Best Open-Source Screenshot Tools 2026: 6 Options Compared

Screenshot tools differ mostly in how much editing and uploading they do after the capture. Flameshot lets you draw arrows, boxes and blur right on the screen as you select a region, which is why many Linux users keep it on a hotkey. ksnip adds a separate annotation window and works across platforms, Shutter is the long-time Linux standard with plugins and effects, and Spectacle is the KDE desktop's own utility. On Windows, Greenshot is light and simple, while ShareX is a power tool with scrolling capture, screen recording and automatic upload to dozens of services; its settings are overwhelming at first. Pick Greenshot if you want a quick capture and a simple editor, ShareX if you want automation, Flameshot or ksnip for annotation-first workflows, and Spectacle if you run KDE. Wayland has changed how Linux screenshot tools work, so check that your desktop and distro are supported before committing. None of these cost anything and all are open source, but support is community-driven, so expect to read a wiki when something breaks. Screen recorders are a separate category. Licences below come from the projects' repositories as of the check date, and no tool was installed for this comparison.

Flameshot

GPL-3.0 screenshot tool with in-app annotation and a delayed-capture option for tooltips. Free and open source.

Price: Free (Flameshot pricing, checked 2026-10-23).

Platforms and license: Linux, Windows, macOS. GPL-3.0 (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 31.3k GitHub stars · latest release v14.0.0 (Jun 19, 2026) · last commit Oct 26, 2026

Best for: Annotating as you capture.

ShareX

GPL-3.0 screen capture and file-sharing tool with automation and upload workflows. Windows only; the settings are extensive.

Price: Free (ShareX pricing, checked 2026-10-23).

Platforms and license: Windows. GPL-3.0 (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 40.5k GitHub stars · latest release v21.0.0 (Jul 3, 2026) · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: Automated capture-and-upload on Windows.

Greenshot

GPL-3.0 light screenshot tool for Windows with region, window and fullscreen capture and a simple editor.

Price: Free (Greenshot pricing, checked 2026-10-23).

Platforms and license: Windows. GPL-3.0 (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 5.2k GitHub stars · latest release v1.3.328 (Oct 19, 2026) · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: Quick captures on Windows.

ksnip

GPL-3.0 Qt-based cross-platform tool with many annotation features and custom rectangular region capture, with a separate editor window for marking up shots.

Price: Free (Free and open source) (ksnip pricing, checked 2026-10-24).

Platforms and license: Windows, macOS, Linux. GPL-3.0 (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 3.4k GitHub stars · latest release v1.10.1 (Mar 15, 2023) · last commit Oct 21, 2026

Best for: Cross-platform annotation.

Shutter

GPL-3.0 feature-rich Linux screenshot tool with editing and plugins; the repository last saw activity in August 2026, so check it supports your desktop.

Price: Free (Free and open source) (Shutter pricing, checked 2026-10-24).

Platforms and license: Linux. GPL-3.0 (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 648 GitHub stars · latest release v0.99.7 (May 9, 2026) · last commit Aug 27, 2026

Best for: Linux with plugins and effects.

Worth knowing: License taken from the repository metadata and LICENSE file; description from the project README. No paid plan was checked.

Spectacle

KDE's screenshot utility, also usable on non-KDE X11 desktops. Licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later and other REUSE-listed licences.

Price: Free (Free and open source) (Spectacle pricing, checked 2026-10-24).

Platforms and license: Linux (KDE). GPL (KDE REUSE licensing; see LICENSES directory) (open source) (license source).

Best for: KDE Plasma users.

Worth knowing: README: screenshot utility for the KDE desktop, also usable on non-KDE X11 desktops. The LICENSES directory contains GPL-2.0-or-later.

Which one to pick

• You want to draw on a screenshot before saving it: Flameshot
• You capture dozens of screens a day and upload them automatically: ShareX
• You want the simplest Windows tool: Greenshot
• You use KDE Plasma: Spectacle