Utilities · head to head
Kap vs Shottr
Kap
Utilities
Free open source screen recorder for macOS, focused on video and GIF capture rather than annotation
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Shottr
Utilities
Free Mac screenshot tool with annotation and OCR, with an optional paid tier for extra features
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Kap it has no annotation tools at all, so any still-image markup work needs a separate app such as Shottr or CleanShot X.; 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: Kap covers Multi-format export, Shottr covers Pixel-precise annotation.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Kap and Shottr actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Kap
- Multi-format export
- Area, window or display capture
- Plugin system
- Basic trimming
- Menu bar operation
- Open source
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.
Kap
- A developer recording a demo GIF for a README or documentation pagenot Shottr
- A marketer capturing a quick product walkthrough clip without buying screen recording softwarenot Shottr
- Someone creating App Store style device-framed screenshots for a listingnot Shottr
- A user who only needs video capture and does not want to pay for a suite of annotation features they will not usenot Shottr
Shottr
- A user who wants OCR and precise annotation without paying anything up frontnot Kap
- Someone evaluating whether a screenshot tool is worth paying for before committing money, unlike CleanShot X which requires payment firstnot Kap
- A user who occasionally needs a colour picker and is fine with the free tier for everything elsenot Kap
- Anyone who wants a lighter alternative to CleanShot X without giving up scrolling capture or annotationnot Kap
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
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
Kap
Free- KapFree
- Free and open source under the MIT licence
- MP4, WebM, GIF and device frame export
- Plugin system for extended workflows
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 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.
Choose Shottr if
- You need pixel-precise annotation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Mac.
- You also want built in ocr.
Questions people ask
- Is Kap or Shottr better?
- Neither clearly leads. Kap 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, Kap or Shottr?
- Kap starts at Free and Shottr at Free.
- Does Kap or Shottr run on more platforms?
- Both run on Mac, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Kap for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Kap best used for?
- Kap is most often used for a developer recording a demo gif for a readme or documentation page, a marketer capturing a quick product walkthrough clip without buying screen recording software, someone creating app store style device-framed screenshots for a listing, a user who only needs video capture and does not want to pay for a suite of annotation features they will not use. Of those, a developer recording a demo gif for a readme or documentation page and a marketer capturing a quick product walkthrough clip without buying screen recording software are not what Shottr is typically brought in for.
- What can Kap do that Shottr cannot?
- Kap covers Multi-format export, Area, window or display capture, Plugin system, Basic trimming. Shottr covers Pixel-precise annotation, Built in OCR, Scrolling capture, Colour picker.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Kap: Is Kap free?
Yes, entirely. It is open source under the MIT licence with no paid tier.
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.
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.
Shottr: Does Shottr do OCR?
Yes, built in OCR extracts text from a captured screenshot without needing a separate app.
Kap: Can Kap export directly to GIF?
Yes, GIF is one of its native export formats alongside MP4, WebM and Apple device frames.
Shottr: Is there a subscription?
No. Any paid tier is a one-time purchase, not a recurring subscription.
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