Squiggle vs Snagit
How Squiggle compares to Snagit for screen annotation, screenshot markup, and visual documentation.
Snagit by TechSmith is one of the most popular screenshot and screen annotation tools. It’s powerful — but it’s also $63/year. Here’s how Squiggle compares for annotation workflows.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Squiggle | Snagit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5 once (Pro) | $63/year |
| Screenshot capture | Via screen overlay (freeze + annotate) | Built-in capture with scrolling, video |
| Screen annotation | Yes — draw on any app in real-time | No — annotates captured images only |
| Whiteboard | Yes — full infinite canvas | No |
| Blur / redact | Yes | Yes |
| Step markers | Yes (numbered circles) | Yes (“Step Tool”) |
| Arrows & shapes | Yes | Yes |
| Text annotations | Yes | Yes |
| Spotlight | Yes — live screen dimming | No |
| PDF annotation | Yes (import, annotate, re-export) | No |
| Video capture | No | Yes |
| Scrolling capture | No | Yes |
| OCR / text grab | No | Yes |
| Cloud sharing | No (local/offline) | Yes (Screencast) |
| Privacy | 100% offline, zero tracking | Cloud features, TechSmith account |
| Platform | Windows & macOS | Windows & macOS |
When to choose Squiggle
- You want to annotate your screen in real-time — not just after capturing a screenshot
- You need a whiteboard AND annotation tool in one app, instead of two separate tools
- You’re tired of paying $63/year for a screenshot tool — Squiggle is $5 once
- You care about privacy — no account, no cloud, no tracking
- You need PDF annotation — import PDFs, mark them up, re-export
- You want spotlight mode to dim your screen during presentations
- You don’t need video capture or scrolling screenshots
When to choose Snagit
- You need scrolling capture (capture entire web pages)
- You need video recording with annotation
- You need OCR to grab text from images
- You need cloud sharing via Screencast
- You need a dedicated screenshot tool with advanced capture options (menus, windows, regions)
- You already use other TechSmith products (Camtasia)
Key differences
Live annotation vs post-capture
This is the biggest difference. Snagit captures a screenshot first, then you annotate the static image. Squiggle lets you draw on your live screen — you see the actual app underneath while you annotate. You can also freeze the screen and annotate the frozen frame.
Whiteboard included
Squiggle isn’t just an annotation tool — it’s a full whiteboard. You can create boards, sketch ideas, use templates, organize notes — and also annotate screenshots. Snagit is purely a screenshot/capture tool.
Price
Snagit costs $63/year (or $40 for just the first year). That’s $63 every year, forever. Squiggle is $5 once — that’s 12x cheaper even in the first year, and the gap only grows over time.
Privacy
Snagit requires a TechSmith account and offers cloud sharing. Squiggle has zero accounts, zero cloud, zero tracking. Your annotations never leave your computer.
The annotation workflow
With Snagit: Open Snagit → Capture screenshot → Edit in Snagit Editor → Add arrows/text/blur → Save/share
With Squiggle: Press Ctrl+Shift+D → Draw directly on screen → Or paste screenshot on board → Add arrows/text/blur/steps → Export PNG or copy to clipboard
Bottom line
Snagit is a professional screenshot and capture tool with annotation features. Squiggle is a whiteboard with live screen annotation built in. If you want to annotate your screen in real-time and also have a whiteboard, Squiggle does both for a fraction of the price.