Dev tools · alternatives · 2026
24 alternatives to Screen memory without screenshots, just text to Markdown
It's a macOS menu bar app that reads the text of your focused window every few seconds through the Accessibility API. No screenshots, no video, or OCR. It writes plain markdown, one file per day, into a folder you choose. Point Claude Code (or anything with file access) at the folder and ask "what did I work on Tuesday?" or have it build memory about your projects. The folder contains an AGENTS.md explaining the format to the model. Thought it might be useful for someone so chucked it up on GitHub
Ambient Context is a macOS menu bar app that passively records the text from your focused window throughout the day, converting it to plain Markdown without taking screenshots or using OCR. It stores one file per day… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Prices are shown for the 1 we have checked on their own sites, 1 of them free or with a free tier.
- 1
ScreenSorts▲124Search every screenshot, text, and detail privately
Feb 2026 · screensorts.app · its alternatives →
- 2

- 3

- 4

An open source approach to locally record everything you view on your Apple Silicon computer. Note: Relies on Apple Silicon, and configured to only produce Apple Silicon builds. I think the idea of recording everything you see has the potential to change how we interact with our computers, and believe it should be open source. Also, from a privacy / security perspective, this is like... pretty scary stuff, and I want the code open so we know for certain that nothing is leaving your laptop. Even logging to Sentry has the potential to leak private info.
2023 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 5
Capso▲269Free open-source screenshot & screen recorder for Mac
Apr 2026 · awesomemacapp.com · its alternatives →
- 6
Chunk▲298Hi HN Dudley here, tech lead on Chunk. Chunk is a macOS menu bar app for time-blocking. It opens with Cmd + / and slides down over whatever you're doing - including fullscreen apps. There's also a live countdown in the tray for the current block. Click-and-drag to create blocks, day/week views, Google/Outlook/Apple Calendar sync, Apple Reminders integration, and a Todo mode where tasks can be dragged onto the timeline. Templates and Routines let you build an ideal day once and auto-apply it on chosen weekdays. There's a local MCP server, so you can ask Claude Desktop to…
2025 · chunkapp.net · its alternatives →
- 7
Usage▲461For everyone curious about how their devices are performing, I made an app that lets you monitor many aspects of a Mac. It is a lightweight, customizable, and very convenient app for everyday use. Also available for iPhone and iPad. Check it out, and I would love to hear your feedback!
2025 · usage.pro · its alternatives →
- 8
Hustl▲377Create awesome time-lapse videos of your Mac screen ✨
2018 · gohustl.co · its alternatives →
- 9OT
I've always had an issue with the screenshot flow on my computers. They save to the desktop by default and I can't seem to find screenshots easily when I needed it. They create too much clutter too. So I set out to solve this problem. My major concern was with privacy so I made sure to make it work entirely offline. Here's the final product, let me know what you think. - https://visionshot.app/
2020 · its alternatives →
- 10

Get any text on your screen into your clipboard. Contribute to schappim/macOCR development by creating an account on GitHub.
2021 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 11

Cap is the free, open source screen recorder for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Record, edit, take screenshots, and share videos with a link.
2024 · cap.so · its alternatives →
- 12
ScreenMark▲79Menu bar app for live annotations, whiteboard overlay + more
Aug 2026 · ceritmustafa.github.io · its alternatives →
- 13

- 14
CaptureKit▲106Keep your desktop clean by auto-organizing screenshots.
Jul 2026 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →
- 15
Flyout▲101A notes app for Mac that flies out from your screen edge. Code blocks, task lists, images and reminders — always one gesture away. For macOS 14 or later.
Jul 2026 · getflyout.app · its alternatives →
- 16

I built a macOS menu bar app to track Claude usage in real time via API after hitting limits mid-flow too often. Signed and notarised by Apple. Open source. https://github.com/richhickson/claudecodeusage https://x.com/richhickson
Jan 2026 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 17
Usagebar▲172A macOS menu bar app that tracks your Claude Code 5-hour and weekly usage limits. See reset timers, get notifications, and never hit the wall unexpectedly.
Jan 2026 · usagebar.com · its alternatives →
- 18

- 19
Tidy▲98Spotlight returns nothing for words you know are in a scanned document. It is not a bug: a scan has no text layer, so there is nothing to index. How to check, and three ways to make those documents searchable on a Mac.
Jul 2026 · tidymacapp.com · its alternatives →
- 20
Glint▲107Claude Code activity, right where you want it.
Jun 2026 · glint.binarybeam.net · its alternatives →
- 21FSFree screen recording Mac app that uploads while you recordfree tier, from $7.47/mo▲56
It's meant to be lite and fast. Hope you like it
2014 · recordit.co · its alternatives →
- 22
Jot▲115Simplest notes app for the Mac Menu Bar the world has seen.
2020 · getjot.app · its alternatives →
- 23

- 24
Earlyn▲84Searchable memory of your screen and meetings, on your Mac
20d ago · earlyn.app · its alternatives →
Also compare
Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →