The Best Free Snipping Tools for Windows 10 – May 2019

Taking screenshots of the devices you use daily can help in a multitude of ways. From saving funny message your friends send you to troubleshooting error messages when you’re working with support teams to fix your PC, there’s plenty of reasons that grabbing a screen grab of your computer. While iOS and Android devices have screenshot tools built into every device, it can actually be a lot more difficult to take, send, and share screen grabs on your Windows PC, especially if you’re new to the operating system.

Thankfully, capturing screenshots on Windows 10 is totally feasible. From built-in tools and keyboard shortcuts to full third-party tools with editing options and more, there’s no shortage of ways to capture an image on your Windows computer. Here’s our picks for the best snipping tools for Windows 10.

Snipping Tool

Snipping Tool arrived way back in Windows 7, and despite a dated appearance, it still works great in Windows 10 as an included tool in your operating system. It’s lightweight, simple to use, and very effective, while also remaining full of features like auto-delays, multiple selection options ranging from free-form to full window snaps, and a pen tool that allows you to take notes right on your captured screen. Ink colors can be edited inside of the settings options, and captures can be saved as both .png and .jpeg files for whatever needs you might have.

Of course, if you need an even simpler tool, Windows 10 includes a basic snipping key shortcut right into the operating system. Windows+Shift+S allows you to capture any part of your screen and save it to your clipboard. You’ll need to paste your capture to an image editor, like Paint, GIMP, or Photoshop, but it’s quick and easy to capture screenshots using this method, without ever having to open Snipping tool to begin with.

PicPick

PicPick looks and feels a lot like Snipping Tool, but allows you some great customization over your screen grabs. It allows you to take screenshots, capture elements, edit, isolate parts of images, active windows or whatever you like. It doesn’t work with video but it does pretty much everything else. PickPick also has some effects you can apply and the ability share your creations. It also has a free and paid for version. The free version is presented as-is with no support. It also serves ads but nothing outrageous. Buy it for $24.99 if you like it enough.

TinyTake

TinyTake is a freeware app that works a bit like a combination of the Snipping Tool and Paint. It’s a simple UI with clear instructions. It works quickly and makes it easy to snip parts of a screen, take screenshots, capture images and a lot more. It can also work with moving images so you can capture video elements or screencasts. The free version is limited to home use only and has a 5 minute video limit and a 2GB maximum file size. Premium versions have no restrictions.

ShareX

ShareX is an open source snipping tool that gets the job done. It has a simple interface but some powerful features. It doesn’t just take screenshots, it can also work with video, share files, manipulate them, edit them, add effects and a whole lot more. While promoted as a pure snipping tool, it’s more a creativity suite and it’s free too!

Lightshot

Lightshot is another free snipping tool that punches way above its weight. It is a simple tool to use but is so straightforward and easy to use that it should be on everyone’s computer. It works with Windows, Mac and Linux so there is no excuse. You can snip regions, take an entire screen, copy, paste, edit and more. Plus you can track all your screenshots if you sign up. Lightshot is free to use for non-commercial use.

GreenShot

GreenShot is simple, easy to use and works in much the same way as Windows Snipping Tool. You can select an entire monitor, active window, a region from multiple monitors or a small part of the screen. Then edit, add other creative elements and save it in a range of formats. Not much more to say really. GreenShot is free.

Screenpresso

Screenpresso is quite a feature-rich snipping tool for Windows 10 and iOS. It works with screenshots, video, documents and more to enable you to create anything up to professional looking presentations or webcasts. The UI is simple and easy to use, the editing tools are fast and varied and it takes only a couple of minutes to master. Screenpresso is free for home use and has a premium edition too.

If you want to be able to laugh out loud the next time you hear ‘screenshot or it didn’t happen’ you now have a variety of great tools to use. Got any more to suggest?