On-device OCR
Text that was stuck
is selectable again.
Apple Vision recognizes text locally at the original capture resolution.
Work in progress for macOS 14+
Capture it.
Make it clear.
Keep it private.
OpenSnapX is a native screenshot workspace for capturing, annotating, redacting, and exporting—without an account, telemetry, or cloud upload.
Free and open source · Built with Swift and AppKit
NativeSwift 6 + AppKit
Local-firstCaptures stay on your Mac
PrivateNo account or telemetry
FreeGPL-3.0, always
One calm workflow
From pixels to a clear point,
without breaking your flow.
Capture exactly what you need, make the important part unmistakable, then move on.
Capture
Grab the right thing,
not the whole mess.
Capture a precise area, a window, an entire display, selectable text, or a long scrolling view. Multi-display overlays stay sharp on Retina screens.
⌘⇧4Area or window
Annotate
Say more with
fewer pixels.
Use arrows, lines, shapes, text, pen, highlights, counters, blur, pixelation, solid redaction, and crop—all without touching the original image.
- Non-destructive editing
- Undo and redo
- Move and duplicate annotations
Text that was stuck
Editable history
Your recent work,
ready when you are.
Reopen captures with annotations intact. Automatic cleanup keeps storage predictable.
Pin screenshots
Keep a reference where you can see it.
Float a capture above other windows while you work.
Backdrop styling
Ready to share,
without another app.
Add focused backgrounds, spacing, rounded corners, and shadow before export.
Private by design
Your screen is not
someone else’s data.
OpenSnapX has no analytics, advertising, account system, cloud upload code, or Internet requests. Normal captures and OCR stay on your Mac.
Read the full privacy policy ↗✓
No accountInstall it and capture. There is nothing to sign into.
✓
No telemetryYour usage and screen contents are not measured.
✓
On-device OCRText recognition uses Apple Vision on your Mac.
✓
You control retentionEditable history defaults to seven days and can be changed or disabled.
Optional local MCP
Let an AI agent read a window.
Not your whole computer.
When you explicitly enable it, OpenSnapX can expose focused capture and on-device OCR tools through a local Unix socket. It is off by default, uses no network port, and keeps agent captures out of history.
For advanced workflows · Screen Recording permission onlyLocal agent
› Read the build error in Xcode
Finding “Xcode” windows…
✓ Captured without focusing the app
OCR
UNIX SOCKET · ON-DEVICE · NOT RETAINEDCannot convert value of type…Good to know
A few honest answers.
OpenSnapX is under active development. Expect rough edges while the core experience settles.
Can I download OpenSnapX now?
Not as a signed, notarized release yet. The project is a work in progress and can currently be built from source with Xcode 16 and XcodeGen.
Which Macs are supported?
OpenSnapX targets macOS 14 Sonoma or later. Final downloadable build architecture support will be confirmed before release.
Is it really free?
Yes. The application is free software licensed under GPL-3.0, with no accounts, subscriptions, or paid cloud service.
Why does it need Screen Recording permission?
macOS requires this permission for screenshot utilities to read screen and window contents. OpenSnapX does not request Accessibility permission for capture.
Does redaction delete the original?
A redacted export is flattened, but the editable source remains in local history until you delete it or its retention period expires.
Built in the open
A clearer screenshot tool
is taking shape.
Follow development, report reproducible bugs, or help build a native screenshot workflow that stays yours.
Visit the GitHub project Work in progress · macOS 14+ · GPL-3.0