// HONEST COMPARISON · CHECKED SEPTEMBER 2026
Overlaid vs
ScreenBrush
ScreenBrush has been on the Mac App Store for years and it's free to start, which makes it an easy first download. The paid Plus upgrade adds shapes, undo and a freeze mode.
Overlaid is a different shape of product: fewer presenter extras, more focus on live demos, with keystrokes and cursor effects built in.
PICK SCREENBRUSH IF
you want a free drawing tool, an iPhone slide clicker, or presenter extras like lower thirds and timers.
PICK OVERLAID IF
you want keystrokes, click ripples and a ruler, with shapes and undo included from the start.
// AT A GLANCE
THE BASICS.
// CREDIT WHERE IT'S DUE
Where ScreenBrush is better.
A genuinely free tier
Pen, text, eraser, snapshots, a whiteboard and more cost nothing. Overlaid has a 7-day trial, then it's paid.
Cheaper even with Plus
ScreenBrush Plus is $6.99. Overlaid is $11.99.
An iPhone slide clicker
ScreenBrush Remote turns your phone into a clicker for Keynote and PowerPoint. Nothing like that in Overlaid.
Presenter extras
Lower thirds, numbered badges, timers and a ghost mode. Overlaid doesn't have these.
Runs on very old Macs
It supports macOS 10.11 and later. Overlaid needs macOS 14.
Where Overlaid is better.
+Keystroke overlay
Shortcuts on screen as keycaps. Not listed for ScreenBrush.
+Cursor effects
Halo, click ripples, spotlight and a trail.
+Shapes and undo from day one
In ScreenBrush these are part of Plus. In Overlaid they're just part of the app.
+A ruler and fading ink
Measure on screen in pixels and points, and let marks clear themselves after a few seconds.
+Actively updated
Overlaid ships updates regularly through built-in auto-update. ScreenBrush's last App Store update was in November 2024 as we write this.
// FEATURE BY FEATURE
SIDE BY SIDE.
“Not listed” means we couldn't confirm it from ScreenBrush's own site or docs either way. It might exist. If it does, tell us and we'll update this.
Choose ScreenBrush if
- ✓You want something free
- ✓You present slides and want an iPhone clicker
- ✓You want lower thirds, badges or timers
- ✓You're on an older Mac
Choose Overlaid if
- ✓You show keyboard shortcuts
- ✓You want click ripples and a cursor halo
- ✓You want fading ink and a ruler
- ✓You want an app that's actively updated
// FAQ
QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK.
The base app is free. ScreenBrush Plus, which adds shapes, undo, freeze mode and presets, is a $6.99 in-app purchase with a 7-day trial.
If you mostly present slides in person, ScreenBrush's iPhone clicker is a real advantage. If you mostly demo software on calls, Overlaid's keystrokes and cursor effects matter more.
// 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.
// 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.