Free Screely Alternative — Device Frames, Gradient Backgrounds, No Upload

Screely popularized the "screenshot in a browser window on a gradient background" aesthetic. It works, but the free tier is limited to basic browser frames and Screely uploads your images to their servers for processing. The Screenshot Beautifier offers broader device frames (MacBook, iPhone, iPad, window, generic browser), full gradient control, and runs entirely in your browser.

Screely vs This Free Tool: What You Get

Feature	This Tool	Screely Free	Screely Paid
Browser frame	Yes (Chrome-style)	Yes (multiple)	Yes
MacBook frame	Yes	No	Yes
iPhone/iPad frames	Yes	No	Yes
Gradient backgrounds	12 presets + custom	Limited	Full library
Pattern backgrounds	Dots, grid, diagonals	No	Yes
2x retina export	Yes	Yes	Yes
Local processing	Yes	No (server-side)	No (server-side)
Signup required	No	No	Yes
Watermark	Never	No	No
Price	Free forever	Free with limits	Paid

The headline difference: if you want more than a browser frame for free, this tool gives you MacBook, iPhone, iPad, and generic window options that Screely gates behind the paid tier.

Switching from Screely to This Tool

There is no migration process. Every session starts fresh. Here is the equivalent workflow:

1. Open the Screenshot Beautifier
2. Upload the same screenshot you would drop into Screely
3. Pick a gradient background (the Purple-Pink and Sunset presets match Screely most-used gradients)
4. Select a device frame — Browser for web apps, MacBook for landing pages
5. Adjust padding (default 60, try 80 for a Screely-like look) and shadow (40-60)
6. Export as PNG (2x) for best quality, or JPG for smaller files

The result will look nearly identical to what you would get from Screely paid tier. The main visual difference: Screely has more gradient variations available. If you need a specific Screely gradient, use a custom solid color picker with the gradient start and end hex values.

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Local Processing: Why It Matters Here

Screely processes your screenshot on their servers. For public app demos and marketing screenshots, that is fine. For internal dashboards, admin panels, unreleased features, or anything under NDA, it is a privacy concern.

This tool runs the mockup rendering in your browser using Canvas API. The screenshot is drawn, framed, and exported without leaving your device. You can verify this in browser developer tools — zero network requests during export.

For teams with strict data handling policies, this makes adoption trivial: no vendor review, no data processing agreement, no third-party risk assessment. It is a web page that runs JavaScript in your browser. Nothing more.

When Screely Paid Is Actually Worth It

Screely paid has features this tool does not replicate:

• Extensive gradient library — hundreds of pre-made gradients beyond the 12 presets here
• Custom color pickers for frame elements — change the browser chrome tone, title bar color, button colors
• Team sharing and presets — save brand gradients for a team to reuse
• Preset save/load — bookmark your favorite padding/shadow/frame combinations

For a design team maintaining brand-consistent marketing assets across dozens of mockups per week, those features save time. For individual creators making screenshots for blog posts, tweets, and pitch decks, the free browser tool covers the same ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I match Screely exact gradients in this tool?

The 12 gradient presets cover the most popular Screely gradients (Purple-Pink, Sunset, Ocean, Lavender, Midnight). For exact gradient matching, you could use the custom color picker with specific hex values, but the preset gradients are designed to match common design trends.

Does this tool have the same browser styles as Screely?

This tool uses a Chrome-style browser frame. Screely offers Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge styles on the paid tier. If you need a specific non-Chrome browser style, that is a Screely advantage.

Is there a Screely alternative that works offline?

Yes — this tool. After the page loads initially, the mockup generation runs locally in your browser. No internet required for exports after load. Screely requires internet for every render.

Can I use this on a work computer?

Yes. It is a web page — no software install, no admin privileges needed. Works in any modern browser on any machine, including locked-down corporate laptops.