The Bottom Line
Folge is a desktop-only screenshot documentation tool that you pay for once and own forever. Glitter AI is cloud-connected and uses AI voice transcription alongside automatic screenshot capture to build documentation faster.
The fundamental difference comes down to approach and automation. With Folge, you manually click through each step while it grabs screenshots, then add descriptions afterward. Glitter AI works differently: you talk while you work, and the AI transcribes what you say, captures screenshots automatically, and assembles polished documentation as you go.
If offline-first privacy is important to you and you want software you own outright for a one-time payment (€75/$89 Personal or €130/$155 Business), Folge is worth considering. But if AI-powered speed, voice-to-text automation, video capture, and cloud collaboration matter more, Glitter AI is probably a better match.
Something worth noting: Folge produces screenshot-only guides. Glitter AI creates both written guides AND video tutorials from a single recording, giving your team multiple learning formats without any extra effort. As one user pointed out, video documentation is “the top missing feature” in Folge, “especially since many modern documentation needs call for video formats in training and onboarding.”
Platform Overview
Both platforms help you document processes, but they take fundamentally different approaches.
With Glitter AI, you get publish-ready documentation while you work.
Talk and work naturally. Glitter's AI listens to your voice, transcribes it in real-time, and strips out filler words automatically. No typing needed. The platform captures screenshots as you go and organizes everything into step-by-step guides.
Video + written guides from one recording. Unlike screenshot-only tools, Glitter gives you both a video walkthrough and a written guide with every recording. Team members can pick whichever format suits them.
Works wherever you do. The desktop app captures any application (Photoshop, Excel, SAP, internal tools), while the Chrome extension handles browser-based workflows. Both sync to the cloud so your team can access guides from anywhere.
Built for collaboration. Share guides with a simple link, embed them in your knowledge base, or export to PDF/HTML. Team members can comment, suggest edits, and keep documentation up to date together.
Folge is a desktop screenshot tool for creating step-by-step guides locally on your computer.
Click-based capture. Start recording, click through your process. Folge takes a screenshot with every mouse click and stores it locally. Once you finish, you manually add descriptions, annotations, and organize the steps.
Privacy-focused and offline-first. Everything stays on your computer. No cloud storage, no data leaving your machine. This makes it a solid choice for documenting sensitive internal processes or working in locked-down environments.
One-time purchase model. Pay €75 ($89) once for the Personal license (one platform, one machine) or €130 ($155) per seat for the Business license (cross-platform, Mac AND Windows). The free version lets you create up to 5 guides with PDF export only and watermarks.
Export flexibility. Guides can be exported to 7 formats including PDF, Word, PowerPoint, HTML, JSON, Markdown, and CSV. You can embed them in Confluence (native export on Business plan), SharePoint, Help Scout, Zendesk, or other knowledge bases.
Screenshot-only. Folge doesn't record video or audio. It's a visual documentation tool focused on static step-by-step guides with annotated images.
At a Glance
Quick comparison of the key differences.
Pro pricing
AI voice transcription
Video recording
Automatic screenshot capture
Cloud storage & collaboration
Desktop app
Browser extension
Export formats
Mobile app
Free tier
Pricing model
Core Features
See how Glitter AI and Folge compare on core documentation capabilities.
How does documentation creation work?
Talk while you work, AI handles the rest.
Open Glitter, hit record, and just narrate what you're doing as you go through your process. The AI transcribes your voice in real-time, strips out filler words like "um" and "uh," and turns your narration into clear step descriptions. Screenshots get captured automatically at the right moments.
When you stop, you have both a video walkthrough AND a written guide ready to share. No manual typing, no post-production editing required.
Click to capture, then write manually.
Enable screen recording in Folge and set your capture area. As you click through your process, Folge takes a screenshot with each mouse click. After recording, you manually add titles and descriptions to each step, reorder them, and add annotations.
This works fine for simple processes, but expect to spend a fair amount of time afterward adding all the context and explanations.
Can I create video tutorials?
Yes, video and written guides from one recording.
Every Glitter recording produces both formats automatically. The video shows your screen with your narration playing, while the written guide gives step-by-step instructions with screenshots.
Your team gets options this way. Visual learners can watch the video. People who prefer reading or need a quick reference can use the written guide. All from a single recording session.
No, screenshot-only documentation.
Folge doesn't record video or audio. It's a visual screenshot tool. You get static images with text descriptions, but no video walkthroughs.
Users have flagged this as the top missing feature, especially since many modern documentation needs call for video formats in training and onboarding.
How does AI help with documentation?
AI transcribes, refines, and structures your narration.
As you speak, Glitter's AI converts your voice to text, removes filler words ("um," "like," "you know"), and structures sentences professionally. You don't need to script or rehearse. Just explain things naturally.
The AI also captures screenshots at the right moments based on your actions and narration, so you're not thinking about when to grab a screenshot.
Limited AI features (BYOK).
Folge is primarily a traditional screenshot tool. It does offer an "AI Helper" feature, but it requires you to bring your own API key (BYOK) from OpenAI or Anthropic. You pay those providers directly for usage.
The AI can help rewrite or summarize steps you've already written, but there's no voice transcription, no automatic content generation during recording, and no smart automation. You still write all descriptions manually after recording, and pay separately for AI API usage on top of the license cost.
What can I capture and document?
Desktop app: everything. Browser extension: web apps.
The desktop app (Mac/Windows) can capture any application on your computer: Excel, Photoshop, SAP, internal tools, desktop software. The browser extension works with Chrome, Edge, Arc, Brave, and other Chromium browsers.
Both sync automatically, so you can document desktop processes one day and web apps the next, with everything stored in one place.
Desktop apps only (Mac or Windows).
Folge is a desktop application that can capture any software on your computer. It handles desktop applications and internal tools well.
One thing to note: the Personal license ($89) is limited to one machine and one platform (Mac OR Windows, not both). As one user put it, "per PC/OS puts me off purchasing it." The Business license ($155/seat) removes this restriction but costs more.
How do I edit and customize guides?
Edit text, reorder steps, add annotations, blur sensitive info.
Glitter's editor lets you refine AI-generated text, reorder steps with drag-and-drop, add arrows and highlights to screenshots, and blur sensitive information automatically.
You can also customize the guide's appearance, adjust step numbering, and add custom branding before sharing.
Solid editing with robust annotation tools.
Folge offers strong customization: reorder steps, add titles and descriptions, use annotation tools (arrows, shapes, text, blur, mouse pointer, sequential numbers), and control every element of the output.
Users describe the editing interface as "intuitive" and "PowerPoint-like." Many appreciate the level of control. But it takes manual work since you're starting from scratch with each screenshot rather than editing AI-generated content. Some users note the Electron-based app "doesn't feel one bit like a native app."
How do I share guides with my team?
Cloud-based sharing with links, embeds, or exports.
Share guides with a simple link, embed them directly in Confluence/Notion/SharePoint, or export to PDF/HTML. Team members can view guides in their browser without creating an account.
Collaboration features let teammates comment, suggest edits, and keep documentation current together. Everything syncs automatically across devices.
Export to 7 formats, manual distribution, optional cloud.
Folge exports to PDF, Word, PowerPoint, HTML, JSON, Markdown, and CSV. The Business plan includes native Confluence export. You can also embed exported HTML in SharePoint, Help Scout, Zendesk, or other knowledge bases.
Guides are stored locally by default. Folge does offer an optional Cloud add-on (free tier: 20 guides, or $7/month for Cloud Pro with up to 1,000 guides). Without it, sharing means manually exporting and sending files. There's no real-time collaboration built in, and users accustomed to instant link sharing find the desktop export process "slower/more friction-heavy."
Try Glitter AI for Free
Create up to 10 guides for free - no credit card required. Turn any workflow into searchable, step-by-step documentation. Fast, accurate, and yours to try today.
Security & Privacy
How do Folge and Glitter AI handle your sensitive documentation?
Where is my data stored?
Secure cloud-based storage.
Guides are stored securely in the cloud with encryption at rest and in transit. You get the flexibility to access guides from any device while maintaining enterprise-grade security. SOC 2 Type II compliant, GDPR and CCPA compliant.
100% local storage, nothing leaves your computer.
Folge stores everything on your local machine. No cloud sync, no server communication, no data transmission. This is Folge's biggest differentiator.
It's a good fit for documenting highly sensitive processes, working in air-gapped environments, or organizations with strict data residency requirements.
Can I document sensitive information securely?
Blur sensitive data automatically + enterprise security.
Glitter includes automatic blurring for sensitive information in screenshots. Enterprise plans include SSO, advanced permissions, and audit logs.
Your data is encrypted, and you control who can access each guide. Team admins can manage permissions and track document access.
Built-in blur tool + complete local control.
Folge includes annotation tools for blurring sensitive information. Since everything stays local, you have complete control over your data.
This works well for documenting processes that involve trade secrets, financial data, or personally identifiable information that can't leave your premises.
Platform & Accessibility
Folge is a desktop-only application for Mac and Windows. The Personal license (€75/$89) is tied to one platform and one machine, so if you use both Mac and Windows, you’ll need the Business license (€130/$155) which works cross-platform. Working across multiple computers means manually exporting and transferring files, or using the optional Folge Cloud add-on.
Glitter AI offers both a desktop app (Mac/Windows) and a browser extension (works with Chrome, Edge, Arc, Brave, and other Chromium browsers). Both sync to the cloud, so you can start a guide on your desktop and access it from your browser, or vice versa. This flexibility helps teams that work across different environments.
The trade-off is pretty clear: Folge’s desktop-only approach gives you complete local control and data privacy (everything stays on your machine by default), while Glitter’s cloud-connected approach gives you access from anywhere and real-time collaboration. Folge does offer an optional Cloud add-on if you want online hosting for your guides.
Pricing & Plans
See how pricing plans stack up.
Glitter AI – Pricing Takeaways:
- Subscription model: Monthly or annual billing
- Generous free tier: 10 complete guides with both desktop and browser capture
- Cloud-based: Access from anywhere, automatic syncing
- AI included: Voice transcription at all paid tiers, video-to-guide conversion uses credits
Glitter AI uses a subscription model with a generous free tier. The Pro plan at $20/month gives you unlimited guides with AI-powered features and collaboration. The Team plan at $75/month includes 5 users with additional team management capabilities.
Folge – Pricing Takeaways:
- One-time payment: €75 (
$89) Personal or €130 ($155) Business per seat - Free version: Create up to 5 guides total with PDF export only and watermarks
- Platform-specific (Personal): License valid for Mac OR Windows, not both
- Business plan: Cross-platform (Mac AND Windows), native Confluence export
- Local-first: Optional Folge Cloud add-on available (free tier: 20 guides)
Folge offers a one-time payment of €75 (~$89) for the Personal license (one platform, one machine) or €130 (~$155) for the Business license (cross-platform, per seat). The free version is limited to 5 guides total with PDF export only and watermarks. No subscription fees, but cloud features are optional via Folge Cloud add-on.
Glitter AI – Pricing Takeaways:
- Subscription model: Monthly or annual billing
- Generous free tier: 10 complete guides with both desktop and browser capture
- Cloud-based: Access from anywhere, automatic syncing
- AI included: Voice transcription at all paid tiers, video-to-guide conversion uses credits
Glitter AI uses a subscription model with a generous free tier. The Pro plan at $20/month gives you unlimited guides with AI-powered features and collaboration. The Team plan at $75/month includes 5 users with additional team management capabilities.
Folge – Pricing Takeaways:
- One-time payment: €75 (
$89) Personal or €130 ($155) Business per seat - Free version: Create up to 5 guides total with PDF export only and watermarks
- Platform-specific (Personal): License valid for Mac OR Windows, not both
- Business plan: Cross-platform (Mac AND Windows), native Confluence export
- Local-first: Optional Folge Cloud add-on available (free tier: 20 guides)
Folge offers a one-time payment of €75 (~$89) for the Personal license (one platform, one machine) or €130 (~$155) for the Business license (cross-platform, per seat). The free version is limited to 5 guides total with PDF export only and watermarks. No subscription fees, but cloud features are optional via Folge Cloud add-on.
Pricing: One-Time vs Subscription
This is where things get interesting. Folge’s one-time payment (€75/$89 for Personal, €130/$155 per seat for Business) is appealing if you plan to use the tool for years without needing advanced AI capabilities or built-in collaboration. After the initial purchase, you own it forever. No recurring costs. That said, the Personal license is limited to one platform and one machine. As one Reddit user pointed out, the “per PC/OS” restriction is frustrating.
Glitter AI’s subscription model ($20/month or $16/month annually for Pro) costs more over time, but includes continuous updates, AI features, cloud storage, and new capabilities as they roll out. Over 3 years, you’d pay $576 annually ($16/mo) for Glitter Pro vs. €75 ($89) for Folge Personal or €130 ($155) per seat for Folge Business.
The math shifts when you factor in time savings. If Glitter’s AI transcription and video creation save you 30 minutes per guide, and you’re creating 2-3 guides per week, that time savings can justify the subscription cost. This becomes especially relevant for businesses paying hourly rates for documentation work.
For teams, Glitter’s collaboration features become more important. Folge’s local-first approach means guides must be manually exported, shared, and updated (unless you’re using the optional Folge Cloud add-on), which can lead to version control headaches and knowledge silos.
Try Glitter AI for Free
Create up to 10 guides for free with both desktop and browser capture, AI transcription, and video + written output formats.
So... which one should you choose?
Both tools are good. But they're built for different people.
Choose Glitter AI if you...
Choose Glitter AI if you need AI-powered speed and modern collaboration. If you value voice-to-text automation, want both video and written guides from one recording, need cloud access across devices, or work with a team that needs to share and update documentation together, Glitter is built for you. It works well for fast-moving teams, customer success, virtual assistant delegation, and training programs that need multiple content formats.
Don't choose Glitter AI if you...
Don't choose Glitter AI if you require 100% offline operation or prefer one-time payments. If your organization has strict data residency requirements that prohibit cloud storage, if you need to document in air-gapped environments, or if you strongly prefer owning software outright without subscriptions, Folge's local-first approach is probably a better fit.
Choose Folge if you...
Choose Folge if you need local storage and one-time pricing. If you're documenting sensitive processes that can't leave your computer, working in secure environments, prefer owning software with a single payment, or primarily need screenshot-based guides without video, Folge delivers exactly that. It's praised for its privacy-focused approach and works well for IT professionals, MSPs (Managed Service Providers), technical writers, security-conscious organizations, and anyone who wants complete control over their documentation data. The Business license is a good fit if you need cross-platform support or native Confluence integration.
Don't choose Folge if you...
Don't choose Folge if you need AI automation, video recording, or built-in team collaboration. Folge requires manual description writing after every recording, doesn't create video tutorials, and the Personal license works only on one machine and one platform. If you need to document across multiple devices (without buying the Business license), want AI to handle transcription, require video formats, or need team members to collaborate on guides in real-time without manually sharing files, Folge will feel limiting. While Folge does offer an AI Helper feature, it's BYOK (bring your own key), meaning you pay OpenAI or Anthropic separately for API usage on top of the license cost. Folge Cloud add-on exists for sharing, but it's an extra layer versus Glitter's built-in cloud collaboration.
Choose Glitter AI if you...
Choose Glitter AI if you need AI-powered speed and modern collaboration. If you value voice-to-text automation, want both video and written guides from one recording, need cloud access across devices, or work with a team that needs to share and update documentation together, Glitter is built for you. It works well for fast-moving teams, customer success, virtual assistant delegation, and training programs that need multiple content formats.
Don't choose Glitter AI if you...
Don't choose Glitter AI if you require 100% offline operation or prefer one-time payments. If your organization has strict data residency requirements that prohibit cloud storage, if you need to document in air-gapped environments, or if you strongly prefer owning software outright without subscriptions, Folge's local-first approach is probably a better fit.
Choose Folge if you...
Choose Folge if you need local storage and one-time pricing. If you're documenting sensitive processes that can't leave your computer, working in secure environments, prefer owning software with a single payment, or primarily need screenshot-based guides without video, Folge delivers exactly that. It's praised for its privacy-focused approach and works well for IT professionals, MSPs (Managed Service Providers), technical writers, security-conscious organizations, and anyone who wants complete control over their documentation data. The Business license is a good fit if you need cross-platform support or native Confluence integration.
Don't choose Folge if you...
Don't choose Folge if you need AI automation, video recording, or built-in team collaboration. Folge requires manual description writing after every recording, doesn't create video tutorials, and the Personal license works only on one machine and one platform. If you need to document across multiple devices (without buying the Business license), want AI to handle transcription, require video formats, or need team members to collaborate on guides in real-time without manually sharing files, Folge will feel limiting. While Folge does offer an AI Helper feature, it's BYOK (bring your own key), meaning you pay OpenAI or Anthropic separately for API usage on top of the license cost. Folge Cloud add-on exists for sharing, but it's an extra layer versus Glitter's built-in cloud collaboration.
Real customer reviews
Genuine feedback from real customers ❤️
“This software is mind-blowing! After 2+ months, it's an invaluable asset to my company. The transcription quality is out of this world, and the new image editing tools are so fluid and better than [competitor name redacted]. ...you've saved me so much time; I'm elated and highly anticipate subscribing for another year!”
Tim M.
May 3, 2025
“Our company has asked each department to use AI tools to increase productivity, and this has made a huge difference. One of our leaders had originally sent a link to check out Glitter AI, and we love it! We're now using it for clients as well as internal staff.”
Kim W.
December 18, 2024
“This is exactly the documentation solution that we've been looking for. Every software system requires operating instructions, and you make them so easy to create! It's perfect for employee training purposes.”
Erez A.
January 9, 2025
“Glitter is really cool! The step-by-step guide it created was exactly what we needed for our corporate Salesforce setup, which was a literal mess. Just having a video isn't great because it's a nightmare to update all the fields for billing. This tool is saving us so much time!”
Dustin R.
March 8, 2025
“This is amazing! I just used the desktop app to make a quick guide for a Photoshop tool that I can use in my class. It would have taken me at least 30 minutes before and I just did it in about 5 minutes. Thanks for such a great tool!”
Sarah
January 28, 2025
“I tested 2 products today to solve the problem of rapidly creating 60+ articles to onboard our customers, and Glitter AI is excellent! It's really easy to use and edit. The output is so easy to import into our CMS for our Knowledge Hub; it's fantastic.”
Emily W.
February 15, 2025
“Really love this product! We use Guru for documentation at our company. With Glitter, I can do a quick walkthrough, and it creates a guide that can be pasted right into Guru, which saves us from undocumented tasks.”
Jens A.
April 12, 2025
“So far, I'm liking Glitter a great deal; it's very intuitive and useful. Our school district has an old method for online help for our student information system. Glitter is a great way to save many, MANY, person-hours of work, and our IT person is excited about it too!”
John
January 9, 2025
“This software is mind-blowing! After 2+ months, it's an invaluable asset to my company. The transcription quality is out of this world, and the new image editing tools are so fluid and better than [competitor name redacted]. ...you've saved me so much time; I'm elated and highly anticipate subscribing for another year!”
Tim M.
May 3, 2025
“Our company has asked each department to use AI tools to increase productivity, and this has made a huge difference. One of our leaders had originally sent a link to check out Glitter AI, and we love it! We're now using it for clients as well as internal staff.”
Kim W.
December 18, 2024
“This is exactly the documentation solution that we've been looking for. Every software system requires operating instructions, and you make them so easy to create! It's perfect for employee training purposes.”
Erez A.
January 9, 2025
“Glitter is really cool! The step-by-step guide it created was exactly what we needed for our corporate Salesforce setup, which was a literal mess. Just having a video isn't great because it's a nightmare to update all the fields for billing. This tool is saving us so much time!”
Dustin R.
March 8, 2025
“This is amazing! I just used the desktop app to make a quick guide for a Photoshop tool that I can use in my class. It would have taken me at least 30 minutes before and I just did it in about 5 minutes. Thanks for such a great tool!”
Sarah
January 28, 2025
“I tested 2 products today to solve the problem of rapidly creating 60+ articles to onboard our customers, and Glitter AI is excellent! It's really easy to use and edit. The output is so easy to import into our CMS for our Knowledge Hub; it's fantastic.”
Emily W.
February 15, 2025
“Really love this product! We use Guru for documentation at our company. With Glitter, I can do a quick walkthrough, and it creates a guide that can be pasted right into Guru, which saves us from undocumented tasks.”
Jens A.
April 12, 2025
“So far, I'm liking Glitter a great deal; it's very intuitive and useful. Our school district has an old method for online help for our student information system. Glitter is a great way to save many, MANY, person-hours of work, and our IT person is excited about it too!”
John
January 9, 2025
“This software is mind-blowing! After 2+ months, it's an invaluable asset to my company. The transcription quality is out of this world, and the new image editing tools are so fluid and better than [competitor name redacted]. ...you've saved me so much time; I'm elated and highly anticipate subscribing for another year!”
Tim M.
May 3, 2025
“Our company has asked each department to use AI tools to increase productivity, and this has made a huge difference. One of our leaders had originally sent a link to check out Glitter AI, and we love it! We're now using it for clients as well as internal staff.”
Kim W.
December 18, 2024
“This is exactly the documentation solution that we've been looking for. Every software system requires operating instructions, and you make them so easy to create! It's perfect for employee training purposes.”
Erez A.
January 9, 2025
“Glitter is really cool! The step-by-step guide it created was exactly what we needed for our corporate Salesforce setup, which was a literal mess. Just having a video isn't great because it's a nightmare to update all the fields for billing. This tool is saving us so much time!”
Dustin R.
March 8, 2025
“This is amazing! I just used the desktop app to make a quick guide for a Photoshop tool that I can use in my class. It would have taken me at least 30 minutes before and I just did it in about 5 minutes. Thanks for such a great tool!”
Sarah
January 28, 2025
“I tested 2 products today to solve the problem of rapidly creating 60+ articles to onboard our customers, and Glitter AI is excellent! It's really easy to use and edit. The output is so easy to import into our CMS for our Knowledge Hub; it's fantastic.”
Emily W.
February 15, 2025
“Really love this product! We use Guru for documentation at our company. With Glitter, I can do a quick walkthrough, and it creates a guide that can be pasted right into Guru, which saves us from undocumented tasks.”
Jens A.
April 12, 2025
“So far, I'm liking Glitter a great deal; it's very intuitive and useful. Our school district has an old method for online help for our student information system. Glitter is a great way to save many, MANY, person-hours of work, and our IT person is excited about it too!”
John
January 9, 2025
