Free ways to draw on your screen on a Mac
You don't need to pay to circle, underline and sketch over your Mac's screen. Here's every genuinely free option, what each one is good at, and which "free" apps are really trials.
JellyDraw is the best free option for drawing while you present, teach or record. The free version never expires, and its drawings stay attached to the window you drew them on.
- Need to zoom in? ZoomIt for Mac is free and open source.
- Also on Windows or Linux? DrawPen is free and open source on all three.
- Just marking up a screenshot? macOS Markup is built in.
Free apps with no time limit
1. JellyDraw: best for presenting, teaching and recording
Press ⌃⌥⌘Space from any app, draw, and press Esc to get back to work. Your drawings attach to the window under them: drag the window and they move with it, switch apps and each app keeps its own notes.
- Free includes
- Pen, highlighter, eraser, select and move, undo and redo, whiteboard and blackboard, every display, and window anchoring. No watermark, no trial
- Pro adds
- Rectangles, ovals, lines, text, PNG/SVG export and accent colors, for $9.99 once
- Install
- Download, drag to Applications. Asks only for Accessibility access
- Missing
- Zoom, cursor spotlight and auto-fading ink. Doesn't run on Intel Macs or before macOS Tahoe 26.2
2. ZoomIt for Mac: best free zoom tool
The Windows presenter classic, now on the Mac. It's built around zooming into part of the screen, with drawing, typing, screenshots, OCR, screen recording and a break timer on top.
- Install
- Homebrew, from Terminal (instructions). Needs Screen Recording permission
- Good for
- Technical demos where zoom matters more than drawing
- vs JellyDraw
- Does far more besides drawing, but its drawings don't follow windows. Full comparison
3. DrawPen: free on Mac, Windows and Linux
DrawPen is a simple transparent overlay with a brush, fading pen, shapes, text, highlighter, laser pointer, eraser and whiteboard. ⌘⇧A switches between drawing and using your apps.
- Good for
- People who want one free tool on every operating system
- vs JellyDraw
- Has shapes and text for free, but drawings stay fixed to the screen and it isn't built just for the Mac
Free options already on your Mac or in your meeting app
macOS Markup (for screenshots, not live drawing)
Press ⇧⌘4, select an area, then click the thumbnail that appears in the corner. Markup opens with a pen, shapes, text and a magnifier, and you can share the result straight away. It's great for a still image you'll send to someone. It can't draw over apps while you're using them.
Zoom, Google Meet and Teams annotation (during calls only)
If you're in a call, the meeting app may have its own annotation tools. Zoom's Annotate works while you share your screen, and viewers can draw too. Google Meet's needs an eligible Google Workspace plan. These only work inside that app's meeting. How to draw during Zoom, Meet and Teams calls.
The free options side by side
| Option | Free to keep using | Draws over live apps | Drawings stay on their window | Shapes & text | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JellyDraw | Yes, no time limit | Yes | Yes | Pro ($9.99 once) | macOS 26.2+, Apple Silicon |
| ZoomIt for Mac | Yes, open source | Yes | Not described | Yes | macOS 14+ |
| DrawPen | Yes, open source | Yes | Not described | Yes | Apple Silicon Macs, Windows, Linux |
| macOS Markup | Built in | No, screenshots only | No | Yes | Every Mac |
| Meeting app tools | Depends on plan | Only while sharing | Not described | Yes | Inside Zoom, Meet or Teams |
From each app's own website or help pages on October 23, 2026. "Not described" means its documentation doesn't mention it. Something out of date? Email support@jellydraw.app and we'll fix it.
"Free" apps that are really trials
These are good apps, but you'll pay to keep using them:
Which free option should you use?
Questions
What's the best free app to draw on a Mac's screen?
For drawing while you present, JellyDraw: its free version has no time limit and includes the pen, highlighter, eraser, whiteboard and drawings that follow their window. For zooming in with a little drawing, ZoomIt for Mac. For a free app that also runs on Windows and Linux, DrawPen.
Can I draw on my Mac's screen without installing anything?
Not live. macOS Markup lets you draw on a screenshot, PDF or image after you capture it. To draw over your apps while you present, you need an app, or your meeting app's own tools during a call.
Is JellyDraw really free?
Yes. The free version never expires and has no watermark. It includes the pen, highlighter, eraser, select and move, undo and redo, whiteboard and blackboard, every display, and window anchoring. Pro is optional: $9.99 once for shapes, text, export and accent colors.
Are Presentify, Overlaid and Scribbble free?
They're free to try, not free to keep. Scribbble is free to download and try with a $12 one-time license, Overlaid is $4.99 after a 7-day trial, and Presentify is $14.99 on the Mac App Store or through a Setapp subscription with a 7-day trial.
Do free screen drawing apps work in Zoom, Meet and Teams?
Yes, when you share your entire screen rather than a single window or tab. Step-by-step guide.
Which free app works on an Intel Mac?
ZoomIt for Mac supports Intel and Apple Silicon on macOS 14 or later. JellyDraw needs Apple Silicon, and DrawPen's download is for Apple Silicon.
Start drawing for free
JellyDraw's free version never expires and includes window anchoring. Upgrade to Pro once for $9.99 only if you want shapes, text and export.
macOS 26.2 or later · Apple Silicon