Best Free Paint Program For Mac
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.
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.
Apr 13, 2021 What's new in Paint X. Version 6.0: Note: This app is similar to a donation-software, users can use it permanently without spending a penny, but they are prompted to activate or donate each time they start the app. Fully compatible with macOS Big Sur. Paint X is now a universal app for Intel and Apple M1 silicon. Paint for Mac Pro version is the realistic digital paint tool that is used to edit image, vector graphic design, free-form transformation, add filters, crop, alpha channel edit and more to paint on Mac. Paint for Mac Pro provides high quality image manipulation tools for original artwork creation on Mac. Free Download Get Full Version. 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 paint software comprises of several outstanding tools and unmatched user interface that allows easy creation of paintings. When you are looking for such painting software that would enable you to paint beautiful pictures from your device, you can type in Google computer paint software download, MS paint software, free download for XP, paint software online, paint software for kids.
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.
Essential drawing app for Mac
Macs have always been known as creative machines for creative people. It's likely the reason you actually bought one! So naturally Macs offer a wide variety of opportunities for you to express yourself, whether that’s building apps, writing prose, or drawing.
Having a good drawing app for Mac is priceless. Retina screens, accurate touchpads, and native support for a variety of inputs make sketching on Mac a pleasure. But with so many drawing programs to choose from, how do you pick the right one? Welcome to the no-sweat guide to the best free drawing software for Mac!
Best drawing, design, and editing apps
With Setapp, you don’t have to choose only one — get a large choice of the best drawing software to support your creativity flow.
The Best Drawing Programs On Mac Today
It's not easy to pinpoint the best drawing app for Mac. Is it one of the free drawing programs? Is it made for simple drawings or lets you paint on Mac beautifully? The level of skill has to be considered as well.
The collection of drawing apps below features something that appeals to everyone, from the Mac equivalent of Paint you can find on Windows to a simple drawing pad for Mac to the likes of Sketch software that can be used by professional designers too.
Communicate with the markup feature in Preview
If you just want to do a rough sketch for Mac or a few simple drawings, you don't necessarily need to go about downloading lots of drawing apps, you can just use a drawing app for Mac you've already got — Preview.
Gimp
While most of us think of Preview as an image or PDF viewer, it's also packs a basic toolset for annotating, drawing, and sketching. To see what you can do with Preview:
Best Free Paint Program For Mac Computers
- Open an image, document, or just a white sheet in Preview
- Click Show Markup Toolbar in its top menu
- From here you can choose tools, shapes, colors, thickness, type, and more to make necessary adjustments or create something completely new
- Save and share your image
Get nostalgic with Paintbrush
Lots of us remember the simplicity and versatility of Microsoft Paint. Macs used to have a similar app too called MacPaint (that’s been discontinued). Well, good news is some enthusiastic developers took the matter into their own hands and essentially recreated a Paint app for Mac — Paintbrush.
This Mac equivalent of Paint will strike you as a complete duplicate of that old software you used to love. It features all the same tools, including rectangular and oval shapes, paint bucket, pencil, spray, lines, etc. You can also easily switch and add colors to your palette as you go.
Make professional mockups with Sketch
If you’ve already outgrown simple drawings you can do with Preview and Paintbrush, and want to move higher — try Sketch.
Sketch took the world by storm just a few years ago, when they essentially introduced a viable alternative to complex apps like Adobe Illustrator and targeted it specifically to digital design professionals.
Everything you do in the Sketch program is done in vector, which means all shapes are infinitely resizable, in contrast to the raster graphics of Paintbrush. With Sketch for Mac, you can design high-fidelity mockups for your website, prototype your iOS app, or just create complex illustrations.
You can download and try the Sketch software for free, but after a month, you'll be required to pay the annual license fee, which is a big downside if you don’t plan to use the app regularly. In addition, Sketch for Mac is not the most accessible app for beginners and it’s not exactly a drawing app for Mac due to its vector nature.
Create digital art with MediBang Paint Pro
Perhaps an equivalent of Sketch, but in raster graphics, is MediBang Paint Pro. This drawing software for Mac allows you to execute your dreams beautifully with over 50 custom brushes as well as its extensive support for layers and fonts.
Originally developed for comic creators, MediBang Paint Pro got quickly adopted by everyone looking for a versatile drawing pad for Mac and is hailed by many as the best free drawing software around. However, since it was built for the purpose of creating comics, you might face a few problems adapting it to your needs — it’s definitely one quirky drawing app for Mac. Another issue is the app’s slow update release cycle. So far, it’s been unavailable to macOS Catalina and macOS Big Sur users due to the lack of security updates from the developers. This means you can only use MediBang Paint Pro on macOS 10.13 or older.
Set your imagination free with Tayasui Sketches
Talking about the best drawing programs, it’s simply impossible to avoid Tayasui Sketches. This intuitive sketch program is universally loved by painters, designers, illustrators, and art aficionados alike.
Ultimate drawing app for Mac
Draw on your Mac’s screen like on canvas with Tayasui Sketches. Mix colors and experiment with limitless layers!
Tayasui Sketches makes it easy to bring what you have in mind to reality with its support for unlimited layers, infinite undos, smart rules, and a wide variety of drawing tools. If you want to paint on Mac, nothing else comes close to representing the physical experience of applying colors to paper than this drawing software for Mac.
To start your drawing pad for Mac with Tayasui Sketches:
- Open a new document
- Try out all the different tools from the sidebar, from a fine pen to an airbrush
- Use supporting menus to modify your currently selected tool and mix just the right color
With just a bit of practice, you’ll see why Tayasui Sketches beats all the free drawing programs out there. Time for your digital painting skills to skyrocket!
Paint Download For Mac
Save all the cool colors with Sip
Regardless of the drawing software for Mac you choose to use in the end, one of the most difficult things to do is going to be finding the right colors out there. Sometimes, you might come across a beautiful color you might use in the future, but where do you save it? Sip.
Sip is the most intuitive, handy, and non-intrusive palette organizer available for Mac. This little utility lives in your Mac’s menu bar, where it saves all the colors you like and simultaneously features a tiny color picker on the side of your screen, which makes Sip instantly available in any sketch program for Mac, like Tayasui Sketches, for example.
By now, you should be well-equipped to start on your Mac drawing journey, using the selection of the drawing software for Mac listed above, whether it’s a simple annotation or a large-scale digital painting.
Best of all, you can try Tayasui Sketches and Sip for free by signing up for a free seven-day trial on Setapp, a platform for more than 200 unique creative Mac apps that literally help you bring your dreams to reality. Why wait, check it out now!