Compared with OBS Studio, which is built around full streaming and recording setups, ShareX focuses on quick captures and fast sharing. It records or captures any area of the screen and sends the result out with a single key press. The current version is 21.0.0, updated on July 3, 2026.
ShareX Team and the GPL-3.0 project
ShareX comes from the ShareX Team, who also maintain getsharex.com. It costs nothing and is open source under the GPL-3.0 license, so anyone can read how the capture and upload code works.
Its package ID is ShareX.ShareX, which is handy if you manage Windows software from the command line.
Capture, GIF, OCR and the new image tools
The tags list capture, recording, GIF, OCR, annotation and a color picker. Beyond screen capture, ShareX uploads images, text and other file types to many supported destinations that you pick yourself.
Version 21.0.0 extends the image editor. It adds a Background remover tool, an Image Comparer tool and a Customize toolbar button that lets you hide, reorder and rebind tools. The Step tool also gains numbering types such as 1, 2, 3 and I, II, III.
Windows 7 minimum and a 132.7 MB install
ShareX runs on Windows 7 or later. The download is 132.7 MB, fairly large for a capture utility.
This release translates all 23 languages fully. The one exception is the Avalonia UI windows, which cannot be localized yet.
What's new in 21.0.0
Version 21.0.0 adds a Background remover tool and an Image Comparer tool. The image editor gains a Pick color from screen button, a K Cursor annotation tool and a Blur amount option for Spotlight.
ShareX pros and cons
Pros
- Free to use
- Open source under GPL-3.0
- Captures and records screen areas, including GIF and OCR tags
- Uploads images, text and other files to many chosen destinations
- Customizable image editor toolbar with reorderable tools and hotkeys
Cons
- The 132.7 MB download is large for a capture tool
- Avalonia UI windows are not localizable yet
- The download is fairly large for a capture utility at 132.7 MB
Is ShareX safe?
ShareX is released under the GPL-3.0 license, so anyone can read its source code before running a capture tool that can reach into the whole screen. Version 21.0.0 comes from github.com, the official host. No scan results are on file for this build, so a quick check with your own antivirus is a sensible habit.
How to install ShareX
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start ShareX from the Start menu.
