Best Code to Image Tools for READMEs and Social Posts (2026)
The best tools for turning code into images in 2026: Carbon, Ray.so, Screenshot Studio, CodeSnap, CodeImage, and Snappify, compared on themes, backgrounds, export formats, and price.
By Kartik Labhshetwar, maker of Screenshot StudioUpdated 2 min read
Short answer
Carbon is the best-known free code to image tool, with 29 themes and PNG or SVG export. Ray.so is the quickest way to a clean snippet. Screenshot Studio adds gradient, image, and pattern backgrounds, transparent PNGs for GitHub READMEs, and a full editor for mockups and video, with 14 themes. To stay inside your editor, the CodeSnap VS Code extension is free and uses your own theme.
Screenshot Studio is our product. Every other tool is listed on its merits, with details checked against the vendor's own site.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Price | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon | The widest theme choice and SVG export | Free, open source (MIT) | Browser |
| Ray.so | Quick, polished snippets | Free, open source (MIT) | Browser, plus a Raycast extension |
| Screenshot Studio | README images, and code inside mockups or video | Free, open source (Apache 2.0) | Browser |
| CodeSnap | Screenshots without leaving VS Code | Free, open source (MIT) | VS Code on Windows, macOS, and Linux |
| CodeImage | An open source web app with its own themes | Open source (MIT) | Browser |
| Snappify | Animated code presentations and videos | Free plan (3 snaps); Starter $5/mo; Pro $9/mo | Browser, plus VS Code and IntelliJ extensions |
Pick 1 of 6 · Best for the widest theme choice and svg export
Carbon
29 syntax themes, a background color or your own image, and PNG or SVG export. An account is only needed to save snippets.
- Price
- Free, open source (MIT)
- Runs on
- Browser
- Limitations
- No gradient background presets.
Pick 2 of 6 · Best for quick, polished snippets
Ray.so
Made by Raycast: paste code, pick a theme, background, and padding, and export an image in seconds.
- Price
- Free, open source (MIT)
- Runs on
- Browser, plus a Raycast extension
- Limitations
- Static image export only.
Pick 3 of 6 · Best for readme images, and code inside mockups or video
Screenshot Studio
14 syntax themes, 20 languages, line numbers, a macOS title bar, and gradient, image, or pattern backgrounds. Turn the background off for a transparent PNG that works in GitHub light and dark mode, export at 2x or 4x, and share a link that reopens your exact design.
- Price
- Free, open source (Apache 2.0)
- Runs on
- Browser
- Limitations
- Fewer themes than Carbon, and the code editor exports PNG only (no SVG).
Pick 4 of 6 · Best for screenshots without leaving vs code
CodeSnap
Captures selected code with your current VS Code theme and font, with options for background color, shadow, padding, window controls, line numbers, and a transparent background. Over 3.9 million installs.
- Price
- Free, open source (MIT)
- Runs on
- VS Code on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Limitations
- PNG only, and the look depends on your editor theme.
Pick 5 of 6 · Best for an open source web app with its own themes
CodeImage
A web app for creating and sharing code screenshots, with 20+ custom themes.
- Price
- Open source (MIT)
- Runs on
- Browser
- Limitations
- Its site does not list export formats or plan limits.
Pick 6 of 6 · Best for animated code presentations and videos
Snappify
Build code slides and short videos with multiple code windows, arrows, and animation, then export PNG, MP4, or GIF.
- Price
- Free plan (3 snaps); Starter $5/mo; Pro $9/mo
- Runs on
- Browser, plus VS Code and IntelliJ extensions
- Limitations
- Free-plan presentation and video exports carry a watermark, and saving work needs an account.
How we picked
We compared tools that turn source code into an image on themes, backgrounds, export formats, open source status, and whether you need an account. Every detail comes from each vendor's own site or repository, checked on September 24, 2026. Plans change without notice, so confirm current pricing before you decide.
