SnipIT for Windows

At a glance

SnipIT is a tiny browser extension that lets you select text from web pages and quickly paste it into an email draft. It promises a one-click route from highlighted content to a new message, but it has several functional and compatibility limits that may make other tools more practical.

Installation and browser behavior

SnipIT does not install as a standalone program with a visible interface. After installation it appears only inside the web browser’s context menu: highlight text, right-click, and you’ll see the SnipIT option. It’s built specifically for Internet Explorer and won’t show up in other browsers. Because it runs as a lightweight add-on, it uses minimal CPU and generally won’t interfere with other extensions or slow browsing (barring general internet issues).

Platform compatibility and privacy notes

• The extension is intended for desktop use only and supports older Microsoft Windows releases rather than recent OS versions.
• The tool records cookies tied to the pages you capture and to your mail provider when you sign in; the developer indicates those cookies are not sold to external parties.

How the workflow works

• Highlight the portion of a web page you want to send, then right-click and pick the SnipIT entry in the menu.
• The extension will open your default email client and paste the selected text into a new message.
• If you haven’t signed into an email service yet, you’ll be prompted to choose one and enter credentials.
• Supported services include Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, Microsoft Outlook, and Gmail; MailTo is also available for quick hand-offs.

Notes on functionality: SnipIT only handles plain text. It does not capture images or other media, and the desktop add-on cannot alter font styling or size when inserting text into your email.

Recommended alternatives

• Snipshot — a free option worth checking as a suggested replacement.
• Greenshot — a capable screenshot/snipping utility with more features and wide platform support.
• Droplr — a more feature-rich sharing tool if you need formatting, images, or broader integrations.
• Built-in Snipping Tool / Snip & Sketch — the native screenshot utilities supplied with Windows often cover most basic needs without installing extra add-ons.

Final assessment

SnipIT does exactly what it claims: it moves selected web text into an email draft quickly. However, its usefulness is constrained by being IE-only, limited to older Windows desktops, text-only capture, and a narrow set of supported mail services. Given these restrictions and the availability of free, more versatile tools, SnipIT is unlikely to be the best choice for most users.