Squiggle vs Greenshot
Comparing Squiggle and Greenshot for screenshot annotation and screen drawing.
Greenshot is a popular free, open-source screenshot tool for Windows. It’s lightweight and has basic annotation features. Here’s how Squiggle compares.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Squiggle | Greenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free / $5 Pro | Free (open source) |
| Platform | Windows & macOS | Windows only |
| Live screen drawing | Yes — draw on any app | No |
| Screenshot capture | Via overlay (freeze screen) | Yes (region, window, fullscreen) |
| Whiteboard | Yes — infinite canvas | No |
| Blur / redact | Yes (pixelate) | Yes (pixelate/blur) |
| Step markers | Yes (numbered circles) | Yes (counter tool) |
| Arrows & shapes | Yes | Yes |
| Text | Yes (multiline, font sizes) | Yes |
| Spotlight | Yes | No |
| PDF annotation | Yes | No |
| Templates | Yes (Cornell, T-Chart, etc.) | No |
| Export options | PNG, PDF, clipboard, .squiggle | PNG, JPEG, clipboard |
| Auto-save | Yes (boards auto-save) | No (save each capture manually) |
| Privacy | 100% offline | 100% offline |
| Still maintained | Yes | Limited (last major update 2017) |
When to choose Squiggle
- You need macOS support — Greenshot is Windows-only
- You want to draw on your live screen, not just captured screenshots
- You need a whiteboard for brainstorming, teaching, and planning — not just screenshots
- You need PDF annotation — import, mark up, re-export
- You want spotlight mode for presentations
- You want an actively maintained tool with ongoing updates
- You want a tool that does annotation + whiteboard instead of needing two apps
When to choose Greenshot
- You want a completely free screenshot capture tool
- You only need basic annotation on captured screenshots
- You want tight integration with Windows (print screen key, system tray)
- You prefer open-source software
- You don’t need a whiteboard — just quick screenshot capture and markup
Key differences
Screen drawing vs screenshot editing
Greenshot captures a screenshot, then you annotate the static image in its editor. Squiggle lets you draw directly on your live screen (screen overlay mode). This is the fundamental difference — Squiggle annotates in real-time, Greenshot annotates after capture.
Beyond screenshots
Greenshot is a screenshot tool. Squiggle is a whiteboard + annotation tool. After you’re done annotating, you can keep using Squiggle for brainstorming, teaching, sketching diagrams, and more. It’s one tool instead of two.
Platform support
Greenshot only works on Windows. Squiggle works on both Windows and macOS.
Maintenance
Greenshot’s last major update was in 2017. It still works, but it’s not actively developed. Squiggle is actively maintained with ongoing updates.
Bottom line
Greenshot is a solid free screenshot tool if you just need quick captures with basic annotation on Windows. Squiggle goes further — live screen drawing, a full whiteboard, PDF support, spotlight mode, and cross-platform support — for $5 one-time. If you want more than just screenshot capture, Squiggle is the better choice.