Skitch is a simple screenshot and annotation tool owned by Evernote. Capture your screen, draw arrows, add text, highlight areas, and pixelate sensitive information. The appeal is speed: take a screenshot, annotate in seconds, and share via drag-and-drop or email. Skitch peaked around 2013-2016 when screen annotation tools were rare. Today, many alternatives exist with more features.
Key Specs
| Price | Free (PDF markup requires Evernote Premium) |
| Platform | Mac, iOS (Windows discontinued in 2015) |
| Best for | Quick screenshot markup, design feedback |
| Learning curve | 1 minute; completely intuitive |
How Designers Use Skitch
For Design Feedback and Bug Reports
Screenshot a design mockup or live website. Use arrows to point out issues, add text labels for changes, and highlight problem areas. Drag the annotated image into Slack, email, or a project management tool. Faster than writing paragraphs explaining visual issues.
For Client Presentations and Redlines
Markup screenshots of design comps to show spacing, alignment, or content changes. Use the text tool to add measurements or notes. The pixelate tool hides confidential information before sharing externally. Export as PNG or JPG and send to clients.
For Documentation and Tutorials
Capture UI elements or workflows, annotate them with numbered steps, and save for documentation. Skitch’s stamps (checkmarks, stars, arrows) make it easy to create visual guides. Useful for onboarding docs or internal wikis.
Skitch vs. Modern Alternatives
| Feature | Skitch | CleanShot X | macOS Screenshots | Snagit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Mac, iOS | Mac only | Mac built-in | Mac, Windows |
| Price | Free | $29 one-time | Free | $63 one-time |
| Screenshot modes | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ Advanced | ✅ Good | ✅ Advanced |
| Annotation tools | ✅ Arrows, text, blur | ✅ Advanced | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ Advanced |
| Cloud storage | ✅ Evernote | ✅ Built-in | ❌ | ✅ |
| Active development | ❌ Stalled since 2020 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Scrolling capture | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Choose Skitch if: You’re already using Evernote and want a free tool that integrates with your note system.
Choose CleanShot X if: You’re a Mac user who takes lots of screenshots and wants the best modern tool with active development.
Choose macOS Screenshots if: You rarely annotate and the built-in Markup tools (Cmd+Shift+5) are enough.
Choose Snagit if: You need cross-platform support (Mac + Windows) and advanced features like video recording.
Getting Started with Skitch
A 2-minute quick start to annotating your first screenshot:
Step 1: Take a screenshot
Open Skitch and click “Screen Snap” or press Cmd + Shift + 5 to use macOS built-in capture. Drag to select the area you want. The screenshot opens in Skitch automatically if you launched from Skitch, or use Markup if using macOS tools.
Step 2: Annotate with tools
Click the arrow tool to point at elements. Use the text tool to add labels. The highlighter tool draws attention to specific areas. Pixelate tool blurs sensitive information (like email addresses or names). All tools are in the left sidebar.
Step 3: Share or save
Drag the annotated image directly into any app that accepts images (Slack, email, browser uploads). Or click “Export” to save as PNG/JPG. If you’re signed into Evernote, you can save directly to a notebook for later reference.
Skitch in Your Design Workflow
Skitch is a utility tool for communication, not core design work.
- Before Skitch: Review designs, spot issues or changes needed
- During design: Skitch for quick markup and feedback
- After Skitch: Share annotated images in Slack, Notion, or email
Common tool pairings:
- Skitch + Evernote for organizing annotated screenshots in searchable notebooks
- Skitch + Slack for rapid design feedback without formal tools
- Skitch + Notion for embedding visual feedback in documentation
Common Problems (and How to Fix Them)
“Skitch feels outdated and slow”
It is. Evernote hasn’t updated Skitch significantly since 2020. The UI is dated and missing features like scrolling capture or OCR. For a modern experience, switch to CleanShot X or use macOS built-in screenshot tools with Markup.
“Can’t annotate PDFs without Evernote Premium”
PDF markup is locked behind Evernote Premium ($15/month or $120/year). If you only need PDF annotation, use Preview (built into macOS) or Adobe Acrobat Reader (free). Both let you annotate PDFs without subscriptions.
“Annotations don’t look professional”
Skitch’s annotation style is casual (bright colors, hand-drawn feel). This works for internal feedback but not client deliverables. For polished annotations, use Figma (for design mockups) or Snagit (for professional screenshots).
“Skitch randomly quits or crashes”
This happens on newer macOS versions (Ventura, Sonoma) because Skitch is no longer maintained. Check for updates (unlikely to exist) or restart Skitch. If crashes persist, migrate to CleanShot X or macOS Markup tools.
“Images save to Evernote but I can’t find them”
Check Skitch’s preferences. It may auto-save to a default Evernote notebook. Go to Skitch > Preferences > Evernote and see which notebook is selected. Change it or disable auto-save if you prefer manual control.
“Should I still use Skitch in 2025?”
Only if you’re deeply invested in Evernote and the integration matters. For everyone else, modern alternatives (CleanShot X, Snagit, or macOS built-in tools) offer better features, active development, and faster workflows. Skitch works but feels stuck in 2016.