Have you ever wondered if Paint for Mac exists or not? Are you an ex- Windows user who recently shifted to Mac but misses Paint? If yes, this post is specially written to catch your interest and help you. You will find answers to all your questions along with some Paint alternatives for Mac in this post.
- Best Free Paint Program For Mac Windows 10
- Best Free Paint Program For Mac Os
- Best Paint App For Macbook
- Paint Download For Mac
Here, I will explain to you about if Paint on Mac exists or not, and what are the best Paint alternatives that you can use on Mac to channel your inner artist. Paint is a popular drawing app that has been the favorite tool for Windows users for decades. Finding Paint on Mac would be nothing less than a bliss.
The only problem with the free version of Mischief, is that it puts a watermark over your image, saying “Created by Paint X“. Otherwise, the app is a perfectly good option to be used as a Microsoft Paint alternative on Mac. Download (Free, Paid $9.99 ) 4. Another MS Paint alternative for Mac is Paint 2. The best Mac alternative is Krita, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Microsoft Paint and many of them are available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Read reviews, compare customer ratings, see screenshots, and learn more about Paint S. Download Paint S for macOS 10.7 or later and enjoy it on your Mac. Paint S is an easy-to-use drawing tool and image editor which can help you to draw something or edit your existing photos.
Contents
- 2 8 Best Tools That Work Like Paint for Mac
Is Microsoft Paint for Mac Available?
The straight and short answer to this frequently asked question is NO. But, there are other options available that can help you to have a paint-esque experience on Mac. Microsoft Paint is a simple but fun drawing tool that has fans all over the world. When I was a kid, the first thing that I was intrigued to on my Windows PC was the Paint software. The same is the case with millions across the globe. Paint might not be an advanced tool but is a must-have utility for computers.
That’s why a lot of people search ‘Paint for Mac’ to use their favorite tool on their Mac computers. Earlier, Apple included a Paint-like application known as MacPaint on the original Macintosh, but the idea was scrapped with the newer releases. As Microsoft Paint is officially not available on Mac, so you have to look for other options for your drawing needs on the Mac.
8 Best Tools That Work Like Paint for Mac
As Paint is not available for Mac, you’ll need to find other apps that can help you to draw, sketch, and edit. So, here I’m listing the 8 Best Tools that work exactly like Paint. You may need to use different tools for different needs, but that’s what you can do if you want Paint for Mac.
1. Mac Preview App
Preview is the default built-in app on Mac to view Images and PDF files. But, the Preview also has the ability to be the Paint for Mac. It has a set of tools that can help you to view, edit, draw, and annotate images. You just have to drag the image you want to annotate on the Preview icon in the Dock. Or, right-click on the image, click on Open with and then select Preview.
The most used tools of the Preview app are zoom, rotate, and crop. But, it also offers some advanced tools that you can access by clicking on the Toolbox icon present on the left side of the search bar. This will open the Markup Toolbar that can help you annotate and edit pictures.
2. Paint 2
Paint 2 is the next name on our list. It has a very similar user interface to Microsoft Paint. Hence, it is able to provide you the nearest experience to the original Paint software. It has all the features including the spray can-like airbrush that are the highlights of Paint. Additionally, it has some advanced features like layers that can help you create unique designs. You can move the layers up and down, or use multiple layers to manipulate your creations.
One notable feature is the magic selectiontool which is really useful. This app is available for free but also has a paid version that comes with added advantages. If you are a graphic professional, you can go for the paid version. For casual users, the free version is enough.
3. Paintbrush
Paintbrush is another free painting app for Mac that you can use. It provides a user experience that is very similar to Paint. If you want to draw or edit on a white canvas, this tool is able to fulfill your needs. This app also has a spray-can airbrush that is the favorite of the Paint users. It is a simple tool that you can use to create basic images with light tools. You can export your creations in various formats including JPEG, PNG, etc.
However, if you are a power user who wants to create high-quality art, then you might become an instant fan of this app.
4. Paint X Lite
Paint X Lite is the next Paint alternative for Mac that has a free and a paid version. The free version is known as Paint X Lite and it offers all the basic features that Paint provided. Additionally, it offers some extra features that you’ll find really useful. Some common Paint-esque tools of this app are pencil, color picker, fill bucket, and text box. You can use it to create beautiful pieces of art.
The only limitation with the free version is that it puts a watermark on your image which says Created by Paint X. Apart from that, the app is great and simple to use.
5. GIMP
GIMP is an open-source app for Mac users that is available for free. It is a powerful app that has the ability to be an alternative to Paint as well as Photoshop. It has all the features that a graphic artist will ever need. The limits to create wonderful art on GIMP is how creative you could be. You’ll never be short of tools here. It even has beautiful filters, effects, and correction tools to customize your creations. You can also use layers to create animated GIFs.

The interface of the app is self-explanatory. But, the beginners may need some time before understanding it fully. It is like an evolved version of Paint for Mac.
6. Acorn
Acorn is one more very simple painting app for Mac. It has all the features that a Paint-fan finds on Mac drawing apps. But, it also offers some additional functions that may come really handy in certain situations. The user interface of the app is very similar to Paint and anyone can realize that at the first glance itself. It also supports layers so you can use them to edit your creations.
This app offers a 15-days free trial that you can use to try it out fully. And, if you find it worthy, you can purchase it for a price of $29.99.
7. Pixelmator
Pixelmator is one more tool that has the ability to be the Paint for Mac. It has a number of advanced features that make it even better than Paint. But, you can still find your favorite basic painting tools as well. The user interface is very simple and anyone can understand it very well. One useful feature of this app is the slice tool that lets you slice images and export them separately.
Pixelmator doesn’t have a free version, and this might be the only considerable limitation with it. You have to pay a one-time fee of $29.99 to purchase it.
8. Mischief
Mischief is the ultimate name on our list. It is an amazing drawing app for Mac that comes with all the basic set of tools that you’ll need. You can use it to create beautiful pieces of art. The user interface is very similar to MS Paint and you can easily use it without any trouble. This app is also available in a free and a paid version. The paid version costs $25 but the good thing is you’ll get a 15-days free trial before deciding to pay.

All in all, this app is a complete package if you need a Paint-like app on your Mac computer.
Final Thoughts
As Paint for Mac does not exist, these Paint alternatives can help you to create awesome digital arts. If you know more about such tools, let me know in the comments below. So, I can update the readers about them. Also, if you need any help with anything written in this post, you can convey the issue to me using the comment box.
Getting your art out there has never been easier than it is today. Just a few decades ago, people needed sophisticated tools and other expensive methods to show others their creative talent. Digital platforms have revolutionized this landscape and a lot of artists are getting recognized every day. However, if you’re looking for drawing apps for Mac, you can find a ton of options and it can be a little overwhelming.
In this article, we are going to streamline that list so that you can choose the best drawing app for you. Let’s jump into it.
Contents
- 1 10 Best Drawing Apps for Mac
- 2 19 Free Drawing Software For Macbook 2021
10 Best Drawing Apps for Mac
We have compiled a list of 8 best drawing apps for Mac that you can get today. The list is ranked based on which app we think is the best, but you can choose whichever app suits your art style.
1. Adobe Photoshop
What can I say about Adobe Photoshop that hasn’t been said already? Photoshop has been around for a long time and it gets new updates every year. It’s one of the most sophisticated drawing apps for Mac and will be a lot of help for a creator. You can create your own image and also edit other images to your liking. This software has a lot of love and support all over the world and it’s easy to understand why. There are a lot of videos online that’s going to help you learn Photoshop and there’s a large online community who’d be happy to help you. The newest version, Photoshop 2020, has an AI called Adobe Sensei that will help you get better selections.
Photoshop is great, but it is expensive. You will have to pay a subscription fee of $20.99/month if billed annually and you can do so here. So if you’re new to the creator scene, then I’d recommend checking out other entries.
2. Autodesk Sketchbook
If you want a professional drawing app with a lot of bells and whistles and if you want it for free, then Autodesk Sketchbook is for you. This app is so versatile and feature-rich that it will appeal to a lot of people. It has a minimalistic design and is preferred by a lot of content creators. There are over 140 brushes and you can even import brushes created by other artists. You can also get custom perspective guides among other things.
You can check out more features and download the app by clicking on this link.

3. Corel Painter
Corel Painter is an app that’s designed by creators for creators. It has a wide variety of tools you can use to propel your art to the next level. With over 900 brushes, this app is loved by many artists. Corel Painter also supports GPU acceleration so that you can get your work done much faster. Their website has hundreds of videos that will help you perform better.
Corel Painter costs $339.99 and there’s no subscription. You can download the app here.
4. Rebelle 3
If you are into realistic painting, then you will find Rebelle 3 appealing. It’s a unique app that uses realistic watercolor, acrylic paint simulations. The resulting image will look like it was made on paper with real colors and if this suits your art style, then you should definitely go for it. It makes the colors seem extremely realistic and you can even get simulated watercolor drops. This app was supposed to be an experimental software designed by Peter Blaškovič and it is popular among watercolor painters and CG artists.
You can check out Rebelle 3 and its features on its website. You can get Rebelle 3 for $89.99.
5. FireAlpaca
If you are new to digital drawing or if you have older Macs, then FireAlpaca should be a nice fit for you. It doesn’t have as many features as the earlier entries on the list, but that’s why it’s recommended to beginners. You won’t find the options overwhelming and you can worry about getting a more powerful Mac later on. It’s a small app that’s simple, easy and free to use.
You can check out the feature list of FireAlpaca on their website.
Best Free Paint Program For Mac Windows 10
6. Preview
Preview comes pre-installed on a Mac and it can do much more than sign PDFs. If you want a simple drawing app for random doodles, the Preview should be good enough. You can open up any image on Preview and click on the Markup icon (pictured above) to access a lot more menus. It can help you doodle, make notes and even select shapes with the lasso tool. Since this is an in-built app, you don’t have to download anything.
7. Clip Studio Paint
If your dream is to become the best mangaka on Za Warudo!(means “the world” for all of my readers who are not JoJo fans), then you deserve a great manga illustrator. Clip Studio Paint is highly recommended if you draw a lot of manga panels. You can decide panel layouts and customize the tools for your art style pretty quickly. This drawing app for Mac also works great if you want to draw comics.
Clip Studio Paint is available for the free trial and you can get the standard version for $49.99. You can get the full-featured version for $219.99.
8. MediBang Paint
MediBang Paint, just like Clip Studio Paint is aimed at anime and comic-book artists. It has over 50 brushes and a large number of backgrounds that you can choose from. They have tons of tutorials for you on their website and you can snap grids and arrange the panels easily. This app is also available on iPhones and iPads. Medibang Paint is available for free and you can download it here.
9. Inkscape
Inkscape is an app that will appeal to a wide variety of creative people. It can help you create anything from sketches to website designs. It’s a versatile app that’s open-source and free to use. Inkscape also has a very helpful community that will help you use the app.
You can download Inkscape for free by clicking on this link.
10. Patina
Patina is another simple app that lets you create sketches to your heart’s content and simply moves everything else out of the way. It has a simple layout and it’s extremely simple to use. you can use it to make a lot of sketches and doodles on other images too. Patina has a lot of essential features but misses out on stuff like multiple layers. This app is, however, perfect for beginner artists.
Best Free Paint Program For Mac Os
Patina is a free app available on the App Store and you can download here.
19 Free Drawing Software For Macbook 2021
Here is the total list of top Drawing tools and Apps for your Macbook.
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk Sketchbook
- Corel Painter
- Rebelle 3
- FireAlpaca
- Preview
- Clip Studio Paint
- MediBang Paint
- Inkscape
- Patina
- Adobe Illustrator
- Leonardo
- Affinity Designer
- Krita
- Tayasui Sketches
- Paintbrush
- Tayasui Sketches
- Sketch
- Sip
Best Paint App For Macbook
Final Take
Paint Download For Mac
These are some of the best drawing apps for Mac. I hope that this article was helpful to you. If you have any doubts or if we missed your favorite app, then please let us know in the comments section down below and we will get back to you as soon as we can.