For marking up screens or editing photos on a Mac, there are several excellent options, depending on your needs—whether you're looking for something simple or more feature-rich. Here are the top recommendations:
1. Preview (Built-in)
- Best for: Basic annotations and markups.
- Features:
- Built into macOS, so no installation is required.
- Allows you to draw shapes, add text, highlight, crop, and adjust image dimensions.
- Perfect for quick annotations or simple edits.
- How to use:
- Open the image in Preview.
- Click the Markup toolbar button (looks like a pen tip).
- Use the tools to draw, add text, or shapes.
Pro tip: If you take a screenshot (Command + Shift + 4 or 5), you can click the thumbnail to open it directly in the Markup interface.
2. Photoscape X
- Best for: A free, all-in-one editing tool with advanced options.
- Features:
- Offers editing, markups, filters, and even batch processing.
- You can annotate, crop, add stickers, text, and more.
- Free with optional Pro features (paid upgrade).
- Why it's good: It balances ease of use with a powerful set of tools, making it perfect for people who need more features than Preview but without the complexity of professional tools.
3. Skitch (by Evernote)
- Best for: Quick, intuitive annotations.
- Features:
- Simple interface for marking up screenshots and images.
- Add arrows, shapes, text, blur sensitive info, and highlight key areas.
- Syncs with Evernote for easy saving and sharing.
- Why it's good: Skitch is highly popular for its ease of use and streamlined workflow, making it ideal for marking up images and screenshots fast.
4. Pixelmator Pro
- Best for: Professional-grade photo editing and markups.
- Features:
- Advanced editing tools like color correction, effects, retouching, and drawing tools.
- Supports layers and a wide range of export formats.
- Easy to use but has powerful features for detailed work.
- Why it's good: Pixelmator Pro offers a professional-level experience at a fraction of the cost of Adobe Photoshop, with excellent integration into macOS.
5. GIMP (Free, Open Source)
- Best for: Free alternative to Photoshop with advanced features.
- Features:
- Complete image editing suite, including filters, layers, text tools, and more.
- Ideal for users familiar with more complex tools.
- Can be used for markups, but better suited for more detailed editing.
- Why it's good: GIMP is a powerful, professional-grade tool that’s entirely free, but it comes with a steeper learning curve.
Best Pick for Different Needs:
- Quick markups and annotations: Preview or Skitch.
- More advanced editing with annotations: Photoscape X or Pixelmator Pro.
- Free, professional editing: GIMP.
For most users, Preview or Skitch will suffice for quick markups, while Pixelmator Pro or Photoscape X are excellent for more advanced edits.