5 Best Screenshot Apps for PC and Laptop
Taking screenshots has become a common practice worldwide. Screenshots serve more purposes than just capturing and sharing error messages on a laptop screen.
While smartphone users seem to take more screenshots (based on the author’s observations), laptop users also frequently rely on this feature to save or share important information displayed on their screens.
For example, when creating a tutorial for an application or software, including screenshots helps make the instructions clearer and easier to understand. Visual aids like these enhance the tutorial, ensuring readers can follow along with ease.

Taking a screenshot on a laptop can be just as simple as on a smartphone. Most laptops come with a dedicated screenshot button—the Print Screen (Prt Sc) key on Windows laptops—that works across all systems.
Just by pressing the Print Screen button, you can capture the entire screen or a specific window. However, this default screenshot button has limited features, one of which is only available in one type of file format.
To achieve the best results, you’ll need a specialized screenshot application. You can choose between the built-in option or a third-party app. Here are some recommended screenshot tools for laptops that are reliable and easy to use.
1. Snipping Tool

This is a built-in screenshot application that can be used in various versions of Windows. This application allows you to screenshot the full screen, a single window, or a specific area of the screen (rectangular or free form).
This tool comes with several useful features, including an Eraser, Pencil, and Highlighter. Additionally, you can choose from four file formats when saving your screenshots: PNG, GIF, JPEG, or MHT.
Using this application is very straightforward. If you haven't pinned the Snipping Tool to your taskbar or Start menu, you can easily find it by searching in the Search box.
Once you open the application, select your preferred screenshot method. After capturing your screenshot, you can save it to your desired folder (the default is the Pictures folder).
What I Like About Snipping Tool:
- It comes pre-installed on the Windows operating system
- Offers various shape options for taking screenshots
- Allows you to set a delay before capturing screenshots
- Includes a screen recording feature
2. ShareX

ShareX is a free and open-source screenshot application that offers several advantages, particularly its ability to upload screenshots to various destinations and services.
This tool comes packed with many cool features, including "Scrolling Capture" for long page screenshots in various applications, "Webpage Capture" for capturing entire web pages, and the option to add watermarks to your screenshots, among others.
In addition to being free, ShareX has no ads, it's also lightweight, and easy to use. It offers over ten different methods for taking screenshots, and once you capture an image, you have access to a wide range of editing tools.
Overall, I believe ShareX is the best free screenshot application on this list. It can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store, and there's also a portable version available, allowing you to use it without installation.
What I Like About ShareX:
- Offers a wide variety of screenshot methods
- Features comprehensive editing tools
- Includes an option to upload images easily
- Available in a portable version for on-the-go use
3. Lightshot

Next up is the Lightshot application, which is available for both Mac and Windows. We’ve tested it on Windows, and the results were quite impressive. Lightshot makes taking screenshots easy and practical. Its interface is simple, which matches its name—Lightshot is indeed lightweight.
By pressing the Prt Sc button, you can select the area you want to capture. Simply drag the cursor over the desired part of the screen and click the Save button, represented by the familiar save icon.
Interestingly, you can use the built-in editing tools before saving your screenshot. Additionally, Lightshot allows you to share your captures directly. Best of all, Lightshot can be downloaded for free.
What I Like About Lightshot:
- The application is lightweight and doesn’t consume much storage space
- Includes an editing feature directly in the screenshot window
- Offers a direct sharing feature for social media
- Provides cloud storage options for saved screenshots
- Allows you to search for similar images on Google immediately
4. Greenshot

Greenshot is a free and open-source screenshot application compatible with Microsoft Windows and macOS. Similar to Lightshot, it is lightweight and easy to use due to its small size.
This program comes with several useful features, including the ability to capture entire web pages (scrolling) in Internet Explorer, add annotations, and various export and upload options.
One notable feature is "Capture Last Region," which allows you to take a screenshot of the same area as before. Additionally, you can edit your screenshots before saving or sharing them.
Developed by Thomas Braun, Jens Klingen, and Robin Krom, Greenshot was released in 2007 and currently supports over 30 languages.
What I Like About Greenshot:
- The application is small and lightweight
- Can automatically take screenshots from the same location
- Offers comprehensive editing features
Notes About Greenshot:
- The interface has a dated appearance
- There is no preview of the screenshot results when saving directly
5. ScreenRec

ScreenRec offers a simple way to capture screenshots on your laptop or PC. In addition to taking screenshots, it can also record screen activities, making it a versatile tool.
Using ScreenRec on a PC is straightforward. Just press Alt + S to select the area you want to capture, then click the camera icon in the app. The screenshot will be taken automatically.
After capturing the image, you can enhance it by adding arrows, speech bubbles, and more. These features are available in the free version, which is compatible with other operating systems like Linux and Mac.
If you need more functionality, you can create a free account to unlock additional features, including 2GB of cloud storage, unlimited recording, HD-quality videos, and more.
What I Like About ScreenRec:
- Screen recording feature available
- Cloud storage integration
- Ability to add annotations to screenshots
Notes About ScreenRec:
- Requires an account to unlock additional features
- Supports PNG format only for saved images
- Limited editing tools for image customization
In conclusion, these are some reliable screenshot applications for laptops and PCs. If you're a casual user, the free version should suffice. However, for more professional needs, upgrading to the paid version can be a worthwhile investment.