Tool profile
Flameshot: cost, fit and limits
Flameshot is a free, open-source screenshot tool released under GPL v3 by its contributors that lets you drag to select an area and annotate on screen, with a command-line interface and install guides for Linux, macOS and Windows.
What to know first
Flameshot is free under GPL v3, and the homepage shows a Donate link without an amount. Its capture flow is drag to select, then edit in place with arrows, highlights, blur or pixelate, text, counters and a solid color box. A command-line interface starts captures from the terminal. The pages name no AI feature, no company and no country. It runs on three desktop systems according to the docs.
Flameshot at a glance
| Maker | Flameshot contributors, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free (open source) |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Screenshot Software in 2026, rank 12 of 13 |
| Website | flameshot.org |
Who Flameshot is best for
Linux desktop users
Install guides cover Linux with Wayland notes, so people on that platform get a documented route to a capture tool.
Developers who script captures
The command-line interface starts a capture from the terminal without the GUI, which allows shortcuts, scripts and custom hotkeys. That also helps people who want to bind captures to custom shortcuts.
Users who like on-screen editing
Annotation happens right on the selected area, so there is no trip to a separate editor window for a quick arrow or blur.
Flameshot plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free (open source) | Free and open-source screenshot software under GPL v3, with optional donations through the Donate link and no price shown. |
Checked November 2026.
What Flameshot does
- On-screen editor
- After you select an area, arrows, highlights, blur or pixelate, text, counter numbers and a solid color box can be applied in place. Everything happens on the selected area, which avoids opening a separate editing window.
- Command-line interface
- A command-line interface lets scripts and terminal users capture without opening the GUI, which suits automation and keyboard-first setups. That suits scripts and keyboard-driven setups on Linux, where a command line is the normal way of working.
- Configuration dialog
- A dialog changes interface color, button selection, keyboard shortcuts and save behavior, so users tailor the tool to habits. Changes apply to the interface and the save behavior, so the tool can match a team's conventions.
- Cross-platform guides
- The docs index offers install guides for Linux, macOS and Windows, with Wayland notes for Linux desktops. Wayland notes matter on current Linux desktops, where capture behavior differs from older X11 systems.
- Imgur help page
- The docs index lists an Imgur help page, and we did not open it, so upload behavior is unverified. That page may describe sharing to Imgur, but its content was not read, so the behavior is unconfirmed.
How Flameshot handles your data
The homepage and docs we read state no retention period, no hosting region and no certification, and they do not address whether any content leaves the device. The docs index lists an Imgur help page, but we did not open it, so the upload behavior and any retention at the destination were not checked. No AI feature is named, so model training is not addressed. Treat the tool as local by default and verify any upload setting you turn on, including where the images end up.
Where Flameshot falls short in practice
- No AI named. The pages we read name no text recognition, automatic redaction or other machine-assisted feature, so blur and pixelate are manual. Blur and pixelate are manual, and nothing in the pages read describes automated detection.
- No vendor support. The homepage names no company or country, and help comes from documentation and the community rather than a vendor contract. Teams that need an escalation path or a service agreement must look to a paid tool instead.
- Upload behavior unverified. The docs index points to an Imgur page that we did not open, so a team must test what leaves the machine before enabling uploads.
Alternatives to Flameshot
Flameshot: common questions
Is Flameshot free to use at work?
The homepage says Flameshot is free and open source under GPL v3. A Donate link is shown without an amount. The pages we read do not describe a paid plan or a commercial restriction, though a company should still review the GPL v3 terms.
Can Flameshot be used from the command line?
Yes. The site lists a command-line interface that captures from the terminal without opening the GUI. That suits scripts and hotkey setups. The pages we read do not list every option, so check the docs for the full syntax. The pages we read do not list every option, so check the docs for the full syntax.
Which systems does Flameshot support?
The docs index lists install guides for Linux, macOS and Windows, with Wayland notes. The pages we read do not compare feature coverage across these systems, so verify that the version you need exists for your platform. Wayland users should read the platform notes before installing.
Does Flameshot upload my screenshots?
The homepage does not describe uploads, and the docs index lists an Imgur help page that we did not open. Treat uploading as unverified until you read that page and test what leaves your machine. Test with a harmless image first and watch what leaves your machine.
Does Flameshot have AI features?
The pages we read name none. Editing tools are arrows, highlights, blur or pixelate, text, counters and a color box. For automatic redaction or text recognition, look at other tools in this ranking. Annotation is manual and happens on screen.