Does CleanShot X have SFTP or S3 upload?

CleanShot X's upload flow is primarily CleanShot Cloud. There is limited support for custom upload targets, but first-class SFTP and S3-compatible uploaders are not a core feature. Maxisnap treats SFTP, FTP, S3, and custom HTTP uploaders as first-class: configured from the Upload preferences tab with full credential management and base-URL control.

Near-complete parity. Both tools have arrows, text, shapes, numbered pins, blur/pixelate, and highlight. CleanShot X has a slightly more refined annotation polish on fine-grained settings; Maxisnap's annotation covers the same tool range and renders arrows with 3-layer depth (shadow, outline, gradient) that matches the sculpted Monosnap-era feel many users prefer.

Comparison

Maxisnap vs CleanShot X

Q: Which tool should I pick if I'm on Mac only?

If you're Mac-only and need scrolling capture today, or screen recording on the Mac specifically, CleanShot X is more feature-complete right now — it's a mature native Mac app, and Maxisnap's screen recording currently runs on Windows only (the native macOS build is in development). If you value self-hosted uploads to your own SFTP or S3 bucket, or a lower monthly cost, Maxisnap fits better. Maxisnap Pro is $4/month versus CleanShot X's $29 one-time or subscription. The deciding factors are platform, feature timing, and hosting preference.

Q: Is CleanShot X ever coming to Windows?

No announced Windows port. CleanShot X is deeply integrated with macOS-specific APIs — AppKit, screen capture frameworks, and menu-bar behaviors. A Windows version would require a near-total rewrite of the capture and UI layers. If you work across Mac and Windows, Maxisnap ships the same feature set on both and keeps your workflow consistent.

Q: What about screen recording?

Both tools record the screen. Maxisnap records a region or the full screen on Windows, captures system audio and microphone in one mixed track, and exports to MP4, AI-optimized MP4, GIF, or WebM — free, with no watermark and no time limit. CleanShot X has a polished, mature recorder on macOS with MP4 and animated GIF output. The key difference is platform: Maxisnap's recording is Windows-only today (the native macOS build is in development), while CleanShot X is Mac-only. On the Mac, CleanShot X is the one that records today; on Windows, Maxisnap does.

Q: Total cost of ownership over 3 years?

CleanShot X as a one-time $29 purchase is the cheapest three-year path if you don't need cloud or team features. CleanShot X subscription runs ~$8/month. Maxisnap Free is $0; Maxisnap Pro is $4/month or $144 over three years. If you need unlimited cloud uploads, Maxisnap Pro is the cheapest path. If you never need cloud, CleanShot X's one-time license wins.

Two polished screenshot tools. One for Mac only. One for both. The honest side-by-side.

Maxisnap and CleanShot X both deliver premium screenshot polish, but serve different users. CleanShot X is Mac-only, has a mature screen recorder, and leans on its own CleanShot Cloud for sharing. Maxisnap runs on Windows and Mac, adds self-hosted SFTP and S3 upload as core features, and costs half as much if you need cloud uploads. This page covers twenty-plus rows of feature parity so you can make the call yourself.

At a glance

When each tool wins

Pick Maxisnap if

You work across Windows and Mac
You want SFTP or S3 upload as a core feature
You host on your own domain
You want unlimited cloud for $4/month
You want a real free tier (not a trial)

Pick CleanShot X if

You're 100% Mac
You need screen recording on the Mac today
You need scrolling capture today
You prefer a one-time $29 purchase
CleanShot Cloud fits your sharing needs

The full matrix

Every feature, every tier

Category / Feature	Maxisnap	CleanShot X
Platform
Windows 10 / 11	Yes	No
macOS 12+	Yes	Yes
Capture
Region capture	Yes	Yes
Full-screen	Yes	Yes
Window capture	Yes	Yes
Multi-monitor region	Yes	Yes
Scrolling capture	Roadmap v2.2	Yes
Screen recording (MP4/GIF)	Yes (Windows)	Yes (Mac)
Annotate
Arrows / text / shapes	Yes	Yes
Numbered pins	Yes	Yes
Blur / pixelate	Yes	Yes
Highlight	Yes	Yes
Edit saved screenshots	Yes	Yes
Share / Upload
Built-in cloud link	Maxisnap Cloud	CleanShot Cloud
SFTP upload	Core feature	Limited
S3 / R2 upload	Core feature	Limited
Custom HTTP endpoint	Yes	No
Custom domain	Free tier	CleanShot Cloud Pro
Pricing (per user)
Free tier	Yes, permanent	Trial only
Pro / Cloud	$4/mo	~$8/mo
One-time option	No	$29 (no cloud)
3-year cost (with cloud)	$144	~$288

Frequently asked

Maxisnap vs CleanShot X

Which tool should I pick if I'm on Mac only?

If you need scrolling capture today, or screen recording on the Mac specifically, CleanShot X — Maxisnap's recording runs on Windows today (native Mac build in development). If you value SFTP/S3 upload or a lower monthly cost, Maxisnap. Deciding factor is platform, feature timing, and hosting preference.

Is CleanShot X ever coming to Windows?

No announced port. Deeply integrated with macOS APIs. If you work cross-platform, Maxisnap ships the same feature set on both.

Does CleanShot X have SFTP / S3 upload?

Not as a core feature — CleanShot Cloud dominates their upload path. Maxisnap treats SFTP, FTP, S3, and custom HTTP as first-class uploaders.

What about screen recording?

Both record. Maxisnap records a region or full screen on Windows — system audio plus mic in one track, exporting MP4, GIF, or WebM, free with no watermark or time limit. CleanShot X has a mature recorder on macOS. The split is platform: Maxisnap records on Windows today (Mac build in development), CleanShot X records on the Mac.

Total cost of ownership over 3 years?

No-cloud path: CleanShot X one-time $29 is cheapest. With cloud: Maxisnap Pro $144 vs CleanShot X subscription ~$288. Maxisnap Free is $0 if you never need cloud.

Annotation parity?

Near-complete. Both have arrows, text, shapes, numbered pins, blur, highlight. CleanShot's polish is slightly finer on settings detail; Maxisnap's 3-layer arrow rendering matches the sculpted Monosnap feel.

Two good tools. One clear call for cross-platform.

Free to try. Works on both sides of the desk.

Download Maxisnap CleanShot X on Windows