Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

LightShot VS Plex

Compare LightShot VS Plex and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

LightShot logo LightShot

The fastest way to take a customizable screenshot.

Plex logo Plex

Free movies and TV plus all your personal media libraries on every device. Master your Mediaverse.
  • LightShot Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-26
  • Plex Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-22

LightShot features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    LightShot provides a user-friendly interface that allows users to take screenshots quickly with minimal effort.
  • Editing Tools
    The app includes built-in editing tools that allow users to annotate, highlight, and make quick adjustments to their screenshots immediately after capturing them.
  • Cloud Storage
    LightShot offers the option to upload screenshots to the cloud, making them accessible from any device and easy to share via a link.
  • Speed
    The application runs smoothly and captures screenshots very quickly, making it efficient for users who need rapid results.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    LightShot is available for both Windows and Mac, providing flexibility for users operating on different platforms.
  • Free to Use
    The application is free to download and use, making it accessible to users without any financial investment.

Possible disadvantages of LightShot

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While LightShot offers basic editing tools, it lacks more advanced features and options found in more comprehensive screenshot and image editing software.
  • Security Concerns
    Storing screenshots in the cloud can potentially raise security and privacy issues, as sensitive information could be exposed if the cloud storage is compromised.
  • Dependency on Internet
    The cloud upload feature depends on an internet connection, which can be inconvenient for users who need to share screenshots while offline.
  • Ads
    The free version of LightShot may contain ads, which can be distracting and detract from the user experience.
  • Lack of Integrations
    LightShot lacks integration with other productivity tools and services, limiting its utility for users who need seamless workflows with their existing software.
  • Platform Limitation
    LightShot does not support mobile platforms, so users cannot utilize the tool on smartphones or tablets.

Plex features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Plex offers a clean and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, even for those who are not tech-savvy.
  • Centralized Media Library
    Plex allows you to centralize your media in one place, making it easy to manage and access your videos, music, and photos from a single platform.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Plex supports a wide range of devices including PCs, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and streaming devices, providing flexibility in accessing your media.
  • Remote Access
    Plex lets you access your media library from anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection, making it convenient for users who travel frequently.
  • Live TV and DVR
    Plex offers live TV and DVR functionality, allowing users to watch and record live television shows through the platform.
  • Media Enhancement
    Plex automatically enhances your media by adding metadata like posters, descriptions, and ratings, providing a richer media experience.
  • Plex Pass Features
    Plex Pass offers premium features like offline access, early access to new features, and various premium plugins, enhancing the overall experience.

Possible disadvantages of Plex

  • Subscription Costs
    While Plex offers a free tier, many of its advanced features require a Plex Pass subscription, which can be expensive over time.
  • Complex Setup
    Setting up Plex can be somewhat complex and time-consuming, especially for users who want to host their own media server.
  • Streaming Quality
    The streaming quality may vary depending on the user's internet connection and the quality of the source media, which may not always meet expectations.
  • Limited Free Features
    Some of the most appealing features of Plex, such as offline access and advanced metadata, are locked behind the Plex Pass paywall.
  • Server Requirements
    Running a Plex server requires a fairly powerful machine, especially if you want to stream high-definition content or have multiple users accessing simultaneously.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Some users have raised concerns about Plex's data collection practices and how their personal viewing habits and data might be used.

Analysis of LightShot

Overall verdict

  • Overall, LightShot is a reliable and effective screen capture tool that meets the needs of most users looking for a simple solution. However, some users may prefer more advanced features available in other applications if they have specific needs.

Why this product is good

  • LightShot is considered good because it is user-friendly and allows for quick screen captures with minimal effort. It offers different annotation tools, easy uploading options to share links quickly, and is compatible with multiple operating systems. Many users find it efficient for collaborative work or simply for personal use due to its straightforward interface and functionality.

Recommended for

  • Casual users looking for a quick and easy way to take screenshots.
  • Professionals who need to share visual information rapidly.
  • Teams that require a collaborative tool for quick feedback through annotated screenshots.

LightShot videos

How to Take Screenshots Fast with Lightshot on Windows & Mac

More videos:

  • Review - [HD] Google Chrome Extension Review : Lightshot
  • Tutorial - How to Take Screenshots Fast with Lightshot | lightshot review Hindi

Plex videos

PLEX Media Server Review - What is Plex?

More videos:

  • Review - Free Movies And TV With Plex Review 2020
  • Demo - Plex Review - ๐ŸšซWAIT๐ŸšซDON'T BUY WITHOUT WATCHING THIS DEMO FIRST๐Ÿ”ฅ

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to LightShot and Plex)
Screenshots
100 100%
0% 0
Video & Movies
0 0%
100% 100
Screenshot Annotation
100 100%
0% 0
Media Player
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare LightShot and Plex

LightShot Reviews

Keeping Mac Screenshots Simple and Helpful
Lightshot: Perfect if you want to share a link fast. It handles capturing and minimal edits, making it suitable for daily communication.
Source: medium.com
5 Best Screenshot Tools for Mac in 2024 (Free & Paid)
In conclusion, these five screenshot apps for Mac offer a range of features to cater to different user needs. Xnapper stands out as the best all-in-one screenshot tool with its automatic beautification and screen recording capabilities. CleanShot X and Snagit are feature-rich and ideal for professionals, while Lightshot is perfect for users who prefer a simple free...
Source: storychief.io
The best screenshot tools for Mac
Users can enjoy added convenience by setting a shortcut key for the tool to activate. Sharing is quite effortless โ€” once you upload your capture on the LightShot server, you receive a direct link that you can share with others. The LightShot website also offers simple tutorials for users to get a grasp of the tool.
Top 13 Free Snagit Alternatives For 2021
Lightshot is yet another free software like Snagit (well, besides the โ€˜freeโ€™ part obviously). Lightshot, available in Google Chrome Web Store , is a browser extension app that not only allows you to easily take a screenshot, but allows you to upload it to the server and creates a short link, similar to Screenrec .
Source: screenrec.com
15 Best Snagit Alternatives in 2020
Lightshot is screen capture tool allows you to take a screenshot quickly. It allows the user to take a screenshot of a selected area which can be resized or moved without any hassle.
Source: www.guru99.com

Plex Reviews

Best Machine Monitoring Software: Top 10 Picks for 2026
Middleware connectors: some vendors provide pre-built connectors for Epicor, Plex, SAP, and other ERP systems to simplify mapping.
Source: www.jitbase.com
10 Best Kodi Alternatives You Should Use (2023)
Plex is one of the most competitive alternatives to Kodi. With almost the same features, plex is a considerable media player. It is better than Kodi in some ways, like it works on the server-client model. The interface is more robust and better than Kodi. But many features can only be accessed in the premium model.
Source: techdator.net
Reelgood vs. JustWatch vs. Plex: Battle of the streaming guides
Linking from Plex to other apps is also inconsistent across platforms. It doesnโ€™t work at all on Fire TV (even though it did at launch), and I had trouble linking out from Peacock and Paramount+ on a Chromecast with Google TV. Plexโ€™s Apple TV app fared better overall, but linking to Paramount+ content still didnโ€™t work.
Top 10 Best Linux Media Server Software
Unlike Kodi, Plex is not open-source. It does offer a free account for its users. But it also offers premium pricing plans that allow you to unlock more features and have greater control over your media, while also being able to get detailed insights into whoโ€™s using Plex and what theyโ€™re using it for.
Source: itsfoss.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Plex seems to be a lot more popular than LightShot. While we know about 654 links to Plex, we've tracked only 48 mentions of LightShot. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

LightShot mentions (48)

  • Im curious
    Okay...from now on as soon as I see someone that takes hoi4 pics with PHONE I'm gonna give them this... https://app.prntscr.com/en/index.html download this shit and never use your phone to take pics of your monitor... Source: about 3 years ago
  • Crispy ship after being directly beside a reactor failure ๐ŸคŒ
    Https://app.prntscr.com/en/index.html Do yourself a favor and get a screenshot tool and display your freshly crisped ships in full quality. Source: about 3 years ago
  • underrated internet โ€œhacksโ€
    You can use Lightshot Screenshot in Mac and Windows. Https://app.prntscr.com/en/index.html. Source: over 3 years ago
  • If you use print screen for captures for any reason.
    I came across this tool a few days ago and its pretty awesome so I just wanted to share, im sure there are others out there but for thoes that don't have and could use it's called Farlight. It lets you take a customizable screenshot with a border drag feature and save just the area you want to capture. Before I was using print screen and had to load it in gimp to crop it and scale it to size. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Screenshots from phone cameras are now banned.
    I highly recommend LightShot for Mac and Windows. It lets you choose which part of the screen to capture and adjust if you messed up; save or clipboard it; and doodle, add arrows, highlight, and add text without having to bring it into Paint first! Source: over 3 years ago
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Plex mentions (654)

  • Jellyfin founder Andrew leaves team
    Take a look at their homepage, you wouldnโ€™t even know they offer a media server looking at this. (The main URL forwards to the watch subdomain) https://watch.plex.tv/ Itโ€™s now how a majority of users are using Plex as well. > In 2023, Scott Hancock, Plexโ€™s then-VP of marketing, said that Plex had more people using its online streaming service than using its media server features since 2022.... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (June 2025)
    Location: Connecticut (CT), Hartford Area Willing to relocate: Yes Technologies: React, Typescript/Javascript, Next.js, Tailwind, NestJS, Node.js, Express, MongoDB, Prisma, Jest, Playwright, Docker, Linux, Bash, MUI, HTML, CSS, Git, ... (see resume for more) Rรฉsumรฉ: https://christophergeiger.dev/resume.pdf Email: christophergeiger.dev@gmail.com https://christophergeiger.dev https://github.com/christophergeiger3 ),... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (April 2025)
    Location: Hartford, CT, USA Remote: Yes Willing to relocate: Yes Technologies: React, Typescript/Javascript, Next.js, NestJS, Node.js,Express, MongoDB, Prisma, Jest, Playwright, Docker, Linux, Bash, HTML, CSS, Git Rรฉsumรฉ/CV: https://www.christophergeiger.xyz/resume.pdf Email: christophergeiger.dev@gmail.com Website: https://christophergeiger.xyz Hello, I'm a fullstack engineer who specializes in building intuitive... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (March 2025)
    Https://plex.tv Currently I'm seeking a frontend or full-stack role as either a mid-level or senior developer. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Setting Up The Home Lab: Terraform and Cloud-Init
    You might notice that the Terraform template definition is pretty close in structure to the one I used in my last article. That's intentional - I set up the last one with cloud-init, but didn't do much with it. This one actually provisions the VM with cloud-init. You can also use Ansible playbooks to provision a VM, and I might talk about that in a future post, but in my next post I'm going to talk about doing... - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing LightShot and Plex, you can also consider the following products

Greenshot - Greenshot is a free and open source screenshot tool that allows annotation and highlighting using the built-in image editor.

Kodi - Kodi is an award winning free and open source media player that got its start on the Xbox console.

ShareX - ShareX is a free and open source program that lets you capture or record any area of your screen...

Jellyfin - Jellyfin is a personal media server.

Snagit - Screen Capture Software for Windows and Mac

Infuse - Media player and media server with subtitles and wide codec support.