Flexible screenshot capture
Capture a selected area, a window, the whole screen, or a repeated area from the menu bar. A 3- or 5-second delay helps capture menus and hover states.
KelpShot
KelpShot is a native screenshot and annotation tool for Apple silicon Macs with macOS 14+, offering text extraction, redaction, pinning, and sharing without cloud links or screen recording.
Screenshot capture and editing for macOS
KelpShot is a native screenshot utility for Apple silicon Macs running macOS 14 Sonoma or later. It captures areas, windows, screens, and scrolling pages, then provides a focused editor for markup, privacy redaction, text recognition, and export.
The app stays in the menu bar and supports keyboard shortcuts for capture and editing. Screenshots remain on the Mac in the documented workflows: users can copy or save them, drag them into a chat, email, or document, or keep a pinned reference visible while working. KelpShot does not include screen recording or cloud share links.
Core features
On-device text recognition
Select text in an image or on screen with Apple's Vision framework, then copy it locally. The tool can join lines and report QR-code or barcode contents without opening those codes.
Keyboard-driven annotation
Use arrows, shapes, text, numbered steps, highlights, spotlights, magnification, blur, pixelation, and curly braces in a keyboard-focused editor. The canvas expands when annotations extend beyond its edge.
Permanent redaction
Use Redact Text to find words and apply solid redactions, or draw them manually. Solid redactions remain hidden in exports, while blur and pixelation are presented as cosmetic effects rather than privacy guarantees.
Scrolling capture
Capture long pages by stitching scrolling frames into one image, with manual or automatic scrolling options. The site labels edge-dragging and auto-scroll as experimental and requiring Accessibility permission.
Sharing, pins, and backdrops
Copy or save captures, drag them into other apps, pin them above every window and Space, or apply backgrounds, padding, rounded corners, and shadows for presentation-ready exports.
Practical use cases
Explain a product or bug
Capture a menu, hover state, or a precise interface region with a delay, then add arrows, labels, numbered steps, or highlights before sending the image to a colleague or support thread.
Reuse information from visual content
Select words or data visible in an image, slide, PDF, or otherwise non-selectable app and copy the result as text. QR and barcode contents can be inspected without opening the encoded destination.
Prepare privacy-safe screenshots
Choose sensitive words for solid redaction before exporting a screenshot that contains names, email addresses, keys, or similar private material. Use blur or pixelation only for cosmetic concealment.
Document long pages
Stitch a long webpage or application view into one tall image, using manual scrolling or the experimental automatic scroll modes when the content does not fit on screen.
Keep a visual reference while working
Pin a screenshot above every window while writing, coding, or designing, or apply a backdrop and spacing before using it in slides, social posts, or other documents.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Supports area, window, full-screen, delayed, repeated-area, and scrolling captures.
- Provides solid redaction designed to keep selected private text hidden in exports, plus on-device OCR.
- The editor combines keyboard shortcuts with arrows, shapes, text, highlights, measurement, color picking, and other markup tools.
- Captures can be copied, saved, dragged into other apps, pinned across Spaces, or styled with configurable backdrops.
- The site describes a one-time purchase and offers a 30-day trial; a current license price is not established in the supplied pricing evidence.
Cons
- The early-access build supports Apple silicon only and requires macOS 14 or later.
- The initial build is unsigned by Apple, so first launch and later updates require extra Gatekeeper steps.
- Scrolling capture and automatic scrolling are marked experimental, and the app does not provide screen recording or cloud share links.
FAQ
Which Macs and macOS versions are supported?
KelpShot currently supports Apple silicon Macs running macOS 14 Sonoma or later. The early-access build is not signed by Apple, so the first launch requires the appropriate macOS approval step; the installation guide explains the process for Sonoma and Sequoia or later.
What permissions does KelpShot need?
The first capture prompts macOS for Screen Recording permission. Scrolling capture that uses edge dragging or automatic scrolling also requires Accessibility permission, requested only when those functions are used.
Can I try KelpShot before buying it?
Yes. You can try KelpShot free for 30 days, and the comparison page says nothing locks afterward. The site also describes the product as a one-time purchase, but the supplied evidence does not establish a current license price or refund terms.
Does KelpShot record the screen?
No. KelpShot does not record audio or video, and the comparison page lists screen recording as unavailable. It is intended for still screenshots and related editing workflows.
How does text recognition handle my data?
Text recognition uses Apple's Vision framework on the Mac. You can select text in screenshots or other visible content, copy recognized text, and inspect QR codes or barcodes without KelpShot opening them.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Screenshot and annotation tool
- Platform
- macOS 14 Sonoma or later
- Architecture
- Apple silicon only for the early-access build
- Capture types
- Area, window, screen, repeated area, delayed, and scrolling
- Privacy workflow
- On-device OCR and solid redaction
- Trial and licensing
- 30-day trial; site describes a one-time purchase
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