ShareX logo

ShareX

Capture, annotate, and share screen content instantly

ShareX lets you capture screenshots, record video, annotate, and upload files to dozens of services with a single keystroke, boosting productivity for developers, designers, and power users.

ShareX banner

Overview

Overview

ShareX is a Windows‑only utility that lets users capture any part of their screen—static images, scrolling regions, or video—with a single keystroke. The built‑in editor provides annotation tools, effects, and OCR, turning raw captures into share‑ready assets instantly.

Workflow & Extensibility

Captured content can be automatically uploaded to more than 80 cloud services, FTP servers, or custom endpoints. URLs are copied to the clipboard, and advanced users can script actions, define custom uploaders, or integrate with third‑party tools via command‑line arguments. A portable version is available for use without installation, making it suitable for restricted environments.

Who Benefits

The tool is aimed at developers, designers, IT support staff, and power users who need fast, repeatable screen‑capture workflows and granular control over where files are stored. Its extensive configuration options and free GPL‑3.0 license make it a cost‑effective alternative to commercial screen‑capture suites.

Highlights

Instant screen capture with customizable hotkeys
Built-in image editor with annotations and effects
Automatic upload to over 80 cloud services
Support for GIF recording, OCR, and video capture

Pros

  • Highly customizable workflow
  • Extensive list of upload destinations
  • Free and open-source under GPL‑3.0
  • Rich set of editing and automation tools

Considerations

  • Windows‑only client limits cross‑platform use
  • Steep learning curve for advanced features
  • No official mobile app
  • Frequent updates may require manual configuration

Managed products teams compare with

When teams consider ShareX, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.

Google Meet logo

Google Meet

Video conferencing and collaboration platform

Loom logo

Loom

Instant video messaging and screen recording for teams

Zoom logo

Zoom

Video conferencing and online meeting platform

Looking for a hosted option? These are the services engineering teams benchmark against before choosing open source.

Fit guide

Great for

  • Power users who need fast, repeatable screen capture
  • Developers requiring quick sharing of logs or screenshots
  • Designers needing on‑the‑fly annotation
  • IT support staff automating file uploads

Not ideal when

  • Users seeking a native macOS or Linux solution
  • Casual users who prefer a single‑click UI without configuration
  • Teams requiring built‑in collaboration or cloud storage
  • Environments where corporate policy restricts third‑party upload services

How teams use it

Bug reporting with annotated screenshots

Capture the problematic area, add notes, and upload directly to the issue tracker, speeding up developer feedback.

Creating GIF tutorials

Record a short screen region as a GIF, apply effects, and share instantly on forums or documentation sites.

Automated log file sharing

Configure a custom uploader to send log files to a private S3 bucket with a keystroke, ensuring consistent diagnostics.

Live streaming overlays

Capture screen regions in real time, apply OCR to extract text, and feed into streaming software for dynamic overlays.

Tech snapshot

C#100%
Inno Setup1%
CSS1%
HTML1%

Tags

color-pickerdropboxshareocrftpscreen-recordergif-recordercaptureproductivityfile-sharingscreen-capturesharexfile-uploadimage-annotationregion-captureurl-shortenercsharpscreenshotimgurgif

Frequently asked questions

Is ShareX free to use?

Yes, it is free and released under the GPL‑3.0 license.

Which operating systems are supported?

ShareX runs on Windows; there are no official builds for macOS or Linux.

How does uploading work?

After capture, ShareX can automatically send the file to any configured destination, such as Imgur, Dropbox, or custom servers, and copies the URL to the clipboard.

Can I customize hotkeys?

Yes, all capture and action shortcuts are fully configurable in the settings panel.

Is there a portable version?

ShareX provides a portable ZIP that can be run without installation, useful for USB drives or restricted machines.

Project at a glance

Active
Stars
35,284
Watchers
35,284
Forks
3,580
LicenseGPL-3.0
Repo age12 years old
Last commit2 days ago
Primary languageC#

Last synced 12 hours ago