The Free, Privacy-First
CleanShot X Alternative
for Mac & Windows
Why pay $29 or buy monthly subscriptions? EiSen gives you lightning-fast screen captures, numbered step markers, redaction blur, pixel loupe, and native on-device OCR on macOS and Windows — 100% free and open-source.
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.
macOS 11.0+ and Windows 10/11 (64-bit) • Apple Silicon & Intel • Zero telemetry
EiSen vs. CleanShot X
Side-by-side feature and architectural comparison.
| Feature | EiSen Free / Open Source | CleanShot X |
|---|---|---|
| Price & Licensing | 100% Free Forever (MIT Open Source) | $29 + $19/yr renewals (or Setapp $120/yr) |
| Privacy & Telemetry | 100% Offline (Zero Telemetry, Zero Cloud) | Cloud sync & analytical tracking |
| Text OCR Engine | Native on-device OCR (Apple Vision on macOS; Windows.Media.Ocr on Windows) | Cloud/Proprietary (Limited on basic tier) |
| Menu Bar / System Tray Resident | Yes (Clean, lightweight background tool) | Yes |
| Download Package Size (v0.2.5) | 4.36 MB macOS DMG / 2.60 MB Windows NSIS fallback; Store package varies | Varies by release |
| Account / Login Required | No (Install and use immediately) | Yes (License key or CleanShot Cloud login) |
| Annotation Suite | Numbered Steps, Loupe, Blur, Arrow, Text | Comprehensive pro editor |
| Platform Support | macOS 11.0+ & Windows 10/11 (64-bit) | macOS 10.14+ |
Why Mac & Windows Users are Switching to EiSen
100% Free Forever
No subscriptions, no renewal fees after 1 year, and no locked features. Everything in EiSen is free for personal and commercial use under the MIT license.
Absolute Privacy
Zero outbound network traffic. OCR happens entirely on your device using Apple Vision on macOS or Windows.Media.Ocr on Windows. Your captures, sensitive code, and client confidential data never touch external cloud servers.
Lightweight Native App
Engineered with Rust and Tauri v2. It runs quietly from the macOS menu bar or Windows system tray.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Mac and Windows users look for a CleanShot X alternative?
CleanShot X is a fantastic tool, but its pricing model ($29 for one-time with only 1 year of updates, or ongoing subscriptions via Setapp) pushes many students, developers, and independent professionals to look for a reliable, free alternative. Additionally, users dealing with sensitive proprietary code or customer privacy prefer EiSen because it never connects to cloud servers.
Can EiSen extract text from images like CleanShot X OCR?
Yes! EiSen includes native on-device OCR: Apple Vision on macOS and Windows.Media.Ocr on Windows. Select any region on your screen and copy the recognized text to your clipboard — completely offline and unlimited.
Is EiSen truly free and open-source?
Yes, 100%. EiSen is licensed under the MIT license with complete public source code available on GitHub. There are no paywalls, no "Pro" tier limitations, and no nagging upgrade reminders.
How does EiSen compare to Shottr?
Shottr was originally free, but recently introduced nag screens and a paid license tier. EiSen is committed to remaining 100% open-source and free forever, built with modern Rust and Tauri v2 for native performance on macOS and Windows.
Ready to try the free CleanShot alternative?
Download EiSen today and enjoy lightning-fast, privacy-first screen capture on macOS and Windows.