A screenshot Chrome extension captures what's in your browser, whether that's the visible area, a selection you drag or the whole scrolling page. Several also record video and give you a link to share. Pick by the job: full-page captures, quick grabs to share, or screenshots plus recordings. Ten tools follow in no particular order.
Your laptop's own screenshot shortcut is fine until you need a whole web page, an annotated grab for a designer or a link you can paste straight into a chat. That's where a browser extension earns its place in your toolbar.
The ten tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order. I read every description on the maker's own website or Chrome Web Store listing this week. If you need video more than stills, my guide to the best screen recording software goes deeper.
Screenshot extensions side by side
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website or store listing, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the page names a free version, a free download, free sign-up or open source. Trial only means the page offers a free trial. Not stated means the page I read named neither, so check the tool's own site before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awesome Screenshot | Capture and recorder | Captures and recordings in one extension | Yes |
| Droplr | Capture and share | Uploading captures to the cloud with a link | Trial only |
| FireShot | Full-page screenshots | High-quality full web page captures | Not stated |
| GoFullPage | Full-page capture | Whole scrolling pages from an indie maker | Not stated |
| Gyazo | Screenshot and video sharing | Passing grabs on by link | Yes |
| Lightshot | Quick area capture | Fast grabs on any computer | Yes |
| Nimbus Capture | Screen capture and video | Screenshots plus a video recorder | Not stated |
| Screenity | Open source recorder | Privacy-friendly recording | Yes |
| ScreenPal | Screenshot, recorder and editor | Capturing and editing in one place | Yes |
| Zight | Annotated captures and video | Showing teammates instead of typing | Not stated |
Ten screenshot tools, from quick grabs to full pages
Awesome Screenshot
Best for: People who want screenshots and screen recordings from one Chrome extension, from a maker that says it's been in business for 10+ years.
Droplr
Best for: Freelancers who send clients a lot of visuals, since captures upload straight to your cloud account with a short link, on Mac, Windows and Chrome.
FireShot
Best for: Researchers and SEOs who save whole web pages, as it integrates with your browser to take high-quality full-page screenshots or capture just a selection.
GoFullPage
Best for: Anyone who needs one clean image of a long page, from a store listing that says it's run by an independent developer, with an open source original.
Gyazo
Best for: Teams who'd rather paste a link than attach a file, since the whole point of the tool is sharing screenshots and videos easily by link.
Lightshot
Best for: Users who switch between machines, as the same quick screenshot tool is available for Windows, Mac, Chrome, Firefox, IE and Opera.
Nimbus Capture
Best for: Anyone who wants screenshots and a video recorder in Chrome, Firefox or Edge; the extension now sits under the FuseBase name on its maker's site.
Screenity
Best for: Privacy-minded creators who want a free, open source recorder under GPLv3, with an editor its maker says is hosted entirely in Europe.
ScreenPal
Best for: Teachers and trainers who want to capture a screenshot or a recording and then edit it, all from the same free sign-up.
Zight
Best for: Support and product teams who'd rather show than type, with Chrome, Mac, Windows and mobile apps that work with Zendesk, Intercom, Slack and Jira.
Some of these are recorders first
Several tools here are screen recorders first and screenshot tools second, which is fine if you want both but overkill if you only grab stills. And not every tool captures the full scrolling page. Some are built for whole pages, while others are happier with the visible area or a selection you drag.
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- You need a whole long web page: GoFullPage or FireShot.
- You want a quick grab of part of the screen: Lightshot.
- You share captures by link all day: Gyazo or Droplr.
- You want screenshots and video together: Awesome Screenshot, ScreenPal or Nimbus Capture.
- Privacy comes first: Screenity.
Sending a capture straight to a client by email is smoother with extensions for Gmail.
The one part of a listing the maker can't dress up
Chrome for Developers' documentation on permission warnings explains that some extension permissions trigger a warning that you have to allow at install. The description, screenshots and star rating on a listing are the maker's pitch. That warning is the plain list of what the extension can reach.
A screenshot tool needs to see the page to capture it, so a capture permission makes sense. If the prompt asks for far more than the job needs, pick a different tool. Compare the warning with what the extension promises to do before you click allow.
Grabbing a hex code from what you've just captured? Chrome color pickers make that easy.
Five checks before you install a screenshot tool
- Decide whether you need full pages, selections, video or all three.
- Read the permission warning at install and compare it with that job.
- Check where your captures are stored, on your computer or in the maker's cloud.
- Look at the free plan column, because some tools only offer a trial.
- Test it on a long page before you rely on it for client work.
Do you make screenshot, screen capture or screen recording tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a screenshot extension
If you only ever grab part of a page, a simple quick-capture tool is all you need. If you send clients visuals every day, pay attention to how each tool shares, because a link that just works saves more time than any editing feature. And if you record as well, choose one tool that does both rather than running two.
My guide to choosing screen recording software for tutorials helps if your screenshots are slowly turning into how-to videos.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best screenshot Chrome extension?
It depends on the job: whole web pages, quick grabs, or stills and recordings together. The picker above pairs each job with the tools that suit it.
How do I take a full-page screenshot in Chrome?
Use an extension built for it. Full-page tools capture the whole scrolling page rather than just what's on screen.
Are screenshot extensions free?
Several name a free option on their own site, as of Oct 2026, so check the free plan column. One tool on this list offers a free trial.
Is there an open source screenshot extension?
Yes. One tool on this list says it's free and open source under GPLv3, and another listing points to an open source original project.
What permissions should a screenshot extension ask for?
Chrome shows a warning for some permissions at install, so compare what the warning lists with what a capture tool needs to do.
