ShareX: when to install it, and when not to
The fastest screenshot-to-file workflow on Windows, with annotation and capture of scrolling regions. It saves locally by default, which is the behaviour…
The short version
ShareX: Screenshot, annotate, record the screen, then upload and copy a link in one keystroke, with workflows you can script. Far more powerful than Snipping Tool and correspondingly more overwhelming at first.
| Licence / price | Free · Open source |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows |
| Category | Media, Recording & Capture — 10 programs |
| Official download | https://getsharex.com/downloads ↗ |
What it is for
The fastest screenshot-to-file workflow on Windows, with annotation and capture of scrolling regions. It saves locally by default, which is the behaviour most people actually want.
When to pick something else
It is Windows-only and the settings screen is dense. If you need one screenshot a week on a Mac, the built-in tools are enough; if you need screen recording, OBS Studio is the right tool instead.
What independent reviewers found
We do not run lab tests or benchmarks. These summaries are written in our own words, with the publisher named and the original linked. Our citation policy explains what we will and will not reproduce.
TechRadar — 2025
What the source says. TechRadar's free capture roundup places OBS first for recording and ShareX second for screenshots, describing ShareX as highly configurable but intimidating for beginners and Windows-only.
What we take from it. We split the job the same way: ShareX for annotated stills, OBS only when you need to record. Declaring one winner for both jobs is how people end up with the wrong tool.
Best free screen recorder of 2025 ↗ (TechRadar · 2025 · Comparative product roundup)
How it compares in Media, Recording & Capture
These are the alternatives we would consider for the same job. The notes are the same ones used on the main list, so there is no separate ranking hiding on this page.
| Program | Licence / price | Platforms | Why it is on the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flameshot Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | Blur, highlight and arrow on screen before saving, with a clean and quick interface. The best simple annotating screenshot tool on Windows and the natural choice on Linux. |
| Greenshot Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows | The lightweight option if you want one fixed hotkey that grabs a region, opens an editor and copies to clipboard. Older and quieter than ShareX, which for many people is exactly right. |
Practical notes
- Set the save folder and filename pattern on day one, or you will end up with a desktop full of timestamped images.
- Check the after-capture actions list before enabling uploads; local saving should stay the default.
Questions people ask
Is it a screen recorder?
It can capture video, but OBS Studio is the better answer for anything longer than a quick clip.
Where it appears in our guides
See the full Media, Recording & Capture explainer for the other 9 programs in this category.
How to read this page. How to read this page. Platform, licence and publisher details come from our directory data. Where an independent review, audit or survey is mentioned, it is summarised in our own words with the source named and linked; our /sources page sets out that policy. The recommendation, the trade-offs and every 'skip it if' line are our editorial judgement. We do not run benchmarks, publish measured performance figures or host installers, and every download link goes to the publisher's own site. If a detail is out of date, our About page explains how to tell us.