12 Best Snipping Tools for Linux [2023]

Looking for the best snipping tool for Linux? Finding software that’s compatible with Linux can be difficult, but that doesn’t mean you have to stick with the first program you find. To help you find the best screen recorder for the job, we’ve reviewed the top 12 programs available today.

Best for: Quick and easy screen recording and sharing

Price: Free

G2 rating: 4.9 out of 5, 5 reviews

ScreenRec is a free screen recorder with versions that are compatible with Linux, Mac, and PC computers. As such, many users like this software as a Linux snipping tool option. It’s capable of recording your screen and webcam at the same time, as well as system and microphone audio. While this software is open-source and free, recording time is limited to five minutes unless you create an account. Accounts are free, though, and they never expire. 

Key features:

• Cloud recording and sharing

• Video encryption and secure storage

• Built-in CMS to organize and manage recordings

Pros:

• Screenshot annotation capabilities

• Instant sharing feature via private link

• Webcam recording functionality

Cons:

• No video-editing capabilities

• Five-minute recording limit without an account

Download ScreenRec

Best for: Capturing screenshots of your desktop on Linux

Price: Free

Spectacle is a fairly stripped-down program that allows Linux users to take still screenshots of their desktops. If you don’t need to record videos of your screen, this is a decent snipping tool for Ubuntu, Kali, Mint, and other versions of Linux. It may lack video features, but it does work well for its purpose, with the ability to capture your full screen, a single application window, a custom rectangular area, and/or multiple displays. 

Key features:

• Capture a current monitor display

• Capture custom area

• Capture an active application window

• Take screenshots with keyboard shortcuts 

Pros:

• Convenient hotkey shortcut options

• Quick and easy screenshot capabilities

Cons:

• No video capabilities

• Limited functionality

Download Spectacle

Best for: Capturing and editing screenshots

Price: Free

Shutter is another open-source Linux snipping tool alternative. Like Spectacle, Shutter is specifically designed to take still screenshots and does not include video-recording capabilities. It does, however, include more features than Spectacle, including some handy photo-editing utilities. Shutter is a 100% free download, but it’s not as intuitive to download and use as some of the other applications we tried out for this article.

Key features:

• Multiple capture modes (desktop, window, menu or tooltip, and website)

• Photo-editing features

• Sharing capabilities

Pros:

• Photo enhancements (e.g., text, arrows, shapes, etc.)

• Censoring/pixelating feature to protect private info

Cons:

• Not intuitive to download or use

• No video capabilities

Download Shutter

Best for: Taking quick screenshots with hotkeys 

Price: Free

ScreenCloud is a free screenshot tool for Linux. Like some of the other tools we’ve reviewed here, it doesn’t include video capabilities. It does, however, have built-in sharing capabilities and cloud storage options that allow you to use your own server. Its strongest feature is probably its strong plugin support, which allows users to expand ScreenCloud’s functionality with other programs. 

Key features:

• Built-in sharing capabilities

• Cloud storage options

• Plugin support for expanded functionality

Pros:

• Convenient screenshots with hotkey functions

• Multiple sharing and storage options

• Expandable features and capabilities

Cons:

• No video capabilities

• Third-party plugins required to add features

Download ScreenCloud

Best for: Digital image composition and editing on any platform

Price: Free

PCMag rating: 4 out of 5

ImageMagick is a robust photo composition and editing tool, compatible with almost any modern OS. This open-source software has multiple incredibly cool features, including animation capabilities, noise and color reduction, multispectral imagery, motion picture support, and special effects. It doesn’t include screen recording or screen capture capabilities, though. Some users opt to use ImageMagick in combination with a screen-recording program. While this requires two programs to create a single image or video, some of the features included with ImageMagick may be worth it to some users.

Key features:

• Image enciphering and deciphering

• Photo composite capabilities

• Animation features

• Drawing capabilities

Pros:

• Robust photo- and video-editing tools

• Command-line photo manipulation capabilities

• File format conversion functionality

Cons:

• Unintuitive for newer users

• No screen capture capabilities

Download ImageMagick

Best for: Scheduling, capturing, and editing screenshots

Price: Free

Deepin Screenshot is another open-source screenshot program that you can download for free. It doesn’t include video-screen recording, but it does have photo-editing capabilities. And, unlike some of the other screenshot tools available today, it allows users to delay a screenshot. In other words, you can automate and schedule the screenshot process if you want to capture a specific function or activity on your screen at a particular time. It also includes functions that allow users to adjust the image resolution and share screenshots to social media.

Key features:

• Social media sharing

• Screenshot scheduling

• Resolution adjustments

Pros:

• Includes photo-editing capabilities

• Allows users to delay screenshots

Cons:

• No support of video recording or editing

• Limited options for photo resolutions 

Download Deepin Screenshot

Best for: Sharing screenshots on Imgur 

Price: Free

Flameshot is a screenshot tool for Linux with command-line launch and capture capabilities. Users can either launch the Flameshot graphical user interface (GUI) or enter commands to perform immediate or delayed screenshots of all or part of a display. The application is highly customizable and easy to use, especially if you’re familiar with its commands. Along with in-app editing capabilities, it also allows users to upload screenshots directly to Imgur. 

Key features:

• Direct upload to Imgur

• In-app photo editing

• Customizable GUI

Pros:

• Allows delayed and customized screenshots

• Includes screenshot editing features

• Makes sharing easy (for Imgur users)

Cons:

• Does not include video-recording capabilities

• Does not allow delayed screenshots for custom area screenshots

Download Flameshot

Best for: Capturing screenshots and video recordings in GNOME

Price: Free

GNOME Screenshot is a lightweight utility created to work with GNOME – a desktop environment that works with most major Linux distributions. If you don’t run GNOME, you may have trouble installing and using GNOME Screenshot. However, if you’re a GNOME user, and you want a resource-light solution to capture screenshots and make screencasts, this could be a good option for you. GNOME Screenshot lets users take a screenshot of the entire desktop, a specific window, or a custom area of the screen. You can also create a video recording with this application by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R to start and stop recording. 

Key features:

• Screenshot capabilities for a single window, custom area, or full desktop

• Video-recording feature

• Hotkeys for fast and easy screenshots and screencasts

Pros:

• Includes video capabilities

• Provides some customization for screenshots

Cons:

• Only works with computers running GNOME

• No option to record part of the screen instead of the full display

• No editing capabilities

Download GNOME Screenshot

Best for: Taking multiple screenshots of a custom rectangular area

Price: Free

Ksnip is a fairly robust screenshot tool for Linux, Windows, and macOS. Along with allowing users to capture a custom rectangular area of their screen, it also has a feature that lets you take a screenshot of the same area again without re-selecting it. Ksnip also includes annotation drawing features, command-line support, sharing to Imgur, and some photo-editing capabilities.

Key features:

• Add watermarks to screenshots

• Print screenshots or save as a PDF

• Draw and annotate on screenshots

• Take a screenshot of a selected area again without re-selecting it

Pros:

• Quick and easy annotations and photo editing 

• Convenient hotkey functionality

Cons:

• Requires kImageAnnotator and kColorPicker to function

• Does not include video functionality

Download Ksnip

Best for: Creating and editing digital images and screenshots

Price: Free

TechRadar rating: 5 out of 5

GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It’s a cross-platform image editor that works with GNU/Linux, macOS, and Windows. GIMP’s developers created it as a free, open-source competitor for programs like Adobe® Photoshop®. As a result, it is very robust in terms of editing and manipulation features and tools. It also includes a screenshot function, and users can then easily import their screenshots into GIMP to create finished images. It is possible to capture a video screen recording with GIMP, but you’ll need a third-party plugin to do it.

Key features:

• Color management features

• Animation tools

• Advanced photo manipulation effects

Pros:

• Quick and easy screenshot feature

• Extendible with support for multiple plugins

Cons:

• Requires a third-party plugin for video recordings

• Cropping feature and other tools are unintuitive

Download GIMP

Best for: Recording your desktop screen on Linux

Price: Free

Kazam is a screencasting program for GNU/Linux. Videos created with Kazam can be played on any digital video player, and the program supports WebM video formatting for greater user convenience. With the PulseAudio plugin, you can also include system sound or audio from any input device as well. 

Key features:

• Video screen recording on Linux

• Support for WebM video file format

• System and input audio functionality with plugin

Pros:

• Simple video recording in GNU/Linux

• Multiple export file formats

Cons:

• Requires a plugin to record audio

• Does not include editing tools

Download Kazam

Best for: Converting screenshots and websites to PDFs

Price: Free version, Pro version for $39.95

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5, 16 reviews

Unlike the other programs we’ve reviewed, FireShot is not a free, open-source option. This paid program is, however, a robust snipping tool equivalent for Linux. While users may opt for the free FireShot Lite version, its features are limited. To take a screenshot or record a video of a specific browser window or convert all of a browser’s tabs to a PDF in one click, you’ll need to opt for the paid version. With that said, Linux users should be aware that the paid Linux version of this software is also limited in terms of photo editing and uploading features. 

Key features:

• Screen capture capabilities for full, selected, or visible screen

• Website-to-PDF conversion

• Printing functionality

Pros:

• Powerful photo-editing tools

• Convenient website capture feature

• Useful annotation features

Cons:

• No video capabilities

• Limited features for Linux-compatible version

Download FireShot

Now that we’ve walked you through 12 of the top snipping tools for Linux, let’s talk about how to choose the best one for your needs. Keep these factors in mind as you make your decision:

• Features: What features are included with the app, and does it do everything you need? If you need to record a video, only a small selection of the programs in this article will work for you. Likewise, if you need to edit or annotate your screenshots, you’ll want to choose a program that doesn’t require you to download another app to get the job done.

• Support: Open-source programs are designed and developed by a large community of volunteers. While these programs don’t exactly have customer support standing by, that doesn’t mean that you can’t get help when you need it. Look up the documentation and community forum activity for the programs you’re interested in and see if you’ll be able to find answers to your questions when you need assistance.

• User interface: Is the GUI user-friendly? Are you comfortable with using command line? Make sure that the program you choose will be convenient and easy enough for you to learn and get comfortable using.

• Price: Most of these programs are free, but you may want to look at how a paid program will perform in comparison. It may be worthwhile to pay for a lifetime license on a more robust platform.