Comparison
Shotnix vs Kap
Kap is the best-known open-source screen recorder for Mac, with GIF export and a plugin system. Its last stable release, v3.6.0, shipped in October 2022. Shotnix is a native Swift app that records MP4 with system audio and also handles screenshots, OCR, and annotation.
Price and license
Shotnix
Free, MIT licensed, no account
Kap
Free, MIT licensed. Electron app. No stable release since October 2022.
Feature by feature
| Feature | Shotnix | Kap |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, open source | Free, open source |
| Technology | Native Swift with ScreenCaptureKit | Electron |
| Last stable release | September 2026 | v3.6.0, October 2022 |
| Screen recording | Yes | Yes |
| MP4 export | Yes | Yes |
| GIF export | Yes | Yes |
| WebM and APNG export | No | Yes |
| System audio capture | Yes | Audio input selectable; no native system audio |
| Built-in editor | Timeline, speed, zoom, callouts | Trim |
| Cursor effects | Size, click spotlight, motion trail | Click highlights |
| Plugin system | No | Yes |
| Screenshots | Yes | No |
| OCR and QR scanning | Yes | No |
| Annotation editor | Yes | No |
| Pinned screenshots | Yes | No |
| Auto-updates | Yes | Yes |
Kap details reflect its public feature list and pricing page as of September 13, 2026. Features change; check the official site before deciding.
Which one should you pick?
Choose Shotnix if
- You want MP4 with system audio, natively.
- You want one native app for screenshots and video.
- You want an actively developed project.
- You want a demo editor with zoom, speed, and cursor effects.
Choose Kap if
- You need WebM or APNG export today.
- You depend on a Kap plugin for an upload target.
- You want a project with a very long track record and a large star count.
Verdict. Kap is a good GIF recorder that has been frozen since 2022. Shotnix records MP4 with system audio, exports GIF from its editor, and is actively developed — Kap only still wins if you depend on WebM/APNG export or a specific plugin.
Questions
Is Kap still maintained?
The repository is public and popular, but the last stable release is v3.6.0 from October 2022. Treat it as stable but not evolving.
Does Shotnix export GIF?
Yes. Open any recording in the built-in editor and choose GIF in the export panel (15 fps, sized for READMEs and pull requests). MP4 with 30 or 60 fps is the default.
Is Shotnix Electron?
No. Shotnix is a native Swift Package Manager app using ScreenCaptureKit and the Vision framework, with a small dependency list.
Try Shotnix next to Kap.
It is free and takes a minute to install. Keep whichever one you reach for.
8.4 MB · macOS 13+ · signed and notarized by Apple · MIT license