What it does
JS Paint recreates classic Paint drawing tools in a browser and adds branching history, transparency and accessibility controls. Its MIT-licensed desktop app also runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Keep an alternative drawing route
Undo a change and draw something different: JS Paint keeps the previous route as another history branch. Open Edit > History, or press Ctrl+Shift+Y, to return to an earlier state. This suits comparing two versions of a small flat-colour drawing.
For a transparent canvas, choose Transparent in Image > Attributes, then clear the image or use the Eraser. Shift with Fill replaces a colour across the whole picture, including disconnected areas.
Save a working image as PNG. JPEG compression can interfere with fills and transparent selections. The app keeps one automatic backup per image, so use File > Save as well.
Choose the right installation
The desktop version works offline and saves directly to files. The browser PWA currently lacks offline support. Extras includes enlarged controls, Dwell Clicker and speech commands for alternative ways to operate the tools.
Strengths
- Branching history keeps abandoned editing routes available.
- Accessibility controls include hovering to click and spoken tool commands.
Watch out for
- The PWA cannot be used offline.
- JPEG compression can disrupt later fills and transparent selections.
Best for
- Flat-colour raster sketches
- Comparing alternative edits in a drawing
Sources
- JS Paint browser and desktop editions (Oct 27, 2026)
- JS Paint official repository README (Oct 27, 2026)