Use GNOME Screenshot for quick, simple captures, and use Flameshot when you need arrows, boxes, blur, text, or faster editing after the shot. Both work well on Linux, but they serve different moods: GNOME Screenshot is clean and quiet, while Flameshot feels like a small editing studio built into your screenshot button.
TLDR: If you take one or two screenshots a week, GNOME Screenshot is probably enough. If you write bug reports, tutorials, documentation, or support messages, Flameshot can save real time because annotation happens instantly. For example, a support agent capturing 20 screenshots per day could save 10 to 15 minutes by marking areas directly instead of opening a separate editor. On GNOME with Wayland, expect some permission quirks with third-party tools like Flameshot.
GNOME Screenshot: simple, built in, hard to mess up
GNOME Screenshot is the default screenshot tool on many GNOME-based Linux distributions, including Fedora Workstation and Ubuntu GNOME setups. It is made for speed and low friction. Press a key, pick what you want, save the file. Done.
On newer GNOME versions, the screenshot feature is built into the shell itself. You can usually press Print Screen to open the screenshot interface. From there, you can capture the whole screen, a single window, or a selected area. You can also record the screen on many recent GNOME desktops.
The best part is that GNOME Screenshot feels native. It respects the desktop theme, works smoothly with Wayland, and does not ask you to think too much. That matters. Screenshot tools should not become a hobby.
Common GNOME screenshot shortcuts
Print Screen: Open the screenshot interface on many GNOME systems.Shift+Print Screen: Select an area on some older setups.Alt+Print Screen: Capture the active window on many systems.Ctrl+ screenshot shortcut: Often copies the shot to the clipboard instead of saving it.
You can also use the terminal. Try:
gnome-screenshotTo capture a selected area:
gnome-screenshot -aTo capture after a delay:
gnome-screenshot -d 5That last command waits five seconds. It is useful when you need to capture a menu, tooltip, or popover.
Where GNOME Screenshot gets annoying
GNOME Screenshot is great until you need to explain something inside the image. Want to draw an arrow at a broken button? Want to blur an email address? Want to add a red box around an error message? Now you need another app.
Honestly, it feels like one extra step too many when all you wanted was to send a quick bug report. Capture the image, open it in an editor, mark it up, export it, attach it. That can turn a five-second task into a thirty-second task.
GNOME Screenshot is best when the screenshot itself is the final product. It is less ideal when the screenshot is part of a conversation.
Flameshot: built for annotations and speed
Flameshot is one of the most popular screenshot tools for Linux because it fills the exact gap GNOME leaves open. After selecting an area, Flameshot shows editing tools right on top of the screenshot. You can draw arrows, boxes, circles, lines, highlights, text, counters, and blur effects before saving or copying.
Install it on Ubuntu or Debian-based systems with:
sudo apt install flameshotOn Fedora:
sudo dnf install flameshotOn Arch Linux:
sudo pacman -S flameshotThen launch it with:
flameshot guiThat command opens the region selector. Drag over the part of the screen you want. Then use the toolbar to edit before saving, copying, or uploading, depending on your setup.
Why Flameshot feels faster for real work
Flameshot shines when the screenshot has a job to do. Maybe you are showing a coworker where a setting lives. Maybe you are reporting a UI bug. Maybe you are writing a Linux guide and need clean callouts.
Its tools are placed directly beside the selected area. No separate window. No import step. No need to open GIMP just to draw one arrow, which always feels like using a forklift to move a coffee mug.
Useful Flameshot features include:
- Arrows and lines: Great for pointing at buttons, errors, or settings.
- Rectangles and circles: Useful for highlighting regions.
- Blur: Handy for hiding emails, tokens, names, IP addresses, or private tabs.
- Text labels: Good for tutorials and quick explanations.
- Clipboard support: Capture, mark, copy, paste into chat.
- Configurable shortcuts: Set it once and stop thinking about it.
The catch is Wayland
The catch is that Linux desktops are not all the same. On X11, Flameshot usually works with fewer surprises. On Wayland, especially under GNOME, screenshot permissions are more controlled. This is better for security, but it can make Flameshot feel less seamless.
You may see permission prompts. Global shortcuts may not work the way they did on X11. In some cases, Flameshot needs desktop portal support to capture the screen correctly. If your shortcut does nothing, do not assume Flameshot is broken. It may be blocked by the session type or shortcut settings.
To check your session type, run:
echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPEIf it returns wayland, use your desktop’s keyboard settings to bind a shortcut to:
flameshot guiIf that still behaves oddly, test it from the terminal. The error messages often say what is missing.
GNOME Screenshot vs Flameshot: which should you use?
| Need | Better choice |
|---|---|
| Quick full-screen capture | GNOME Screenshot |
| Capture with arrows and labels | Flameshot |
| Best Wayland support on GNOME | GNOME Screenshot |
| Bug reports and documentation | Flameshot |
| Minimal setup | GNOME Screenshot |
| Fast editing after capture | Flameshot |
For most people, the smartest setup is not choosing one forever. Use both. Keep GNOME Screenshot as the reliable default. Add Flameshot for marked-up screenshots. That gives you speed and control without forcing every screenshot through a heavier workflow.
A practical workflow that works well
Here is a simple setup for daily use:
- Leave
Print Screenassigned to the GNOME screenshot interface. - Install Flameshot for annotated screenshots.
- Create a custom shortcut, such as
Ctrl+Shift+S, forflameshot gui. - Use GNOME for plain captures.
- Use Flameshot when you need to explain something visually.
This split keeps things simple. You are not replacing the built-in tool. You are adding a sharper tool for the moments when plain screenshots are not enough.
Small tips for better Linux screenshots
- Use a delay when capturing menus, hover states, or tooltips.
- Crop tightly so people see the point right away.
- Blur private data before sharing logs, dashboards, or browser windows.
- Use arrows sparingly; one clear arrow beats five noisy ones.
- Save in PNG for crisp UI screenshots.
If you mainly capture receipts, settings pages, or error messages, GNOME Screenshot is clean and dependable. If your screenshots need to teach, persuade, or explain, Flameshot is the better pick. The sweet spot is using GNOME for speed and Flameshot for clarity. That way, your Linux screenshots stay quick, readable, and far less annoying.