CleanShot X review

CleanShot X is a Mac utility that replaces the built-in screenshot tool and adds screen recording on top. Both plans include the full Mac app: screenshots, screen recording, annotation tools and a video editor whose Studio Mode adds animated zooms with motion blur. Recording quality goes up to 4K. CleanShot Basic is a $35 one-time purchase with one year of updates, optional renewal at $19 a year and 1 GB of CleanShot Cloud storage for one-click sharing. CleanShot Pro, at $10 per user per month billed annually, keeps the app always up to date and adds unlimited cloud storage, a custom domain and branding, password protection, file access control, team management, SSO and SCIM. Students get 30 percent off with a university email. There is no trial, but a 30-day money-back guarantee applies, and CleanShot is also part of Setapp. It does not run on Windows and the vendor says there are no plans for a Windows version, so mixed-platform teams should look elsewhere.

Who it is for

Mac users who want fast screenshots and short recordings with a one-time purchase.

Price

Basic $35 one-time with 1 year of updates; Pro $10 per user per month billed annually.

CleanShot Basic $35 Pay once, use forever.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Screenshots and screen recording up to 4K
• Studio Mode video editor with animated smart zooms
• Annotation tools for screenshots
• One-click upload and sharing through CleanShot Cloud
• Video transcription and comments in the cloud

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Pay once option at $35
• Strength: Pro adds unlimited cloud storage, SSO and SCIM
• Strength: 30 percent student discount
• Weakness: Mac only, with no Windows plans
• Weakness: No free trial, only a 30-day money-back guarantee
• Weakness: Basic includes 1 GB of cloud storage and 1 year of updates

Key facts

• Platform: macOS 13.0 or newer
• Money-back guarantee: 30 days
• Updates on Basic: 1 year, optional renewal at $19 per year

Where it ranks

CleanShot X is No. 6 in our Best Screen Recording Software verdict.