How is this different from a normal screenshot tool?

A screenshot tool gives you images. Trace gives you a document. Every capture gets a heading and a description, pages are ordered and numbered, and the export has a cover page and footer — so what you hand over reads like documentation rather than an attachment dump.

How do I convert screenshots to PDF?

Capture or import your screenshots, add a heading and description to each one in the Report Editor, then hit Generate PDF. Trace lays them out as numbered pages with a cover, so the screenshot-to-PDF conversion happens in the same window you captured them in — no separate converter needed.

How do I combine multiple screenshots into one PDF?

Every screenshot you capture or upload lands in the same queue. Drag them into the order you want in the Report Editor sidebar, then export — Trace combines them into a single multi-page PDF with consistent headings, numbering and footers.

Can I annotate screenshots before exporting them to PDF?

Yes. Open any capture in the built-in editor and mark it up with arrows, boxes, highlights, blur, numbered steps or freehand drawing before it goes into the report. Annotations are baked into the exported PDF, not added separately.

Is Trace a screenshot annotation tool?

It includes one — arrows, text, highlights, blur and more — but annotation is only half of it. Trace also organizes annotated screenshots into a structured PDF report with headings, descriptions, a cover page and page numbers, so you get documentation, not just a marked-up image.

Can I create a bug report from screenshots?

Yes. Capture the broken screen, annotate what's wrong, and add a heading and description explaining expected versus actual behavior. Export it as a PDF bug report a developer can open and act on without a back-and-forth thread.

Can I create a QA report from screenshots?

Yes. Trace is built for exactly this — capture each step of a test pass, annotate the defects, and export a numbered PDF report with a cover page. It's used for regression testing, release notes and general QA documentation.

Can I generate software documentation or a user guide from screenshots?

Yes. Give each screenshot a heading and a short description of what's happening on that screen, put them in order, and export. The result reads like a proper user guide or piece of software documentation, not a folder of loose images.

Can I use Trace for SOPs and internal documentation?

Yes. Numbered steps, ordered pages and a consistent heading-and-description format make it a natural fit for standard operating procedures and other internal documentation that needs to be followed exactly.

Yes. There is no paid tier, no trial timer, no watermark on your exports and no feature held back. Install it and use it.

Do I need to create an account?

No. There is nothing to sign up for and no email to hand over. The extension works the moment it is installed.

Do my screenshots get uploaded anywhere?

No. Capture, annotation and PDF generation all happen inside your browser on your own machine. Your screenshots are never transmitted to us or to any third party, because there is no server involved in making the document.

Does Trace store my screenshots anywhere, or sync them to the cloud?

No. Screenshots stay in your browser's local storage until you export or delete them. There is no cloud account, no sync service, and no copy of your data anywhere outside your own device.

The full visible screen, a region you drag out yourself, or an existing JPG, PNG or other image saved on your device. All three land in the same queue, so you can mix a fresh screenshot with an older image in one report.

Can I create PDF reports from JPG or PNG images, not just live screenshots?

Yes. Use Upload from Device to bring in JPG, PNG or other image files you already have. They go into the same Report Editor as live captures, so a report can mix screenshots with images from any source.

Can I put my own branding on the PDF?

Yes. You can add a cover page with your title, subtitle, summary and logo, set custom footer text, and turn on a watermark. Page size, orientation, margins and image quality are all adjustable too.

Which browsers does it work in?

Chrome and any Chromium-based browser — Edge, Brave, Arc, Opera and Vivaldi included.

Does it work offline?

Yes. Once installed, capturing, annotating and exporting all work without an internet connection.

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7 Best Free Screenshot Tools for Chrome in 2026

July 20266 min read

Chrome’s built-in screenshot shortcut is fine for a quick capture, but it doesn’t annotate, organize, or export. If screenshots are part of your daily workflow — for bug reports, documentation, or client communication — you need a proper tool.

Here are seven free Chrome extensions worth considering, each with a different strength.

1. Trace

Trace is built for the full workflow: capture screenshots, annotate them with arrows, boxes, highlights, blur, numbered steps, and freehand drawing, then export everything as a structured PDF report with cover pages and page numbers.

Best for: QA testers, developers, agencies, and anyone who needs to turn multiple screenshots into a single professional document.
Standout feature: The Report Editor lets you organize screenshots with headings and descriptions before exporting — so the PDF tells a story, not just a collection of images.
Privacy: Everything runs locally. No account required, no data leaves your browser.
Price: Completely free. No limits, no watermarks.

2. GoFullPage

GoFullPage does one thing well: it captures an entire scrollable page as a single image. Click the icon, wait a few seconds, and you get a full-length screenshot of the page.

Best for: Capturing long pages — landing pages, email templates, or full-page designs.
Limitation:No annotation. No multi-screenshot workflows. You get the image and that’s it.

3. Awesome Screenshot & Screen Recorder

A veteran in the screenshot extension space. Awesome Screenshot offers visible-area capture, full-page capture, and screen recording, plus basic annotation tools.

Best for: Teams that need both screenshots and screen recordings in one extension.
Limitation: Some features require a paid plan. The free tier has usage limits on cloud storage and video recording length.

4. Nimbus Screenshot & Screen Video Recorder

Nimbus offers a broad feature set: capture, annotate, record, and save to Nimbus’s cloud or Google Drive. The annotation editor is reasonably capable with shapes, text, and blur tools.

Best for:Users who want cloud storage for screenshots and don’t mind signing up for an account.
Limitation: Requires a Nimbus account for most features. The free plan has storage limits.

5. Lightshot

Lightweight and fast. Lightshot lets you select a region, add quick annotations (arrows, text, drawing), and copy or save the result. It’s minimal by design.

Best for: Quick, one-off captures when you just need to highlight something and share it immediately.
Limitation: No full-page capture. No multi-screenshot organization. Not built for structured documentation.

6. FireShot

FireShot captures visible area, full page, or a selected region, and exports directly to PDF, PNG, or clipboard. Its full-page capture is reliable even on complex pages.

Best for: Users who want a quick screenshot-to-PDF conversion without an editing step.
Limitation: The free version is limited to PNG and basic PDF export. Annotation and advanced features require the paid Pro version.

7. Chrome’s Built-in DevTools Capture

Not an extension, but worth mentioning. Open DevTools (F12), press Ctrl+Shift+P, and type “screenshot” — you can capture the visible area, a selected node, or the full page.

Best for: Developers who are already in DevTools and need a quick capture without installing anything.
Limitation:No annotation. No organization. The workflow is clunky for non-developers, and there’s no way to combine multiple captures.

How to choose the right tool

The right tool depends on what you do after you take the screenshot:

If you just need a quick captureto paste into a chat or email, Lightshot or Chrome’s built-in tool is fine.
If you need full-page screenshots of long or scrollable pages, GoFullPage or FireShot is the best option.
If you need to annotate and explainwhat you’re showing — for bug reports, SOPs, or client communication — you want a tool with built-in annotation like Trace or Awesome Screenshot.
If you need to produce a PDF report from multiple screenshots, with structure and page numbers, Trace is the only free extension built specifically for this workflow.

The best screenshot tool is the one that fits your actual workflow, not the one with the longest feature list. For most documentation and reporting tasks, the ability to annotate and organize matters more than the number of capture modes.

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