diff --git a/.changeset/huge-items-throw.md b/.changeset/huge-items-throw.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6be63e72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/huge-items-throw.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+"@clack/prompts": minor
+"@clack/core": minor
+---
+
+Replaces `picocolors` with Node.js built-in `styleText`.
diff --git a/packages/core/package.json b/packages/core/package.json
index 1e802924..8bdf5e28 100644
--- a/packages/core/package.json
+++ b/packages/core/package.json
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@
     "test": "vitest run"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "picocolors": "^1.0.0",
     "sisteransi": "^1.0.5"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/prompts/autocomplete.ts b/packages/core/src/prompts/autocomplete.ts
index 6e308ff5..91c154ea 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/prompts/autocomplete.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/prompts/autocomplete.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { Key } from 'node:readline';
-import color from 'picocolors';
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import Prompt, { type PromptOptions } from './prompt.js';
 
 interface OptionLike {
@@ -71,14 +71,14 @@ export default class AutocompletePrompt<T extends OptionLike> extends Prompt<
 
 	get userInputWithCursor() {
 		if (!this.userInput) {
-			return color.inverse(color.hidden('_'));
+			return styleText(['inverse', 'hidden'], '_');
 		}
 		if (this._cursor >= this.userInput.length) {
 			return `${this.userInput}█`;
 		}
 		const s1 = this.userInput.slice(0, this._cursor);
 		const [s2, ...s3] = this.userInput.slice(this._cursor);
-		return `${s1}${color.inverse(s2)}${s3.join('')}`;
+		return `${s1}${styleText('inverse', s2)}${s3.join('')}`;
 	}
 
 	get options(): T[] {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/prompts/password.ts b/packages/core/src/prompts/password.ts
index a9864577..d7885407 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/prompts/password.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/prompts/password.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import color from 'picocolors';
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import Prompt, { type PromptOptions } from './prompt.js';
 
 interface PasswordOptions extends PromptOptions<string, PasswordPrompt> {
@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@ export default class PasswordPrompt extends Prompt<string> {
 		}
 		const userInput = this.userInput;
 		if (this.cursor >= userInput.length) {
-			return `${this.masked}${color.inverse(color.hidden('_'))}`;
+			return `${this.masked}${styleText(['inverse', 'hidden'], '_')}`;
 		}
 		const masked = this.masked;
 		const s1 = masked.slice(0, this.cursor);
 		const s2 = masked.slice(this.cursor);
-		return `${s1}${color.inverse(s2[0])}${s2.slice(1)}`;
+		return `${s1}${styleText('inverse', s2[0])}${s2.slice(1)}`;
 	}
 	clear() {
 		this._clearUserInput();
diff --git a/packages/core/src/prompts/text.ts b/packages/core/src/prompts/text.ts
index c76a5188..e4d47840 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/prompts/text.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/prompts/text.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import color from 'picocolors';
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import Prompt, { type PromptOptions } from './prompt.js';
 
 interface TextOptions extends PromptOptions<string, TextPrompt> {
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export default class TextPrompt extends Prompt<string> {
 		}
 		const s1 = userInput.slice(0, this.cursor);
 		const [s2, ...s3] = userInput.slice(this.cursor);
-		return `${s1}${color.inverse(s2)}${s3.join('')}`;
+		return `${s1}${styleText('inverse', s2)}${s3.join('')}`;
 	}
 	get cursor() {
 		return this._cursor;
diff --git a/packages/core/test/prompts/password.test.ts b/packages/core/test/prompts/password.test.ts
index dc145fc7..4847b616 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/prompts/password.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/prompts/password.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import color from 'picocolors';
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { cursor } from 'sisteransi';
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, test, vi } from 'vitest';
 import { default as PasswordPrompt } from '../../src/prompts/password.js';
@@ -65,7 +65,9 @@ describe('PasswordPrompt', () => {
 			});
 			instance.prompt();
 			input.emit('keypress', 'x', { name: 'x' });
-			expect(instance.userInputWithCursor).to.equal(`•${color.inverse(color.hidden('_'))}`);
+			expect(instance.userInputWithCursor).to.equal(
+				`•${styleText(['inverse', 'hidden'], '_')}`
+			);
 		});
 
 		test('renders cursor inside value', () => {
@@ -80,7 +82,7 @@ describe('PasswordPrompt', () => {
 			input.emit('keypress', 'z', { name: 'z' });
 			input.emit('keypress', 'left', { name: 'left' });
 			input.emit('keypress', 'left', { name: 'left' });
-			expect(instance.userInputWithCursor).to.equal(`•${color.inverse('•')}•`);
+			expect(instance.userInputWithCursor).to.equal(`•${styleText('inverse', '•')}•`);
 		});
 
 		test('renders custom mask', () => {
@@ -92,7 +94,9 @@ describe('PasswordPrompt', () => {
 			});
 			instance.prompt();
 			input.emit('keypress', 'x', { name: 'x' });
-			expect(instance.userInputWithCursor).to.equal(`X${color.inverse(color.hidden('_'))}`);
+			expect(instance.userInputWithCursor).to.equal(
+				`X${styleText(['inverse', 'hidden'], '_')}`
+			);
 		});
 	});
 });
diff --git a/packages/core/test/prompts/text.test.ts b/packages/core/test/prompts/text.test.ts
index 9ae20333..0372d174 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/prompts/text.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/prompts/text.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import color from 'picocolors';
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { cursor } from 'sisteransi';
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, test, vi } from 'vitest';
 import { default as TextPrompt } from '../../src/prompts/text.js';
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ describe('TextPrompt', () => {
 				input.emit('keypress', keys[i], { name: keys[i] });
 			}
 			input.emit('keypress', 'left', { name: 'left' });
-			expect(instance.userInputWithCursor).to.equal(`fo${color.inverse('o')}`);
+			expect(instance.userInputWithCursor).to.equal(`fo${styleText('inverse', 'o')}`);
 		});
 
 		test('shows cursor at end if beyond value', () => {
diff --git a/packages/prompts/package.json b/packages/prompts/package.json
index 0a636349..ab7936b5 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/package.json
+++ b/packages/prompts/package.json
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@clack/core": "workspace:*",
-    "picocolors": "^1.0.0",
     "sisteransi": "^1.0.5"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/autocomplete.ts b/packages/prompts/src/autocomplete.ts
index e55b285f..41710157 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/autocomplete.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/autocomplete.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { AutocompletePrompt } from '@clack/core';
-import color from 'picocolors';
 import {
 	type CommonOptions,
 	S_BAR,
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ export const autocomplete = <Value>(opts: AutocompleteOptions<Value>) => {
 		validate: opts.validate,
 		render() {
 			// Title and message display
-			const headings = [`${color.gray(S_BAR)}`, `${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}`];
+			const headings = [`${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}`, `${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}`];
 			const userInput = this.userInput;
 			const valueAsString = String(this.value ?? '');
 			const options = this.options;
@@ -102,13 +102,15 @@ export const autocomplete = <Value>(opts: AutocompleteOptions<Value>) => {
 					// Show selected value
 					const selected = getSelectedOptions(this.selectedValues, options);
 					const label =
-						selected.length > 0 ? `  ${color.dim(selected.map(getLabel).join(', '))}` : '';
-					return `${headings.join('\n')}\n${color.gray(S_BAR)}${label}`;
+						selected.length > 0 ? `  ${styleText('dim', selected.map(getLabel).join(', '))}` : '';
+					return `${headings.join('\n')}\n${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}${label}`;
 				}
 
 				case 'cancel': {
-					const userInputText = userInput ? `  ${color.strikethrough(color.dim(userInput))}` : '';
-					return `${headings.join('\n')}\n${color.gray(S_BAR)}${userInputText}`;
+					const userInputText = userInput
+						? `  ${styleText(['strikethrough', 'dim'], userInput)}`
+						: '';
+					return `${headings.join('\n')}\n${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}${userInputText}`;
 				}
 
 				default: {
@@ -116,7 +118,7 @@ export const autocomplete = <Value>(opts: AutocompleteOptions<Value>) => {
 					let searchText = '';
 					if (this.isNavigating || showPlaceholder) {
 						const searchTextValue = showPlaceholder ? placeholder : userInput;
-						searchText = searchTextValue !== '' ? ` ${color.dim(searchTextValue)}` : '';
+						searchText = searchTextValue !== '' ? ` ${styleText('dim', searchTextValue)}` : '';
 					} else {
 						searchText = ` ${this.userInputWithCursor}`;
 					}
@@ -124,7 +126,8 @@ export const autocomplete = <Value>(opts: AutocompleteOptions<Value>) => {
 					// Show match count if filtered
 					const matches =
 						this.filteredOptions.length !== options.length
-							? color.dim(
+							? styleText(
+									'dim',
 									` (${this.filteredOptions.length} match${this.filteredOptions.length === 1 ? '' : 'es'})`
 								)
 							: '';
@@ -132,29 +135,31 @@ export const autocomplete = <Value>(opts: AutocompleteOptions<Value>) => {
 					// No matches message
 					const noResults =
 						this.filteredOptions.length === 0 && userInput
-							? [`${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  ${color.yellow('No matches found')}`]
+							? [`${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  ${styleText('yellow', 'No matches found')}`]
 							: [];
 
 					const validationError =
-						this.state === 'error' ? [`${color.yellow(S_BAR)}  ${color.yellow(this.error)}`] : [];
+						this.state === 'error'
+							? [`${styleText('yellow', S_BAR)}  ${styleText('yellow', this.error)}`]
+							: [];
 
 					headings.push(
-						`${color.cyan(S_BAR)}`,
-						`${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  ${color.dim('Search:')}${searchText}${matches}`,
+						`${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}`,
+						`${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  ${styleText('dim', 'Search:')}${searchText}${matches}`,
 						...noResults,
 						...validationError
 					);
 
 					// Show instructions
 					const instructions = [
-						`${color.dim('↑/↓')} to select`,
-						`${color.dim('Enter:')} confirm`,
-						`${color.dim('Type:')} to search`,
+						`${styleText('dim', '↑/↓')} to select`,
+						`${styleText('dim', 'Enter:')} confirm`,
+						`${styleText('dim', 'Type:')} to search`,
 					];
 
 					const footers = [
-						`${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  ${color.dim(instructions.join(' • '))}`,
-						`${color.cyan(S_BAR_END)}`,
+						`${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  ${styleText('dim', instructions.join(' • '))}`,
+						`${styleText('cyan', S_BAR_END)}`,
 					];
 
 					// Render options with selection
@@ -170,12 +175,12 @@ export const autocomplete = <Value>(opts: AutocompleteOptions<Value>) => {
 										const label = getLabel(option);
 										const hint =
 											option.hint && option.value === this.focusedValue
-												? color.dim(` (${option.hint})`)
+												? styleText('dim', ` (${option.hint})`)
 												: '';
 
 										return active
-											? `${color.green(S_RADIO_ACTIVE)} ${label}${hint}`
-											: `${color.dim(S_RADIO_INACTIVE)} ${color.dim(label)}${hint}`;
+											? `${styleText('green', S_RADIO_ACTIVE)} ${label}${hint}`
+											: `${styleText('dim', S_RADIO_INACTIVE)} ${styleText('dim', label)}${hint}`;
 									},
 									maxItems: opts.maxItems,
 									output: opts.output,
@@ -184,7 +189,7 @@ export const autocomplete = <Value>(opts: AutocompleteOptions<Value>) => {
 					// Return the formatted prompt
 					return [
 						...headings,
-						...displayOptions.map((option) => `${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  ${option}`),
+						...displayOptions.map((option) => `${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  ${option}`),
 						...footers,
 					].join('\n');
 				}
@@ -222,14 +227,16 @@ export const autocompleteMultiselect = <Value>(opts: AutocompleteMultiSelectOpti
 		const label = option.label ?? String(option.value ?? '');
 		const hint =
 			option.hint && focusedValue !== undefined && option.value === focusedValue
-				? color.dim(` (${option.hint})`)
+				? styleText('dim', ` (${option.hint})`)
 				: '';
-		const checkbox = isSelected ? color.green(S_CHECKBOX_SELECTED) : color.dim(S_CHECKBOX_INACTIVE);
+		const checkbox = isSelected
+			? styleText('green', S_CHECKBOX_SELECTED)
+			: styleText('dim', S_CHECKBOX_INACTIVE);
 
 		if (active) {
 			return `${checkbox} ${label}${hint}`;
 		}
-		return `${checkbox} ${color.dim(label)}`;
+		return `${checkbox} ${styleText('dim', label)}`;
 	};
 
 	// Create text prompt which we'll use as foundation
@@ -251,7 +258,7 @@ export const autocompleteMultiselect = <Value>(opts: AutocompleteMultiSelectOpti
 		output: opts.output,
 		render() {
 			// Title and symbol
-			const title = `${color.gray(S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
+			const title = `${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
 
 			// Selection counter
 			const userInput = this.userInput;
@@ -261,14 +268,15 @@ export const autocompleteMultiselect = <Value>(opts: AutocompleteMultiSelectOpti
 			// Search input display
 			const searchText =
 				this.isNavigating || showPlaceholder
-					? color.dim(showPlaceholder ? placeholder : userInput) // Just show plain text when in navigation mode
+					? styleText('dim', showPlaceholder ? placeholder : userInput) // Just show plain text when in navigation mode
 					: this.userInputWithCursor;
 
 			const options = this.options;
 
 			const matches =
 				this.filteredOptions.length !== options.length
-					? color.dim(
+					? styleText(
+							'dim',
 							` (${this.filteredOptions.length} match${this.filteredOptions.length === 1 ? '' : 'es'})`
 						)
 					: '';
@@ -276,28 +284,30 @@ export const autocompleteMultiselect = <Value>(opts: AutocompleteMultiSelectOpti
 			// Render prompt state
 			switch (this.state) {
 				case 'submit': {
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}  ${color.dim(`${this.selectedValues.length} items selected`)}`;
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}  ${styleText('dim', `${this.selectedValues.length} items selected`)}`;
 				}
 				case 'cancel': {
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}  ${color.strikethrough(color.dim(userInput))}`;
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}  ${styleText('strikethrough', styleText('dim', userInput))}`;
 				}
 				default: {
 					// Instructions
 					const instructions = [
-						`${color.dim('↑/↓')} to navigate`,
-						`${color.dim(this.isNavigating ? 'Space/Tab:' : 'Tab:')} select`,
-						`${color.dim('Enter:')} confirm`,
-						`${color.dim('Type:')} to search`,
+						`${styleText('dim', '↑/↓')} to navigate`,
+						`${styleText('dim', this.isNavigating ? 'Space/Tab:' : 'Tab:')} select`,
+						`${styleText('dim', 'Enter:')} confirm`,
+						`${styleText('dim', 'Type:')} to search`,
 					];
 
 					// No results message
 					const noResults =
 						this.filteredOptions.length === 0 && userInput
-							? [`${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  ${color.yellow('No matches found')}`]
+							? [`${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  ${styleText('yellow', 'No matches found')}`]
 							: [];
 
 					const errorMessage =
-						this.state === 'error' ? [`${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  ${color.yellow(this.error)}`] : [];
+						this.state === 'error'
+							? [`${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  ${styleText('yellow', this.error)}`]
+							: [];
 
 					// Get limited options for display
 					const displayOptions = limitOptions({
@@ -312,12 +322,12 @@ export const autocompleteMultiselect = <Value>(opts: AutocompleteMultiSelectOpti
 					// Build the prompt display
 					return [
 						title,
-						`${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  ${color.dim('Search:')} ${searchText}${matches}`,
+						`${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  ${styleText('dim', 'Search:')} ${searchText}${matches}`,
 						...noResults,
 						...errorMessage,
-						...displayOptions.map((option) => `${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  ${option}`),
-						`${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  ${color.dim(instructions.join(' • '))}`,
-						`${color.cyan(S_BAR_END)}`,
+						...displayOptions.map((option) => `${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  ${option}`),
+						`${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  ${styleText('dim', instructions.join(' • '))}`,
+						`${styleText('cyan', S_BAR_END)}`,
 					].join('\n');
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/common.ts b/packages/prompts/src/common.ts
index 57670ab3..33dac766 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/common.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/common.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { Readable, Writable } from 'node:stream';
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import type { State } from '@clack/core';
 import isUnicodeSupported from 'is-unicode-supported';
-import color from 'picocolors';
 
 export const unicode = isUnicodeSupported();
 export const isCI = (): boolean => process.env.CI === 'true';
@@ -43,13 +43,13 @@ export const symbol = (state: State) => {
 	switch (state) {
 		case 'initial':
 		case 'active':
-			return color.cyan(S_STEP_ACTIVE);
+			return styleText('cyan', S_STEP_ACTIVE);
 		case 'cancel':
-			return color.red(S_STEP_CANCEL);
+			return styleText('red', S_STEP_CANCEL);
 		case 'error':
-			return color.yellow(S_STEP_ERROR);
+			return styleText('yellow', S_STEP_ERROR);
 		case 'submit':
-			return color.green(S_STEP_SUBMIT);
+			return styleText('green', S_STEP_SUBMIT);
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/confirm.ts b/packages/prompts/src/confirm.ts
index 4ee30acc..559e7e1a 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/confirm.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/confirm.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { ConfirmPrompt } from '@clack/core';
-import color from 'picocolors';
 import {
 	type CommonOptions,
 	S_BAR,
@@ -26,26 +26,27 @@ export const confirm = (opts: ConfirmOptions) => {
 		output: opts.output,
 		initialValue: opts.initialValue ?? true,
 		render() {
-			const title = `${color.gray(S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
+			const title = `${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
 			const value = this.value ? active : inactive;
 
 			switch (this.state) {
 				case 'submit':
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}  ${color.dim(value)}`;
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}  ${styleText('dim', value)}`;
 				case 'cancel':
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}  ${color.strikethrough(
-						color.dim(value)
-					)}\n${color.gray(S_BAR)}`;
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}  ${styleText(
+						['strikethrough', 'dim'],
+						value
+					)}\n${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}`;
 				default: {
-					return `${title}${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  ${
+					return `${title}${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  ${
 						this.value
-							? `${color.green(S_RADIO_ACTIVE)} ${active}`
-							: `${color.dim(S_RADIO_INACTIVE)} ${color.dim(active)}`
-					} ${color.dim('/')} ${
+							? `${styleText('green', S_RADIO_ACTIVE)} ${active}`
+							: `${styleText('dim', S_RADIO_INACTIVE)} ${styleText('dim', active)}`
+					} ${styleText('dim', '/')} ${
 						!this.value
-							? `${color.green(S_RADIO_ACTIVE)} ${inactive}`
-							: `${color.dim(S_RADIO_INACTIVE)} ${color.dim(inactive)}`
-					}\n${color.cyan(S_BAR_END)}\n`;
+							? `${styleText('green', S_RADIO_ACTIVE)} ${inactive}`
+							: `${styleText('dim', S_RADIO_INACTIVE)} ${styleText('dim', inactive)}`
+					}\n${styleText('cyan', S_BAR_END)}\n`;
 				}
 			}
 		},
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/group-multi-select.ts b/packages/prompts/src/group-multi-select.ts
index 4464b074..80b3d1fb 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/group-multi-select.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/group-multi-select.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { GroupMultiSelectPrompt } from '@clack/core';
-import color from 'picocolors';
 import {
 	type CommonOptions,
 	S_BAR,
@@ -42,40 +42,42 @@ export const groupMultiselect = <Value>(opts: GroupMultiSelectOptions<Value>) =>
 		const prefix = isItem ? (selectableGroups ? `${isLast ? S_BAR_END : S_BAR} ` : '  ') : '';
 		let spacingPrefix = '';
 		if (groupSpacing > 0 && !isItem) {
-			const spacingPrefixText = `\n${color.cyan(S_BAR)}`;
+			const spacingPrefixText = `\n${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}`;
 			spacingPrefix = `${spacingPrefixText.repeat(groupSpacing - 1)}${spacingPrefixText}  `;
 		}
 
 		if (state === 'active') {
-			return `${spacingPrefix}${color.dim(prefix)}${color.cyan(S_CHECKBOX_ACTIVE)} ${label}${
-				option.hint ? ` ${color.dim(`(${option.hint})`)}` : ''
+			return `${spacingPrefix}${styleText('dim', prefix)}${styleText('cyan', S_CHECKBOX_ACTIVE)} ${label}${
+				option.hint ? ` ${styleText('dim', `(${option.hint})`)}` : ''
 			}`;
 		}
 		if (state === 'group-active') {
-			return `${spacingPrefix}${prefix}${color.cyan(S_CHECKBOX_ACTIVE)} ${color.dim(label)}`;
+			return `${spacingPrefix}${prefix}${styleText('cyan', S_CHECKBOX_ACTIVE)} ${styleText('dim', label)}`;
 		}
 		if (state === 'group-active-selected') {
-			return `${spacingPrefix}${prefix}${color.green(S_CHECKBOX_SELECTED)} ${color.dim(label)}`;
+			return `${spacingPrefix}${prefix}${styleText('green', S_CHECKBOX_SELECTED)} ${styleText('dim', label)}`;
 		}
 		if (state === 'selected') {
-			const selectedCheckbox = isItem || selectableGroups ? color.green(S_CHECKBOX_SELECTED) : '';
-			return `${spacingPrefix}${color.dim(prefix)}${selectedCheckbox} ${color.dim(label)}${
-				option.hint ? ` ${color.dim(`(${option.hint})`)}` : ''
+			const selectedCheckbox =
+				isItem || selectableGroups ? styleText('green', S_CHECKBOX_SELECTED) : '';
+			return `${spacingPrefix}${styleText('dim', prefix)}${selectedCheckbox} ${styleText('dim', label)}${
+				option.hint ? ` ${styleText('dim', `(${option.hint})`)}` : ''
 			}`;
 		}
 		if (state === 'cancelled') {
-			return `${color.strikethrough(color.dim(label))}`;
+			return `${styleText(['strikethrough', 'dim'], label)}`;
 		}
 		if (state === 'active-selected') {
-			return `${spacingPrefix}${color.dim(prefix)}${color.green(S_CHECKBOX_SELECTED)} ${label}${
-				option.hint ? ` ${color.dim(`(${option.hint})`)}` : ''
+			return `${spacingPrefix}${styleText('dim', prefix)}${styleText('green', S_CHECKBOX_SELECTED)} ${label}${
+				option.hint ? ` ${styleText('dim', `(${option.hint})`)}` : ''
 			}`;
 		}
 		if (state === 'submitted') {
-			return `${color.dim(label)}`;
+			return `${styleText('dim', label)}`;
 		}
-		const unselectedCheckbox = isItem || selectableGroups ? color.dim(S_CHECKBOX_INACTIVE) : '';
-		return `${spacingPrefix}${color.dim(prefix)}${unselectedCheckbox} ${color.dim(label)}`;
+		const unselectedCheckbox =
+			isItem || selectableGroups ? styleText('dim', S_CHECKBOX_INACTIVE) : '';
+		return `${spacingPrefix}${styleText('dim', prefix)}${unselectedCheckbox} ${styleText('dim', label)}`;
 	};
 	const required = opts.required ?? true;
 
@@ -90,16 +92,19 @@ export const groupMultiselect = <Value>(opts: GroupMultiSelectOptions<Value>) =>
 		selectableGroups,
 		validate(selected: Value[] | undefined) {
 			if (required && (selected === undefined || selected.length === 0))
-				return `Please select at least one option.\n${color.reset(
-					color.dim(
-						`Press ${color.gray(color.bgWhite(color.inverse(' space ')))} to select, ${color.gray(
-							color.bgWhite(color.inverse(' enter '))
+				return `Please select at least one option.\n${styleText(
+					'reset',
+					styleText(
+						'dim',
+						`Press ${styleText(['gray', 'bgWhite', 'inverse'], ' space ')} to select, ${styleText(
+							'gray',
+							styleText(['bgWhite', 'inverse'], ' enter ')
 						)} to submit`
 					)
 				)}`;
 		},
 		render() {
-			const title = `${color.gray(S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
+			const title = `${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
 			const value = this.value ?? [];
 
 			switch (this.state) {
@@ -108,26 +113,26 @@ export const groupMultiselect = <Value>(opts: GroupMultiSelectOptions<Value>) =>
 						.filter(({ value: optionValue }) => value.includes(optionValue))
 						.map((option) => opt(option, 'submitted'));
 					const optionsText =
-						selectedOptions.length === 0 ? '' : `  ${selectedOptions.join(color.dim(', '))}`;
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}${optionsText}`;
+						selectedOptions.length === 0 ? '' : `  ${selectedOptions.join(styleText('dim', ', '))}`;
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}${optionsText}`;
 				}
 				case 'cancel': {
 					const label = this.options
 						.filter(({ value: optionValue }) => value.includes(optionValue))
 						.map((option) => opt(option, 'cancelled'))
-						.join(color.dim(', '));
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}  ${
-						label.trim() ? `${label}\n${color.gray(S_BAR)}` : ''
+						.join(styleText('dim', ', '));
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}  ${
+						label.trim() ? `${label}\n${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}` : ''
 					}`;
 				}
 				case 'error': {
 					const footer = this.error
 						.split('\n')
 						.map((ln, i) =>
-							i === 0 ? `${color.yellow(S_BAR_END)}  ${color.yellow(ln)}` : `   ${ln}`
+							i === 0 ? `${styleText('yellow', S_BAR_END)}  ${styleText('yellow', ln)}` : `   ${ln}`
 						)
 						.join('\n');
-					return `${title}${color.yellow(S_BAR)}  ${this.options
+					return `${title}${styleText('yellow', S_BAR)}  ${this.options
 						.map((option, i, options) => {
 							const selected =
 								value.includes(option.value) ||
@@ -148,7 +153,7 @@ export const groupMultiselect = <Value>(opts: GroupMultiSelectOptions<Value>) =>
 							}
 							return opt(option, active ? 'active' : 'inactive', options);
 						})
-						.join(`\n${color.yellow(S_BAR)}  `)}\n${footer}\n`;
+						.join(`\n${styleText('yellow', S_BAR)}  `)}\n${footer}\n`;
 				}
 				default: {
 					const optionsText = this.options
@@ -178,9 +183,9 @@ export const groupMultiselect = <Value>(opts: GroupMultiSelectOptions<Value>) =>
 							const prefix = i !== 0 && !optionText.startsWith('\n') ? '  ' : '';
 							return `${prefix}${optionText}`;
 						})
-						.join(`\n${color.cyan(S_BAR)}`);
+						.join(`\n${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}`);
 					const optionsPrefix = optionsText.startsWith('\n') ? '' : '  ';
-					return `${title}${color.cyan(S_BAR)}${optionsPrefix}${optionsText}\n${color.cyan(S_BAR_END)}\n`;
+					return `${title}${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}${optionsPrefix}${optionsText}\n${styleText('cyan', S_BAR_END)}\n`;
 				}
 			}
 		},
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/limit-options.ts b/packages/prompts/src/limit-options.ts
index 11d8f6d1..dcc10467 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/limit-options.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/limit-options.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { Writable } from 'node:stream';
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { getColumns, getRows } from '@clack/core';
 import { wrapAnsi } from 'fast-wrap-ansi';
-import color from 'picocolors';
 import type { CommonOptions } from './common.js';
 
 export interface LimitOptionsParams<TOption> extends CommonOptions {
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export const limitOptions = <TOption>(params: LimitOptionsParams<TOption>): stri
 	const rowPadding = params.rowPadding ?? 4;
 	const maxWidth = columns - columnPadding;
 	const rows = getRows(output);
-	const overflowFormat = color.dim('...');
+	const overflowFormat = styleText('dim', '...');
 
 	const paramMaxItems = params.maxItems ?? Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
 	const outputMaxItems = Math.max(rows - rowPadding, 0);
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/log.ts b/packages/prompts/src/log.ts
index ff4e00cd..431fc0a8 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/log.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/log.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import color from 'picocolors';
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import {
 	type CommonOptions,
 	S_BAR,
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ export const log = {
 	message: (
 		message: string | string[] = [],
 		{
-			symbol = color.gray(S_BAR),
-			secondarySymbol = color.gray(S_BAR),
+			symbol = styleText('gray', S_BAR),
+			secondarySymbol = styleText('gray', S_BAR),
 			output = process.stdout,
 			spacing = 1,
 		}: LogMessageOptions = {}
@@ -48,22 +48,22 @@ export const log = {
 		output.write(`${parts.join('\n')}\n`);
 	},
 	info: (message: string, opts?: LogMessageOptions) => {
-		log.message(message, { ...opts, symbol: color.blue(S_INFO) });
+		log.message(message, { ...opts, symbol: styleText('blue', S_INFO) });
 	},
 	success: (message: string, opts?: LogMessageOptions) => {
-		log.message(message, { ...opts, symbol: color.green(S_SUCCESS) });
+		log.message(message, { ...opts, symbol: styleText('green', S_SUCCESS) });
 	},
 	step: (message: string, opts?: LogMessageOptions) => {
-		log.message(message, { ...opts, symbol: color.green(S_STEP_SUBMIT) });
+		log.message(message, { ...opts, symbol: styleText('green', S_STEP_SUBMIT) });
 	},
 	warn: (message: string, opts?: LogMessageOptions) => {
-		log.message(message, { ...opts, symbol: color.yellow(S_WARN) });
+		log.message(message, { ...opts, symbol: styleText('yellow', S_WARN) });
 	},
 	/** alias for `log.warn()`. */
 	warning: (message: string, opts?: LogMessageOptions) => {
 		log.warn(message, opts);
 	},
 	error: (message: string, opts?: LogMessageOptions) => {
-		log.message(message, { ...opts, symbol: color.red(S_ERROR) });
+		log.message(message, { ...opts, symbol: styleText('red', S_ERROR) });
 	},
 };
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/messages.ts b/packages/prompts/src/messages.ts
index db96d46e..aff5f422 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/messages.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/messages.ts
@@ -1,18 +1,18 @@
 import type { Writable } from 'node:stream';
-import color from 'picocolors';
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { type CommonOptions, S_BAR, S_BAR_END, S_BAR_START } from './common.js';
 
 export const cancel = (message = '', opts?: CommonOptions) => {
 	const output: Writable = opts?.output ?? process.stdout;
-	output.write(`${color.gray(S_BAR_END)}  ${color.red(message)}\n\n`);
+	output.write(`${styleText('gray', S_BAR_END)}  ${styleText('red', message)}\n\n`);
 };
 
 export const intro = (title = '', opts?: CommonOptions) => {
 	const output: Writable = opts?.output ?? process.stdout;
-	output.write(`${color.gray(S_BAR_START)}  ${title}\n`);
+	output.write(`${styleText('gray', S_BAR_START)}  ${title}\n`);
 };
 
 export const outro = (message = '', opts?: CommonOptions) => {
 	const output: Writable = opts?.output ?? process.stdout;
-	output.write(`${color.gray(S_BAR)}\n${color.gray(S_BAR_END)}  ${message}\n\n`);
+	output.write(`${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}\n${styleText('gray', S_BAR_END)}  ${message}\n\n`);
 };
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/multi-select.ts b/packages/prompts/src/multi-select.ts
index 75ca9045..d70c6887 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/multi-select.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/multi-select.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { MultiSelectPrompt } from '@clack/core';
-import color from 'picocolors';
 import {
 	type CommonOptions,
 	S_BAR,
@@ -34,32 +34,32 @@ export const multiselect = <Value>(opts: MultiSelectOptions<Value>) => {
 	) => {
 		const label = option.label ?? String(option.value);
 		if (state === 'disabled') {
-			return `${color.gray(S_CHECKBOX_INACTIVE)} ${color.gray(label)}${
-				option.hint ? ` ${color.dim(`(${option.hint ?? 'disabled'})`)}` : ''
+			return `${styleText('gray', S_CHECKBOX_INACTIVE)} ${styleText('gray', label)}${
+				option.hint ? ` ${styleText('dim', `(${option.hint ?? 'disabled'})`)}` : ''
 			}`;
 		}
 		if (state === 'active') {
-			return `${color.cyan(S_CHECKBOX_ACTIVE)} ${label}${
-				option.hint ? ` ${color.dim(`(${option.hint})`)}` : ''
+			return `${styleText('cyan', S_CHECKBOX_ACTIVE)} ${label}${
+				option.hint ? ` ${styleText('dim', `(${option.hint})`)}` : ''
 			}`;
 		}
 		if (state === 'selected') {
-			return `${color.green(S_CHECKBOX_SELECTED)} ${color.dim(label)}${
-				option.hint ? ` ${color.dim(`(${option.hint})`)}` : ''
+			return `${styleText('green', S_CHECKBOX_SELECTED)} ${styleText('dim', label)}${
+				option.hint ? ` ${styleText('dim', `(${option.hint})`)}` : ''
 			}`;
 		}
 		if (state === 'cancelled') {
-			return `${color.strikethrough(color.dim(label))}`;
+			return `${styleText('strikethrough', styleText('dim', label))}`;
 		}
 		if (state === 'active-selected') {
-			return `${color.green(S_CHECKBOX_SELECTED)} ${label}${
-				option.hint ? ` ${color.dim(`(${option.hint})`)}` : ''
+			return `${styleText('green', S_CHECKBOX_SELECTED)} ${label}${
+				option.hint ? ` ${styleText('dim', `(${option.hint})`)}` : ''
 			}`;
 		}
 		if (state === 'submitted') {
-			return `${color.dim(label)}`;
+			return `${styleText('dim', label)}`;
 		}
-		return `${color.dim(S_CHECKBOX_INACTIVE)} ${color.dim(label)}`;
+		return `${styleText('dim', S_CHECKBOX_INACTIVE)} ${styleText('dim', label)}`;
 	};
 	const required = opts.required ?? true;
 
@@ -73,16 +73,19 @@ export const multiselect = <Value>(opts: MultiSelectOptions<Value>) => {
 		cursorAt: opts.cursorAt,
 		validate(selected: Value[] | undefined) {
 			if (required && (selected === undefined || selected.length === 0))
-				return `Please select at least one option.\n${color.reset(
-					color.dim(
-						`Press ${color.gray(color.bgWhite(color.inverse(' space ')))} to select, ${color.gray(
-							color.bgWhite(color.inverse(' enter '))
+				return `Please select at least one option.\n${styleText(
+					'reset',
+					styleText(
+						'dim',
+						`Press ${styleText(['gray', 'bgWhite', 'inverse'], ' space ')} to select, ${styleText(
+							'gray',
+							styleText('bgWhite', styleText('inverse', ' enter '))
 						)} to submit`
 					)
 				)}`;
 		},
 		render() {
-			const title = `${color.gray(S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
+			const title = `${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
 			const value = this.value ?? [];
 
 			const styleOption = (option: Option<Value>, active: boolean) => {
@@ -101,28 +104,28 @@ export const multiselect = <Value>(opts: MultiSelectOptions<Value>) => {
 
 			switch (this.state) {
 				case 'submit': {
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}  ${
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}  ${
 						this.options
 							.filter(({ value: optionValue }) => value.includes(optionValue))
 							.map((option) => opt(option, 'submitted'))
-							.join(color.dim(', ')) || color.dim('none')
+							.join(styleText('dim', ', ')) || styleText('dim', 'none')
 					}`;
 				}
 				case 'cancel': {
 					const label = this.options
 						.filter(({ value: optionValue }) => value.includes(optionValue))
 						.map((option) => opt(option, 'cancelled'))
-						.join(color.dim(', '));
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}${
-						label.trim() ? `  ${label}\n${color.gray(S_BAR)}` : ''
+						.join(styleText('dim', ', '));
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}${
+						label.trim() ? `  ${label}\n${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}` : ''
 					}`;
 				}
 				case 'error': {
-					const prefix = `${color.yellow(S_BAR)}  `;
+					const prefix = `${styleText('yellow', S_BAR)}  `;
 					const footer = this.error
 						.split('\n')
 						.map((ln, i) =>
-							i === 0 ? `${color.yellow(S_BAR_END)}  ${color.yellow(ln)}` : `   ${ln}`
+							i === 0 ? `${styleText('yellow', S_BAR_END)}  ${styleText('yellow', ln)}` : `   ${ln}`
 						)
 						.join('\n');
 					return `${title}${prefix}${limitOptions({
@@ -135,7 +138,7 @@ export const multiselect = <Value>(opts: MultiSelectOptions<Value>) => {
 					}).join(`\n${prefix}`)}\n${footer}\n`;
 				}
 				default: {
-					const prefix = `${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  `;
+					const prefix = `${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  `;
 					return `${title}${prefix}${limitOptions({
 						output: opts.output,
 						options: this.options,
@@ -143,7 +146,7 @@ export const multiselect = <Value>(opts: MultiSelectOptions<Value>) => {
 						maxItems: opts.maxItems,
 						columnPadding: prefix.length,
 						style: styleOption,
-					}).join(`\n${prefix}`)}\n${color.cyan(S_BAR_END)}\n`;
+					}).join(`\n${prefix}`)}\n${styleText('cyan', S_BAR_END)}\n`;
 				}
 			}
 		},
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/note.ts b/packages/prompts/src/note.ts
index bd80d07b..50f7b0e9 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/note.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/note.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import process from 'node:process';
 import type { Writable } from 'node:stream';
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { getColumns } from '@clack/core';
 import stringWidth from 'fast-string-width';
 import { type Options as WrapAnsiOptions, wrapAnsi } from 'fast-wrap-ansi';
-import color from 'picocolors';
 import {
 	type CommonOptions,
 	S_BAR,
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export interface NoteOptions extends CommonOptions {
 	format?: FormatFn;
 }
 
-const defaultNoteFormatter = (line: string): string => color.dim(line);
+const defaultNoteFormatter = (line: string): string => styleText('dim', line);
 
 const wrapWithFormat = (message: string, width: number, format: FormatFn): string => {
 	const opts: WrapAnsiOptions = {
@@ -49,12 +49,14 @@ export const note = (message = '', title = '', opts?: NoteOptions) => {
 		) + 2;
 	const msg = lines
 		.map(
-			(ln) => `${color.gray(S_BAR)}  ${ln}${' '.repeat(len - stringWidth(ln))}${color.gray(S_BAR)}`
+			(ln) =>
+				`${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}  ${ln}${' '.repeat(len - stringWidth(ln))}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}`
 		)
 		.join('\n');
 	output.write(
-		`${color.gray(S_BAR)}\n${color.green(S_STEP_SUBMIT)}  ${color.reset(title)} ${color.gray(
+		`${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}\n${styleText('green', S_STEP_SUBMIT)}  ${styleText('reset', title)} ${styleText(
+			'gray',
 			S_BAR_H.repeat(Math.max(len - titleLen - 1, 1)) + S_CORNER_TOP_RIGHT
-		)}\n${msg}\n${color.gray(S_CONNECT_LEFT + S_BAR_H.repeat(len + 2) + S_CORNER_BOTTOM_RIGHT)}\n`
+		)}\n${msg}\n${styleText('gray', S_CONNECT_LEFT + S_BAR_H.repeat(len + 2) + S_CORNER_BOTTOM_RIGHT)}\n`
 	);
 };
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/password.ts b/packages/prompts/src/password.ts
index 8010960b..a3c4a3ca 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/password.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/password.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { PasswordPrompt } from '@clack/core';
-import color from 'picocolors';
 import { type CommonOptions, S_BAR, S_BAR_END, S_PASSWORD_MASK, symbol } from './common.js';
 
 export interface PasswordOptions extends CommonOptions {
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ export const password = (opts: PasswordOptions) => {
 		input: opts.input,
 		output: opts.output,
 		render() {
-			const title = `${color.gray(S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
+			const title = `${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
 			const userInput = this.userInputWithCursor;
 			const masked = this.masked;
 
@@ -26,22 +26,25 @@ export const password = (opts: PasswordOptions) => {
 					if (opts.clearOnError) {
 						this.clear();
 					}
-					return `${title.trim()}\n${color.yellow(S_BAR)}${maskedText}\n${color.yellow(
+					return `${title.trim()}\n${styleText('yellow', S_BAR)}${maskedText}\n${styleText(
+						'yellow',
 						S_BAR_END
-					)}  ${color.yellow(this.error)}\n`;
+					)}  ${styleText('yellow', this.error)}\n`;
 				}
 				case 'submit': {
-					const maskedText = masked ? `  ${color.dim(masked)}` : '';
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}${maskedText}`;
+					const maskedText = masked ? `  ${styleText('dim', masked)}` : '';
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}${maskedText}`;
 				}
 				case 'cancel': {
-					const maskedText = masked ? `  ${color.strikethrough(color.dim(masked))}` : '';
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}${maskedText}${
-						masked ? `\n${color.gray(S_BAR)}` : ''
+					const maskedText = masked
+						? `  ${styleText(['strikethrough', 'dim'], masked)}`
+						: '';
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}${maskedText}${
+						masked ? `\n${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}` : ''
 					}`;
 				}
 				default:
-					return `${title}${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  ${userInput}\n${color.cyan(S_BAR_END)}\n`;
+					return `${title}${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  ${userInput}\n${styleText('cyan', S_BAR_END)}\n`;
 			}
 		},
 	}).prompt() as Promise<string | symbol>;
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/progress-bar.ts b/packages/prompts/src/progress-bar.ts
index 8801833c..2a22de7b 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/progress-bar.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/progress-bar.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import type { State } from '@clack/core';
-import color from 'picocolors';
 import { unicodeOr } from './common.js';
 import { type SpinnerOptions, type SpinnerResult, spinner } from './spinner.js';
 
@@ -36,19 +36,19 @@ export function progress({
 		switch (state) {
 			case 'initial':
 			case 'active':
-				return color.magenta;
+				return (text: string) => styleText('magenta', text);
 			case 'error':
 			case 'cancel':
-				return color.red;
+				return (text: string) => styleText('red', text);
 			case 'submit':
-				return color.green;
+				return (text: string) => styleText('green', text);
 			default:
-				return color.magenta;
+				return (text: string) => styleText('magenta', text);
 		}
 	};
 	const drawProgress = (state: State, msg: string) => {
 		const active = Math.floor((value / max) * size);
-		return `${activeStyle(state)(S_PROGRESS_CHAR[style].repeat(active))}${color.dim(S_PROGRESS_CHAR[style].repeat(size - active))} ${msg}`;
+		return `${activeStyle(state)(S_PROGRESS_CHAR[style].repeat(active))}${styleText('dim', S_PROGRESS_CHAR[style].repeat(size - active))} ${msg}`;
 	};
 
 	const start = (msg = '') => {
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/select-key.ts b/packages/prompts/src/select-key.ts
index f5bbbf69..93fe899a 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/select-key.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/select-key.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { SelectKeyPrompt } from '@clack/core';
-import color from 'picocolors';
 import { S_BAR, S_BAR_END, symbol } from './common.js';
 import type { Option, SelectOptions } from './select.js';
 
@@ -10,18 +10,18 @@ export const selectKey = <Value extends string>(opts: SelectOptions<Value>) => {
 	) => {
 		const label = option.label ?? String(option.value);
 		if (state === 'selected') {
-			return `${color.dim(label)}`;
+			return `${styleText('dim', label)}`;
 		}
 		if (state === 'cancelled') {
-			return `${color.strikethrough(color.dim(label))}`;
+			return `${styleText(['strikethrough', 'dim'], label)}`;
 		}
 		if (state === 'active') {
-			return `${color.bgCyan(color.gray(` ${option.value} `))} ${label} ${
-				option.hint ? color.dim(`(${option.hint})`) : ''
+			return `${styleText(['bgCyan', 'gray'], ` ${option.value} `)} ${label} ${
+				option.hint ? styleText('dim', `(${option.hint})`) : ''
 			}`;
 		}
-		return `${color.gray(color.bgWhite(color.inverse(` ${option.value} `)))} ${label} ${
-			option.hint ? color.dim(`(${option.hint})`) : ''
+		return `${styleText(['gray', 'bgWhite', 'inverse'], ` ${option.value} `)} ${label} ${
+			option.hint ? styleText('dim', `(${option.hint})`) : ''
 		}`;
 	};
 
@@ -32,22 +32,23 @@ export const selectKey = <Value extends string>(opts: SelectOptions<Value>) => {
 		output: opts.output,
 		initialValue: opts.initialValue,
 		render() {
-			const title = `${color.gray(S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
+			const title = `${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
 
 			switch (this.state) {
 				case 'submit':
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}  ${opt(
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}  ${opt(
 						this.options.find((opt) => opt.value === this.value) ?? opts.options[0],
 						'selected'
 					)}`;
 				case 'cancel':
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}  ${opt(this.options[0], 'cancelled')}\n${color.gray(
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}  ${opt(this.options[0], 'cancelled')}\n${styleText(
+						'gray',
 						S_BAR
 					)}`;
 				default: {
-					return `${title}${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  ${this.options
+					return `${title}${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  ${this.options
 						.map((option, i) => opt(option, i === this.cursor ? 'active' : 'inactive'))
-						.join(`\n${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  `)}\n${color.cyan(S_BAR_END)}\n`;
+						.join(`\n${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  `)}\n${styleText('cyan', S_BAR_END)}\n`;
 				}
 			}
 		},
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/select.ts b/packages/prompts/src/select.ts
index b091161c..996f33a9 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/select.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/select.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { SelectPrompt } from '@clack/core';
-import color from 'picocolors';
 import {
 	type CommonOptions,
 	S_BAR,
@@ -79,19 +79,19 @@ export const select = <Value>(opts: SelectOptions<Value>) => {
 		const label = option.label ?? String(option.value);
 		switch (state) {
 			case 'disabled':
-				return `${color.gray(S_RADIO_INACTIVE)} ${color.gray(label)}${
-					option.hint ? ` ${color.dim(`(${option.hint ?? 'disabled'})`)}` : ''
+				return `${styleText('gray', S_RADIO_INACTIVE)} ${styleText('gray', label)}${
+					option.hint ? ` ${styleText('dim', `(${option.hint ?? 'disabled'})`)}` : ''
 				}`;
 			case 'selected':
-				return `${color.dim(label)}`;
+				return `${styleText('dim', label)}`;
 			case 'active':
-				return `${color.green(S_RADIO_ACTIVE)} ${label}${
-					option.hint ? ` ${color.dim(`(${option.hint})`)}` : ''
+				return `${styleText('green', S_RADIO_ACTIVE)} ${label}${
+					option.hint ? ` ${styleText('dim', `(${option.hint})`)}` : ''
 				}`;
 			case 'cancelled':
-				return `${color.strikethrough(color.dim(label))}`;
+				return `${styleText(['strikethrough', 'dim'], label)}`;
 			default:
-				return `${color.dim(S_RADIO_INACTIVE)} ${color.dim(label)}`;
+				return `${styleText('dim', S_RADIO_INACTIVE)} ${styleText('dim', label)}`;
 		}
 	};
 
@@ -102,18 +102,18 @@ export const select = <Value>(opts: SelectOptions<Value>) => {
 		output: opts.output,
 		initialValue: opts.initialValue,
 		render() {
-			const title = `${color.gray(S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
+			const title = `${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
 
 			switch (this.state) {
 				case 'submit':
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}  ${opt(this.options[this.cursor], 'selected')}`;
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}  ${opt(this.options[this.cursor], 'selected')}`;
 				case 'cancel':
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}  ${opt(
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}  ${opt(
 						this.options[this.cursor],
 						'cancelled'
-					)}\n${color.gray(S_BAR)}`;
+					)}\n${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}`;
 				default: {
-					const prefix = `${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  `;
+					const prefix = `${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  `;
 					return `${title}${prefix}${limitOptions({
 						output: opts.output,
 						cursor: this.cursor,
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ export const select = <Value>(opts: SelectOptions<Value>) => {
 						columnPadding: prefix.length,
 						style: (item, active) =>
 							opt(item, item.disabled ? 'disabled' : active ? 'active' : 'inactive'),
-					}).join(`\n${prefix}`)}\n${color.cyan(S_BAR_END)}\n`;
+					}).join(`\n${prefix}`)}\n${styleText('cyan', S_BAR_END)}\n`;
 				}
 			}
 		},
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/spinner.ts b/packages/prompts/src/spinner.ts
index 498a1f56..a972c799 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/spinner.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/spinner.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { block, getColumns, settings } from '@clack/core';
 import { wrapAnsi } from 'fast-wrap-ansi';
-import color from 'picocolors';
 import { cursor, erase } from 'sisteransi';
 import {
 	type CommonOptions,
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export interface SpinnerResult {
 	readonly isCancelled: boolean;
 }
 
-const defaultStyleFn: SpinnerOptions['styleFrame'] = color.magenta;
+const defaultStyleFn: SpinnerOptions['styleFrame'] = (frame) => styleText('magenta', frame);
 
 export const spinner = ({
 	indicator = 'dots',
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ export const spinner = ({
 		unblock = block({ output });
 		_message = removeTrailingDots(msg);
 		_origin = performance.now();
-		output.write(`${color.gray(S_BAR)}\n`);
+		output.write(`${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}\n`);
 		let frameIndex = 0;
 		let indicatorTimer = 0;
 		registerHooks();
@@ -170,10 +170,10 @@ export const spinner = ({
 		clearPrevMessage();
 		const step =
 			code === 0
-				? color.green(S_STEP_SUBMIT)
+				? styleText('green', S_STEP_SUBMIT)
 				: code === 1
-					? color.red(S_STEP_CANCEL)
-					: color.red(S_STEP_ERROR);
+					? styleText('red', S_STEP_CANCEL)
+					: styleText('red', S_STEP_ERROR);
 		_message = msg ?? _message;
 		if (indicator === 'timer') {
 			output.write(`${step}  ${_message} ${formatTimer(_origin)}\n`);
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/stream.ts b/packages/prompts/src/stream.ts
index 19e79c11..4ff3db5e 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/stream.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/stream.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
-import { stripVTControlCharacters as strip } from 'node:util';
-import color from 'picocolors';
+import { stripVTControlCharacters as strip, styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { S_BAR, S_ERROR, S_INFO, S_STEP_SUBMIT, S_SUCCESS, S_WARN } from './common.js';
 import type { LogMessageOptions } from './log.js';
 
-const prefix = `${color.gray(S_BAR)}  `;
+const prefix = `${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}  `;
 
 // TODO (43081j): this currently doesn't support custom `output` writables
 // because we rely on `columns` existing (i.e. `process.stdout.columns).
@@ -13,9 +12,9 @@ const prefix = `${color.gray(S_BAR)}  `;
 export const stream = {
 	message: async (
 		iterable: Iterable<string> | AsyncIterable<string>,
-		{ symbol = color.gray(S_BAR) }: LogMessageOptions = {}
+		{ symbol = styleText('gray', S_BAR) }: LogMessageOptions = {}
 	) => {
-		process.stdout.write(`${color.gray(S_BAR)}\n${symbol}  `);
+		process.stdout.write(`${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}\n${symbol}  `);
 		let lineWidth = 3;
 		for await (let chunk of iterable) {
 			chunk = chunk.replace(/\n/g, `\n${prefix}`);
@@ -34,22 +33,22 @@ export const stream = {
 		process.stdout.write('\n');
 	},
 	info: (iterable: Iterable<string> | AsyncIterable<string>) => {
-		return stream.message(iterable, { symbol: color.blue(S_INFO) });
+		return stream.message(iterable, { symbol: styleText('blue', S_INFO) });
 	},
 	success: (iterable: Iterable<string> | AsyncIterable<string>) => {
-		return stream.message(iterable, { symbol: color.green(S_SUCCESS) });
+		return stream.message(iterable, { symbol: styleText('green', S_SUCCESS) });
 	},
 	step: (iterable: Iterable<string> | AsyncIterable<string>) => {
-		return stream.message(iterable, { symbol: color.green(S_STEP_SUBMIT) });
+		return stream.message(iterable, { symbol: styleText('green', S_STEP_SUBMIT) });
 	},
 	warn: (iterable: Iterable<string> | AsyncIterable<string>) => {
-		return stream.message(iterable, { symbol: color.yellow(S_WARN) });
+		return stream.message(iterable, { symbol: styleText('yellow', S_WARN) });
 	},
 	/** alias for `log.warn()`. */
 	warning: (iterable: Iterable<string> | AsyncIterable<string>) => {
 		return stream.warn(iterable);
 	},
 	error: (iterable: Iterable<string> | AsyncIterable<string>) => {
-		return stream.message(iterable, { symbol: color.red(S_ERROR) });
+		return stream.message(iterable, { symbol: styleText('red', S_ERROR) });
 	},
 };
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/task-log.ts b/packages/prompts/src/task-log.ts
index a484499f..6b7d78c6 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/task-log.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/task-log.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import type { Writable } from 'node:stream';
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { getColumns } from '@clack/core';
-import color from 'picocolors';
 import { erase } from 'sisteransi';
 import {
 	type CommonOptions,
@@ -42,14 +42,14 @@ interface BufferEntry {
 export const taskLog = (opts: TaskLogOptions) => {
 	const output: Writable = opts.output ?? process.stdout;
 	const columns = getColumns(output);
-	const secondarySymbol = color.gray(S_BAR);
+	const secondarySymbol = styleText('gray', S_BAR);
 	const spacing = opts.spacing ?? 1;
 	const barSize = 3;
 	const retainLog = opts.retainLog === true;
 	const isTTY = !isCIFn() && isTTYFn(output);
 
 	output.write(`${secondarySymbol}\n`);
-	output.write(`${color.green(S_STEP_SUBMIT)}  ${opts.title}\n`);
+	output.write(`${styleText('green', S_STEP_SUBMIT)}  ${opts.title}\n`);
 	for (let i = 0; i < spacing; i++) {
 		output.write(`${secondarySymbol}\n`);
 	}
@@ -103,19 +103,25 @@ export const taskLog = (opts: TaskLogOptions) => {
 	const printBuffer = (buffer: BufferEntry, messageSpacing?: number, full?: boolean): void => {
 		const messages = full ? `${buffer.full}\n${buffer.value}` : buffer.value;
 		if (buffer.header !== undefined && buffer.header !== '') {
-			log.message(buffer.header.split('\n').map(color.bold), {
+			log.message(
+				buffer.header.split('\n').map((line) => styleText('bold', line)),
+				{
+					output,
+					secondarySymbol,
+					symbol: secondarySymbol,
+					spacing: 0,
+				}
+			);
+		}
+		log.message(
+			messages.split('\n').map((line) => styleText('dim', line)),
+			{
 				output,
 				secondarySymbol,
 				symbol: secondarySymbol,
-				spacing: 0,
-			});
-		}
-		log.message(messages.split('\n').map(color.dim), {
-			output,
-			secondarySymbol,
-			symbol: secondarySymbol,
-			spacing: messageSpacing ?? spacing,
-		});
+				spacing: messageSpacing ?? spacing,
+			}
+		);
 	};
 	const renderBuffer = (): void => {
 		for (const buffer of buffers) {
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/text.ts b/packages/prompts/src/text.ts
index 244f7c8d..0a362e80 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/text.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/text.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { TextPrompt } from '@clack/core';
-import color from 'picocolors';
 import { type CommonOptions, S_BAR, S_BAR_END, symbol } from './common.js';
 
 export interface TextOptions extends CommonOptions {
@@ -20,30 +20,31 @@ export const text = (opts: TextOptions) => {
 		signal: opts.signal,
 		input: opts.input,
 		render() {
-			const title = `${color.gray(S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
+			const title = `${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}\n${symbol(this.state)}  ${opts.message}\n`;
 			const placeholder = opts.placeholder
-				? color.inverse(opts.placeholder[0]) + color.dim(opts.placeholder.slice(1))
-				: color.inverse(color.hidden('_'));
+				? styleText('inverse', opts.placeholder[0]) + styleText('dim', opts.placeholder.slice(1))
+				: styleText(['inverse', 'hidden'], '_');
 			const userInput = !this.userInput ? placeholder : this.userInputWithCursor;
 			const value = this.value ?? '';
 
 			switch (this.state) {
 				case 'error': {
-					const errorText = this.error ? `  ${color.yellow(this.error)}` : '';
-					return `${title.trim()}\n${color.yellow(S_BAR)}  ${userInput}\n${color.yellow(
+					const errorText = this.error ? `  ${styleText('yellow', this.error)}` : '';
+					return `${title.trim()}\n${styleText('yellow', S_BAR)}  ${userInput}\n${styleText(
+						'yellow',
 						S_BAR_END
 					)}${errorText}\n`;
 				}
 				case 'submit': {
-					const valueText = value ? `  ${color.dim(value)}` : '';
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}${valueText}`;
+					const valueText = value ? `  ${styleText('dim', value)}` : '';
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}${valueText}`;
 				}
 				case 'cancel': {
-					const valueText = value ? `  ${color.strikethrough(color.dim(value))}` : '';
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}${valueText}${value.trim() ? `\n${color.gray(S_BAR)}` : ''}`;
+					const valueText = value ? `  ${styleText(['strikethrough', 'dim'], value)}` : '';
+					return `${title}${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}${valueText}${value.trim() ? `\n${styleText('gray', S_BAR)}` : ''}`;
 				}
 				default:
-					return `${title}${color.cyan(S_BAR)}  ${userInput}\n${color.cyan(S_BAR_END)}\n`;
+					return `${title}${styleText('cyan', S_BAR)}  ${userInput}\n${styleText('cyan', S_BAR_END)}\n`;
 			}
 		},
 	}).prompt() as Promise<string | symbol>;
diff --git a/packages/prompts/test/box.test.ts b/packages/prompts/test/box.test.ts
index 31105984..f3c82532 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/test/box.test.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/test/box.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import colors from 'picocolors';
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { afterAll, afterEach, beforeAll, beforeEach, describe, expect, test, vi } from 'vitest';
 import * as prompts from '../src/index.js';
 import { MockReadable, MockWritable } from './test-utils.js';
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ describe.each(['true', 'false'])('box (isCI = %s)', (isCI) => {
 			input,
 			output,
 			width: 'auto',
-			formatBorder: colors.red,
+			formatBorder: (text: string) => styleText('red', text),
 		});
 
 		expect(output.buffer).toMatchSnapshot();
diff --git a/packages/prompts/test/limit-options.test.ts b/packages/prompts/test/limit-options.test.ts
index f48f4a7a..aaee854c 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/test/limit-options.test.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/test/limit-options.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import color from 'picocolors';
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, test } from 'vitest';
 import { type LimitOptionsParams, limitOptions } from '../src/index.js';
 import { MockWritable } from './test-utils.js';
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ describe('limitOptions', () => {
 		];
 		options.maxItems = 3;
 		const result = limitOptions(options);
-		expect(result).toEqual(['Item 1', 'Item 2', 'Item 3', 'Item 4', color.dim('...')]);
+		expect(result).toEqual(['Item 1', 'Item 2', 'Item 3', 'Item 4', styleText('dim', '...')]);
 	});
 
 	test('returns sliding window when cursor moves down', async () => {
@@ -59,7 +59,13 @@ describe('limitOptions', () => {
 		options.maxItems = 5;
 		options.cursor = 6;
 		const result = limitOptions(options);
-		expect(result).toEqual([color.dim('...'), 'Item 6', 'Item 7', 'Item 8', color.dim('...')]);
+		expect(result).toEqual([
+			styleText('dim', '...'),
+			'Item 6',
+			'Item 7',
+			'Item 8',
+			styleText('dim', '...'),
+		]);
 	});
 
 	test('returns sliding window near end of list', async () => {
@@ -78,7 +84,7 @@ describe('limitOptions', () => {
 		options.maxItems = 5;
 		options.cursor = 8;
 		const result = limitOptions(options);
-		expect(result).toEqual([color.dim('...'), 'Item 7', 'Item 8', 'Item 9', 'Item 10']);
+		expect(result).toEqual([styleText('dim', '...'), 'Item 7', 'Item 8', 'Item 9', 'Item 10']);
 	});
 
 	test('handles empty options list', async () => {
@@ -103,7 +109,7 @@ describe('limitOptions', () => {
 		output.rows = 7;
 		options.maxItems = 10;
 		const result = limitOptions(options);
-		expect(result).toEqual(['Item 1', 'Item 2', color.dim('...')]);
+		expect(result).toEqual(['Item 1', 'Item 2', styleText('dim', '...')]);
 	});
 
 	test('handle multi-line item clamping (start)', async () => {
@@ -138,7 +144,7 @@ describe('limitOptions', () => {
 			'Item 6',
 			'Item 7',
 			'Item 8',
-			color.dim('...'),
+			styleText('dim', '...'),
 		]);
 	});
 
@@ -164,7 +170,7 @@ describe('limitOptions', () => {
 		options.cursor = 7;
 		const result = limitOptions(options);
 		expect(result).toEqual([
-			color.dim('...'),
+			styleText('dim', '...'),
 			'Item 2',
 			'Item 3',
 			'Item 4',
@@ -175,7 +181,7 @@ describe('limitOptions', () => {
 			'Item 6',
 			'Item 7',
 			'Item 8',
-			color.dim('...'),
+			styleText('dim', '...'),
 		]);
 	});
 
@@ -201,7 +207,7 @@ describe('limitOptions', () => {
 		options.cursor = 9;
 		const result = limitOptions(options);
 		expect(result).toEqual([
-			color.dim('...'),
+			styleText('dim', '...'),
 			'Item 4',
 			'Item 5',
 			'Item 6',
diff --git a/packages/prompts/test/note.test.ts b/packages/prompts/test/note.test.ts
index ac0df4fe..887448ed 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/test/note.test.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/test/note.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import colors from 'picocolors';
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { afterAll, afterEach, beforeAll, beforeEach, describe, expect, test, vi } from 'vitest';
 import * as prompts from '../src/index.js';
 import { MockReadable, MockWritable } from './test-utils.js';
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ describe.each(['true', 'false'])('note (isCI = %s)', (isCI) => {
 
 	test('formatter which adds colors works', () => {
 		prompts.note('line 0\nline 1\nline 2', 'title', {
-			format: (line) => colors.red(line),
+			format: (line) => styleText('red', line),
 			input,
 			output,
 		});
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ describe.each(['true', 'false'])('note (isCI = %s)', (isCI) => {
 		const message = `${'test string '.repeat(32)}\n`.repeat(4).trim();
 		output.columns = 75;
 		prompts.note(message, 'title', {
-			format: (line) => colors.red(`* ${colors.cyan(line)} *`),
+			format: (line) => styleText('red', `* ${styleText('cyan', line)} *`),
 			input,
 			output,
 		});
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ describe.each(['true', 'false'])('note (isCI = %s)', (isCI) => {
 		const messages = ['이게 첫 번째 줄이에요', 'これは次の行です'];
 		output.columns = 10;
 		prompts.note(messages.join('\n'), '这是标题', {
-			format: (line) => colors.red(`* ${colors.cyan(line)} *`),
+			format: (line) => styleText('red', `* ${styleText('cyan', line)} *`),
 			input,
 			output,
 		});
diff --git a/packages/prompts/test/spinner.test.ts b/packages/prompts/test/spinner.test.ts
index 63ecc533..66ef5794 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/test/spinner.test.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/test/spinner.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { EventEmitter } from 'node:stream';
+import { styleText } from 'node:util';
 import { getColumns } from '@clack/core';
-import color from 'picocolors';
 import { afterAll, afterEach, beforeAll, beforeEach, describe, expect, test, vi } from 'vitest';
 import * as prompts from '../src/index.js';
 import { MockWritable } from './test-utils.js';
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ describe.each(['true', 'false'])('spinner (isCI = %s)', (isCI) => {
 		});
 
 		test('custom frame style', () => {
-			const result = prompts.spinner({ output, styleFrame: color.red });
+			const result = prompts.spinner({ output, styleFrame: (text) => styleText('red', text) });
 
 			result.start();
 
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index 2c19acf1..5d1d962b 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -60,9 +60,6 @@ importers:
 
   packages/core:
     dependencies:
-      picocolors:
-        specifier: ^1.0.0
-        version: 1.1.1
       sisteransi:
         specifier: ^1.0.5
         version: 1.0.5
@@ -79,9 +76,6 @@ importers:
       '@clack/core':
         specifier: workspace:*
         version: link:../core
-      picocolors:
-        specifier: ^1.0.0
-        version: 1.1.1
       sisteransi:
         specifier: ^1.0.5
         version: 1.0.5