by Kayla Morrison • 2020-10-28 17:50:11 • Proven solutions
Whether you're a Mac or Windows user, the chances are that you must have used the efficient Windows Snipping Tool at some point. But do you know how to use the snipping tool on Mac? Well, unlike Windows, Mac doesn't include a native snipping app. Instead, you might need to download a third-party app to take screenshots on Mac. So, let's delve in and discuss some excellent ways to take a snip on Mac effortlessly.
Part 1. How to Snip on Mac Using Keyboard Shortcuts
As I've said earlier, Mac computers don't come baked with a native snipping tool. However, you can still take a screenshot on Mac with some simple keyboard shortcuts. All that you have to do is to hit the Shift + Command + 3 buttons concurrently. If you want to capture a specific section of your desktop screen, click the Shift + Command + 4. After that, hover the crosshair over the part that you wish to capture. It doesn't stop there, though, because you can also screenshot a menu by pressing the Shift + Command + Space bar + 4. If you're using macOS Mojave or newer, you can open the Screenshot app by hitting the Shift + Command + 5 buttons.
Default Snipping Tool. How to Use Snipping Tool. Unlike the Snipping Tool in Windows, snipping tool. Although the Grab snipping tool for Mac isn’t as complex as the other two we’ve discussed, it’s still a good tool for those looking for the precise features above. Skitch Snipping Tool for Mac Skitch is an app built by the nice people that made Evernote, so you know it’s going to be a cool app.
- Mac’s Built-In Option. Before we look at alternatives, let’s start with the native snipping tool for Mac.
- In macOS Mojave or later, you can also set a timer and choose where screenshots are saved with the Screenshot app. To open the app, press and hold these three keys together: Shift, Command, and 5. Learn more about the Screenshot app. Some apps, such as the Apple TV app, might not let you take screenshots of their windows.
- You're probably already familiar with the native snipping tool that ships with every Mac OS (shift + command + 4), consider a screenshot for mac equivalent that shaves actual minutes off without having to open a new window or app. Introducing CloudApp's Snipping Tool For Mac - The Best Snipping Tool for Mac.
- Best Snipping Tools for Mac: Snipping Tool is a built-in app to take screenshot on Windows Computer. That app does not work on Mac and therefore you need to find the best snipping tools for Mac OS X. You can take variety of screenshots with help of a Mac Snipping.
Part 2. Top 10 Snipping Tool on Mac You Can't-Miss
A better alternative of how to use the snipping tool on Mac is to install a professional app. Unlike the first method, these tools are simple to learn, and they offer customizable keyboard shortcuts.
1. CleanShot
When it comes to the best Snipping tools for Mac, few can compare to CleanShot from Snappa. With it, you can take screenshots on Mac without any distractions or the painstakingly confusing keyboard shortcuts. For starters, it will hide all your desktop icons and windows before taking a screenshot. After screenshotting, you can proceed to preview the pictures before saving. Just choose a capture area, drag your mouse to take a screenshot, and then tap the pen icon to begin editing.
Pros:
- Super-simple to use.
- Annotate images easily.
- Upload screenshots to the cloud.
Cons:
- No free trial version.
2. Recordit
Recordit is a minimalistic snipping tool for desktops that uses virtually no memory. With it, you can create quick screenshots of a section or a whole desktop screen. Also, it's a flexible app that allows you to multitask while taking desktop screenshots. Additionally, it comes in either a free or paid version with full capabilities.
Pros:
- Customizable keyboard shortcuts.
- Minimalistic UI.
- Free cloud storage.
Cons:
- Requires internet connection.
3. Skitch
Giving the first three Mac snipping tools on this list, a run for their money is the popular Skitch app. Designed by Evernote, Skitch is simple to use and is available on Android, iOS, and Windows. After taking a screenshot, you can quickly add shapes, text, color, highlighting, arrows, and even blurring. What's more, it supports standard picture formats like JPEG, TIFF, PDF, PNG, and BMP.
Pros:
- Cross-platform app.
- Multiple customization tools.
- Supports PDF, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, GIFF, and BMP.
Cons:
- Doesn't save screenshots before quitting.
4. CloudApp
URL: https://www.getcloudapp.com/mac/mac-screenshot-app
Another easy to learn snipping tool for Mac is CloudApp. This all-in-one tool captures, annotates, and shares all your screenshots in a flash. It comes with customizable keyboard shortcuts, and can annotate screenshots with colors, blur, text, shapes, etc. You can then use the Drag-and-Drop feature to export images to Google Docs or Microsoft Office.
Pros:
- Simple to use.
- Easy to create GIFs and videos.
- Supports share links.
Cons:
- No full-screen capture.
5. Loom
Loom Screen Recorder is a little-known snipping tool for Mac, but it turns out to be very useful. It allows you to communicate effectively with friends and workmates via screenshots and quick videos. That said, Loom offers both paid and free trial versions and works smoothly on mobile and desktop platforms. Surprisingly, it even has a Chrome extension.
Pros:
- Beautiful UI.
- Cross-platform app.
- Create quick video tutorials.
Cons:
- Non-customizable UI.
6. Greenshot
As usual, we must throw in a few freebies here and there for those on a budget. In this case, you can use the open-source Greenshot to capture desktop screen on Mac and Windows hassle-free. It includes dozens of features and customizable hotkey combinations to make your experience one to remember. You can grab a full screen, region, window, or last capture area. After that, you can export your screenshots directly to a cloud-based app like Imgur, Picasa-Web, Dropbox, or even your printer.
Pros:
- A free, open-source tool.
- Easy UI.
- Multiple hotkey combinations.
Cons:
- No updates.
7. Monosnap
Monosnap is a desktop snipping tool for Mac and Windows that can take screenshots in a huff. It can capture a window, region, or full screen and share your creative masterpiece. In addition to that, Monosnap can also record videos and GIFs. You can edit screenshots by adding annotations, highlighting details, etc. After that, you can directly upload to Facebook, Twitter, Google Drive, Amazon S3, Dropbox, etc.
Pros:
- Nice interface.
- Easy drag and drop saving and uploading.
- Able to upload directly after recording or capturing.
Cons:
- Mobile devices cannot be recorded.
8. SnapNDrag
As the name suggests, SnapNDrag allows users to capture desktop screens without breaking a sweat. You can take a specific section, full screen, or a window without the help of hotkey combinations. After screenshotting, you can directly share it to Facebook, Twitter, email, etc.
Pros:
- Export photos directly to Facebook and Twitter.
- Custom keyboard shortcuts.
- Drag screenshots directly to mail and Finder.
Cons:
- Limited free version.
9. LightShot
LightShot is a lightweight snipping tool that's popular among Mac users. Although it's effortless to use, LightShot packs a handful of features to help you create a professional screenshot. It can edit screenshots by adding texts, shapes, emoji, colors, etc. Plus, LightShot is the only screen capture tool on this list that can take multiple screenshots at once.
Pros:
- Capture multiple screenshots at once.
- Super-fast app.
- Export to the cloud or social media.
Cons:
- No capture modes.
10. Snagit
Lastly, you can use the award-winning Snagit to snip your desktop screen with minimal effort. It boasts aesthetic UI and powerful features to match. On top of capturing screenshots in a breeze, Snagit also allows you to edit by adding text, stickers, blur, etc. You can also create high-quality videos and animated GIFs. Sadly, you must pay $50 to unlock its full features.
Pros:
- Feature-rich app.
- Simple to use.
- Lightweight app.
Cons:
- Limited free version.
Conclusion
Learning how to take a snip on Mac shouldn't be a headache with the right apps. You don't even need to master the keyboard shortcuts. Just download one of these apps and capture high-quality screenshots like a pro.
Summary :
Snipping Tool is a screenshot utility designed by Microsoft to help Windows system users take a screenshot on computer easily. Knowing this, Mac users are wondering whether there is a snipping tool for Mac. In this post on MiniTool website, some popular snipping tools that can be worked perfectly on Mac will be introduced.
Is There a Snipping Tool for Mac
Microsoft has introduced Snipping Tool, a utility for making screenshots, to Windows systems since Windows 7. Since then, users don’t need to look for third-party snipping tools when they need to take s screenshot on their computers. Using Snipping Tool is the easiest way to make a copy of something on Windows.
What about snipping tool Mac?
Does Mac have a snipping tool? People are wondering about this. Luckily, you do have snipping tool for Mac: there are both built-in tools for image capture Mac and third-party snipping tool alternatives. Let’s take a look at them one by one.
#1. Default Snipping Tool
How to Use Snipping Tool
Unlike the Snipping Tool in Windows, snipping tool Mac is so integrated into the macOS that it doesn’t even have a name. Now, I’ll show you how to call & use the default screenshot snipping tool on Mac.
How to crop a picture on Mac:
- Start your Mac properly.
- Press ⇧⌘5 or Shift + Command + 5 on your keyboard.
- Select an option from the opening snipping tool kit to continue.
Many options are included in the snipping tool kit:
Microsoft Snipping Tool Download
- Capture Entire Screen
- Capture Selected Window
- Caption Selected Portion (area)
- Record Entire Screen
- Record Selected Portion (area)
- Options (more options menu)
If you are running an older macOS, please make a screenshot on Mac by:
- Shift + Command + 3 (⇧⌘3): take a screenshot of the entire screen.
- Shift + Command + 4 (⇧⌘4): capture a portion of the screen.
- Shift + Command + 4 + Spacebar (⇧⌘4 + Spacebar): capture a window or menu.
Where Do Screenshots Go on Mac
Questions like where are screenshots saved Mac and where do I find my screenshots on a Mac are hot among Mac users. Actually, the screenshots taken by the built-in methods will be saved on desktop directly; the name format is Screen Shot [date] at [time]. png. You can change the default location of Mac saved screenshots in a macOS Mojave or later version.
Please don’t worry if you have deleted a screenshot unintentionally since you are able to recover it by following this guide:
Believe it or not, we can make it easy to recover deleted data on Mac even if you are totally a novice.
You can find the exact methods and steps to recover lost Word files on Mac:
Mac OS is good, but how do you retrieve lost Word files on Mac when your Word documents disappear? This article will help you with it.
Snipping Tool Mac Alternatives
#2. Grab
Grab is a fascinating Mac Snipping Tool alternative that helps you take screenshots easily and save them as image files.
Main features of Grab include:
- It provides various screen-capture modes.
- It gives support to keyboard shortcuts.
- It’s come with all recent versions of macOS; no extra download is needed.
#3. LightShot
LightShot is another popular Mac Snipping Tool alternative; it offers the fastest way to take a screenshot based on your needs.
Main features of LightShot include:
- The user interface is so simple and intuitive that users can select any area & take screenshot via just two button-clicks.
- It allows you to share screenshots with others by saving them on Mac or uploading them to servers of LightShot.
- It’s provided with an intuitive but powerful screenshot editor which allows you to highlight a part of a screenshot or add an annotation without leaving the app.
#4. Snagit
Snagit is regarded as the gold standard of screen capture software; it’s a full-featured screen-capture tool with both built-in advanced image editing and screen recording capabilities.
Main features of Snagit include:
- It allows you to capture screen in several ways: capture entire desktop, region, window, or scrolling screen.
- The complex edits can be finished in just a few clicks within the app.
- The intuitive user interface makes it a pleasure to take a screenshot on Mac.
#5. CloudApp
This is a cloud-based snipping tool for Mac; it can also be used as a screen recorder or GIF maker. You can choose to use CouldApp on the web or on Mac by downloading it.
Main features of Snagit include:
- CouldApp can also be used on Windows, Linux, and even iOS devices, in addition to Mac.
- It’s an enterprise-level application that allows you to capture screen and share screenshots easily.
- Apart from secure sharing, it also provides built-in analytical tools and white-label capabilities.
- It helps you upload screenshots (and videos) automatically to the cloud.
- It allows access from different devices and platforms via a personal cloud account.
Snipping Tool App For Mac
Of course, there are many other snipping tools for Mac waiting for you to discover.
Snipping Tool App Microsoft
Please click here if you find the screenshots on Mac is not working.