Lightshot Alternatives for Windows: 6 Options Compared
Lightshot is fast and simple, but it falls short in a few areas. We compare ShareX, Greenshot, Windows Snipping Tool, Snagit, PicPick and NexoPad so you can pick the one that fits you best.
What you'll find here
On this page · 8 sections
Lightshot is one of the best-known screenshot tools: you press a key, pick an area, mark something with an arrow and share it with a link. For many people, that's all they need.
But if you want to hide customer data, copy the text from an image or keep your screenshots saved on your PC, there are more complete options. We're the NexoPad team and our Windows app includes screenshots with an editor, but we'll tell you plainly what each tool does best, including when you're better off sticking with Lightshot.
1What Lightshot does well
- It's free and very fast: pick the area in two clicks and you can copy or save it right away.
- A simple editor on the spot: pen, line, arrow, rectangle, marker and text, right on the screenshot.
- Share with a short link: upload the screenshot to its website (prnt.sc) and paste the link into a chat or an email.
- Works on Windows and Mac, and has extensions for some browsers.
- Search for similar images to the one you captured, from inside the app.
2Why some people look for something else
- It has barely changed in years. The Windows version offered by download sites is still 5.5.0.7, with no major recent updates.
- There's no pixelate tool to hide data. To cover an email or a phone number you have to draw a rectangle over it, and that doesn't always look good.
- It doesn't copy the text from the image. If you capture an error or a slide, you have to type the text by hand.
- Sharing means uploading to the internet. The short link is handy, but the screenshot sits on someone else's server and anyone with the link can see it. At work, with customer data, many people prefer to keep it on their PC.
3Comparison table
| Price | Hide data | Copy text (OCR) | Video or GIF | Upload and share link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightshot | Free | Only by covering with a rectangle | No | No | Yes, to its website |
| ShareX | Free (open source) | Yes: pixelate and blur | Yes | Yes | Yes, to many services |
| Greenshot | Free on Windows (open source) | Yes: pixelate and blur | Yes, with Windows text recognition | No | Yes, with plugins |
| Windows Snipping Tool | Comes with Windows | Hides emails and phone numbers in one click | Yes | Yes, video | No |
| Snagit | $39 a year | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PicPick | Free for personal use; Pro, $30–36 a year | Yes: pixelate and blur | Not stated on its website | Yes, video | Yes |
| NexoPad | Free (with a NexoPad account) | Yes: pixelate, blur or cover | Yes, offline | No | No: it stays on your PC |
Data taken on October 25, 2026 from the official websites: app.prntscr.com, getsharex.com, getgreenshot.org, the Snipping Tool guide on microsoft.com, the techsmith.com store and picpick.app. Prices may vary by country.
4The 6 alternatives, one by one
ShareX
The most complete of the free options: scrolling capture, video, GIF, copy text and uploads to dozens of services. It's Windows-only and has so many options that it takes a while to learn.
Greenshot
Free, lightweight and easy. It has a good editor with pixelate and numbers, copies the text from screenshots and is still active: its latest Windows version came out in October 2026. On Mac it costs $1.99.
Windows Snipping Tool
It's already on your PC: Windows + Shift + S to capture and Windows + Shift + R to record. It copies the text from the image and can hide emails and phone numbers, but its editor is basic.
Snagit
The professional option: templates, video, scrolling capture and a very powerful editor. It works on Windows and Mac, but it's paid: $39 a year for individual use.
PicPick
Screenshots, an editor and design tools (color picker, ruler, magnifier). Free only for personal use; for work you need the Pro license.
NexoPad for Windows
Screenshots with an editor, pixelate, offline copy text and history on your PC, in the same app as your text shortcuts. Free with a NexoPad account.
5Screenshots in NexoPad
NexoPad for Windows was built to type your texts with shortcuts in any program, and it also includes a screenshot tool designed for everyday work. Press Alt+2 (or the key you choose) in any program, pick an Area, a Window or the whole Screen, and the editor opens right on the screenshot.
You can add arrows, shapes, text, step numbers, stamps (✓ ✗ ★) and a spotlight that darkens everything except what matters. With Hide you pixelate, blur or cover names, emails and phone numbers before sharing. Then you copy it, save it, pin it on top of your windows or copy its text with Windows text recognition, offline.
What NexoPad does not do: it doesn't upload your screenshots to the internet or create share links, it doesn't record video or GIFs, and it doesn't capture long scrolling pages. If you need that, ShareX or Snagit are a better fit.
6Take your first screenshot with NexoPad
Install the app and sign in
Download NexoPad for Windows for free from the Microsoft Store (Windows 10 version 1809 or later, and Windows 11) and sign in with your NexoPad account. If you don't have one yet, creating it is free.
Press Alt+2 and pick what to capture
Drag to pick an area or click a window. At the top you have the Area, Window and Screen modes, a 3, 5 or 10 second countdown and Repeat last area.
Mark and hide whatever you need
Pick a tool from the column on the right (or press its key: A arrow, T text, N numbers, B hide) and draw on the screenshot. Ctrl+Z undoes.
Copy, save or pin
Press Enter or Copy and paste it anywhere with Ctrl+V. The arrow next to it has Copy text, Copy and save and Save as…. Everything you save shows up on the app's Screenshots page.
Try NexoPad for Windows
Screenshots with an editor and your text shortcuts in one app. Free on the Microsoft Store.
7Which one to choose
Stick with Lightshot if…
You only take quick screenshots, an arrow and some text are enough, and you like sharing them with a short link.
Choose ShareX or Snagit if…
You need to record video or GIFs, capture long pages or upload your screenshots to a cloud service automatically.
Use Snipping Tool if…
You don't want to install anything and simple markup is enough: it comes with Windows and copies the text from images.
Choose NexoPad if…
You take screenshots for customers or coworkers, want to pixelate data and copy text offline, and you also type the same replies every day: your shortcuts and your screenshots live in the same app.
Tip
Want to get more out of it? Read how to take screenshots on Windows and edit them and how to copy text from an image on Windows.
8FAQ
What's the best free alternative to Lightshot?
It depends on what you need. ShareX is the most complete if you don't mind lots of options; Greenshot is the closest in simplicity; Snipping Tool already comes with Windows; and NexoPad adds pixelate, offline copy text and history to your text shortcuts.
Is Lightshot safe for work screenshots?
The app itself isn't dangerous, but if you use the upload option, the screenshot stays on its website and anyone with the link can see it. For customer data, it's better to copy or save to your PC, or use a tool that doesn't upload anything.
Does NexoPad upload my screenshots to the internet?
No. Screenshots are saved only on your PC, in the folder you choose, and the text in images is read with Windows text recognition, offline. You can have old ones deleted automatically (favorites, never).
Does NexoPad record video or capture scrolling pages?
No. NexoPad takes image screenshots of an area, a window or the whole screen. For video, GIFs or long pages, ShareX (free) or Snagit (paid) are better options.
Is there a Mac version of NexoPad?
The screenshots and shortcuts app is only for Windows 10 and 11. On Mac you can use the NexoPad browser extension, which includes text shortcuts, notes and links, but not screenshots.
Can I use PrtSc to take screenshots with NexoPad?
The default key is Alt+2, and you can change it in Preferences › Screenshot key. Keep in mind that on Windows 11 the PrtSc key usually opens Snipping Tool, unless you change that in Windows settings.
Published on October 25, 20268 min read
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