CleanShot X — Trust Report & Verified Download

Trust Report

Independently checked by Altapp where possible; developer-reported data is labeled as such. Last full review: Jul 18, 2026.

Verified Source

Where the app comes from and how you get it.

Official distribution only through cleanshot.com and the Setapp catalog - no third-party mirrors.
macOS app is code-signed with an Apple Developer ID and passes Gatekeeper notarization.
Not distributed on the Mac App Store; no App Store sandboxing or review applies to the direct download.
No public checksum list or independent build-reproducibility audit published for the desktop binary.

Data & Permissions

What the app can see and what leaves your device.

Requires macOS Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions to capture the screen and hide desktop icons.
Captures stay local unless you explicitly upload them to CleanShot Cloud, a separate paid service.
CleanShot Cloud collects account email and name, IP address, technical logs and usage analytics per its published privacy policy.
No third-party ad trackers found in the desktop app; cloud billing is processed via Paddle.

Known Risks

Model, audit status and vulnerabilities.

No publicly disclosed CVEs found for CleanShot X as of Jul 2026.
Runs a paid bug-bounty program (up to $4,000) covering the app, cloud web app and backend.
Closed-source, proprietary license - no independent source-code audit has been published.
Actively maintained: version 4.8.9 shipped Jul 13, 2026, with frequent bug-fix releases.

Verification reflects the version listed above. Practices may change between releases. How we verify ›

Our verdict: a polished, actively maintained Mac screenshot and recording tool with a fair one-time license and solid security practices, though the app itself stays closed source.

CleanShot X is a macOS-only screenshot and screen recording utility made by MTW, a small studio based in Wodzislaw Slaski, Poland. It replaces the built-in macOS capture tools with scrolling screenshots, GIF and 4K video recording, one-click desktop-icon hiding, and a floating annotation editor, plus optional OCR text extraction from captures.

The core app is sold as a one-time purchase that includes one year of free updates (renewable for $19/year); CleanShot Cloud is a separate paid add-on for hosting and sharing captures online, priced from $8 per user per month. MTW publishes a security page describing AWS-hosted, encrypted storage, ISO 27001 certification, and a paid bug-bounty program, though the desktop app itself remains closed source with no independently published code audit.

Alternatives to CleanShot X

See all 3 ›

Screen Studio

Automatic cursor zoom for polished demos

View

Choose Screen Studio if

You want automatic cursor-zoom and polished demo output.

CheckedFrom $9/mo (annual) - $20/mo (monthly)

ScreenFlow

Screen recording and editing for Mac

View

Choose ScreenFlow if

You need heavier video editing, not quick capture.

CheckedOne-time $199

OBS Studio

Free, open-source recording and streaming

View

Choose OBS Studio if

You want a free, open-source capture tool.

VerifiedFree

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Frequently asked questions

Is CleanShot X free?

We could not verify a free tier. Pricing listed at our last review: “One-time $29 - Cloud Pro from $8/mo”.

Is CleanShot X safe to use?

Altapp's independent Trust Report (last full review Jul 18, 2026) shows 6/9 checks passed, covering source verification, data & permissions, and known risks. Verification reflects the version listed on this page.

Which platforms does CleanShot X run on?

macOS 10.15+.

What are the best CleanShot X alternatives?

Screen Studio, ScreenFlow, OBS Studio — each with its own verified Trust Report on Altapp. See the full list ›

Information

Developer: MTW s.c.
Size: 76 MB
Category: Creative
Compatibility: macOS 10.15+
Languages: English
License: Proprietary
Country: Poland
Latest Version: 4.8.9 - Jul 2026

Official Website Privacy Policy