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SPECIFICTION
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Ksnip

github.com

Free plan WindowsmacOSLinux
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Spec score 7.9 #23 of 61 in Screen Capture Software

What it is

Ksnip is a free GPL-3.0 screenshot tool for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It captures selected rectangles, the last selected rectangle, screens, all screens, or supported focused and cursor-under windows. Annotation tools include pen, marker, shapes, text, stickers, cropping, blur, pixelation, image effects, and watermarks. Screenshots can be uploaded to Imgur, FTP, or custom scripts, and exported as BMP, GIF, JPEG, JPG, PNG, PDF, or PS. Command-line capture can save to a chosen default location, filename, and format. OCR text extraction uses a separately installed Tesseract plugin on Windows and Linux/Unix. Downloads include packages such as RPM, DEB, APT, Snap, Flatpak, and AppImage, alongside Windows and macOS packages. Global hotkeys are documented only for Windows and X11, not Wayland. The project notes other macOS and Wayland limitations and says development capacity is limited.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Ksnip is a Qt-based cross-platform screenshot tool with annotation features.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
The repository identifies the project as GPL-3.0 licensed.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maker
The README describes ksnip as a non-profitable copylefted libre software project.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Annotations
Its annotation tools include a pen, marker, shapes, text, stickers, cropping, blur, pixelation, image effects, and watermarks.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Capture options
It can capture a selected rectangle, the last selected rectangle, a screen, all screens, or a focused or cursor-under window, depending on platform.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Command line
It supports command-line screenshot capture and saving to a default location, filename, and format.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Desktop platforms
The project lists Linux, Windows, and macOS support, with Linux screenshot behavior varying by X11, Wayland, and portal support.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Distribution
Downloads include Linux packages and formats such as RPM, DEB, APT, Snap, Flatpak, and AppImage, plus Windows and macOS packages.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Known limitation
Global hotkeys are listed as supported only on Windows and X11, and are unavailable under Wayland according to the project documentation.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maintenance
The maintainer says the project is seeking co-maintainers and that feature requests and bugs are accumulating while development capacity is limited.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
OCR
OCR is available through a separately installed plugin that uses Tesseract, for Windows and Linux/Unix.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Other platform limitations
The project documents limitations involving macOS cursor capture and Wayland screenshot or clipboard behavior.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support and community
The project directs general questions and discussion to its Discord or IRC community and bug reports to GitHub Issues.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Uploads
Screenshots can be uploaded to Imgur, via FTP, or through custom user-defined scripts.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Ksnip Free Non-profitable copylefted libre software project Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every Ksnip plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free GPL-3.0 software
  • Extensive annotation tools
  • OCR through Tesseract plugin
  • Cloud uploads and command-line capture
  • Exports to seven listed formats

Limits

  • OCR requires a separate plugin
  • Global hotkeys unavailable under Wayland
  • Platform-specific capture limitations
  • Project seeks co-maintainers

Who it suits

Ksnip suits desktop users who need annotated screenshots, OCR, sharing, and multiple export formats. It is available across Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Verdict

Ksnip covers capture, markup, OCR, uploads, and export without a listed price. Check the documented Wayland, macOS, and plugin requirements before choosing it.

Where Specifiction places it

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