Greenshot

Free screenshot tool with built in editing

Greenshot is a practical Windows screenshot utility for people who need more than the basic capture options built into the system. It is lightweight, open source, and focused on everyday tasks such as grabbing part of the screen, saving an active window, capturing the full display, or taking a complete web page screenshot from Internet Explorer.

The main appeal is how much it lets you do immediately after taking a screenshot. Instead of opening another editor, you can add arrows, text, highlights, freehand markings, and simple effects. You can also crop, resize, rotate, or blur sensitive information, which is useful for sharing instructions, reporting bugs, or preparing quick documentation.

Greenshot uses preset keyboard shortcuts for common capture modes, and these can be changed if you prefer your own combinations. Once an image is captured, you can choose where it goes: the editor, the clipboard, a file, a printer, or supported export targets. It can save screenshots in common formats such as JPEG, BMP, GIF, and PNG, so it fits easily into most workflows.

Its settings are more flexible than many casual users may expect. You can keep it in the system tray, configure startup behavior, set capture destinations, and adjust more advanced options such as printer footer patterns or update preferences. Plugin support also expands export options, including connections to Office programs and photo services such as Picasa and Flickr.

There are a few limitations. Some image alteration options are restricted, and it does not provide a way to reverse dark background colors. Full web page capture is also tied to Internet Explorer, which may limit its usefulness for users who rely on other browsers.

Overall, Greenshot is best for students, office workers, support teams, and anyone who regularly annotates screenshots. It is simple enough for casual use, but configurable enough to support a more organized screenshot workflow.