription?

No. Any paid tier is a one-time purchase, not a recurring subscription.

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