Quick Overview: How They Compare
TextSniper is a pioneer in the Mac screen OCR space. Launched during the macOS Catalina / Big Sur era, TextSniper established the concept of turning a screen selection into clipboard text, later adding text-to-speech reading and QR code scanning.
Textly was built to solve the modern workflows that linear OCR tools leave unaddressed: specifically Structured Table Capture (preserving rows and columns for spreadsheets), inline Capture & Translate, and an integrated Searchable Clipboard Recents Tray.
Side-by-Side Feature Comparison Table
| Feature / Capability | Textly | TextSniper |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Text Capture | ✓ Instant Apple Vision OCR | ✓ Instant Apple Vision OCR |
| Table Capture (Rows & Columns) | ✓ Yes — Preserved Grid (TSV/Excel) | ✗ No — Flattens to Plain Text |
| In-Flow Capture & Translate | ✓ Built-in HUD translation | ✗ Requires external app |
| Searchable Clipboard Recents | ✓ Built-in menu bar history tray | ✗ Ephemeral only (no history) |
| Text-to-Speech (TTS) | ✗ Not included | ✓ Reads text aloud |
| QR & Barcode Scanner | ✗ Not included | ✓ Built-in QR detector |
| 100% On-Device Privacy | ✓ Zero cloud uploads | ✓ Zero cloud uploads |
| Pricing | $14.99 (One-time purchase) | ~$11.99 (Single license) / Setapp |
Deep Dive: The 3 Core Differences
1. Table Recognition vs. Linear String Flattening
The most substantial difference between Textly and TextSniper is how they handle tabular data:
- TextSniper: Treats all screen content as linear paragraphs. When capturing a 4-column pricing table, it outputs words line-by-line, stripping all column alignments and requiring extensive manual re-entry when pasting into Excel.
- Textly: Employs 2D document layout analysis to detect column dividers and rows. Captured tables paste cleanly with native tab-separation, filling cells correctly in Numbers, Excel, Google Sheets, and Markdown.
2. Inline Translation vs. External Copy-Pasting
If you frequently work with international clients, research papers, or foreign video media:
- With TextSniper: You capture text, switch over to Google Translate or DeepL in your browser, paste the text, and copy the result back.
- With Textly: You engage Capture & Translate. Textly performs OCR and provides an instantaneous translation overlay right above your selection, copying both strings to your clipboard in one motion.
3. Built-In Recents Tray vs. Ephemeral Capture
Accidentally copying another piece of text before pasting your captured OCR snippet is a universal frustration:
- TextSniper: Has no internal history. If your clipboard is overwritten, you must re-navigate to the source document and re-capture the region.
- Textly: Features a persistent, searchable Recents tray in the menu bar. Past captures remain accessible for quick re-copying at any time.
Where TextSniper Excels
TextSniper remains a strong utility with specific features that Textly does not include:
- Text-to-Speech: If you rely on audio feedback or want your Mac to read captured paragraphs aloud, TextSniper includes a dedicated text-to-speech toggle.
- QR Code Reader: TextSniper can scan QR codes from your screen and instantly open the corresponding URLs in your default browser.
- Setapp Availability: If you are already an active Setapp subscriber, TextSniper is included in the subscription library.
Summary: Which One Should You Choose?
Choose TextSniper if:
- You primarily need standard paragraph text capture.
- You want text-to-speech to listen to captured paragraphs.
- You frequently scan on-screen QR codes.
- You already pay for a Setapp subscription.
Choose Textly if:
- You need to capture tables directly into Excel or Numbers with rows and columns intact.
- You want fast inline translation without opening a web browser.
- You need a searchable clipboard history to retrieve past captures.
- You want exceptional value ($14.99 one-time purchase on the Mac App Store).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can TextSniper capture tables from screenshots into spreadsheets?
No. TextSniper is a line-based text capture tool. It does not preserve table cell borders, rows, or column alignments.
Does TextSniper have a clipboard history to retrieve past captures?
No. TextSniper does not have a recents tray. Textly includes a built-in searchable history tray in the menu bar.
Do both apps run offline and protect my privacy?
Yes. Both Textly and TextSniper use native on-device Apple Vision OCR, ensuring no images are transmitted to cloud servers.
Experience Structured Table OCR with Textly
Get Textly for Mac. Structured table capture, unselectable text extraction, translation, and recents history for just $14.99.
