Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
Microsoft Paint does not have a native macOS version. If you need to mark up a screenshot, use Preview. For a lightweight Paint-like canvas, choose Paintbrush. Pinta adds layers and effects, Krita is built for serious digital art, and Pixelmator Pro is the polished paid all-rounder.
Is Microsoft Paint available for Mac?
Microsoft provides Paint as a Windows application, not a native Mac app. You cannot download the official Windows executable and run it directly in macOS. “Paint for Mac” therefore usually means a third-party alternative, not an edition made by Microsoft.
You can run the actual Windows Paint only by running Windows through a virtual machine, remote Windows service, or another Windows environment. That adds setup, licensing, cost, and possible performance or privacy issues, so it is rarely sensible for drawing a few shapes.
Quick recommendations
| Your task | Best starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Annotate an existing screenshot | Preview | Already installed and includes Markup tools. |
| Simple blank-canvas drawing | Paintbrush | Small, Mac-oriented interface with common image formats. |
| Layers, effects and fuller editing | Pinta | More capable while remaining approachable. |
| Illustration, comics or animation | Krita | Brush engines, stabilizers, layers, masks and animation tools. |
| Photo, design and painting in one app | Pixelmator Pro | Polished Mac editor with raster, vector, RAW, PSD and AI-assisted features. |
| A deliberately Paint-like commercial app | Patina | Marketed as a Microsoft Paint replacement; verify current price and compatibility first. |
Best Paint alternatives for Mac
Preview: best for quick markup with no download
Open an image in Preview, show the Markup toolbar, then choose tools such as Sketch, Draw, Shapes, Text or Signature. Save the result or use File > Export. Toolbar exposure and labels vary by macOS release, so look for the Markup button or customize the toolbar if it is not visible.
#1 Best Overall
- Wacom Intuos Small Graphics Drawing Tablet: Enjoy industry leading tablet performance in superior control and precision with Wacom's EMR, battery free technology that feels like pen on paper
- Works With All Software: Wacom Intuos tablet can be used in any software program to explore new facets of digital creativity; draw, paint, edit photos/videos, create designs, and mark up documents
- What the Professionals Use: Wacom's industry leading pen technology and pen to paper feeling makes it the preferred drawing tablet of professional graphic designers
- Software and Training Included: Only Wacom gives you software with every purchase. Register your Intuos tablet and gain access to some of the best creative software and Wacom's online training
- Wacom is the Global Leader in Drawing Tablet and Displays: For over 40 years in pen display and tablet market, you can trust that Wacom to help you bring your vision, ideas and creativity to life
Preview is excellent for arrows, boxes, highlights, text, signatures and obscuring information. It is not a full Paint replacement: it does not provide a normal multi-layer illustration workflow, a large brush library or convenient independent objects on a blank canvas.
Paintbrush: closest to classic Paint
Paintbrush is designed as a simple Mac image editor for quick image creation, cropping, text, doodling and basic edits. It supports BMP, PNG, JPEG, TIFF and GIF, and can paste images from common Mac applications. Its official project page is paintbrush.sourceforge.io.
The project page does not establish a current price or licensing status in the information available here, so check the download and license details before installing. It is the least intimidating choice when layers and advanced panels would only slow you down.
Pinta: the free-featured middle ground
Pinta describes itself as a basic graphics editor similar to MS Paint and Paintbrush, but adds layers, a complete history, effects, a customizable workspace and plug-in capability. It is a better fit than Paintbrush when you need to build up an image in stages or apply adjustments.
Download the appropriate package from Pinta’s releases page. Separate Intel and ARM64 macOS downloads are provided. The official installation guide says to open the downloaded file and drag Pinta to Applications: Pinta installation guide. Feature documentation is at the Pinta user guide.
Rank #2
- Large Active Drawing Space: UGEE M708 V3 graphic drawing tablet features 10 x 6 inch large active drawing space with papery texture surface, provides enormous and smooth drawing for your digital artwork creation, offers no-lag sketch and painting experience
- 16384 Passive Stylus Technology: A more affordable passive stylus technology offers 16384 levels of pressure sensitivity allows you to draw accurate lines of any weight and opacity according to the pressure you apply to the pen, sharper line with light pressure and thick line with hard pressure for artistry design or unique brush effect for photo retouching
- Compatible with Multiple System and Softwares: Powerful compatibility, tablet for drawing computer, perform well with Windows 11/10/8/7, Mac OS X 10.10 or later, Android 10.0 or later, mac OS 10.12 or later, Chrome OS 88 or later and Linux; Driver program works with creative software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Macromedia Flash, Comic Studio, SAI, Infinite Stratos, 3D MAX, Autodesk MAYA, Pixologic ZBrush and more
- Ergonomically Designed Shortcuts: 8 customizable express keys on the side for short cuts like eraser, zoom in and out, scrolling and undo, provide a lot more for convenience and helps to improve the productivity and efficiency when creating with the drawing tablet
- Easy Connectivity for Beginners: The UGEE M708 V3 offers USB to USB-C connectivity, plus adapters for USB C, ensuring easy connection to various devices and allowing beginner artists to set up quickly and focus on their creativity without compatibility concerns; Whether using a laptop, desktop, chromebook, or tablet, the UGEE M708 V3 provides a seamless experience for those just starting their digital art journey
Pinta’s extra capability is also its trade-off: it feels closer to Paint.NET than to the absolute simplicity of classic Paint.
Krita: best for serious digital painting
Krita is for illustration, comics, concept art, storyboards and animation rather than one-off screenshot edits. Its tools include customizable brush engines, stabilizers, assistants, layers, masks, clone layers, animation and canvas-only mode.
Recommended Free Tools
The official download page identifies stable release 5.3.2.1, published June 1, 2026: krita.io/download.html. Confirm your Mac architecture and macOS compatibility there. The Mac App Store listing is separate and displayed $12.99 in the U.S. store when checked; older official material listed $14.99, so treat App Store pricing as date- and region-sensitive: Krita on the Mac App Store.
Krita is often overwhelming for someone who only wants a pencil, eraser and text tool. Choose it when pressure-sensitive painting or a serious art workflow matters.
Pixelmator Pro: best polished paid upgrade
Pixelmator Pro goes far beyond Paint with photo editing, layer-based design, vector tools, painting, templates, RAW processing, PSD compatibility and machine-learning features. Its listing also advertises formats including SVG, PDF, WebP, AVIF and GIF: Pixelmator Pro on the Mac App Store.
Rank #3
- Word-first 16K Pressure Levels: The upgraded stylus features 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity and supports up to 60 degrees of tilt, delivering smoother lines and shading for a natural drawing experience. With no battery or charging needed, it operates like a real pen, making it easy for beginners to create effortlessly. This functionality helps novice artists develop their skills and explore their creativity without the intimidation of complex tools
- Designed for Beginners: This drawing pad desinged with 8 customizable shortcuts for both right and left-hand users, express keys create a highly ergonomic and convenient work platform
- Perfectly Adapted for Android: The XPPen Deco 01 V3 art tablet supports connections with Android devices running version 10.0 and above. It is recommended to download the XPPen Tools Android application, which adapts to your smartphone's screen aspect ratio, ensuring accurate mapping. It also supports mapping on Android screens with different aspect ratios in portrait mode
- Large Drawing Space, Bigger Bold Inspiration: This expansive drawing pad has10 x 6.25-inch helps you break through the limit between shortcut keys and drawing area
- Easy Connectivity for Beginners: The Deco 01 V3 offers USB-C to USB-C connectivity, plus adapters for USB C. This ensures easy connection to various devices, allowing beginner artists to set up quickly and focus on their creativity without compatibility concerns. Whether using a laptop, tablet, or desktop, the Deco 01 V3 provides a seamless experience, making it an ideal choice for those just starting their digital art journey
Apple’s product page listed U.S. pricing observed August 16–18, 2026: $49.99 for a one-time Mac purchase; Apple Creator Studio at $12.99 per month or $129 per year for new subscribers; and eligible student or educator pricing of $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year. Apple Creator Studio includes a 30-day trial. Verify current regional pricing and eligibility at apple.com/pixelmator-pro.
Apple’s release notes identify Pixelmator Pro 4.3 as released June 30, 2026, requiring macOS 26 or later and Apple silicon: current release requirements. An older Apple support page lists macOS 12 Monterey or later, which may describe a legacy version rather than 4.3: older compatibility information. Do not choose Pixelmator Pro solely to draw a line; its value is replacing several kinds of creative software in one app.
Patina: investigate if you want a commercial Paint clone
Patina is explicitly marketed as a Microsoft Paint replacement for Mac. Before buying, verify its current price, trial policy, supported macOS versions, Intel and Apple-silicon support, and selection, layer and transparency behavior at patinaapp.com.
Paintbrush versus Pinta
| Criterion | Paintbrush | Pinta |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Small and deliberately simple | Broader editor with panels and workspace controls |
| Best use | Quick drawing, cropping, text and clipboard work | Multi-step image editing and compositing |
| Layers and history | Not emphasized by the project description | Explicit layers and full history |
| Mac downloads | Use the official project site | Separate Intel and ARM64 packages |
| Trade-off | May feel limited for complex compositions | Less immediate for a one-minute annotation |
Choosing by the job
Drawing on a screenshot
Start with Preview. It avoids installation and is suitable for arrows, boxes, labels, highlights and signatures. Keep a copy of the original if the annotation needs to be reversible.
Creating a blank image and pasting pieces
Use Paintbrush or Pinta rather than Preview. Test the exact workflow: create a canvas, paste an image, make a rectangular selection, drag it, undo, export to PNG and reopen the file. Simple editors differ in whether a moved selection remains an independent object, leaves transparency, or requires manual cleanup.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #4
- Working Area Configuration - HUION art tablet equips with a 10 x 6.25 inches working area, providing the user with the most comfortable size to work; the 10mm slim structure and minimalist design of appearance make the drawing tablet more attractive.
- Tilt Function Battery-free Stylus: This computer graphics tablet come with a battery-free stylus PW100, no need to charge, allowing for constant uninterrupted drawing. ±60° tilt support enables imitation of lines input with diverse drawing gestures, with accuracy ensured.
- Press Keys:12 programmable press keys plus 16 programmable soft keys, you can set shortcut keys on drawing tablet's driver based on your preferences, such as erase, zoom in/out, scroll up and down, and so on.
- Compatibility: HUION graphics tablet supports Windows 7 or later/ macOS 10.12 or later/ Android 6.0 or later/ Linux (Ubuntu). A USB adapter is required to connect to a Mac computer. H1060P supports various mainstream design and drawing software, including PS, SAI, AI, CDR, etc. (Please note: The H1060P is compatible with Ubuntu, but it requires the use of the Xorg display server. Wayland is not supported.)
- NOTE: You can easily connect your phone to the art tablet via the OTG connector; while iPhone and iPad are NOT at the moment. The cursor will not show up in the SAMSUNG Galaxy S series at present. If you are not sure whether the product is compatible with your Phone or any help, please contact us.
Moving one part of an image
A selection tool is not enough to guarantee Paint-like behavior. Check whether the original area becomes transparent, remains filled, or needs repair after the move. Exporting and reopening as PNG is a useful confirmation, especially when transparency matters.
Transparent backgrounds
PNG and GIF support alone does not guarantee that every operation preserves transparency. Paintbrush states that transparency is supported in formats with an alpha channel, currently PNG and GIF, on its official page. Flattening, filling or exporting through another format can remove that alpha channel.
Pixel art
For occasional pixel edits, Paintbrush or Pinta may be sufficient. For a sustained pixel-art or illustration workflow, Krita’s brush and layer controls provide more room to grow, but require more setup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Install safely on macOS
- Use the developer’s official website or the Mac App Store, not a random DMG mirror.
- Check whether your Mac is Intel or Apple silicon and download the matching build when one is offered.
- Confirm the app’s stated macOS requirement before downloading, especially on an older Mac.
- Open the archive or installer and move a standard app bundle to Applications when instructed.
- If macOS says the developer cannot be verified, redownload from the official source and verify the developer. Do not disable system security globally.
Gatekeeper warnings can result from an unofficial mirror, an incomplete download, an older unnotarized app or compatibility problems. Treat the warning as a reason to verify the source, not as an invitation to bypass security blindly.
What about GIMP, Affinity Photo and web apps?
GIMP is powerful and generally more complex than Paintbrush or Pinta. Affinity Photo and Acorn can be strong image editors, but current prices and system requirements are not established here, so check their official product pages before choosing them. Browser-based tools avoid installation but may require accounts, upload images to a service, limit offline work or complicate exports. Avoid uploading confidential screenshots unless you understand the service’s privacy terms.
Best Value
- Customize Your Workflow: The 6 customizable press keys on Huion H640P drawing tablet for pc let you assign your most-used commands—like undo, zoom, brush switch, or save—so you can keep your hands on the tablet and your mind on the art. Whether you're a digital painter switching brushes, or a comic artist zooming in and out, these keys keep your workflow smooth and uninterrupted. Plus, the Huion driver lets you save different shortcut profiles for different apps, so you never have to reconfigure when switching software.
- Professional Pen Performance: Huion H640P drawing pad for computer comes with the battery-free PW100 stylus that's always ready when inspiration strikes. With 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, every light sketch, or bold stroke responds naturally to your hand—just like a real pen. The 5080 LPI resolution and 233 PPS report rate deliver lag-free, precise strokes, so you can draw confidently without second-guessing your cursor. The pen side buttons help you switch between pen and eraser instantly.
- Compact and Portable: Huion H640P computer graphics tablet features a compact, ultra-portable design at just 0.3 inches thin and 0.61 lbs light, so it slides easily into your backpack—perfect for sketching in coffee shops, taking notes in class, or editing on the go between home and studio. The 6x4 inch active area offers enough room for natural pen movements while fitting comfortably on crowded desks, or lecture hall seats.
- Stable Compatibility: Huion H640P graphic drawing tablet works seamlessly with Mac, Windows, Linux PCs, and Android smartphones/tablets (OS version 6.0 or later). Left-handed friendly, and you just need to flip the tablet and adjust the settings in the driver. Please note: H640P does NOT support iPhone/iPad.
- Move Beyond the Mouse: Huion Inspiroy H640P is a pen tablet that replaces your mouse for more natural, precise control. Freehand draw, take notes, or even play OSU—everything you do with a mouse, you can do better with a pen. The precise tip makes it ideal for detailed photo editing, graphic design, or signing PDF. Meanwhile, the ergonomic pen grip helps you avoid the strain that comes from hours of using a mouse.
Which Paint for Mac alternative should you choose?
- Choose Preview for arrows, text, signatures and simple marks on an existing image.
- Choose Paintbrush for the smallest, most Paint-like blank-canvas experience.
- Choose Pinta when you need layers, effects and a fuller free/open-source-style editor.
- Choose Krita for pressure-sensitive digital painting, comics, animation or concept art.
- Choose Pixelmator Pro when you want one polished Mac application for photos, design, vector work and painting.
- Investigate Patina only after confirming its current purchase and compatibility details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download Microsoft Paint on a Mac?
Not as a native macOS app. The official Paint application is Windows software; use a Mac alternative or run Windows separately.
Is Paintbrush free?
The official project page does not establish a current price in the available information. Check its download and licensing details before installing.
Is Pinta available for Apple silicon?
Yes. Pinta’s releases page provides separate ARM64 and Intel macOS downloads.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallIs Krita good for beginners?
It is suitable for beginners who want to learn digital painting, but usually excessive for a quick screenshot annotation.
Which apps work offline?
Preview and installed desktop apps such as Paintbrush, Pinta, Krita and Pixelmator Pro are designed for local editing. Browser tools may require an account or connection.
Can I run the actual Windows Paint on a Mac?
Yes, only by providing Windows through virtualization, remote access or another Windows environment; that is not a Mac installation of Paint.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
