Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Smart Objects VS ShotsGlow

Compare Smart Objects VS ShotsGlow and see what are their differences

Smart Objects logo Smart Objects

A real life signage mockup library

ShotsGlow logo ShotsGlow

Native Windows screenshot tool โ€” capture, design, redact & remove backgrounds on-device. $9 once.
  • Smart Objects Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-24
  • ShotsGlow The full editor โ€” a raw screenshot on a designed backdrop, with backdrops, shadows, arrows, redaction and 30 aspect ratios a click away.
    The full editor โ€” a raw screenshot on a designed backdrop, with backdrops, shadows, arrows, redaction and 30 aspect ratios a click away. //
    2026-06-08
  • ShotsGlow Export one screenshot to 30 social and App-Store sizes at once โ€” no manual resizing, no Mac required.
    Export one screenshot to 30 social and App-Store sizes at once โ€” no manual resizing, no Mac required. //
    2026-06-08
  • ShotsGlow One-click AI background removal that runs 100% on your machine โ€” nothing uploaded, works offline.
    One-click AI background removal that runs 100% on your machine โ€” nothing uploaded, works offline. //
    2026-06-08
  • ShotsGlow Drop a screenshot onto a gradient backdrop with a shadow and rounded corners โ€” designed in seconds.
    Drop a screenshot onto a gradient backdrop with a shadow and rounded corners โ€” designed in seconds. //
    2026-06-08
  • ShotsGlow A real markup kit โ€” curved, tapered arrows, shapes and text to direct the eye.
    A real markup kit โ€” curved, tapered arrows, shapes and text to direct the eye. //
    2026-06-08

ShotsGlow is a native Windows screenshot tool that turns any capture into a designed, share-ready image without leaving Windows. Capture any region across every monitor, drop it on a designed gradient backdrop with a shadow and rounded corners, annotate with curved arrows, shapes and text, blur or pixelate anything sensitive (redaction survives a later crop), and cut out the background with AI that runs 100% on your machine โ€” nothing is uploaded. Then export to 30 social and App-Store sizes. It can even free the Print Screen key Windows reserves for the Snipping Tool. One-time $9 (founding price), lifetime, no subscription, 30-day money-back. It's the Windows answer to CleanShot X, which is Mac-only.

Smart Objects

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

ShotsGlow

$ Details
paid $9.0 / One-off (Lifetime, all features, up to 2 devices)
Platforms
Windows
Release Date
2026 June
Startup details
Country
Germany
State
NRW
City
Roetgen
Founder(s)
Max Fischer
Employees
1 - 9

Smart Objects features and specs

  • Scalability
    Smart Objects can be easily scaled across different hardware and software platforms, allowing users to handle large volumes of data and processes efficiently.
  • Interoperability
    Designed to work seamlessly with various systems and devices, Smart Objects facilitate smooth communication and integration across different platforms.
  • Automation
    They enable automated processes and workflows, reducing the need for manual intervention and increasing overall efficiency.
  • Real-time Data Processing
    Smart Objects can process data in real-time, providing timely and accurate information for decision-making.

Possible disadvantages of Smart Objects

  • Complexity
    Implementing Smart Objects can add complexity to systems, requiring specialized knowledge and expertise to manage effectively.
  • Cost
    The development and deployment of Smart Objects can be costly, considering the technology and infrastructure required.
  • Security Risks
    With increased connectivity and data exchange, Smart Objects can present additional security vulnerabilities if not properly safeguarded.
  • Privacy Concerns
    The data collected and processed by Smart Objects may raise privacy issues, necessitating stringent data protection measures.

ShotsGlow features and specs

  • On-device AI background removal
    Cut out backgrounds with AI that runs 100% on your machine โ€” nothing uploaded, works offline.
  • Native multi-monitor capture
    Capture any region across all your monitors instantly, with a global hotkey.
  • Designed backdrops & polish
    150+ gradient backdrops, soft shadows and rounded corners โ€” designed in seconds.
  • Markup kit
    Curved, tapered arrows, shapes, text and 12 fonts to direct the eye.
  • Crop-safe redaction
    Blur or pixelate sensitive info โ€” the redaction survives a later crop or rotation.
  • 30 export sizes
    Export to 30 social and App-Store aspect ratios at once โ€” no Mac needed.
  • Free the Print Screen key
    One click frees the Windows 11 Print Screen key reserved for the Snipping Tool.

Analysis of Smart Objects

Overall verdict

  • I don't have verified, up-to-date information about a specific company called 'Smart Objects' at smartobjects.co, so I can't confidently confirm its legitimacy, quality, or reputation. Before trusting or purchasing from this site, you should independently verify it.

Why this product is good

  • I don't have reliable data on this specific domain to assess product quality, customer service, or business legitimacy
  • Company names like 'Smart Objects' are generic and could refer to multiple unrelated businesses, making it hard to confirm which one you're asking about
  • Domains can change ownership, business models, or shut down, so any older information could be outdated or inaccurate
  • Without verified reviews, trust signals (SSL, business registration, contact info), or third-party ratings, no fair assessment can be made

Recommended for

  • Anyone considering this site should first check independent reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, BBB, or Reddit
  • Verify the company's contact information, physical address, and business registration before purchasing
  • Look for secure payment options and clear return/refund policies on the site itself
  • Consider reaching out to their customer support with questions before committing to a purchase

Smart Objects videos

Photoshop SMART OBJECTS explained using 7 HOT TIPS

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Smart Objects in Photoshop: Why you should use them & how to edit smart objects in Photoshop 2021
  • Review - Embedded Layers explained - Affinity Photo // Smart Layers, Smart Objects

ShotsGlow videos

No ShotsGlow videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Smart Objects and ShotsGlow)
Design
100 100%
0% 0
Design Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Internet Marketing
100 100%
0% 0
Privacy
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Smart Objects and ShotsGlow.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

ShotsGlow's answer:

Windows indie developers, build-in-public founders and indie app makers who share screenshots constantly โ€” product shots, launch posts, App/Play Store listings, docs โ€” and want them to look designed without leaving Windows or uploading to a cloud tool. Also support/docs writers and anyone privacy-conscious who needs to redact sensitive info locally.

What makes your product unique?

ShotsGlow's answer:

The whole capture-to-share workflow in one native Windows app: capture, designed backdrops, annotation, crop-safe redaction, and AI background removal that runs 100% on-device โ€” then export to 30 social & App-Store sizes. The AI never uploads your screenshot; it runs locally on your GPU. No other Windows tool bundles all of this natively, and it's a one-time $9 purchase, not a subscription. (Honest: the model, BiRefNet, is open โ€” the work is the native Windows integration, not the model.)

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

ShotsGlow's answer:

CleanShot X, Xnapper and Shottr are Mac-only โ€” ShotsGlow is the native Windows answer. Versus the free tools (ShareX, Greenshot, Lightshot) it adds a real designed editor, on-device AI cutout and 30 export sizes with no learning curve. Versus Snagit it's $9 once instead of $39/year, and its AI background removal actually runs on Windows (Snagit's is Mac-only). Everything runs locally โ€” nothing is uploaded. Honest note: it doesn't record the screen (yet).

What's the story behind your product?

ShotsGlow's answer:

I'm a solo Windows dev. For years I watched Mac users get CleanShot X while Windows got the Snipping Tool and a $39/year Snagit subscription. I wanted a polished, native, buy-once tool that made screenshots look designed and removed backgrounds without uploading anything โ€” so I built it, in public, under MXF Labs.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

ShotsGlow's answer:

A native Windows app. Capture uses Windows' native graphics-capture APIs. AI background removal uses the open BiRefNet model via ONNX Runtime, running on the GPU through DirectML with a CPU fallback โ€” entirely on-device. Purchases run through Polar (Merchant of Record).

User comments

Share your experience with using Smart Objects and ShotsGlow. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ShotsGlow seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. 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.

Smart Objects mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Smart Objects yet. Tracking of Smart Objects recommendations started around Mar 2021.

ShotsGlow mentions (1)

  • How I built on-device AI background removal in a native Windows app
    (Demo: the one-click cutout โ€” and the same thing running with the Wi-Fi off โ€” at https://shotsglow.com/blog/on-device-background-removal-windows ). - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Smart Objects and ShotsGlow, you can also consider the following products