The Best Free Screen Capture App for Mac & Windows.
The lightweight, 100% free screenshot and annotation tool. Crop with sub-pixel precision, annotate with step markers and privacy blur, and extract text instantly with on-device OCR. Zero telemetry, zero subscriptions.
Supports macOS 11.0+ and Windows 10/11 (64-bit) • 100% Free Forever • Zero Telemetry
// EiSen Core - Native Rust macOS Capture Engine
use objc2_app_kit::{NSApplication, NSImage};
pub fn capture_region(display_id: u32, crop: Rect) -> Result<CaptureResult> {
let display = find_display_under_cursor(cursor_pos)?;
let image = screencapture::capture_rect(crop)?;
let text = vision::recognize_text_local(&image)?;
Ok(CaptureResult { image, ocr_text: text })
}
// EiSen Core - Native Rust Windows Capture Engine
use windows::Media::Ocr::OcrEngine;
pub async fn extract_text_from_image(bytes: &[u8]) -> Result<String> {
let engine = OcrEngine::TryCreateFromUserProfileLanguages()?;
let software_bitmap = decode_stream_to_bitmap(bytes)?;
let ocr_result = engine.RecognizeAsync(&software_bitmap)?.await?;
Ok(ocr_result.Text()?.to_string())
}
"use objc2_app_kit::{NSApplication, NSImage};"
"use windows::Media::Ocr::OcrEngine;"
Press ⌥⌥ (Mac) or PrtScn (Windows) anywhere to capture, or use Ctrl + Shift + 5 when PrintScreen is already in use.
No telemetry, no analytics, no cloud uploads. Everything stays strictly on your local computer.
Built with Rust and Tauri v2 for a responsive overlay and native integration with each platform.
Extract text from any capture offline, using native Apple Vision on macOS and Windows.Media.Ocr on Windows.
Runs silently as an accessory app in the macOS Menu Bar or Windows System Tray for instant access.
Everything you need to capture, annotate, and communicate.
No Electron, no subscriptions, no account. Capture, annotate, and copy — all on your local device.
Smart Crop & Instant Multi-Monitor Selection
Trigger with double-tap Option (⌥⌥) on Mac, or PrintScreen (PrtScn) on Windows. If PrintScreen is occupied, EiSen automatically uses Ctrl + Shift + 5. EiSen targets the display under your cursor, lets you nudge the crop with arrow keys, and exports crisp PNGs.
- ✓ Global hotkeys: ⌥⌥ / ⇧⇧ / ⌘⇧4 (macOS), PrtScn or Ctrl + Shift + 5 (Windows)
- ✓ Fine-tune crop dimensions with keyboard arrows
- ✓ Multi-display aware with zero coordinate offset bugs
Pixel-Perfect Tools for Clear Visual Explanations
Turn raw screenshots into polished visuals in seconds. Every tool is tuned with high-DPI precision, smooth vectors, and modern dark glassmorphism styling.
- ✓ Arrows, ellipses, rectangles, and smooth freehand pen with arrowheads
- ✓ Numbered steps (1, 2, 3...) that increment automatically for tutorials & bug reports
- ✓ Text markers with custom typography, font sizes, and rich color palette
Blur Sensitive Information in One Drag
Keep API tokens, passwords, credit card numbers, and private customer information safe. The smooth blur tool conceals data cleanly before you share.
- ✓ Gaussian privacy blur baked into the exported PNG
- ✓ Non-destructive undo and redo support
- ✓ Exported PNGs never leak covered underlying data
Instant Text Extraction with Apple Vision & WinRT
Stop retyping text from screenshots. Use OCR on any capture via native macOS Vision or Windows.Media.Ocr and copy the result to your clipboard instantly.
- ✓ Fully on-device — no external APIs, works 100% offline
- ✓ High-accuracy multi-language recognition
- ✓ One-click copy to clipboard with toast confirmation
Precision Eyedropper Loupe for Designers
Inspect colors down to the exact pixel with a magnified loupe. Copy the HEX code with a click or keyboard shortcut.
- ✓ Live 11×11 pixel grid under the cursor
- ✓ One-click HEX copy to the clipboard
- ✓ Essential utility for UI/UX designers and frontend developers
In-Memory Session History at Your Fingertips
Review and re-edit your last 50 captures from the Menu Bar or System Tray hub. EiSen keeps your workspace clean by keeping history in memory, sweeping temporary files automatically on app launch.
- ✓ Quick re-open, copy, or delete from the gallery
- ✓ Temporary files stored securely in owner-only sandbox directories
- ✓ Temp PNGs are swept on launch; Save writes ordinary files you keep
Up and running in three simple steps.
EiSen runs natively with zero bloat on both macOS and Windows.
1. Download EiSen
Install EiSen from the Microsoft Store on Windows; use the direct NSIS .exe only as a fallback. Download the DMG for macOS.
2. Install & Launch
On macOS: Drag to /Applications and grant Screen Recording in System Settings. On Windows: install from Microsoft Store; use the direct NSIS installer only if Store access is unavailable.
3. Press Hotkey & Start Capturing
EiSen sits silently in your Menu Bar (Mac) or System Tray (Windows). Press ⌥⌥ (Mac) or PrtScn (Windows) to capture instantly; if PrintScreen is occupied, EiSen switches to Ctrl + Shift + 5.
💡 On macOS, grant Screen Recording once in System Settings. On Windows, no special permissions are required.
Why EiSen is the Best Free Alternative.
Get all the professional screenshot, annotation, and OCR capabilities of paid or heavy tools — completely free, open-source, and 100% private.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does EiSen support both macOS and Windows?
Why does EiSen require macOS Screen Recording permission?
Is EiSen really a 100% free alternative to CleanShot X, Shottr, and ShareX?
How does OCR work on Windows without cloud APIs?
Can I customize hotkeys on Windows?
How is EiSen different from traditional screenshot apps or cloud capture tools?
How do I update to newer versions of EiSen?
Ready for a faster, cleaner screenshot workflow?
Get EiSen today. Free, open source, and built with love for macOS and Windows.
macOS
Version 0.2.6 • Apple Silicon • DMG download 4.37 MB • macOS 11.0+
Windows
Version 0.2.5 • Windows 10/11 (64-bit) • Microsoft Store • Direct unsigned NSIS fallback
Windows direct-download note
The Microsoft Store version is the recommended Windows install and receives Store-managed updates. The direct NSIS .exe fallback is unsigned, so SmartScreen may show Unknown publisher or Windows protected your PC, and managed devices may block it. Verify the SHA-256 sidecar on GitHub Releases before running.