TextSniper alternativeScreenshot Text

A TextSniper alternative built for code

Name: Screenshot Text
Author: current_user_1

TextSniper is a great little OCR tool, as quick as copy and paste. If what you mostly capture is code, Screenshot Text adds the missing piece: an on-device AI pass that fixes indentation, quotes, and brackets so the code actually runs. Same effortless flow, smarter about code.

Download free Buy lifetime for $39

Requires macOS 13+ on an Apple Silicon Mac · no account needed

What you get on top of plain OCR

No new windows, no uploads, no file conversions. As easy as copy and paste.

On-device AI cleanup

After OCR, a local model fixes indentation, quotes, and dropped brackets.

Tuned for code

Look-alike characters and structure are handled, not just plain prose.

Private and offline

No server, no account. Recognition and AI both run on your Mac.

Screenshot Text vs TextSniper

An honest side by side. Each does a few things the other does not. TextSniper details from textsniper.app, October 2026.

Feature	TextSniper	Screenshot Text
On-device OCR
Capture from video, PDF, or image
Works offline, no account
AI code cleanup (indentation, quotes, brackets)
Tuned for code and look-alike characters
Barcode and QR detection
Text-to-speech
Free tier	Trial via Setapp	5 captures a day
Price	$7.99 once (1 Mac)	$39 once
Major upgrades	Paid	Included
Intel Macs
Oldest macOS	Catalina	Ventura

What plain OCR does to code

OCR reads characters, not structure. TextSniper's own FAQ says it “can have misreads” on symbol-heavy text like code. Here is the same JavaScript, captured from a screenshot.

Plain OCR

export async function addToCart(item, qty = 1) {
const cart = await loadCart();
const existing = cart.items.find((i) => i.id === item.id);
if (existing) {
existing.qty += aty;
} else {
cart.items.push(f ...item, qty });
}
return saveCart (cart);
}

Screenshot Text, Optimize for code on

export async function addToCart(item, qty = 1) {
    const cart = await loadCart();
    const existing = cart.items.find((i) => i.id === item.id);
    if (existing) {
        existing.qty += qty;
    } else {
        cart.items.push({ ...item, qty });
    }
    return saveCart(cart);
}

Every line flush left, qty read as aty (it would run, then fail), and push({ read as push(f. The repaired version matches the original. Full test in how to copy code from a screenshot.

Which should you pick?

Pick TextSniper if…

You mostly copy ordinary text, not code
You're on an Intel Mac or older macOS
You want QR and barcode reading or text-to-speech
You want the lowest price, or already pay for Setapp

Pick Screenshot Text if…

You copy code from videos, slides, PDFs or screenshots
You want indentation and quotes fixed, not just characters read
You want everything, AI included, to stay on your Mac
You'd rather try it free (5 captures a day) before paying

Related guides

Screenshot Text vs TextSniper

Everything you need to know.

TextSniper is genuinely good, and it does things Screenshot Text does not, like barcode and QR detection and text-to-speech. The reason to switch is code: Screenshot Text adds an on-device AI pass that repairs indentation, quotes, and brackets, which plain OCR cannot do.

It bundles a local AI model that runs on your Mac, which TextSniper does not. You can use it free for 5 captures a day to decide if the cleanup is worth it before paying the one-time $39 for unlimited.

For text and code capture, yes, including video, PDFs, and protected content. It does not do barcode or QR detection or text-to-speech. If you need those, TextSniper is the better fit.

Yes. Both the OCR and the AI cleanup run entirely on-device. There is no server and no account, and it works offline.

Apple Silicon Macs (M1 or later) on macOS 13 or newer.