ScreenClipr vs. CleanShot X
CleanShot X and ScreenClipr are both native, Mac-only, pay-once screenshot and recording apps. The differences are price, where library search lives, and whether you want a cloud plan. Here is where each one wins.
Prices and license terms as of September 2026, as stated on our comparison table. Verify current prices on CleanShot X's own site before you buy; vendors change them.
The short version
They share the same model. Both are macOS-only, native apps sold as a one-time purchase with an optional renewal for further updates. Neither is a subscription you have to keep paying to use.
ScreenClipr costs less and includes library search. $9.99 against $35, and the searchable, OCR'd library is part of the base purchase; on CleanShot X, library search is on the cloud tier only.
CleanShot X is the better pick if you want a cloud plan or a longer money-back window. ScreenClipr is local-only and has no cloud plan.
Feature comparison
| ScreenClipr | CleanShot X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 one-time | $35 one-time (or about $120/yr for its cloud plan) |
| License model | One-time, plus optional renewal for updates | One-time, plus optional renewal for updates |
| Platform | macOS only (macOS 14 or later) | macOS only |
| Trying it first | 7-day free trial, full access, no credit card to start; 14-day refund after purchase | 30-day money-back guarantee (pay first, then request a refund) |
| Screenshot and annotation | Yes | Yes |
| Screen recording | Yes | Yes |
| Searchable, OCR'd library | Yes | Cloud tier only |
| Cloud plan | None: captures stay on your Mac | Yes, about $120/yr |
| Native, lightweight Mac app | Yes | Yes |
What it costs over three years
Same prices as the homepage comparison, run out three years. Both apps use optional renewal, so neither total grows unless you choose to renew. CleanShot X's renewal price is not published on the homepage, so it is not included here.
| App / renewal choice | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ScreenClipr, never renewed | $9.99 | $0 | $0 | $9.99 |
| ScreenClipr, renewed every year | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $29.97 |
| CleanShot X, one-time, not renewed | $35 | $0 | $0 | $35 |
If you never renew either app, ScreenClipr is $25.01 less. If you renewed ScreenClipr every year, it would still come in $5.03 under CleanShot X's one-time price alone. If you also want CleanShot X's cloud plan at about $120/yr, that is roughly $360 more over three years, which is a different kind of product from a local-only app, so weigh it on what you need rather than on price.
Who each one is better for
Pick ScreenClipr if…
- You want the searchable, OCR'd library included in the base price rather than tied to a cloud tier.
- You want everything to stay local: no cloud plan, no account, and nothing uploaded from your Mac.
- You would rather try before paying: a 7-day full-access trial with no credit card, plus a 14-day refund window.
- You want the lower price: $9.99 against $35.
Pick CleanShot X if…
- You want a cloud plan. CleanShot X offers one (about $120/yr); ScreenClipr deliberately doesn't.
- You want the longest safety net: a 30-day money-back guarantee against our 7-day trial and 14-day refund window.
- You would like a product with a longer track record. ScreenClipr is young and has no back catalog of reviews to point to.
- You already own it and it works for you. Switching only makes sense if search or price matters to you.
Switching from CleanShot X
- Run them side by side. The ScreenClipr trial is 7 days with full access and no credit card. Try your normal capture routine before you decide.
- Bring your files over. Captures saved as image or video files can be dragged into the ScreenClipr Library window; they are copied in and OCR-indexed like a native capture. If any live only on CleanShot X's cloud, download them to files first.
- Check the shortcut. ScreenClipr's capture picker defaults to Control Shift C. Rebind it in Preferences › Shortcuts; it warns you inline if it conflicts with another shortcut, which matters if CleanShot X is still running.
- Pick a save folder. Captures go to
~/Pictures/ScreenCliprby default; Preferences › Change Save Location… changes it. - Licenses. A ScreenClipr license key activates on up to 3 Macs.
More on how the app works: the Getting Started guide and the searchable library guide.
Common questions
Does ScreenClipr have a cloud plan?
No. Captures, annotations and the OCR search index are stored and processed locally on your Mac, and there is no account. If you want a cloud plan, CleanShot X offers one.
Is library search an extra on ScreenClipr?
No. The searchable, OCR'd library is part of the $9.99 purchase. On CleanShot X it is on the cloud tier only, per the homepage comparison.
Can I try ScreenClipr before paying?
Yes: 7 days, full access, no credit card to start. After purchase there is a 14-day refund window.
Other comparisons
Try ScreenClipr free for 7 days
Try ScreenClipr free for 7 days alongside CleanShot X. If you switch, it is one $9.99 payment, no subscription.
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