OVERLAID

// HONEST COMPARISON · CHECKED SEPTEMBER 2026

Overlaid vs
Presentify

Presentify is the app most people find first when they search for a way to draw on a Mac screen, and for good reason. It's been around for years, it's well reviewed, and it covers drawing, cursor highlighting, spotlight and zoom in a tiny download.

Overlaid covers a lot of the same ground. The honest differences are in the edges: what else comes built in, how zoom works, and how you get to try it before paying.

PICK PRESENTIFY IF

you want a whiteboard mode, run an older version of macOS, or already pay for Setapp.

PICK OVERLAID IF

you also need to show keystrokes, want to freeze and zoom before you draw, or want to try it for free without Setapp.

// AT A GLANCE

THE BASICS.

PRESENTIFYOVERLAID
Price$14.99$11.99 ($4.99 at launch)
How you payOne-timeOne-time
Free trial7 days through Setapp. No trial on the App Store.7 days, everything unlocked
Runs onmacOS 10.13 or latermacOS 14 or later
Made byPresentifyA solo developer

// CREDIT WHERE IT'S DUE

Where Presentify is better.

PRESENTIFY WINS

A real whiteboard

Presentify has a whiteboard canvas for sketching from scratch. Overlaid only draws over what's already on screen, so you'd have to open a blank slide yourself.

PRESENTIFY WINS

Runs on older Macs

Presentify supports macOS 10.13 and later. Overlaid needs macOS Sonoma (14) or newer, so if you're on an older Mac, Presentify is the one that will run.

PRESENTIFY WINS

Years of track record

It has a 4.6 rating from 480+ reviews on the Mac App Store and has been featured on Hacker News and Product Hunt. Overlaid is new. That counts for something when you're choosing a tool for a big presentation.

PRESENTIFY WINS

More cursor shapes

Presentify's cursor highlight comes in rings, squircles and rhombuses with gradient options. Overlaid's halo is a single, simpler style.

PRESENTIFY WINS

On the App Store and Setapp

If you prefer buying through the Mac App Store, or you already pay for Setapp, Presentify is available both ways. Overlaid is sold directly.

Where Overlaid is better.

  • +Keystrokes are built in

    Presentify doesn't show keystrokes. Its users usually pair it with a separate app like KeyScreen. Overlaid shows every shortcut as a keycap, with themes and nine positions, in the same app you draw with.

  • +Freeze, zoom, then draw

    In draw mode, a pinch or ⌘ and scroll freezes the screen and zooms up to 8x. Pan around and draw on the frozen frame at any scale.

  • +A free trial without Setapp

    Overlaid has a 7-day trial with every feature unlocked, straight from our site. No account, no card, no subscription service in between.

  • +Lower price

    $11.99 one-time against Presentify's $14.99, and less than that while launch pricing lasts.

  • +A ruler

    Measure anything on screen in pixels and points. Handy in design reviews.

The biggest practical difference: shortcuts show up on screen without a second app.

// FEATURE BY FEATURE

SIDE BY SIDE.

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

FEATUREPRESENTIFYOVERLAID
Draw over any app, liveYesYesMarks stay put while you keep using the app underneathBOTH
Arrows and shapesYesArrows, circles, squares, linesYesLine, arrow, rectangle, ellipseBOTH
HighlighterYesYesMultiply blend, text stays readableBOTH
Text labelsYesYesBOTH
Move and resize marksYesThe move tool isn't shown in the toolbar by defaultYesSelect, move, resize, duplicateBOTH
Fading inkYesAuto-eraseYes2, 5 or 10 secondsBOTH
On-screen rulerNot listedYesPixels and points
Whiteboard modeYesNoPRESENTIFY
Freeze, zoom and drawNot listedYesUp to 8x, pan around, draw at any zoom
Live magnifierYesMagnifier around the cursorYesMagnifier lens follows the cursorBOTH
Spotlight cursorYesYesBOTH
Cursor halo or click effectsYesMany halo shapesYesHalo, click ripples, trailBOTH
Keystroke overlayNoNeeds a separate appYesKeycaps, themes, 9 positionsOVERLAID
Works in any call appYesYesShare your whole screenBOTH

Choose Presentify if

  • ✓You're on a Mac older than macOS Sonoma
  • ✓You want a blank whiteboard canvas
  • ✓You already have a Setapp subscription
  • ✓You'd rather buy through the Mac App Store

Choose Overlaid if

  • ✓You show keyboard shortcuts in demos or tutorials
  • ✓You want to freeze the screen and draw on a zoomed frame
  • ✓You want to try the full app for free first
  • ✓You measure things in design reviews

// FAQ

QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK.

Not on its own. Presentify users who want keystrokes on screen typically run a second app alongside it. Overlaid has a keystroke overlay built in.

Yes. A Presentify user pointed out that it has a move tool that isn't shown in the toolbar by default. We originally said otherwise and corrected it.

Overlaid is $11.99 one-time, with a lower price for early buyers while launch licences last. Presentify is $14.99 on the Mac App Store and is also included in Setapp.

Yes. Overlaid has a 7-day free trial from our site. Presentify can be tried for 7 days through Setapp.

// 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