The problem every web designer knows

A client sends you a PDF you can’t select text from. A brief arrives as a flattened image. A competitor’s website has copy you need to reference but won’t let you highlight it.

So you squint at your screen and type it out. Manually. Word. By. Word.

I’m Emma Kate, a WordPress educator for graphic designers who want to confidently build websites for clients, without code or overwhelm. And I spent way too long doing exactly that before I found TextSniper.

Three years later, I use it almost every single day.

What is TextSniper?

TextSniper is a tiny Mac app that does one thing: it copies text from literally anywhere on your screen.

Images. Locked PDFs. Screenshots. Videos. Anything your eyes can read, TextSniper can copy.

You hit Cmd + Shift + 2, drag over the text you want, and it lands straight in your clipboard. That’s it. Done in under two seconds.

It even picks up tiny fonts I can barely read myself, which honestly made me laugh the first time it happened.

Image below is an example of TextSniper in action: instantly get text from anywhere on your screen.

Why web designers specifically will love this

If you’re building WordPress websites for clients, you will use this constantly. Here’s where it saves me the most time:

Client content in image format. Clients send logos with embedded text, scanned documents, or images of their old website copy. TextSniper grabs it all in seconds.

Locked or flattened PDFs. Brand guidelines, old brochures, style guides that won’t let you select anything. Not a problem anymore.

Reference copy from competitor sites. If a site uses a custom font rendered as an image, or a canvas-based element, normal text selection fails. TextSniper doesn’t.

Screenshots during calls. A client shares their screen and points to copy they want to keep. Screenshot it, TextSniper it, done. No more furious typing while nodding along.

If you want more tools that streamline your web design workflow, my useful tools page is a good place to explore. And if you missed the earlier In My Stack editions, check out the Wispr Flow review and the Setapp review — TextSniper is actually included in Setapp at no extra cost.

At a glance

⭐ Fave feature: Cmd + Shift + 2 and drag. Extract text from anything on screen instantly. A genuine daily timesaver.

👎 Dislikes: None. It works perfectly every time.

🔄 Replaces: Manually typing out text you can see but can’t select.

📅 How long and how often: 3 years of daily use and counting.

My verdict: 5/5

Simple, silent, and does exactly what it says every single time. This is the kind of tool that makes you feel a little bit silly for not finding it sooner.

How to get TextSniper

If you’re already on Setapp, TextSniper is already in your subscription at no extra cost. Go find it in the library right now.

If you’re not on Setapp, you can grab TextSniper on its own for less than $10 a year. Use code EMMA15 for an extra 15% off.

FAQ: TextSniper for web designers

Does TextSniper work on Windows?

No, TextSniper is Mac only. If you’re on Windows, it’s not available to you at this stage. Keep an eye on the TextSniper website for any future updates on platform support.

Is TextSniper included in Setapp?

Yes! If you’re already a Setapp subscriber, TextSniper is included in your subscription at no extra cost. Search for it in the Setapp library and install it from there.

How accurate is the text extraction?

Very. It handles small fonts, handwriting-style fonts, and low-resolution images surprisingly well. In three years of daily use, I’ve had very few misreads, and they’re always on genuinely difficult text.

Can TextSniper copy text from videos?

Yes. You can pause a video, use the Cmd + Shift + 2 shortcut, and drag over any text visible on screen. It captures the frame as it appears, which is handy for pulling quotes or references from tutorials.

Is less than $10 a year really the price?

It is. TextSniper is one of the most underpriced tools I use. At that price, even if you only use it a handful of times a week, it pays for itself in time saved within the first month.