SnipText is a desktop app that captures a screen region and places accurate transcribed text on your clipboard. Hotkey, drag, release - done.

Do I need an API key?

No. Local OCR works offline. Add an xAI, OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google key in Settings for maximum accuracy via vision models.

Where are my API keys stored?

Only on your machine (OS keyring when available). Keys are never bundled in the EXE and never required to use the app.

Desktop utility · Pitchfork-and-Torch

Click. Drag.
Clipboard.

Name: SnipText
Author: Pitchfork-and-Torch

The snipping tool that gives you text, not another PNG. Select any region - code, UI, tables, docs - and paste accurate transcription wherever you need it.

Download for Windows View source on GitHub

Free · MIT License · Credit required if you reuse the code · No account to snip locally

Hotkey Region select Vision or local OCR Clipboard

How it works

Three gestures. Zero friction. Built like a permanent upgrade to daily workflow.

Click

Press Ctrl+Shift+T (fully customizable). A calm dim overlay covers every monitor.

Drag

Draw a rectangle like Snipping Tool - live dimensions, Escape cancels, release commits at native resolution.

Paste

Accurate text is already on your clipboard. Optional preview to edit, re-copy, or re-process locally.

Premium where it matters

Maximum accuracy when you want it. Offline when you need it. Privacy by default.

Vision AI first

Connect your own xAI, OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google key. Grok vision by default for structure-aware transcription - code, tables, UI chrome, math.

Local OCR backup

RapidOCR (and optional Paddle / Easy / Tesseract) when offline or when you choose local-only mode. Lazy-loaded. No cloud required.

Privacy-first

Images stay in memory. Keys live in your OS keyring - never inside the EXE. Local mode never leaves the device.

Multi-monitor ready

Correct high-DPI capture across displays. System tray resident with history, settings, and delayed snip for stubborn menus.

One-click connect

Tray → Connect AI → open key page → paste → Test connection. Human labels, not cryptic env vars.

Open source with credit

MIT License. Fork freely - keep the copyright notice and credit Pitchfork-and-Torch. See NOTICE in the repo.

Get the Windows build

Portable folder with SnipText.exe. Keep the folder together. Keys stay in %APPDATA%\SnipText - never in the binary.

Download EXE release

FAQ

Is SnipText free?

Yes. The app is free and open source under MIT. Vision providers may bill for their own API usage if you add a key.

macOS / Linux?

Source runs cross-platform with Python. The signed-ready portable EXE ships for Windows first. Packaging scripts for other OS are in the repo.

How do I give credit if I fork?

Keep LICENSE and NOTICE, and credit Pitchfork-and-Torch in your README or About UI. Suggested line is in NOTICE.

Click. Drag.Clipboard.