Does Gmail have a format painter?
No — Gmail doesn't have a built-in format painter. Format Painter for Gmail is a Chrome extension that adds one: copy the formatting of any text in your draft and apply it to other text in one click.
How to use a format painter in Gmail
- Install Format Painter for Gmail from the Chrome Web Store.
- In a Gmail compose window, select text that already has the formatting you want.
- Click the paintbrush in the compose toolbar — the formatting is copied.
- Select the target text — it instantly matches the source.
Four ways to trigger it
- Toolbar paintbrush — a paintbrush button right in Gmail's compose toolbar.
- Right-click menu — Copy Format / Apply Format on any selection.
- Popup buttons — Copy and Apply from the extension popup.
- Keyboard shortcuts — Alt+C to copy, Alt+V to apply
(⌥C / ⌥V on Mac; rebindable at
chrome://extensions/shortcuts).
What it copies
- Font family and size
- Bold, italic, underline, strikethrough
- Text color and highlight (background) color
- Bulleted & numbered lists and alignment — optional, off by default so a paint changes how text looks without disturbing the layout you built
A settings cog in the popup lets you choose exactly which styles the paint carries.
Free plan vs Pro
| Feature | Free — $0 | Pro — $5.99/yr or $14.99 once |
|---|---|---|
| Format applies | 10 per month | Unlimited |
| Copying formatting | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Entry points | All four | All four |
| Styles it can copy | Everything | Everything |
| Saved-styles library | — | Up to 50 presets, synced by Chrome |
| Devices per license | n/a | Up to 5 |
Why isn't it just free? The free plan is the whole product — this is functionality Gmail should have built, and we give it to everyone free. Power users who want unlimited applies keep it alive. No ads, no data selling: Pro is the entire business model.
Frequently asked questions
Is Format Painter for Gmail free?
Yes. The free plan includes every feature and all four entry points, with 10 format applies per calendar month. Copying formatting is unlimited and never counted. No trial clock, no credit card, no account. Pro removes the monthly cap for $5.99/year or a one-time $14.99.
What counts as an apply?
An apply is one successful application of copied formatting to a text selection. Copying formatting never counts, and failed applies do not count either. The counter resets on the 1st of each month.
Does my email content leave my browser?
No. The extension runs entirely in your browser and only on mail.google.com. On the free plan it sends nothing anywhere. If you buy Pro, the only data it ever sends is your license key and a random installation ID to our license server — never your email content. There are no analytics or trackers in the extension.
What do I get with Pro?
Unlimited applies plus a saved-styles library: keep up to 50 named formatting presets, synced across your devices by Chrome. Pro costs $5.99/year or $14.99 once (lifetime) and works on up to 5 devices.
Is there a plan for teams?
Yes. Teams is $3.99 per user per year (minimum 5 seats, billed annually). IT deploys one organization key through Chrome extension policy — Google Workspace, Intune, or Jamf — so nobody types a key. See the Teams page for details.
What is the refund policy?
Every purchase has a 14-day no-questions refund. Payments are handled by Polar.sh as merchant of record; email support@formatpainter.app or use your Polar receipt to request a refund.
Does it work outside Gmail?
No. It is built specifically for the Gmail compose window at mail.google.com and does not run anywhere else.