Use your S Pen as a drawing tablet on Mac.

PenCast sends the pen — position, pressure, tilt, hover — from your Galaxy to your Mac as tablet input. Not the picture, just the pen. Free to start, no ads.

Download for Mac (.dmg)Coming soon to Google Play

The Android app is on its way to Google Play; the desktop app pairs with it. Email me for a heads-up.

What you need

A Samsung Galaxy with an S Pen (see the Galaxy Tab guide), Android 7.0 or newer.
A Mac running macOS 10.15 or newer, on the same WiFi network — or a USB cable.
The free PenCast desktop app on the Mac and the PenCast Android app on the Galaxy (coming to Google Play).

Set it up in six steps

Download the Mac app. Get PenCast.dmg, open it and drag PenCast to Applications.
First launch. Because the app isn't notarized yet, right-click it, choose Open, then confirm.
Allow Accessibility. PenCast moves the cursor and posts pen events for you, which macOS only allows with the Accessibility permission (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility).
Install the Android app on your Galaxy (coming soon to Google Play).
Connect. Scan the QR code shown on the Mac, or let auto-discovery find it on your network. Prefer a cable? Turn on USB debugging and pick USB.
Draw. Open a pen-aware drawing app on the Mac and draw on the Galaxy with the S Pen. Cursor mode moves the pointer; Canvas mode draws on PenCast's own canvas.

What's free and what's Pro

Free — $0

WiFi and USB connection
QR pairing and auto-discovery
Cursor mode with S Pen pressure
Drawing canvas: pen, shapes, eraser, undo/redo, screenshot
No ads, no time limit

Pro — $7.99 once

Tilt and hover
Pressure curve and palm rejection
Bluetooth connection
Laser pointer, highlighter, transparent overlay
Multi-page canvas, multi-monitor selection, global hotkey

One-time Google Play purchase, no subscription. The desktop app unlocks when your Pro device connects.

Honest limits

Your tablet won't show your canvas. PenCast is a pen tablet, not a screen mirror: you look at your computer and draw on your Galaxy.
WiFi mode isn't encrypted yet. Use USB, Bluetooth (Pro) or a network you trust.
Installers aren't signed yet. The Mac app isn't notarized, so macOS asks for one extra click (step 2).
Apps differ. Compatibility depends on your drawing app and its pen settings. I haven't published a tested-apps list yet — try the free version first and tell me what works.
The Android app is coming to Google Play. The desktop app pairs with it; until it's live there's nothing to pair with.

When something else fits better

If you want your canvas on the tablet itself, you want a screen-mirroring or pen-display app. On a Mac, options include Duet Display and Tab Display; spacedesk announced a Mac driver beta in September 2026. If you want a free, open-source route, look at Weylus. See the comparison for sources and dates.

Questions

Do I need to install anything on the Mac?

Yes — the free PenCast desktop app (a .dmg). It receives pen data from your Galaxy and posts it to macOS as tablet events. It needs macOS's Accessibility permission to do that.

Will my Mac show the canvas on the tablet?

No. PenCast sends the pen, not the picture. You look at your Mac screen and draw on your Galaxy, like a classic pen tablet. If you need to see your canvas on the tablet, use a screen-mirroring app instead.

Does it work with Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint and Krita on Mac?

PenCast posts standard macOS tablet events with pressure (and tilt and proximity in Pro), so apps that read tablet input can use them. Compatibility varies by app and settings and I haven't published a tested list yet — try the free version first.

Why does macOS say it can't verify the app?

The Mac app isn't notarized by Apple yet. Right-click the app, choose Open, then confirm. Notarization is on the to-do list.

Can I use USB instead of WiFi?

Yes. USB mode uses an ADB tunnel, so USB debugging must be turned on in Android Developer options. WiFi and USB are both in the free tier.

Last reviewed 4 Oct 2026. Product names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe compatibility or comparison; PenCast is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Something out of date? Tell me and I'll fix it.