Compare
CodeThis vs Carbon.now.sh
Carbon.now.sh: Turn code into a beautiful PNG.
TL;DR
Carbon turns code into a picture. CodeThis turns code into a URL — and also a picture, right inside the Image tab on any paste. Two outputs, one tool.
At a glance
| Feature | CodeThis | Carbon.now.sh |
|---|---|---|
| Output | shareable URL | downloadable PNG/SVG |
| Code is editable after publish | ✓ | — |
| Code is copyable by the viewer | ✓ | — |
| Markdown + MDC around code | ✓ | — |
| Social preview card | dynamic OG image | the image itself |
| Search-indexable | ✓ | — |
| Password / expiration | ✓ | — |
| Image export | ✓ | ✓ |
Where Carbon.now.sh wins
Screenshot-grade visual polish. If you want to post a snippet on Twitter, LinkedIn, or a slide deck and you want it to look like a designer touched it, Carbon is the right tool. It's been the de-facto standard for code-as-image for years.
Where CodeThis wins
CodeThis isn't trying to be a screenshot generator — it's trying to be the place that snippet actually lives. The two tools solve different problems, but most people reaching for Carbon actually want "share this code" rather than "make a picture of this code".
Real URLs, not images
A CodeThis paste is a shareable link. Your teammate can copy the code, hit the edit button, fork it, or run it — none of which works on a PNG.
Accessible and searchable
Screen readers can read CodeThis pastes. Google can index them. Images can do neither.
Markdown and MDC around the code
You can wrap the snippet with context — alerts, steps, a short explanation — instead of just a standalone image.
Pretty screenshots, same link
The Image tab on any paste lets you export PNG or WebP with six window chromes, eight syntax themes, and custom backgrounds. You get the Carbon-grade screenshot AND the shareable URL behind it.
Privacy controls
Password-protected pastes and expiration dates — neither of which is applicable to an image you posted publicly anyway.
Pick CodeThis if…
- You want the recipient to read, copy, and maybe edit the code.
- You need the snippet to be search-indexable or part of a documentation trail.
- You want a URL you can revise later, not a frozen artifact.
Stick with Carbon.now.sh if…
- You're posting a screenshot for visual polish on social media and don't need a URL at all.
- You're building slides or marketing assets where the final output is definitely an image.
Take a paste for a spin. No signup, 7 days free.