Glide Shot vs CleanShot X
Both are among the best screenshot and screen recording apps for Mac. The difference starts when you stop recording: Glide Shot comes with a studio editor that zooms automatically.
In short
Four reasons people switch from CleanShot
See the difference
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Glide Shot | CleanShot X |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Price | $39/year or $195 Lifetime | $35 one time + $19/year for updates; Pro $10/month |
| Free use | Free plan, no time limit | None (30-day money-back guarantee) |
| Macs | 3 | Multiple; extra seats available |
| Minimum macOS | macOS 26, Apple silicon | macOS 13 |
| Screenshots | ||
| Area, window, full screen | Yes | Yes |
| Scrolling capture | Yes | Yes |
| Annotations and blur | Yes | Yes |
| Text recognition (OCR) | Yes | Yes |
| Screen recording | ||
| Camera, click, and keystroke overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud share links | No | Yes (unlimited on Pro) |
CleanShot X details taken from cleanshot.com on November 6, 2026; prices in USD, excluding taxes. Spot a mistake? Let us know and we'll fix it.
Which one is right for you
Choose by how you work
Choose Glide Shot if…
- You want screen recordings ready to share without editing
- You'd like to try it for as long as you need before paying
- You're on macOS 26 and Apple silicon
- You're used to CleanShot's shortcuts and want to keep them
CleanShot X may be a better fit if…
- – You need cloud link sharing and team management
- – You're on macOS 13–25 or an Intel Mac
- – You want a one-time price below $195
Switching
Your shortcuts stay the same.
Glide Shot ships with CleanShot X's default shortcuts, so your muscle memory carries right over.
- 1Download Glide ShotDrag it to Applications and open it.
- 2Grant permissionsScreen Recording and Accessibility; the app walks you through each one.
- 3Quit CleanShotSo the shortcuts don't clash. ⇧⌘4 now belongs to Glide Shot.
Questions
Can I bring over my CleanShot X screenshots?
They're already files on your Mac. Just point Glide Shot at the same folder.
Can I use both at the same time?
Yes, but they share the same shortcuts, so you'll need to change them in one of the apps.
Does Glide Shot have cloud sharing?
Not yet. Drag the file into whatever app you share from.
Does it run on Intel Macs?
No. Glide Shot is built for macOS 26 and Apple silicon.