BaseShot vs CleanShot X: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for BaseShot and CleanShot X side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, BaseShot leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
BaseShot
Capture, annotate, and record screens with OCR, auto-zoom, and 4K exports
Best for you if:
- • Individuals and teams on Windows or Mac who send annotated screenshots, bug reports and product demo videos
CleanShot X
Capture, annotate, and share screenshots and recordings
Best for you if:
- • You want beautiful annotations
| At a Glance | BaseShot | CleanShot X |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $6/user/mo, billed monthly BaseShot Cloud plan | From $8/mo, billed monthly Cloud plan |
Category | Screen Recording Screenshot Tools | Screenshot Tools Image Editing |
Rating | n/a | 4.9/5 G2 4.9 5 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Watch out for | n/a | The 1 GB cloud storage on the Basic plan fills up fast if you upload screen recordings or GIFs. You will need to manage storage manually or upgrade to Pro for unlimited storage. |
Choose BaseShot or CleanShot X?
Choose BaseShot if
- Individuals and teams on Windows or Mac who send annotated screenshots, bug reports and product demo videos
- You want a free tier before you commit
- Budget matters ($6/user/mo, billed monthly vs $8/mo, billed monthly)
- You work in screen recording, not screenshot tools
Choose CleanShot X if
- You want beautiful annotations
- You want cloud storage
- You work in screenshot tools, not screen recording
In-Depth Analysis
BaseShot
Capture, annotate, and record screens with OCR, auto-zoom, and 4K exports
BaseShot's pricing is very fair: the free tier is unusually generous with unlimited captures and no watermark, while the Cloud tier at $6/user/month is cheaper than most competing screen recording collaboration tools.
Key features
CleanShot X
Capture, annotate, and share screenshots and recordings
CleanShot X is the best screenshot tool on macOS, and its pricing reflects unusual honesty: $29 one-time gets you a permanent license with 1 GB cloud storage and one year of updates.
Watch out
The 1 GB cloud storage on the Basic plan fills up fast if you upload screen recordings or GIFs. You will need to manage storage manually or upgrade to Pro for unlimited storage.
Strengths
- Pro: Beautiful annotations
- Pro: Cloud storage
- Pro: Scrolling capture
Weaknesses
- Con: Mac only
- Con: Subscription model
Key features
Plans and prices: BaseShot vs CleanShot X
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| BaseShot |
| baseshot.io/pricing read Oct 25, 2026 |
| CleanShot X |
| cleanshot.com/pricing read Oct 24, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on BaseShot pricing and CleanShot X pricing.
Key Takeaways
BaseShot
- Lower entry price: $6/user/mo, billed monthly vs $8/mo, billed monthly
- Has a free plan
CleanShot X
- Choose if you want capture, annotate, and share screenshots and recordings
What the data shows
On the data below, BaseShot leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only CleanShot X has a published user rating (4.9/5 from 5 reviews); BaseShot has none we can show.
- BaseShot has the lower entry price: $6/user/mo, billed monthly (BaseShot Cloud) against $8/mo, billed monthly (Cloud) for CleanShot X.
- Only BaseShot has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do BaseShot and CleanShot X compare in 2026?
On the data below, BaseShot leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only CleanShot X has a published user rating (4.9/5 from 5 reviews); BaseShot has none we can show. BaseShot has the lower entry price: $6/user/mo, billed monthly (BaseShot Cloud) against $8/mo, billed monthly (Cloud) for CleanShot X. Only BaseShot has a free plan.
What are BaseShot and CleanShot X used for?
BaseShot: Capture, annotate, and record screens with OCR, auto-zoom, and 4K exports. CleanShot X: Capture, annotate, and share screenshots and recordings.
What does BaseShot cost vs CleanShot X?
BaseShot's cheapest paid plan is BaseShot Cloud at $6/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. CleanShot X's cheapest paid plan is Cloud at $8/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 25, 2026.
What's the main difference between BaseShot and CleanShot X?
BaseShot focuses on capture, annotate, and record screens with OCR, auto-zoom, and 4K exports. CleanShot X's main strength: beautiful annotations.