ZUploader

ZUploader is an approachable software utility that permits you to upload text, images and files to various hosting services online. It implements numerous useful features which are pretty intuitive, and it kind of reminds us of ShareX. The app uses the same uploader engines as ZScreen.

As it turns out, ZUploader rewrote ZScreen's code, and it was subsequently repackaged and released as ShareX.

Installing the tool is a speedy task that shouldn't impose any difficulties. Worth noting is that .NET Framework must be installed.

Afterward, you are welcomed by a common-looking window with a minimalistic structure, where you can seamlessly upload files and Clipboard content, take screenshots, and customize destination options. It gets minimized to the systray.

When it comes to Clipboard content, ZUploader is capable of uploading text clips, image clips, and files. It shows a preview window for analyzing data before the transfer. File uploads can be alternatively done by just indicating an item in the file browser.

Batch uploading is supported, which means that you can transfer as many objects as you want at a time. Task information includes the file name, status, progress, speed, elapsed and remaining time, file format, host name, and URL for each item. Links or thumbnail URLs can be copied to the Clipboard.

As far as the output is concerned, the program is set by default to upload photos to ImageShack, text to PasteBin.com, and files to Dropbox.

If you're not satisfied with these decisions, then you can choose different destinations when it comes to photos (TinyPic, Imgur, Flickr, Photobucket, Twitpic, Twitsnaps, yfrog, file uploader), text (PasteBin.ca, Paste2.org, Slexy, file uploader) and files (SendSpace, Minus, Box, custom uploader, FTP server).

ZUploader also has a feature for automatically shortening URLs, and uses goo.gl by default. Other options include bit.ly, j.mp, is.gd, tinyurl.com, and turl.ca.

On websites which support anonymous uploads, the app automatically transfers data and creates links. However, if you're registered, you can enter login details for them. This is actually mandatory for hosting services that don't permit anonymity.

As previously mentioned, the application is equipped with a screenshot grabbing tool. It can capture the full screen, an active window, an active window and then let you adjust the crop borders, or any region drawn as a rectangle, rounded rectangle, ellipse, triangle, diamond, polygon, or free hand.

Another important feature is represented by ZUploader's ability to keep a history of uploaded items, giving you the possibility to explore it, filter data by file name, date and host, open local files, as well as copy or launch URLs in the browser.

You can hide the systray icon, ask ZUploader to automatically run at every system startup until further notice, integrate it into the Windows Explorer context menu for quickly uploading files, disable automatic checkups for software updates, or enter the configuration file path to the custom uploader.

It's also possible to reconfigure keyboard shortcuts, tinker with image settings regarding the output file type (PNG, JPEG, GIF, BMP, TIFF), quality, resize mode, scaling and other aspects, edit the name pattern for Clipboard uploads (for image and text only, not files), include the mouse cursor in the screenshots, capture windows with or without transparency, disable history recordings, apply a proxy configuration, and view debug details.

The software tool worked smoothly in our testing, without hanging, crashing or prompting error dialogs. It uploaded text, images and files swiftly while remaining light on system resources usage.

Taking into account its generous set of tools, options and configuration settings, ZUploader should meet the requirements of most users looking for a rich and versatile uploader that focuses on practical features above all else. Plus, it's free and open source.