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Honest, hands-on roundup

The Best Epic Pen Alternatives for Mac

Epic Pen is a popular Windows screen annotation tool — but Mac users have been left out. Whether you're a teacher, streamer, designer or sales rep on macOS, you don't have to settle for a Windows-only app. Here are the best Epic Pen alternatives that run natively on Mac in 2026.

How we picked

  • Native macOS support (Apple Silicon a plus)
  • Same core workflow as Epic Pen — pen, highlighter, shapes
  • Reasonable pricing or a free tier
  • Active development
  • Bonus tools beyond what Epic Pen offers

Scribbble

Our pick

The closest Epic Pen experience on macOS

Scribbble is the most direct Epic Pen replacement for Mac users. It draws on top of any app — slides, browsers, Zoom shares — with a pen, highlighter, arrow, rectangle and text tool. Beyond what Epic Pen offers, Scribbble adds Spotlight (focus dim) and Measure tools, plus a modern draggable toolbar that feels Mac-native.

Best for

Anyone leaving Epic Pen for Mac who wants a familiar workflow with a few bonus tools

Pros

  • Mac-first, Apple Silicon native
  • Pen, highlighter, arrow, rectangle and text — same core toolset as Epic Pen
  • Adds Spotlight and Measure tools Epic Pen doesn't have
  • Free download, one-time license
  • Modern draggable floating toolbar

Cons

  • No screen recording built-in
Pricing: Free + one-time licenseDownload Scribbble
#2

Presentify

Mac App Store classic with cursor highlighting

Presentify covers the Epic Pen basics — pen, shapes, text — with the addition of a strong cursor highlight feature. It's a long-established Mac App Store app with a one-time purchase.

Best for

Presenters whose biggest issue is people losing the cursor on a shared screen

Pros

  • Cursor highlight
  • Mac App Store distribution
  • One-time purchase

Cons

  • No spotlight focus mode or measure tool
Pricing: One-time (Mac App Store)Scribbble vs Presentify
#3

ZoomIt for Mac

Microsoft's free annotation utility, now on Mac

Microsoft's Sysinternals ZoomIt is now available on macOS. It's free, includes a built-in zoom feature Epic Pen lacks, and has solid pen and shape tools. The catch: the UI is a faithful Windows port and feels nothing like a Mac app.

Best for

Mac users leaving Epic Pen who don't mind a Windows-style UI in exchange for free + screen zoom

Pros

  • Free from Microsoft
  • Screen zoom built in
  • Break timer

Cons

  • UI is a Windows utility port
  • No spotlight or measure tool
Pricing: FreeScribbble vs ZoomIt for Mac
#4

CleanShot X

Best if your real need is screenshots + annotation

Many people reaching for Epic Pen actually want to capture and share annotated screenshots, not draw on a live screen. If that's you on Mac, CleanShot X is the best in the category — capture, annotate, record and share with cloud links.

Best for

Mac users whose workflow is capture → annotate → share

Pros

  • Best-in-class screenshot capture
  • Cloud upload and sharing
  • Screen recording with annotations
  • Strong screenshot annotation tools

Cons

  • Limited live on-screen drawing
  • More expensive — does much more than annotation
Pricing: One-time or via SetappScribbble vs CleanShot X
#5

macOS built-in tools

Free, already installed

If your needs are minimal, macOS itself includes the Markup tool in Preview and a screen zoom in System Settings → Accessibility. These aren't a real Epic Pen replacement, but they're free and require no install.

Best for

Ultra-light needs where you'd rather not install anything

Pros

  • Already installed
  • Free

Cons

  • No live on-screen drawing
  • No proper toolset
Pricing: Free

Bottom line

If you're moving from Epic Pen to Mac, Scribbble is the easiest recommendation — it covers the same core workflow (pen, highlighter, shapes, text) with a Mac-native UI and a few bonus tools (Spotlight, Measure) Epic Pen doesn't have. ZoomIt is the free Microsoft alternative if you can live with the Windows-style UI. CleanShot X is the right pick if you actually want screenshot-first workflows rather than live drawing.

FAQ

Is there an Epic Pen for Mac?

No — Epic Pen is Windows-only. Scribbble is the closest Mac-native equivalent: pen, highlighter, arrow, rectangle and text drawing on top of any app, plus Spotlight and Measure tools that Epic Pen doesn't include.

What are the best alternatives to Epic Pen on Mac?

The strongest options on macOS are Scribbble (Mac-first, includes Spotlight + Measure), Presentify (cursor highlighting), ZoomIt (free from Microsoft, includes zoom), and CleanShot X (if you want screenshot-first workflows). For most Epic Pen users moving to Mac, Scribbble is the closest experience.

Why do people choose alternatives over Epic Pen?

The most common reasons we hear: (1) Epic Pen is Windows-only, so Mac users have no option, (2) the free tier is heavily limited, (3) it lacks modern conveniences like a focus / spotlight tool or measure tool, and (4) the UI feels dated compared to newer Mac-native apps.

What features do Epic Pen alternatives offer that Epic Pen does not?

Most modern Epic Pen alternatives add at least one of: a Spotlight / focus-dim tool to dim everything except the area you're explaining, a Measure tool for checking on-screen distances, a screen zoom feature (ZoomIt), or a built-in screen recorder (CleanShot X). Scribbble specifically adds Spotlight, Measure and a companion free Screenshot Annotate web tool.

Is there a free alternative to Epic Pen for Mac?

Yes — Microsoft's ZoomIt is fully free on Mac. Scribbble is also free to download and try, with an optional one-time license to unlock everything.

Try our top pick: Scribbble

Free download. One-time license. Native macOS.

Download Scribbble

Other guides

The Best Screen Annotation Apps for MacThe Best ZoomIt Alternatives for MacThe Best Presentify Alternatives for MacThe Best Screen Annotation Tools for Teachers on Mac

Compare Scribbble

Scribbble vs ZoomItScribbble vs PresentifyScribbble vs CleanShot XScribbble vs Epic PenScribbble vs Annotate

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