EpicPencil

EpicPencil is a free screen annotation and auto-draw tool for drawing, highlighting, and annotating over applications on the desktop. It is described as a multiplatform option for teachers, streamers, and presentations, and it lets users work directly on the screen rather than on a captured background.

Its feature set includes a fluid overlay for drawing on the desktop, a continuous canvas across multiple monitors, and customizable keyboard shortcuts. The page names pencil, highlighter, eraser, text, and a color picker as the available annotation tools. Default shortcuts are listed as Ctrl+Shift+D for drawing and Ctrl+Shift+C for clearing annotations. It also says the tool is built with Avalonia UI and C, and that this native approach is meant for minimal resource use.

Privacy is presented as a core property of the software. EpicPencil states that it has no telemetry, no accounts, and no cloud storage, and that drawings and annotations remain on the user’s machine. It is available for Windows 10/11, macOS 11+ on Apple Silicon, and Linux, with Windows MSIX, macOS ARM64, and Linux .deb or .rpm packages listed, along with automatic updates on supported platforms.

Pricing is simple: the standard version is free for everyone and includes unlimited use, multi-monitor support, and free updates. An optional Supporter plan costs 2.99 € as a one-time payment and adds priority requests, Discord access, and early builds. The page also says EpicPencil is a free cross-platform alternative to Epic Pen, and mentions Gink, ScreenBrush, and PPink in that context.