MacOS comes pre-loaded with a load of great software, from music-creation tools like Garageband to the smart 'search everywhere' Spotlight. But your Mac only gets better as you begin adding excellent third-party software titles.
Apple's Mac computers have built up a large and ingenious community of app developers, and many of the best Mac apps are made by third-party devs filling the gaps between what Apple's own software teams can create.
From note taking apps to password managers, there are a lot of choices out there, but only a few are considered the best. Whether you just purchased a brand-spanking new M2 MacBook Air or have an older Mac, the following apps are the ones we recommend the most. So check them out and watch this list grow over time.
Utilities
Shottr
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MacOS already comes with a pretty robust screenshot tool, letting you grab whole screens, windows or selection with a few quick keyboard shortcuts. But what if you need more? What if you need to be able to analyse elements of those screenshots, or annotate them with just a few quick clicks.
Shottr is your answer. Not only can it do everything macOS natively does, but it adds really useful features like zoom options, pixel rulers, scrolling screenshots, loads of markup options and AI-powered image detection tools that let you grab specific elements of a screenshot, or intelligently blur out text automatically. It's great, powerful, and actually very simple to use, too.
Best of all? It's totally free, so you'd be an idiot not to at least give it a go.
iStat Menus
iStat Menus is a powerful monitoring tool that provides detailed information about the various systems in your Mac, such as CPU, GPU, memory, disk usage, network activity, temperatures, battery life, and more. Its greatest strength lies in its ability to present this data in a highly customizable, at-a-glance format in the macOS menu bar.
Users can tailor which statistics are displayed and how they are presented, making it an essential tool for power users who need to keep a close eye on their system's performance and resource utilization. With its real-time updates and comprehensive coverage, iStat Menus offers deep insights into the functioning of your Mac, aiding in both routine monitoring and troubleshooting scenarios.
DaisyDisk
DaisyDisk is a visually engaging and easy-to-use tool for Mac users to analyze and manage disk space. It scans drives, presenting a color-coded interactive map that shows the sizes of files and folders in a sunburst diagram. This intuitive interface allows users to quickly identify large files and folders, making it easier to free up space by pinpointing unnecessary or forgotten data.
Users can preview file contents, delete unneeded files directly from the app, and even find hidden space occupied by cache or system files. DaisyDisk's combination of efficiency, simplicity, and aesthetic appeal makes it a popular choice for managing storage on macOS.
Hazel
Hazel is a powerful organization tool for Mac that automates the management of files and folders to enhance productivity and efficiency. It works silently in the background, customizing workflows based on user-defined rules. With Hazel, users can automatically organize files based on criteria such as name, date, type, or content. The app can rename files, sort them into folders, delete or archive old documents, and much more.
It's particularly useful for managing downloads, reducing desktop clutter, and handling repetitive tasks like filing and archiving. Hazel's user-friendly interface makes setting up rules straightforward, making it a valuable tool for anyone looking to streamline their digital file organization.
AppCleaner
AppCleaner is a small application designed to help Mac users thoroughly uninstall unwanted apps. When you drag an application to the Trash, it may leave behind residual files—AppCleaner addresses this by finding and removing all associated files, ensuring a clean uninstallation. The app's intuitive interface allows users to simply drag and drop the application they want to remove.
Additionally, AppCleaner includes a feature that can identify and list all installed applications, widgets, and plugins, providing an easy way to browse and select items for removal. This utility is particularly valuable for maintaining a clutter-free and efficient operating system, making it a must-have tool for Mac users who frequently install and test new software. AppCleaner's effectiveness and simplicity make it a popular choice in the Mac community for managing software installations and system health.
Magnet
The Magnet app for Mac is an essential tool for optimizing workspace efficiency and organization. Tailored specifically for macOS, it enables users to manage their windows and workspace with remarkable ease. With simple and intuitive controls, Magnet allows users to snap windows into various sizes and positions, maximizing screen real estate.
This is particularly useful for multitasking, as it facilitates side-by-side comparisons and seamless workflow transitions. Users can drag windows to screen edges or use keyboard shortcuts for even faster arrangement. Ideal for professionals and casual users alike, Magnet transforms the Mac desktop into a highly customizable and productive environment, enhancing focus and efficiency.
OnyX
OnyX is a multifunction utility for macOS designed to improve and maintain the health of your Mac. It's a versatile tool, offering a comprehensive suite of functions to verify the startup disk and the structure of system files, to run miscellaneous tasks of system maintenance, to configure hidden parameters of Finder, Dock, Safari, and some Apple applications, and to delete caches, remove certain problematic folders and files, and rebuild various databases and indexes.
OnyX stands out for its thoroughness in system diagnostics and maintenance tasks. It's particularly appreciated by power users for its depth, but its straightforward interface also makes it accessible to average users looking to keep their Mac in optimal condition. With its wide range of tools and customization options, OnyX is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to maintain their Mac's performance and troubleshoot potential issues.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a small yet impactful utility app for macOS, designed to prevent your Mac from automatically going into sleep mode. Its operation is elegantly simple: once activated, it keeps your Mac awake, much like caffeine does for people. This function is particularly useful during tasks that require uninterrupted screen visibility, such as presentations, long downloads, or while reading lengthy documents.
The app resides in the menu bar for quick access, enabling users to activate or deactivate it with just a click. Its intuitive, no-frills interface and straightforward functionality make Caffeine a favorite among users who seek to maintain screen activity without delving into system settings. The lightweight nature of the app ensures it runs unobtrusively, making it a must-have for users who prioritize efficiency and uninterrupted workflow.
Carbon Copy Cloner
Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) is a robust and reliable backup tool for Mac OS that offers a simple yet powerful solution to protect your digital data. Renowned for its intuitive user interface, CCC simplifies the process of creating bootable backups, ensuring that you can recover from hardware failures or data corruption quickly. The app allows users to schedule backups for automated protection, supports incremental backups to save time and disk space, and provides detailed backup history for tracking changes.
Additionally, CCC offers advanced features like disk cloning, creating recovery partitions, and archiving older versions of files, making it an essential tool for both personal and professional use. Whether you're a casual user or a tech-savvy professional, CCC's combination of ease-of-use and advanced functionality makes it a top choice for Mac backup solutions.
Keka
Keka is a versatile and user-friendly file archiver for macOS, renowned for its simplicity and effectiveness. As a powerful tool for compressing and decompressing files, Keka supports a wide range of formats including 7z, Zip, Tar, Gzip, and Bzip2 for compression, and RAR, 7z, Lzma, Zip, Tar, Gzip, Bzip2, ISO, EXE, CAB, PAX, and ACE for extraction. Its drag-and-drop functionality simplifies the archiving process, allowing users to easily manage file compression and encryption with just a few clicks.
Keka's ability to create password-protected archives adds an extra layer of security, making it ideal for handling sensitive data. Additionally, its integration with macOS makes it a seamless and efficient tool for everyday file management tasks. Whether for personal use or professional file handling, Keka stands out for its reliability and ease of use in the Mac environment.
Amphetamine
Amphetamine is a versatile Mac app designed to prevent your computer from going to sleep, offering a customizable and powerful tool to keep your system awake. With a user-friendly interface, it enables users to easily manage and override energy-saving settings, ensuring uninterrupted tasks, presentations, or downloads.
Amphetamine allows personalized settings for specific scenarios, such as preventing sleep when certain apps are running. This lightweight utility appeals to users seeking enhanced control over their Mac's sleep behavior, offering a convenient solution to keep the system active when needed, with features like session scheduling and automatic activation for specific activities.
Alfred
Alfred is a powerful productivity application for macOS, enhancing efficiency and accessibility. Serving as more than just a launcher, Alfred enables users to quickly search files, perform system commands, and even control web services with customizable keywords. Its intuitive design and ability to create workflows make it a versatile tool for streamlining daily tasks.
Alfred's features include system commands, clipboard history, and the ability to expand its capabilities through various extensions. With a focus on speed and convenience, Alfred is a go-to app for users seeking a centralized hub to boost their Mac experience through smart and customizable automation.
Unclutter
Unclutter is a versatile Mac app designed for enhanced productivity. Serving as a unified digital workspace, it integrates three essential tools seamlessly. The first is a quick notepad, allowing users to jot down notes on the fly. The second is a file storage area, providing a convenient location for temporary file storage.
Finally, the third component is a clipboard manager, enabling easy access to a history of copied items. With a sleek and minimalistic interface, Unclutter helps users declutter their desktops and streamline daily tasks by consolidating essential utilities in one accessible and well-organized space.
CleanShot X
CleanShot X is a versatile Mac app designed for streamlined screen capture and recording. Combining powerful annotation tools with efficient screen-grabbing capabilities, it enhances productivity for users. With features like customizable hotkeys, a built-in editor, and the ability to capture specific screen elements, CleanShot X simplifies the process of creating and sharing screenshots and screen recordings.
Its intuitive interface and polished design contribute to a seamless user experience. Whether capturing full screens, specific regions, or recording video tutorials, CleanShot X stands out as an effective and user-friendly solution for anyone requiring advanced screenshot and screen recording functionality on their Mac.
Productivity
Bear
The Bear–Markdown Notes app ideally suits a range of different users, including students, teachers, engineers, parents, and more. It allows you to write in portable Markdown, encrypt your notes, sync notes, organize notes with nested tags, add sketches, pick a beautiful theme, export to various formats, and more.
Also available for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, Bear is the only tool you'll need to keep your notes or next masterpiece.
Notion
Notion for Mac is a versatile productivity app that consolidates multiple work tools into one. It serves as a note-taker, to-do list manager, spreadsheet, database, and more, all while allowing for seamless collaboration among users. Notion stands out for its clean, drag-and-drop interface that supports embedding multimedia and web content within pages. Users can create custom layouts and templates to suit their work or personal needs.
The app's modular design allows for deep customization, making it suitable for individuals and teams across various industries. With cloud-based synchronization, your data is accessible across all devices, ensuring a smooth workflow regardless of location. Notion's adaptability makes it a staple for organization and project management.
Things 3
Things 3 is an acclaimed task management app designed to help users organize their lives. It's known for its beautiful interface that is both simple and intuitive, making task management not only easy but also enjoyable. With Things 3, users can create to-do lists, set reminders, and schedule tasks.
The app uses a unique system that allows for categorizing tasks by time, context, or project, and it supports the GTD (Getting Things Done) methodology by David Allen. It has powerful features like headings for organizing projects, checklists within individual to-do items, and calendar integration for planning your day. Moreover, its seamless sync across devices ensures that users can keep track of their tasks anywhere, which enhances productivity for both personal and professional use.
OmniFocus
OmniFocus is a personal task manager by The Omni Group that helps users organize their workloads in a structured yet flexible way. It's designed around the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology, but its versatility allows for various personal productivity systems. OmniFocus allows users to capture thoughts and ideas into to-do lists, organize tasks into projects and categories, and prioritize activities based on their urgency and importance.
It offers context-based sorting, location-awareness for alerts on the go, and synchronization across devices. Its user interface is clean and focused, albeit with a steep learning curve for new users. With powerful reviewing tools and customizable workflows, OmniFocus stands out for helping users maintain focus and manage commitments in a busy digital life.
Trello
Trello is a visually-based project management application that organizes your tasks into boards, lists, and cards. This intuitive system allows for a clear overview of projects at a glance and is adaptable to individual or team workflows. With Trello, users can create boards for different projects, add lists to keep track of progress stages, and drop cards into these lists, representing tasks or ideas.
Features such as deadlines, attachments, and checklists help keep track of project details. Collaboration is easy with team members able to view updates in real-time. Trello's simplicity and flexibility make it an excellent tool for managing a wide array of projects and workflows, from content planning to software development sprints.
MindNode
MindNode is an intuitive mind-mapping app that turns the task of gathering and structuring thoughts into an effortless activity, promoting creative brainstorming sessions and organized planning. It allows users to visualize ideas by starting with a central concept and branching out to connect thoughts, tasks, and notes, creating a map that's easy to comprehend and navigate.
With an elegant design and straightforward functionality, MindNode supports focus on content, enabling the creation of expansive, interactive diagrams that can be shared and edited across platforms. It's an ideal tool for anyone looking to capture and cultivate early-stage ideas or complex information structures.
Pages
The Pages app for Mac is a versatile word processor and page layout tool, part of Apple's iWork productivity suite. Intuitive and elegantly designed, it offers a seamless experience for creating and editing documents. Whether it’s simple notes, professional reports, or intricate book layouts, Pages can handle it all with ease. It stands out with its real-time collaboration feature, allowing multiple users to work on a document simultaneously.
With its deep integration with macOS and iOS, users can start a project on one Apple device and continue on another. Pages supports various formats, including Word documents, and its graphic design capabilities enable adding charts, images, and custom drawings, making it an essential tool for both casual and professional users.
Numbers
The Numbers app for Mac, part of Apple's iWork suite, is a versatile and user-friendly spreadsheet application. It is designed to offer a more graphical and intuitive experience compared to traditional spreadsheet programs. With Numbers, users can create beautiful spreadsheets that include impressive tables and images. One of its standout features is the ability to add interactive charts, making data visualization more dynamic and engaging. Numbers supports collaborative work, allowing multiple users to edit documents simultaneously via iCloud.
Its seamless integration with other Apple applications and devices enhances productivity, especially for users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem. The app strikes a balance between functionality and aesthetics, making it suitable for both personal and professional use.
Keynote
Keynote is Apple's powerful and intuitive presentation software, renowned for its sleek design and user-friendly interface, making it a favorite among Mac users. It stands out for its elegant templates and sophisticated animation options, allowing anyone to create visually stunning presentations with ease. Keynote supports real-time collaboration, enabling teams to work together seamlessly, regardless of their location.
It integrates well with other Apple products, offering features like handoff between devices and iCloud synchronization. With Keynote, users can effortlessly export presentations to various formats, ensuring compatibility and ease of sharing. Its versatility and robust features make it a top choice for both professional and personal use.
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word for Mac is a powerful word processing application, part of the Microsoft Office suite. Renowned for its robust feature set and versatility, it caters to a wide range of document creation needs. From simple letters to complex reports, Word offers tools for formatting text, creating tables, and embedding images, ensuring professional and visually appealing documents.
Its collaborative features, such as real-time co-authoring and easy sharing options, enhance teamwork efficiency. Word also integrates seamlessly with other Office applications and cloud services like OneDrive. Its user-friendly interface, customizable templates, and advanced editing tools make it a top choice for both personal and professional use on Mac.
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel for Mac is a powerful spreadsheet application, part of the Microsoft Office Suite, renowned for its robust data analysis and visualization capabilities. It allows users to create, edit, and manage complex spreadsheets with ease. Excel's intuitive interface is optimized for Mac, ensuring seamless integration with macOS features like Dark Mode and Touch Bar support.
Users can perform a wide range of functions, from basic calculations to advanced data analysis with pivot tables, charts, and formulas. Excel's collaboration tools enable multiple users to work on documents simultaneously, making it a versatile tool for personal, educational, and professional use. Its compatibility with various file formats and cloud integration through OneDrive and SharePoint enhances its accessibility and functionality, making it a staple in data management and analysis.
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint for Mac is a powerful tool for creating professional and engaging presentations. As part of the Microsoft Office Suite, it offers a wide array of features tailored to design impactful slideshows. Users can choose from various templates, themes, and layouts, allowing for quick and easy creation of visually appealing presentations. PowerPoint's intuitive interface facilitates the incorporation of text, images, videos, and animations.
Users can also leverage advanced features like slide transitions, custom animations, and speaker notes to enhance their narrative. Collaboration is streamlined through shared editing and commenting capabilities. Ideal for business, educational, and personal use, PowerPoint remains a go-to solution for persuasive and effective communication through presentations.
Spark
Spark is a feature-rich email client for Mac, designed to streamline your inbox experience. Offering intelligent email prioritization, it categorizes messages into personal, notifications, and newsletters, promoting efficient communication. The app's Smart Inbox prioritizes essential emails, while its customizable interface enables tailored organization.
Intuitive features such as snoozing emails, send later options, and collaborative email drafting enhance productivity. With cross-device synchronization and compatibility with various email providers, Spark provides a unified and user-friendly email management solution for Mac users, aiming to declutter and simplify the often overwhelming task of managing emails.
Slack
The Slack Mac app revolutionizes workplace communication, providing a seamless platform for team collaboration. Offering real-time messaging, file sharing, and integration with numerous third-party tools, it enhances productivity by centralizing communication.
The app's intuitive interface allows users to organize conversations into channels, facilitating organized discussions on projects and topics. Notifications ensure that users stay informed, and the app supports direct messaging for private conversations. With its versatile features and user-friendly design, the Slack Mac app has become a cornerstone for remote and in-office teams, fostering efficient and dynamic communication in a visually engaging environment.
CheatSheet
CheatSheet is a handy Mac app simplifying keyboard shortcuts discovery for various applications. With a simple keystroke, users invoke a translucent overlay displaying a list of available shortcuts specific to the active application. This quick reference eliminates the need for manual searching, enhancing productivity by enabling users to swiftly access essential commands.
CheatSheet acts as a valuable tool for both beginners and experienced users, facilitating efficient navigation and task execution across diverse Mac software. Its user-friendly interface and time-saving functionality make it a practical addition to streamline workflows and maximize the potential of Mac applications.
Ulysses
Ulysses is a powerful writing app for Mac, renowned for its sleek design and focused interface. Tailored for authors, bloggers, and content creators, it offers a seamless writing experience with advanced features like a distraction-free environment, Markdown support, and organizational tools.
Ulysses enhances workflow efficiency by combining a clean writing environment with a flexible document structure, enabling users to manage and export their work effortlessly. Its synchronization capabilities across Apple devices ensure seamless transitions between Mac, iPhone, and iPad, making Ulysses a preferred choice for those seeking a sophisticated and user-friendly writing solution.
Google Drive
The Google Drive Mac app seamlessly integrates with macOS, providing users with convenient access to their cloud-stored files and collaborative tools. It enables effortless synchronization of documents, photos, and folders, ensuring data accessibility across devices. With a user-friendly interface, the app facilitates easy file management and sharing.
Users can collaborate in real-time, making it a powerful tool for teams working on projects. Additionally, the app offers offline access, allowing users to work on files without an internet connection. The Google Drive Mac app exemplifies efficient cloud storage, fostering productivity and collaboration within the Mac environment.
LibreOffice
LibreOffice for Mac is a robust, open-source office suite providing essential productivity tools. It includes a versatile word processor, spreadsheet creator, presentation software, and more. Compatible with common document formats, it offers seamless interoperability with other office suites.
The Mac version retains the suite's cross-platform nature, empowering users with features for creating, editing, and sharing documents. LibreOffice stands out for its commitment to open standards, allowing users to work on documents with a range of applications. With a user-friendly interface and regular updates, LibreOffice on Mac provides a free, reliable alternative for diverse office tasks.
Grammarly
Grammarly's Mac app and Safari extension is a powerful writing assistant, ensuring impeccable writing across various contexts. Seamlessly integrating with applications like Microsoft Word, Grammarly refines grammar, spelling, and punctuation, providing real-time suggestions and insights. Beyond basic proofreading, it enhances clarity, tone, and style, making it indispensable for professionals, students, and writers.
With a user-friendly interface and the ability to customize writing goals, Grammarly's Mac app fosters effective communication, offering a comprehensive solution for anyone seeking polished and error-free written content. Whether crafting emails, reports, or creative pieces, Grammarly's intelligent algorithms elevate the quality of writing on the Mac platform.
Security
1Password
Your Mac already comes with a built-in password manager. With iCloud Keychain, you can store passwords, credit cards, and digital sticky notes. And yet, the third-party 1Password does so much more. For example, it offers dedicated options for storing your passport information, Social Security number, reward schemes, and more. Better still, you can use 1Password across multiple platforms. In addition to macOS, 1Password is available for iPhone, iPad, Windows, Android, Linux, Chrome OS, and Command-Line.
1Password is available at various price points for individuals, families, work teams, and more, starting at $2.99 per month.
NordVPN
NordVPN is a renowned Virtual Private Network (VPN) application designed to enhance online security and privacy for Mac users. By encrypting internet traffic, it shields users from unauthorized surveillance and data breaches. Its user-friendly interface on Mac allows for easy server switching, offering access to a vast network of global servers, ideal for bypassing geo-restrictions and enhancing streaming experiences.
NordVPN emphasizes strong security protocols, including AES-256 encryption and a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that user activity remains private. Additional features