19 Best Screenshot Apps For Windows Laptops In 2025 [Free]

Updated On: 09/20/2023
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Have you ever had that moment when you want to preserve what's on your screen for later review, only to realize that the print screen key just doesn't cut it? Well, you're not alone.

Enter the world of screenshot tools - a realm with applications designed to seamlessly capture, edit, and share whatever graces your screen.

Today, we focus on some of the best screenshot apps for Windows laptops. Using these tools, capturing screenshots doesn't have to feel like a chore anymore. So sit back, relax, and prepare yourself to uncover some truly game-changing applications!

19 Best Screenshot Apps For Windows Laptops

19 Best Screenshot Apps For Windows Laptops

You've got some excellent choices when you want to capture and share screens on your Windows laptop. Each of these 19 apps offers unique features, allowing you to select the one that best meets your needs.

You no longer have to get stuck with your computer's overly basic built-in screenshot tool; these advanced tools offer much more, including timely captures, annotations, direct sharing options, and even video recordings.

Snipping Tool

Snipping Tool

Built into most Windows laptops, the Snipping Tool is a quick and convenient app for capturing your screen.

It's effortless to use: Start the application, select a snip type (rectangular, window snip, full-screen, or free-form), then capture away.

It has a simple annotation tool for highlighting essential areas of your screenshot. The biggest downfall? It doesn't offer sharing options; you must manually deliver the screenshots.

Also Read: 5 Screen Recording Tools for Windows 11 In 2025 [Best Pick]

Snip & Sketch

A modern iteration of the traditional Snipping Tool, Snip & Sketch comes pre-installed on the latest Windows laptops.

Innovatively designed to include screen grabbing and basic image editing capabilities in one package, it allows you to take screenshots immediately or set a delay timer up to 10 seconds.

Armed with an intuitive pen tool for sketching and annotating directly on screenshots and an easy-to-use sharing tool that permits sending your captures via email or uploading them directly onto social channels – this tool is certainly comprehensive.

Movavi Screen Recorder

Movavi Screen Recorder is a versatile tool that goes beyond typical screenshot capturing. This software is perfect if you're looking for an app to capture video clips or record real-time activity on your screen.

It lets you record streaming videos, webinars, video calls, and more directly from your Windows laptop.

You can capture the entire screen or select specific areas. Once you've captured the content, sharing it on social media platforms or saving it in various formats is easy.

ShareX

If you're seeking an open-source and highly customizable screenshot tool, look no further than ShareX. This powerful software lets you capture your desired area or the complete screen with a few keystrokes.

It offers free-form captures and GIF creation capacities and supports scrolling captures for lengthy web pages that don't fit into a single frame.

With automatic uploading options to various platforms like Dropbox and Google Drive, ShareX transforms screenshot sharing into an effortless affair.

Aiseesoft Screen Recorder

Offering a professional-grade screen capture experience, Aiseesoft Screen Recorder is another excellent choice for both screenshots and video recording on your Windows laptop.

This software stands out with its real-time drawing function, allowing you to mark up your screenshot or video during the recording phase.

Other features include isolating audio streams in recordings, choosing file output formats, and setting task schedules if you have repeated recording needs.

Action Screen and Game Recorder

Action Screen and Game Recorder

Action Screen and Game Recorder are heavy-duty additions to the roster, not just your screenshot tool.

It's a high-quality screen recording application designed to cater to gamers, with the capacity to record gameplay in HD. An intuitive interface allows you to capture your full screen, selected areas, or specific Windows applications with equal ease.

Plus, it sports a live streaming service to broadcast your gameplay or screens directly onto popular platforms like Twitch or YouTube.

Also Read: How To Check Computer Specifications? [Windows10, CPU, & More]

Lightshot might be the perfect fit for your needs if you're after simplicity. Lightshot is an uncomplicated yet efficient screenshot tool that delivers top-notch screen captures with minimal effort.

You can easily select any area on your desktop, take a quick snapshot, and save it to your local hard drive or share it online using the provided short URL. It even offers basic editing tools like line drawing, pen marker, and adding text to the captured image.

PicPick

For those seeking the power of advanced tools but also craving an easy-to-navigate interface – let us introduce you to PicPick.

This all-in-one screen capture application provides full-featured screen capture capabilities, an intuitive image editor, and a color picker tool.

The app lets you take screenshots of your entire display or defined sections and offers features like adding effects (drop shadows or frames) and adjusting brightness/contrast/saturation levels for perfect presentation images. These comprehensive capabilities sure make PicPick stand tall among its peers.

Greenshot

Greenshot is an extremely lightweight and efficient screenshot tool for your Windows laptop. You might appreciate its quick print feature that lets you send captures directly to your printer. It allows you to capture any region on the screen, provide annotations, highlight areas, and more.

If you need to capture complete web pages, Greenshot supports scrolling screenshot functionality, too! It's a high-quality free tool with diverse features that cater to most screenshot needs.

Screenpresso

Screenpresso is another comprehensive app offering many amenities for taking screenshots and recording videos on your Windows laptop.

One standout feature is its built-in image editor, which lets you add arrows, boxes, texts, and even effects with just a few clicks.

In addition to these graphical elements, Screenpresso allows capturing across multiple screens - perfect for those running complex setups with two or more monitors.

TinyTake

TinyTake

TinyTake brands itself as the "Best Free Windows Screen Capture & Video Recording Software." Besides regular screen-capturing features, it offers the ability to record short videos of your screen (up to 120 minutes).

TinyTake stands out due to its unique feature: it captures screenshots and allows you to store them on a cloud-based gallery provided by MangoApps - making sharing and collaboration a breeze. You can also annotate screenshots or videos using its robust markup tools.

ScreenRec

ScreenRec is another excellent screenshot app compatible with Windows laptops. Not only does it allow capturing still images digitally, but it also empowers you to record videos on your screen.

Screenshots and video recordings capture all activity within the designated area and reward you with immediate shareable links.

It simplifies sharing with its integrated cloud storage, where all your screenshots and recordings get auto-saved the moment they're captured. This tool's audio recording feature is perfect for voiceovers or commentary.

Gyazo

Minimalistic yet extremely effective, Gyazo is designed for speed and simplicity, making screenshotting a breeze on your Windows laptop.

With this app on board, you can quickly capture desired parts of your screen and instantly share them through a unique URL generated automatically for each snapshot.

Not only images, but the Gyazo Pro version also allows GIF capturing to animate your point of presentation or make lively memos!

SnapDraw

Intuitive navigation meets enhanced functionality in SnapDraw, an exceptional screenshot tool that caters excellently to basic and advanced needs.

Apart from essential screenshotting capabilities - full screen, active window, or selected area captures-SnapDraw offers editing opportunities like adding reflections, 3D perspectives, and magnifier lens effects to your screenshots.

It even enables annotating screenshots with callouts and inserting textual explanations, enhancing the clarity of communication.

Clip2Net

Clip2Net

Clip2Net is a straightforward and highly efficient tool for quick screenshot captures. This stands out from its competitors because it allows you to share your screenshots online.

You can publish your images on the Clip2Net server with just one click, allowing you to share the link with others easily. It also offers functions for highlighting, cropping, and even adding watermarks to your screenshots.

Also Read: 12 Easy Screen Recording Tips For Better Videos [2025 Guide]

Awesome Screenshot

If you take innumerable screenshots daily, then Awesome Screenshot should be on your radar. With screen recording and video editing options, this tool does not limit itself to only taking screenshots.

It also allows annotations directly onto the capture before sharing them online. Its built-in library stores all your captures, making it easy to find older screenshots.

Apowersoft Free Online Screenshot

As the name suggests, Apowersoft Free Online Screenshot lets you take advantage of its functionalities without any software installation – perfect for those who don’t want another application clogging up their laptop space!

Despite being an online tool, it offers impressive features such as full-screen captures, localized screenshotting options, cloud-based storing of images, and a built-in editing module packed with essential tools like shapes, text elements, and effects to jazz up your captures before sharing.

Nimbus

Nimbus is worth considering if you're in the market for a comprehensive screenshot tool that doubles as a screen recording software.

This tool is known for its extensive customization options and simple yet powerful interface. You can capture entire pages or parts of them, edit screenshots using the innovative graphics editor, add comments, and securely store files on their dedicated server.

One of Nimbus's standout features is the ability to simultaneously record videos from your screen and webcam – perfect for creating tutorials or walkthroughs.

ScreenRec

ScreenRec

ScreenRec is an all-in-one tool designed to capture your screen activities efficiently. Not only does it allow you to grab screenshots in seconds, but it also offers functionality for video recording with audio.

From capturing a specific window to grabbing an entire page or a particular selection, ScreenRec gives you control over what you want to capture.

Perhaps unique about this tool is its "Private Share" feature - once your screenshot or video is ready, generate a shareable link that grants secure access only to those with the rights to view it.

ScreenRec has covered you with its built-in 2GB free cloud storage if you're looking for cloud storage options.

What Are the essential features of screenshot tools?

The screenshot tools available today come with a range of features to provide more flexibility and utility to the users. Below are the essential features of screenshot tools.

  • Capture Entire Screen: Allows the user to screenshot the entire screen.
  • Capture Active Window: Targets and captures the currently active or foremost window.
  • Capture Selected Areas: This lets users define and capture a specific screen area.
  • Delay Timer: Sets a timer before the screenshot is taken, providing time to set up the desired screen view.
  • Annotation Tools: Provides features like arrows, text, shapes, and more to annotate the screenshot for clarity or emphasis.
  • Image Editor: Allows users to make further edits to screenshots, such as cropping, adjusting brightness, etc.
  • Scrolling Capture: Captures lengthy web pages or documents by automatically scrolling.
  • Save to Multiple Formats: Provides the flexibility to save screenshots in various formats like PNG, JPEG, TIFF, etc.
  • Direct Share Options: Enables direct sharing of screenshots via email, social media, etc.
  • Cloud Integration: Allows saving screenshots directly to cloud storage solutions like Google Drive or Dropbox.
  • Hotkey Integration: Facilitates quicker screenshot capture using predefined keyboard shortcuts.
  • Magnifier: Assists in capturing precise areas by magnifying a part of the screen.
  • Pixel Ruler: Measures dimensions on the screen in pixels, aiding in capturing accurate sizes.
  • Color Picker: This enables users to pick and identify exact colors from the screen.
  • GIF and Video Capture: Beyond static images, capture animated GIFs or videos of screen activity.
  • Watermarking: Let users add a watermark to screenshots for branding or copyright purposes.
  • Drag and Drop: This provides the ease to drag the screenshot to other applications or platforms directly.
  • Image Resizing: Adjusts the screenshot size to the required dimensions without needing another application.
  • Multi-Monitor Support: Supports screenshot capture across multiple screens, which is beneficial for setups with more than one monitor.
  • Profile/Workspace Management: Allows users to set up and switch between different configurations or preferences for screenshot tasks.

FAQs about best screenshot apps for Windows laptops

What are some of the best free screenshot apps for Windows laptops?

Snipping Tool, Snip & Sketch, and ShareX are all robust and free screenshot tools for Windows laptops.

Can screenshot tools also capture video on my laptop?

Apps like Movavi Screen Recorder and Aiseesoft Screen Recorder can capture screenshots and videos.

Is there a screenshot app that allows for quick sharing?

ShareX supports automatic uploading to platforms like Dropbox and Google Drive for easy sharing.

I often need to annotate my screenshots. Which tool would be best for this?

Snip & Sketch and Aiseesoft Screen Recorder offer excellent annotation tools.

Can I set a delay before taking a screenshot with these apps?

Yes, with applications like Snip & Sketch, you can set a delay timer up to 10 seconds before taking a screenshot.

Conclusion

There's a plethora of screenshot apps available to make your screen-capturing tasks on Windows laptops simpler and more efficient.

From free-form captures to GIF creation, real-time drawing functions, and scheduled tasks, you've got a wealth of tools at your disposal. So get out there and grab the tool that suits your individual needs.

Skip the built-in print screen button, enjoy advanced features, and make your everyday tasks or professional undertakings easier with these gem-rich screenshot apps!

After growing up in Germany I decided to take a brief break from entrepreneurship to study in the US. This led to meeting my beautiful wife and starting our life together in South Carolina. Written content has transformed my life. I enjoy sharing this passion with others. Please connect with me on social and let me know your thoughts on this article so my next one can be better.

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