OVERLAID

// HONEST COMPARISON · CHECKED SEPTEMBER 2026

Overlaid vs
macOS's built-in tools

Before you buy anything, it's worth knowing what your Mac already does. Accessibility Zoom magnifies the live screen with a modifier key and scroll. Pointer settings make your cursor bigger and change its colours. And Screenshot Markup lets you draw on a screenshot after you take it.

What macOS doesn't do is let you draw on the live screen, show keystrokes or spotlight part of it. That's the gap Overlaid fills.

PICK MACOS'S BUILT-IN TOOLS IF

you only need to zoom or make your pointer bigger. Try these first, they're free.

PICK OVERLAID IF

you need to draw on the live screen, show keystrokes or spotlight what matters.

// AT A GLANCE

THE BASICS.

MACOS'S BUILT-IN TOOLSOVERLAID
PriceFree$11.99 ($4.99 at launch)
How you payBuilt inOne-time
Free trialNot needed7 days, everything unlocked
Runs onEvery MacmacOS 14 or later
Made byAppleA solo developer

// CREDIT WHERE IT'S DUE

Where macOS's built-in tools is better.

MACOS'S BUILT-IN TOOLS WINS

Free and already installed

Nothing to download, nothing to approve with IT.

MACOS'S BUILT-IN TOOLS WINS

Live zoom

Accessibility Zoom magnifies the moving screen, so video keeps playing while zoomed. Overlaid's zoom freezes the frame so you can draw on it. Its magnifier lens is live, but it's a lens, not full-screen zoom.

MACOS'S BUILT-IN TOOLS WINS

Pointer size and colours

Make the pointer huge and change its outline and fill colour in Accessibility settings. Shake the mouse to find it.

MACOS'S BUILT-IN TOOLS WINS

Markup after the fact

For a screenshot you'll send later, Markup is perfectly good.

Where Overlaid is better.

  • +Draw on the live screen

    Circle, point and write over any app while you talk, not on a screenshot afterwards.

  • +Keystroke overlay

    macOS has no way to show your shortcuts on screen.

  • +Spotlight and click effects

    Dim everything but your cursor, or ring every click.

  • +Zoom you can draw on

    Freeze, zoom to 8x, pan and annotate at any scale.

Drawing live, over the real screen, while you talk.

// FEATURE BY FEATURE

SIDE BY SIDE.

“Not listed” means we couldn't confirm it from macOS's built-in tools's own site or docs either way. It might exist. If it does, tell us and we'll update this.

FEATUREMACOS'S BUILT-IN TOOLSOVERLAID
Draw over any app, liveNoMarkup works on screenshots onlyYesMarks stay put while you keep using the app underneathOVERLAID
Arrows and shapesPartlyIn Markup, after captureYesLine, arrow, rectangle, ellipse
Text labelsPartlyIn Markup, after captureYes
Freeze, zoom and drawNoYesUp to 8x, pan around, draw at any zoomOVERLAID
Live magnifierYesAccessibility ZoomYesMagnifier lens follows the cursorBOTH
Spotlight cursorNoYesOVERLAID
Cursor halo or click effectsPartlyBigger pointer, custom coloursYesHalo, click ripples, trail
Keystroke overlayNoYesKeycaps, themes, 9 positionsOVERLAID
Built-in screenshot toolYesNoUse macOS ⌘⇧4, your marks are includedMACOS'S
Screen recordingYesScreenshot app or QuickTimeNoMACOS'S
Works in any call appYesYesShare your whole screenBOTH

Choose macOS's built-in tools if

  • ✓You only need to magnify the screen
  • ✓You just need a bigger pointer
  • ✓You annotate screenshots after the fact

Choose Overlaid if

  • ✓You draw while you talk
  • ✓You show shortcuts
  • ✓You want spotlight or click ripples

// FAQ

QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK.

System Settings, then Accessibility, then Zoom. Turn on 'Use scroll gesture with modifier keys to zoom' and pick Control, Option or Command as the modifier. Then hold it and scroll.

Overlaid uses ⌘ and scroll to zoom while draw mode is on. If you've set Accessibility Zoom to Command as well, change one of them. Accessibility Zoom defaults to Control.

// WHERE THIS CAME FROM

SOURCES.

Checked September 2026. Apps change. If something here is out of date or wrong, email us and we'll fix it.

// MORE COMPARISONS

OTHER APPS.

// YOUR NEXT CALL

Don't take our word for it. Try both.

7 days free with every feature. Then a one-time purchase. No account, no subscription.

BUY OVERLAID · $4.99or try it free for 7 days