12 Best Snipping Tools for Linux [2023]

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

Download ScreenRec

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, Debian, 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 on Linux with keyboard shortcuts

Download Spectacle

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

Download Shutter

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

Download ScreenCloud

ImageMagick is a robust photo composition and editing tool that is compatible with almost any modern OS and can be used as a screenshot tool for Linux. 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

Download ImageMagick

Deepin Screenshot is another open-source screenshot tool for Linux 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

Download Deepin Screenshot

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

Download Flameshot

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

Download GNOME Screenshot

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

Download Ksnip

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

Download GIMP

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

Download Kazam

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

Download FireShot