The Bottom Line
MagicHow and Glitter AI both promise to speed up documentation by handling some of the tedious work for you. What they actually produce, though, looks quite different.
MagicHow is essentially a screenshot automation tool. You click through a workflow, it grabs screenshots at each click, and splits everything into separate steps. The output is a series of images with auto-generated captions. It’s more of a visual outline that you’ll still need to flesh out manually before anyone can actually use it.
On the free plan, you’re capped at 10 guides total. No desktop app access either. One reviewer put it bluntly: “silent guides are dead guides.” Without voice or video, these static screenshot collections often gather dust.
Glitter AI takes a different approach. It captures your clicks, yes, but it also records your voice narration while you explain what you’re doing. The AI then transforms your spoken walkthrough into polished written documentation, dropping in screenshots at the right moments.
Here’s what really sets them apart: MagicHow hands you raw materials. Glitter AI hands you finished documentation. With MagicHow, you’re writing all the step descriptions from scratch. With Glitter, you just narrate naturally while recording, and the AI does the writing.
Glitter also keeps your original video alongside the written guide, so you end up with both formats from a single session. MagicHow only gives you screenshots. There’s no video option whatsoever.
Platform Overview
Both platforms help you document processes, but they take fundamentally different approaches.
With Glitter AI, you get both video and written documentation from a single recording.
Record your screen while talking through a process, and Glitter's AI automatically generates a step-by-step guide with screenshots placed at the perfect moments. Your voice narration becomes professional written instructions.
You can also upload existing videos - even videos of real-world processes like assembling products - and Glitter will generate guides from them. Works on web and desktop (Chromium browsers only - Chrome, Edge, Brave), plus mobile support through video upload, with 99 languages supported on all plans.
For enterprises, Glitter offers transparent pricing starting at $8K/year for Enterprise plans, SOC 2 Type II compliance, and a clear data privacy policy: your content is never used to train AI models.
MagicHow is a screenshot automation tool for creating visual step-by-step guides.
When you click through a workflow, MagicHow captures screenshots and auto-splits each click into slides. You get a series of images with basic auto-generated titles - but no voice narration, no AI writing, and no video output.
The free plan limits you to just 10 guides total before requiring a paid upgrade, and the desktop app isn't available on free plans.
For enterprises, MagicHow offers basic documentation features at a lower price point, but lacks SOC 2 compliance, the AI-powered writing capabilities, and video preservation that modern teams expect. Their privacy policy does not explicitly state they won't use your data for AI training - it mentions using "aggregate/de-identified information" to "enhance the Services."
At a Glance
Quick comparison of the key differences between MagicHow and Glitter AI.
Pro pricing (monthly)
Free plan guide limit
Create guides with screenshots
Voice narration to text
AI writing assistance
Video output preserved
Video-to-guide conversion
Desktop app (free plan)
Mobile capture
Multi-language support
Sensitive data redaction
SOC 2 Type II
AI training opt-out
Core Features
See how Glitter AI and MagicHow compare on core documentation features.
How does voice narration work?
Glitter AI captures your voice while you record, then uses AI to transform your spoken explanation into professional written documentation.
Talk naturally as you click through a process. Explain what you're doing and why. The AI transcribes everything and converts it into clear, well-organized instructions that line up with your screenshots.
The upshot? Complete documentation in one take. No need to go back and write anything after you finish recording.
MagicHow doesn't support voice narration.
The tool only grabs screenshots as you click around. You get generic auto-generated titles like "Step 1" or "Click here," but all the actual explanations? Those you have to write yourself.
If you want voice in your guides, you'd need to record audio with a separate tool and splice it in manually. That's twice the work.
Can I convert existing videos into guides?
Yes - Glitter AI can turn any video into a step-by-step guide.
Upload a screen recording, a training video, or even footage of someone assembling a physical product or operating equipment. Glitter's AI watches the video, identifies key moments, pulls out screenshots, and writes the step-by-step instructions.
This runs on Gemini AI and handles videos of any length.
No - MagicHow only works with new recordings.
You have to record a fresh process directly in MagicHow. There's no upload feature, no way to feed in existing videos.
Got a library of training videos already? You'll need to redo everything from scratch inside their tool.
How much editing is required after recording?
Glitter AI keeps post-recording editing to a minimum.
Because it captures your voice and uses AI to write the documentation, most guides come out 80-90% ready right after you stop recording. Maybe you'll tweak a phrase or two, but the bulk of the work is already done.
Since the AI hears your context and explanations, the descriptions tend to be accurate and detailed rather than generic filler.
Expect to spend significant time editing MagicHow guides.
MagicHow grabs screenshots and creates a basic slide structure, but the actual instructions? All on you. The auto-generated text is just bare-bones titles and click descriptions.
Users frequently mention that MagicHow creates "75 steps that's supposed to be 12" because it captures literally every click. Cleaning up and consolidating slides eats up time.
Do I get both video and written guides?
Yes - Glitter AI gives you both.
Record once and you get the original video plus a written step-by-step guide with screenshots. Some folks on your team will prefer watching. Others will prefer reading. Either way, you're covered with just one recording session.
Share whichever format makes sense, or share both.
No - MagicHow only produces screenshots.
MagicHow doesn't record video at all. You end up with a series of static screenshots arranged into a visual guide. That's it.
Want video documentation too? You'll need a separate screen recorder and basically create the same content twice.
Can I capture mobile app processes?
Yes - Glitter AI handles mobile workflows through video upload.
Document iOS and Android app processes by uploading screen recordings from your phone. The AI converts mobile videos into step-by-step guides the same way it handles desktop recordings.
One note: Glitter doesn't have dedicated mobile apps. Mobile support works through the video-to-guide feature.
No - MagicHow doesn't do mobile.
MagicHow only works with desktop and browser recordings. For mobile app documentation, you'll need something else entirely.
How does the desktop app compare?
Glitter's desktop app is available on every plan, including free.
The desktop app lets you control exactly what you capture. Record specific windows or go full screen. Available for both Mac and Windows.
Free users get the same desktop app access as paid users. No restrictions.
MagicHow locks the desktop app behind paid plans.
Free plan users can't access the desktop app at all. You're stuck with the browser extension, and remember, the free plan also caps you at 10 guides total.
To get desktop recording, you need at least the Advanced Personal plan at $12.50/month (or $10/month if you pay annually).
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.
Documentation Quality & User Experience
Where MagicHow and Glitter AI really diverge is in the quality of what you end up with.
MagicHow: Screenshot Outlines That Still Need Writing
MagicHow captures screenshots quickly. Click, click, click, and you’ve got a stack of images. The catch: you’re still on the hook for all the actual writing.
The tool generates basic labels like “Step 1: Click here” or “Navigate to settings.” These are placeholder text at best. You’ll have to circle back through every slide and manually add:
- What the user should actually do
- Why they’re doing it
- What happens next
- Any gotchas or important context
Reviewers on various platforms complain that MagicHow creates far too many steps, logging every single click instead of grouping logical actions. One frustrated user described it: “Editing is slow and messy. Every simple workflow turns into dozens of steps, and since you can only see one or two slides at a time, cleanup takes forever.”
Another ended up with “75 steps that was supposed to be 12” and burned hours deleting and merging slides. The editing interface shows one big slide at a time, which makes it tough to get a bird’s-eye view when you’re trying to trim things down.
Glitter AI: Finished Documentation from Your Voice
Glitter AI works on a different principle entirely: you talk, it writes.
While you record, just explain what you’re doing out loud. Something like “Now I’m clicking here to open settings because we need to plug in our API credentials…” The AI listens, picks up on the context, and turns your natural speech into professional written instructions.
The result? Documentation that’s 80-90% done the moment you stop recording. You might adjust a word here and there, but you’re not staring at empty text boxes trying to remember what to write.
Because Glitter records your voice, it understands why you’re taking each action, not just what button you clicked. That context shows up in the final guide and makes it genuinely useful for readers.
What This Means in Practice
If you’re only documenting the occasional one-off process, the manual approach in MagicHow might be tolerable. But if documentation is a regular part of your job, whether for training materials, SOPs, or support articles, the difference compounds quickly.
With MagicHow: Record for 5 minutes, then spend 30 minutes writing descriptions and consolidating steps. You get a screenshot guide. As one reviewer summed it up: “MagicHow doesn’t offer voice narration. You just get screenshots with captions, and let’s be honest — silent guides are dead guides.”
With Glitter AI: Record for 5 minutes while narrating, spend 5 minutes on quick review. You end up with a complete guide in video and written form, roughly 11x faster than building documentation the old-fashioned way.
Export & Sharing
How you can share and distribute your documentation.
What export formats are available?
Glitter AI supports several export formats:
- Share link - Public or secure with revokable tokens
- PDF export - Download your guide as a PDF
- HTML export - Embed in your knowledge base
- Markdown - Copy for wikis and doc sites
- Video file - Download the original recording
Every export option preserves both the written guide and video.
MagicHow provides a few export options:
- Share link - Public links to view guides
- PDF export - Download as PDF
- HTML export - Copy HTML code
- Markdown - Copy as markdown
Since MagicHow doesn't record video, there's no video export. Just screenshots.
Can I embed guides in my knowledge base?
Yes - Glitter AI works with common platforms.
Export or embed content into Confluence, Notion, Zendesk, WordPress, and other knowledge management tools.
Embeds include both the video player and written guide. Users pick whichever format suits them.
Yes - MagicHow integrates with knowledge bases.
You can push content into Confluence, Guru, Notion, Zendesk, WordPress, and similar platforms.
Since MagicHow only creates screenshot-based guides, embedded content is static images and text. No video.
How does branding customization work?
Glitter AI offers branding options on paid plans.
Add your logo, match your colors and fonts, make guides look like they came from your company. Custom domains for shared links are also available.
Brand customization starts with the Pro plan at $20/month ($16/month annual).
MagicHow includes branding on paid plans.
The Advanced Personal plan at $12.50/month ($10/month annual) lets you add logos to screenshots and customize colors and fonts.
Free plan users don't get branding options.
Security & Privacy
How your data is protected and privacy is maintained.
Is my data secure?
Glitter AI holds SOC 2 Type II certification.
Data is encrypted in transit and at rest with enterprise-grade encryption. Glitter maintains strict security controls and goes through regular third-party audits.
There's also a clear policy: your content is never used to train AI models. Your documentation, videos, and recordings stay private.
MagicHow has basic security, but no enterprise certifications.
MagicHow doesn't publicly advertise SOC 2 compliance or any third-party security audits. Their privacy policy also doesn't clearly state your data won't be used for AI training.
In fact, the policy mentions using "aggregate/de-identified information" to "enhance the Services" and notes "this Privacy Policy does not impose limitations on our use or sharing of such information."
For companies with compliance requirements, this lack of certification and vague AI policy is a red flag.
Can I redact sensitive information?
Yes - Glitter AI includes blur and redaction tools on paid plans.
Blur out passwords, API keys, personal info, or payment details before sharing. You can redact during recording or add it afterward.
Yes - but only if you're paying.
MagicHow lets you blur sensitive information and hide private data during recording. Covers payment details, passwords, and other confidential stuff.
The catch: this feature isn't available on free plans. You need at least the Advanced Personal plan at $12.50/month ($10/month annual) to access redaction.
What about enterprise compliance?
Glitter AI meets enterprise-grade compliance standards.
- SOC 2 Type II certified
- GDPR compliant
- SSO/SAML support
- Audit logs
- DPA available
- Your data is never used for AI training (explicitly stated in policy)
Enterprise features start at $8K/year with transparent pricing. No need for custom contracts to access base Enterprise tier.
MagicHow has basic enterprise features but lacks formal compliance certifications.
Their Enterprise plan includes SAML SSO, a dedicated account manager, and custom configurations. But MagicHow doesn't publicly claim SOC 2 or other formal certifications.
Their privacy policy also doesn't explicitly rule out using your data for AI training or service improvements. That's a concern for regulated industries.
Enterprise pricing is custom (contact sales to find out).
Pricing & Plans
See how pricing plans stack up.
Glitter AI – Pricing Takeaways:
- Desktop app included free - No restrictions on free tier
- 99 languages on all plans - Not limited to enterprise
- Sensitive data redaction - Blur tools available on paid plans
- Video + written guides - Get both formats from one recording
- No AI training on your data - Explicit privacy policy
Glitter AI offers transparent pricing with all core features available on free and Pro plans. The Pro plan ($20/month or $16/month annually) includes unlimited guides, AI voice transcription, video-to-guide conversion, and mobile support through video upload. Enterprise features like SSO and audit logs start at $8K/year with transparent pricing.
MagicHow – Pricing Takeaways:
- Lower entry price - $12.50/month ($10/month annually)
- Desktop app is paid-only - Not available on free tier
- Free plan limited to 10 guides total - Must upgrade quickly
- No voice narration or video - Screenshot capture only
- No SOC 2 compliance - Lacks enterprise certifications
- Unclear AI training policy - Privacy policy allows use of de-identified data
MagicHow has a lower starting price at $12.50/month ($10/month annually) for the Advanced Personal plan. However, the free tier is limited to just 10 guides total and browser-only capture. Key features like desktop recording, data redaction, and branding require paid plans. The Team plan starts at $50/month ($42/month annually) with a hard minimum of 5 seats - a barrier for small teams.
Glitter AI – Pricing Takeaways:
- Desktop app included free - No restrictions on free tier
- 99 languages on all plans - Not limited to enterprise
- Sensitive data redaction - Blur tools available on paid plans
- Video + written guides - Get both formats from one recording
- No AI training on your data - Explicit privacy policy
Glitter AI offers transparent pricing with all core features available on free and Pro plans. The Pro plan ($20/month or $16/month annually) includes unlimited guides, AI voice transcription, video-to-guide conversion, and mobile support through video upload. Enterprise features like SSO and audit logs start at $8K/year with transparent pricing.
MagicHow – Pricing Takeaways:
- Lower entry price - $12.50/month ($10/month annually)
- Desktop app is paid-only - Not available on free tier
- Free plan limited to 10 guides total - Must upgrade quickly
- No voice narration or video - Screenshot capture only
- No SOC 2 compliance - Lacks enterprise certifications
- Unclear AI training policy - Privacy policy allows use of de-identified data
MagicHow has a lower starting price at $12.50/month ($10/month annually) for the Advanced Personal plan. However, the free tier is limited to just 10 guides total and browser-only capture. Key features like desktop recording, data redaction, and branding require paid plans. The Team plan starts at $50/month ($42/month annually) with a hard minimum of 5 seats - a barrier for small teams.
Try Glitter AI for Free
Create up to 10 guides for free, with full access to the desktop app, AI transcription, and mobile capture. No credit card required.
Who Should Use Each Tool?
MagicHow and Glitter AI both beat writing documentation from scratch. They’re just built for different situations and different kinds of users.
Choose MagicHow if you:
- Just need basic screenshot capture and you’re comfortable writing all the descriptions yourself
- Have dead-simple processes where clicking through is self-explanatory
- Want to spend less. The Personal plan at $12.50/month ($10/month annual) costs less than Glitter’s $20/month Pro
- Rarely document anything. The 10-guide free limit might genuinely be enough
- Don’t care about video. Static screenshot guides work for your use case
- Aren’t bound by SOC 2 or strict enterprise security requirements
Don’t choose MagicHow if you:
- Want AI to do the writing. MagicHow has zero voice narration capability
- Already have videos to convert. MagicHow only captures fresh recordings
- Document regularly. The manual writing grind gets exhausting fast
- Need to document mobile apps. MagicHow doesn’t handle mobile at all
- Want video alongside written guides. MagicHow is screenshots only
- Need SOC 2 certification. They don’t have public security certifications
- Care about AI training policies. Their privacy policy leaves room for using your de-identified data
Choose Glitter AI if you:
- Prefer talking over typing. Voice narration is baked into how Glitter works
- Need polished documentation quickly. AI writing means less manual work (about 11x faster)
- Want both video and written formats. One recording gives you both
- Already have videos sitting around. Video-to-guide conversion can repurpose them
- Document mobile apps. Video upload handles iOS and Android workflows
- Require enterprise security. SOC 2 Type II plus an explicit no-AI-training policy
- Work with global teams. 99 languages available on every plan
- Appreciate straightforward pricing. Enterprise starts at $8K/year without custom contract negotiations
Don’t choose Glitter AI if you:
- Only need the occasional screenshot guide. MagicHow’s lower price might make more sense
- Have a tight budget. $20/month may feel steep for a single-user Pro account
- Like writing descriptions yourself. Some people genuinely want full control over every word
- Use Safari or Firefox. Glitter only works with Chromium browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave)
So... which one should you choose?
Both tools are useful. They're just built for different workflows.
Choose Glitter AI if you...
Choose Glitter AI if you want AI-powered documentation that writes itself from your narration. Record once while talking, get both video and written guides, and spend minimal time editing (about 11x faster than traditional methods). Best for teams that document regularly, need SOC 2 compliance, and want professional results with transparent enterprise pricing.
Don't choose Glitter AI if you...
Don't choose Glitter AI if you only need basic screenshot capture and don't mind writing descriptions yourself. If you're documenting very simple processes occasionally and want a lower price, MagicHow's simpler approach might work.
Choose MagicHow if you...
Choose MagicHow if you need simple screenshot automation at a lower cost. Reasonable for basic documentation where you're okay writing all the instructions yourself. The $12.50/month Personal plan ($10/month annual) costs less than Glitter's Pro tier, though you'll do a lot more manual editing after recording.
Don't choose MagicHow if you...
Don't choose MagicHow if you want AI to handle the writing, need video output, or document processes frequently. The manual work after each recording piles up. You also lose out on voice narration, video preservation, mobile capture, and SOC 2 compliance altogether. Plus, their privacy policy doesn't clearly prevent AI training on your data.
Choose Glitter AI if you...
Choose Glitter AI if you want AI-powered documentation that writes itself from your narration. Record once while talking, get both video and written guides, and spend minimal time editing (about 11x faster than traditional methods). Best for teams that document regularly, need SOC 2 compliance, and want professional results with transparent enterprise pricing.
Don't choose Glitter AI if you...
Don't choose Glitter AI if you only need basic screenshot capture and don't mind writing descriptions yourself. If you're documenting very simple processes occasionally and want a lower price, MagicHow's simpler approach might work.
Choose MagicHow if you...
Choose MagicHow if you need simple screenshot automation at a lower cost. Reasonable for basic documentation where you're okay writing all the instructions yourself. The $12.50/month Personal plan ($10/month annual) costs less than Glitter's Pro tier, though you'll do a lot more manual editing after recording.
Don't choose MagicHow if you...
Don't choose MagicHow if you want AI to handle the writing, need video output, or document processes frequently. The manual work after each recording piles up. You also lose out on voice narration, video preservation, mobile capture, and SOC 2 compliance altogether. Plus, their privacy policy doesn't clearly prevent AI training on your data.
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
