ksnip
Screenshot tool with proper annotation. Draw, add text, blur private details and upload, on X11 or Wayland.
Our verdict
ksnip is the Linux screenshot tool for people who did more than press Print Screen on Windows. If you used ShareX or Greenshot to grab a window, arrow at the broken bit, blur an email address and send it on, this is the tool that keeps that habit intact.
It captures a region, a window, the whole screen or a timed shot, then opens the image in an editor where you can draw, type, crop, blur and add drop shadows or borders. From there you save it, copy it or upload it.
Every Linux desktop already has something simpler built in, and for a quick grab that is usually enough. Install ksnip when the built-in one runs out of road. It is free, and there is a version for Windows too if you keep both machines.
What's good
- Real annotation tools, including pen, marker, shapes, text, stickers and numbered markers
- Blur or pixelate a region, which is how you hide an address or a bank balance before sharing
- Works on both older X11 desktops and newer Wayland ones
- Also runs on Windows and Mac, so it is one habit across every machine you use
What to know first
- Plainer looking than the screenshot tool built into your desktop
- Global hotkeys work on X11 but are limited on Wayland, so you may have to set a shortcut yourself in system settings
- No screen recording, so video capture goes to another program
The details
- Cost
- Free
- Open source
- Yes (GPL-3.0)
- How you install it
- AppImage download, .deb installer, .rpm installer, App store (Flatpak), App store (Snap)
Windows apps it can replace
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