Paw-Paw started from a simple idea: your Mac can feel a little less lonely without turning your workday into a game. A small illustrated friend sits on your desktop, reacts when you type or click, and quietly keeps you company while you study, write, code, or work.
The app is macOS-only, native, and intentionally focused. Accounts are optional, there are no ads or subscriptions, and it does not transmit what you type. Both seasons, with all of their Paw-Paws and items, are free; the optional extras are paid collections, such as the Illustrain Collection, a USD 2.99 level track of Paw-Paws and items illustrated by Illustrain. To get started, follow the install guide, then read how Paw-Paw works.
Who makes Paw-Paw?
My wife and I make Paw-Paw together. We love cute art, and we wanted a small friend on the desktop that makes long days at the Mac a little warmer. Paw-Paw is published by Daystrom OÜ, an Estonian company; the website and content are maintained by John Johnson and the Paw-Paw team.
We keep the company details, privacy policy, and terms linked from every page because trust matters more than mystery.
Why it exists
Mac users have always had a soft spot for small utilities that do one specific thing well. Paw-Paw belongs to that tradition: it is not a productivity suite, a social network, or a habit platform. It is a desktop companion that makes typing feel a little more alive.
How it has grown
The first build went out in January 2026 with the original Paw-Paws. Regular updates followed through the year, and Season 2 arrived on October 1, 2026 with many new Paw-Paws and items, the Library window, achievements, and secret pairings to discover. New seasons are free.
Artist collections
We want Paw-Paw to be a home for small artists' characters. Artist collections are optional, one-time purchases that bring an illustrator's characters to life as Paw-Paws and items. The first is the Illustrain Collection, with illustrations by Illustrain. Everything else in Paw-Paw stays free.
Privacy, in plain words
Paw-Paw needs macOS Accessibility permission to notice when you type and click. It counts those events to animate your Paw-Paw and earn XP; it never logs or sends what you type. Usage analytics and crash reports are separate choices you make during setup, and both can be changed later in Settings. The privacy policy has the details.
What changes next
We keep updating the app and the website as Paw-Paw grows. For public release notes, see the Paw-Paw changelog.
Meet your Paw-Paw
Free, no ads, no account needed. For macOS 13 or later on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
Download Free for Mac