Updated April 26, 2026.
Clipy and Awesome Screenshot end up in the same Chrome Web Store searches all the time — but they're solving different problems. Awesome Screenshot started as a screenshot tool and bolted on screen recording later. Clipy started as a screen recorder and never asked you to install anything.
If you mostly need static captures, Awesome Screenshot is fine. If you need video — explainer clips, bug reports, async standups, demos — the free-tier reality is very different. Here's the breakdown.
The 30-second answer
- Pick Awesome Screenshot if 95% of what you produce is annotated screenshots, and recording is occasional.
- Pick Clipy if recording is the actual job — you want unlimited length, no watermark, instant share link, and no Chrome extension to install.
What do you give up on each free plan?
Awesome Screenshot Free
- Screen recording is heavily paywalled — meaningful recording features sit behind paid plans.
- Watermark on free-tier video output.
- Time caps on recording length.
- Cloud storage limits.
Clipy Free
- Unlimited recordings.
- Unlimited recording length.
- No watermark.
- No install — clipy.online works in any modern browser. There's also a desktop app if you want system-audio capture.
How do Clipy and Awesome Screenshot compare side-by-side?
| Feature | Awesome Screenshot Free | Clipy Free |
|---|---|---|
| Recording length | Capped | Unlimited |
| Watermark | Yes | No |
| Install | Chrome extension | None — browser-based |
| Sharing | Cloud link (their domain) | clipy.online link |
| Viewer needs account | Sometimes | Never |
| Trim / edit | Paid | Free trim |
| Webcam overlay | Yes | Yes |
| Annotations on screenshots | Excellent | Out of scope |
Where does Awesome Screenshot still win?
- Static capture annotations. Their pen, blur, arrow, and highlight tools for screenshots are mature.
- PDF + scrolling capture. If you need full-page captures of long docs, the screenshot side of Awesome Screenshot is the better tool.
Clipy isn't trying to compete with screenshot tools. Use the right tool for the job — but if recording is the job, the free-tier limits decide it.
Where does Clipy win?
- Truly unlimited free recording. No 5-minute cap, no monthly cap, no watermark.
- No install. Open clipy.online in Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc, or Safari (recent versions) and record.
- Instant share link. Stop recording, the link is ready before you click anything.
- No sign-up to watch. Anyone with the link can play. Important for sending recordings to customers, candidates, or anyone outside your team.
Common scenario: which wins for weekly status updates?
You record a 6-minute weekly update for your team. With Awesome Screenshot Free, you'd hit either a length cap or a watermark, depending on which limits are in place this quarter on their free tier. With Clipy, the recording is one continuous file, no watermark, and the link drops in Slack with a preview.
Common scenario: which wins for bug reports?
30-second bug reports work on either tool's free plan. The difference is the share step. Clipy's link unfurls in Slack and Linear without anyone needing to download a file, install an extension, or sign up. Here's the full bug-report workflow we use internally.
Bottom line
Awesome Screenshot is a great screenshot tool that recorded video as an afterthought. Clipy is a screen recorder with no install, no watermark, and no caps. If you take more videos than screenshots, the choice is easy.
Frequently asked questions
What’s Awesome Screenshot’s recording length limit?
Awesome Screenshot’s free tier caps recordings at a few minutes (the exact cap has shifted over the years — check their site for the current number). Clipy doesn’t impose a length cap on free, which matters the moment you record anything longer than a quick walkthrough.
Does Awesome Screenshot add a watermark on free?
Awesome Screenshot doesn’t add a watermark on screenshots, but their free recording tier limits export quality and adds branding to the share page. Clipy is watermark-free everywhere on every tier.
Which is better for engineering bug reports?
Clipy for video bug reports (a 30-second recording showing the bug in action), Awesome Screenshot for static bug reports (annotated screenshots of a UI glitch). Most engineering teams end up using both — Clipy for reproductions, Awesome Screenshot for layout/design issues.
Is Awesome Screenshot Chrome-only?
Awesome Screenshot ships as a Chrome and Firefox extension. Clipy works in Chrome, Edge, Brave, and Arc out of the box and also has a desktop app for system-audio recording.
Can Awesome Screenshot record system audio?
Inside the browser, no — like Clipy’s web flow, it can record tab audio and microphone. For full system audio (meeting apps, system sound effects), you need a desktop recorder. Clipy’s desktop app handles that; Awesome Screenshot doesn’t have an equivalent today.
Try Clipy free. One-click screen recording in your browser, instant share link, no watermark, no time limit, no sign-up to watch. Start recording at clipy.online — or download the desktop app for system-audio capture.