Mac computers are known for their unmatched speed and reliability, especially when it comes to tasks like graphic design, animation, and of course, drawing. They’re a favorite among creatives for their smooth performance and ability to keep up with demanding projects.
But having the right drawing software is just as important! If you’re into digital art, graphic design, or illustration, thankfully, there are various drawing applications for Mac. These apps are equipped with helpful features, user-friendly interfaces, and excellent compatibility to suit every need.
In this article
Part 1. 10 Best Drawing Apps for Mac [Free & Paid]
When it comes to creating digital art on a Mac, you’re not limited to well-known apps like Photoshop. There are many other drawing programs for Mac designed that suit various needs and skill levels. If you’re beginners who think Photoshop is too intricate and expensive, these apps can be a good alternative to start drawing on Mac.
If you need some recommendations, here are some of the best drawing software for Mac:
1. Preview
You can use Preview when you only need basic edits or annotations to your images without downloading additional software. This free built-in app allows you to draw simple shapes, add text, highlight areas, and make quick adjustments like cropping or resizing.
Price: Free
System Requirements: macOS 10.9 or later
Main Features:
- Simple markup tools for adding shapes, text, and highlights
- Basic image editing, including cropping, resizing, and rotating
- Supports batch conversion of images
Best for: Creating annotation, brainstorming ideas
2. Sketch
Sketch is a professional-grade design app tailored for Mac users. Loved by UI/UX designers and creative professionals, Sketch is well-known for its sleek interface, powerful vector editing tools, and seamless collaboration features.
Price: Free with in-app purchase
System Requirements: macOS 13.0.0 or later.
Main Features:
- Create custom vector paths with the Pen tool
- Align vector points to full, half, or quarter pixels; alternatively, disable snapping entirely
- Perform non-destructive boolean operations like Union, Subtract, Intersect, and Difference to combine shapes
- Support for variable fonts, including various supported options
Best for: UI/UX design or vector art
3. Paintbrush
Paintbrush serves as a basic free drawing software for Mac users. It aims to offer a user-friendly alternative for those seeking simple image editing tools as it provides the essentials for quick and easy image editing tasks.
Price: Free
System Requirements: macOS X 10.10 (Yosemite) or higher
Main Features:
- Includes a couple of brushes such as markers, standard brushes, and airbrush for different painting effects.
- Various shape tools for creating geometric designs.
- Features a color wheel to select and adjust colors precisely.
- Text Tool to add text to images to label or decorate your creations.
Best for: Doodling and quick sketch
4. Patina
Patina is a highly regarded Microsoft Paint replacement for macOS. You can use it to sketch a quick idea, draw detailed diagrams, illustrate concepts, or paint. Its clean and attractive interface aligns well with the aesthetic expectations of Mac users.
Price: $2.99
System Requirements: macOS X 10.8 or later
Main Features:
- Streamlined interface for quick drawing
- Basic tools like lines, shapes, text, and color options
- Ability to rotate objects
- Supports transparent backgrounds
Best for: Quick doodle for kids and beginners
5. ArtBoard
Artboard is a vector drawing application designed to create sharp vector graphics, scalable logos, and detailed illustrations. It offers templates for businesses, hobbyists, and designers to easily start projects like business cards, posters, and social media graphics.
Price: $39.99
System Requirements: macOS X 10.10 or later
Main Features:
- Tabbed layout that keeps essential tools easily accessible
- Styles Tab to create "stacked" styles with options like arrowed strokes, pattern brushes, gradients, and more
- Comes with over 1,900 fully customizable, royalty-free clip art and graphic styles
Best for: Beginners and professionals who want to draw vector art designs
6. FireAlpaca
FireAlpaca is one of the best free drawing software for Mac that is pretty lightweight for digital painting. Despite being free, FireAplaca provides various features that are often found on paid software.
Price: Free
System Requirements: macOS X 10.7 or later
Main Features:
- Supports 3D perspective view to draw objects and environments with proper depth and proportions
- Offers five different brush textures to help you add a traditional feel to digital artwork
- Automatically adjusts drawn lines with customizable presets
- Brushes can be fully customized in terms of width, strength, size, and other attributes
Best for: Beginners and professionals who want to create digital illustrations and paintings using accessible and customizable tools.
7. Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is a vector drawing app for Macbook that is also available on Windows and iPadOS. It's part of the Affinity suite, which offers a comprehensive set of tools for both vector and raster designs.
Price: $49.99
System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or later
Main Features:
- Advanced typography options, including support for OpenType features, ligatures, stylistic alternates, and comprehensive text styles management
- Precise vector editing with features like Pen Tool, Node Tool, and snapping options
- Supports pan and zoom at the framerate of 60fps.
Best for: Creative professionals who want to design industry-standard vector designs with pixel-perfect precision
8. Tayasui Sketches
Tayasui Sketches is a digital drawing and painting application designed to provide artists with a realistic and intuitive sketching experience. Available on iOS, macOS, and Android, it offers a range of tools and features that cater to both beginners and professional artists.
Price: Free with in-app purchases starting at $2.99/month or $7.99 for Pro version
System Requirements: macOS 12.0 or later
Main Features:
- Provides over 20 tools like pencils, pens, watercolor brushes, acrylic brushes, and more
- Features an incredibly realistic watercolor brush that allows colors to flow and blend naturally
- An extended brush editor enables real-time preview and modification of brushes
- includes features like color mix and gradient tools
Best for: Sketching and digital drawing
9. SketchBook
Another top pick on our list of the best drawing apps for Mac is Sketchbook. This software is for anyone who loves to draw, from beginners to professional artists. With customizable brushes, you can let your creativity flow while still having the precision you need for detailed work.
Price: $24.99
System Requirements: macOS 12.0 or later
Main Features:
- Choose from many brush types, including pencils, markers, smears, and more
- Customizable brushes to achieve the exact style you want
- Precision Tools to help you achieve perfect lines and proportions
- Work with multiple layers and access a full range of blend modes
Best for: Beginners and professionals who are looking for a drawing app with simple UI
10. Krita
Krita is a free and open-source drawing and painting software designed for artists of all kinds. The software is packed with professional-grade tools that are essential for creating digital arts. Krita is a great starter if you are looking for the best free drawing programs for Mac.
Price: Free
System Requirements: macOS 10.14 or later
Main Features:
- A wide variety of brush types designed for different art styles
- Advanced layering tools and drawing assistants for enhanced precision
- Animation tools for creating frame-by-frame 2D animations
- Built-in vector tools, perfect for designing comic panels and scalable graphics
- A Resource Manager for importing brushes and texture packs from other artists
Best for: Creative professionals looking to create vector art and paint detailed sketches.
Part 2. How to Draw in Preview on Mac for Free
Next, we will give you a quick demonstration on how to draw for Mac using the built-in Preview app. This free tool includes a variety of markup features that let you annotate and draw shapes directly on images. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to get started:
Step 1: Open the Markup Toolbar
Right-click the image you want to edit and select Open With > Preview (default). In the Preview interface, click the Show Markup Toolbar icon in the upper-right corner to reveal the Markup Toolbar below the standard toolbar.
Step 2: Add Shapes to the Image
To add shapes, click the Shapes icon in the Markup Toolbar and choose a shape from the available options. Then, drag the shape to position it on the image as desired. You can also draw freely using the Sketch brush.
Step 3: Add Text to the Image
If you want to add texts, select the Text tool from the Markup Toolbar. Drag the text box to the desired position on the image and resize it using the scaling handles.
After that, click inside the text box, remove the placeholder text, and type your desired caption. You can customize the font, size, and formatting to match your preferences.
Bonus: Edit and Improve Your Drawing Before Posting
After drawing with the best drawing app on Mac for you, you can edit and enhance your drawing further using image editing tools. The recommended option for this step is Wondershare Filmora. While primarily known as a video editor, Filmora also offers versatile features that make it a great tool for adding creative touches to your drawings.
How Filmora can help you improve your drawing
- Artistic Filters and Effects: Apply creative filters, overlays, and effects to give your drawing a unique and professional touch.
- Add Music: Turn your drawing into an engaging video by adding background music that complements the mood of your artwork.
- Add Stickers and Graphics: Insert fun stickers, icons, or customizable graphic elements to enhance the visual appeal.
- Adjust Colors and Tone: Fine-tune brightness, contrast, saturation, and more to make your drawing look vibrant and polished.
- Text and Titles: Add stylish text, captions, or titles to explain your artwork or add context.
Moreover, you can also use its screen recorder feature to capture your entire drawing process. Speed it up to create a timelapse video by adjusting the playback speed. It’s perfect for sharing your workflow as a tutorial, creating fun content for social media, or simply showing off your skills.
Conclusion
Have you chosen the perfect drawing app for your Mac? Some of our top picks include Krita for its free professional-grade tools and SketchBook for its simplicity. But the best app for you depends on your style, needs, and creative goals.
And if you want to take things further, tools like Filmora can enhance your artwork. You can add effects, and text, or even share your process through timelapse videos.
