Softwr

Utilities · head to head

Find My vs Kap

Find My logo

Find My

Utilities

Apple's built-in app for locating devices, AirTags and shared people locations

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kap logo

Kap

Utilities

Free open source screen recorder for macOS, focused on video and GIF capture rather than annotation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Find My it only works within Apple's own device and accessory ecosystem, so it cannot locate Android phones or non-Apple trackers.; Kap it has no annotation tools at all, so any still-image markup work needs a separate app such as Shottr or CleanShot X.
  • They diverge on capability: Find My covers Device location, Kap covers Multi-format export.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Find My and Kap actually diverge.

Attributes where Find My and Kap differ
AttributeFind MyKap
Pricing modelFree, built into Apple hardware and iCloudOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsiOS, macOSMac

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 Find My

  • Device location
  • Lost Mode and remote erase
  • AirTag and Find My network tracking
  • People sharing
  • Unknown tracker alerts
  • Offline finding

Only in Kap

  • Multi-format export
  • Area, window or display capture
  • Plugin system
  • Basic trimming
  • Menu bar operation
  • Open source

What people use each for

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

Find My

  • Locating a lost or stolen iPhone, iPad or Mac and remotely locking or erasing itnot Kap
  • Tracking an AirTag attached to keys, a bag or luggagenot Kap
  • Sharing live location with family members who have mutually agreed to share backnot Kap
  • Getting an alert if an unknown tracker appears to be travelling with you unexpectedlynot Kap

Kap

  • A developer recording a demo GIF for a README or documentation pagenot Find My
  • A marketer capturing a quick product walkthrough clip without buying screen recording softwarenot Find My
  • Someone creating App Store style device-framed screenshots for a listingnot Find My
  • A user who only needs video capture and does not want to pay for a suite of annotation features they will not usenot Find My

Where each one falls short

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

Find My

  • It only works within Apple's own device and accessory ecosystem, so it cannot locate Android phones or non-Apple trackers.
  • People location sharing requires both parties to have Apple devices and an iCloud account, which limits it in mixed-platform families or groups.
  • AirTags and the Find My network have been documented as a stalking tool when hidden on a person or vehicle without their knowledge, and while Apple has added unknown-tracker alerts, the underlying misuse risk is real and has prompted lawsuits and product changes over time.
  • Remote erase on a lost device is permanent and cannot be undone if the device is later recovered, so users need to be certain before using it.
  • It depends on other nearby Apple devices for offline location via the Find My network, so location accuracy in areas with few Apple device users nearby can be poor.

Kap

  • It has no annotation tools at all, so any still-image markup work needs a separate app such as Shottr or CleanShot X.
  • There is no scrolling capture or OCR, features both Shottr and CleanShot X include.
  • Editing is limited to basic trimming, so anything beyond a simple cut needs a dedicated video editor afterward.
  • It is Mac only, offering nothing for screen recording needs on Windows.
  • As a volunteer-maintained open source project, updates and bug fixes depend on community contribution rather than a company with paid support obligations.

Pricing, plan by plan

Find My

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Included with every Apple device and iCloud account
    • No subscription tier

Kap

Free
  • KapFree
    • Free and open source under the MIT licence
    • MP4, WebM, GIF and device frame export
    • Plugin system for extended workflows

Which should you pick?

Choose Find My if

  • You need device location.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, macOS.
  • You also want lost mode and remote erase.
Find My review

Choose Kap if

  • You need multi-format export.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want area, window or display capture.
Kap review

Questions people ask

Is Find My or Kap better?
Neither clearly leads. Find My starts at Free and Kap at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Find My or Kap?
Find My starts at Free and Kap at Free.
Does Find My or Kap run on more platforms?
Find My runs on iOS, macOS. Kap runs on Mac.
Can I use Find My for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Find My best used for?
Find My is most often used for locating a lost or stolen iphone, ipad or mac and remotely locking or erasing it, tracking an airtag attached to keys, a bag or luggage, sharing live location with family members who have mutually agreed to share back, getting an alert if an unknown tracker appears to be travelling with you unexpectedly. Of those, locating a lost or stolen iphone, ipad or mac and remotely locking or erasing it and tracking an airtag attached to keys, a bag or luggage are not what Kap is typically brought in for.
What can Find My do that Kap cannot?
Find My covers Device location, Lost Mode and remote erase, AirTag and Find My network tracking, People sharing. Kap covers Multi-format export, Area, window or display capture, Plugin system, Basic trimming.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Find My: Does Find My cost anything?

No, it is free and built into every Apple device with an iCloud account.

Kap: Is Kap free?

Yes, entirely. It is open source under the MIT licence with no paid tier.

Find My: Can someone track my location without my consent?

Not through the People feature, which requires mutual opt-in, though hidden AirTags placed without consent are a documented separate misuse case Apple has added alerts to detect.

Kap: Does Kap do screenshots or only video?

It is focused on video and GIF recording. For still screenshots with annotation, pair it with Shottr or CleanShot X.

Find My: Is this the same as Find My Kids?

No, Find My Kids is an unrelated third party family location tracking app, not made by Apple.

Kap: Can Kap export directly to GIF?

Yes, GIF is one of its native export formats alongside MP4, WebM and Apple device frames.

Share

Related pages

More on Find My

More on Kap

Keep looking

Other head to heads