Overall Winner

ShareX

beats Flameshot by 4 points

Flameshot 75/100

ShareX 🏆 79/100

ShareX is the most powerful free screenshot tool with 20+ capture modes and 80+ upload destinations, but is locked to Windows. Flameshot is the only major screenshot tool with Linux support and a CLI interface, making it ideal for developers. Both are free and open-source.

Score breakdown

Dimension

Flameshot

ShareX

Price & Value

★★★★★

Features

★★★★☆

Ease of Use

★★★★☆ wins

★★★☆☆

Reviews

★★★★☆

Each dimension rated 1–5. Higher is better across all four.

What users say

Flameshot

"Best Linux-native screenshot tool with powerful annotation"

Pros

Best-in-class annotation tools for Linux Color picker blur numbers and arrow annotations Imgur upload built in for sharing

ShareX

"Most feature-rich free screenshot tool for Windows power users"

Pros

Free open-source with extreme feature depth Screen capture recording OCR file upload ruler QR code Automated upload to 30+ destinations

When to Choose Each

Choose ShareX if you’re on Windows and want the most feature-rich free screenshot tool available. ShareX offers 20+ capture modes (region, window, fullscreen, scrolling, animated GIF), 80+ upload destinations, and extensive automation through custom workflows. It includes built-in OCR, image editing, and file hashing. With a 5/5 features rating and 5/5 price rating, ShareX is unmatched in raw capability for free tools. The trade-off is a steep learning curve and Windows-only platform support.

Choose Flameshot if you need a cross-platform tool that works on Linux, Windows, and Mac — especially if you value a command-line interface. Flameshot is free, open-source, and privacy-focused with clean annotation tools and customizable shortcuts. It’s the only major screenshot tool with native Linux support, making it a favorite among developers. However, it has lower mention volume across platforms, a less polished UI, and far fewer features than ShareX (no scrolling capture, no upload destinations, no automation).

Related: For more options beyond these two, see our roundup of the best screenshot tools covering capture, annotation, and OCR.

Key Differences

Dimension	ShareX	Flameshot
Price	100% free, open-source	100% free, open-source
Features	20+ capture modes, 80+ upload destinations	Region/window/fullscreen, annotation, OCR
UX	Steep learning curve	Less polished UI, simpler interface
Reviews	5 reviews, strong community support	Low mention volume, niche appeal
Platform	Windows only	Linux, Windows, Mac
CLI Support	No	Yes
Best For	Windows power users wanting maximum features	Developers needing cross-platform + CLI support

Pricing & value

Metric	Flameshot	ShareX	Winner
Free tier	Yes	Yes	Tie
Starting price	Free	Free	Flameshot

Is ShareX better than Flameshot?

ShareX is more powerful with 20+ capture modes and 80+ upload destinations, but only on Windows. Flameshot is lighter, cross-platform, and ideal for quick annotations on any OS.

Is Flameshot available on Mac?

Yes, Flameshot supports Windows, Mac, and Linux. ShareX is Windows-only.

Which is better for developers?

Both support CLI workflows. Flameshot is lighter and available on Linux. ShareX has more features and automation options but requires Windows.

Our pick

🏆 ShareX

Visit ShareX Consider Flameshot