In 2017 I released the list of my top apps for Mac users working in tech (not strictly). This is an updated version with a couple of additions and removals.
- Otter is the Mac app for the note taker who hates typing. It’s an intelligent voice-recognition system and note-taking app that will help you transcribe your conversations, keep notes during meetings, and even take contextual notes to yourself in your own time. Best of all, it’s free to get started! Download: Otter.
- Top apps for OS X. Mac apps are a great way to get more from your Yosemite toting Macbook AirorMac Mini.TheMac App Store is filled with Mac games and handy apps, both free and paid, that can.
(+) Added
(=) Maintained
(-) Removed
(=) Fantastical 2
If you are not using Outlook, Fantastical 2 is probably the best replacement for the weak OS X Calendar. The app tightly integrates with IOS and Apple Watch. The app is on my favorite list because of the excellent integration with Google and O365 Calendars and its ability to work with room and resource scheduling.
All this is more than enough for Skype to make our must-have list of the best Mac software. And there's a free version of this Mac app. Tweetbot Twitter has finally killed off their Mac app (although it has been a long time coming). This means that if you want to a Mac native experience, you need to go third-party.
(=)Grammarly
Grammarly is a grammar auto-correction, contextual spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation capabilities. It integrates natively with Safari and has an OS X desktop app, and not has native app integration for Office for Mac. Still a very useful tool for native and non-native English speakers.
(=)Alfred
Alfred is probably the best replacement for macOS Spotlight, but what makes Alfred shine is its ability to execute very complex workflows that can include AppleScripts, shell scripts, Ruby, or Python code. You can download hundreds of workflows being shared by the Alfred community that provides integration services with the most diverse set of macOS apps or Web Services.
(-) ScreenFlow
(+) FinalCutPro
Screenflow used to be my go-to app whenever I need to screencast or video record a demo. However, once I tried and spent some time on FinalCutPro and I found it to be a journey without a way back. The app is so powerful that even the large cost difference was easily justified for my needs. I would still recommend ScreenFlow for smaller jobs or editing screen recording etc, but if you want exercise your creativity, FinalCutPro is the way to go.
(-) Evernote
(+) Apple Notes
For many years Evernote was the keeper of all my personal journaling and archival. In an experiment, I migrated all my notes to the newer Apple Notes, and although it does not have all the bells and whistles it was good enough to replace Evernote as my core note-taking app and it is free. The latest version also searches through PDFs.
(=) CleanMyMac
There are many free and paid tools out there to keep your Mac tidy. I like CleanMyMac as it has been working great for me for a long time. It is simple and does a good job removing garbage, completely uninstalling apps, running maintenance scripts, letting me manage installed extensions and more. Useful!
(-) Eclipse
(-) Sublime
(+) Visual Studio Code
Eclipse and Sublime reigned in my app library as my favorite IDEs, but once I got into VSC there was no way back. VSC is extremely extensible and has support for most languages, providing Autocompletion, Syntax Highlight, Code Folding, Customizability, Powerful Search, and Simultaneous Editing The community is vibrant and thousands of plugins and modules are available. (I still use Sublime as a text editor as it is lightweight and can easily handle large amounts of data)
(=) Docker
The Docker for OS X has become my testbed whenever I need to deploy or test a Linux app. For me, Docker is replacing VMware Fusion and VirtualBox whenever possible.
(+) Quitter
Quitter is the newest tool in my arsenal. This simple and tiny tool automatically quit apps under certain conditions. My particular condition is making sure communication apps like Zoom; Skype GoToMeeting are quit automatically if they have not been in use for 10 minutes. In this new world of non-ending conferences, I want to make sure I’m not unknowingly being streamed around.
(-) Moon
(+) Magnet
Must Have App For Mac Os Catalina
Magnet windows manager is an awesome little utility that lets you use shortcuts to define app window placement. I took it even further and integrated into StreamDeck for a one-click shortcut. I used to use Moon a while ago, but Magnet has proven to be a much better solution.
(+) AdGuard
I was not a user of blocking and privacy protection for MacOS, but after trying AdGuard I became a fan. It not only provides defense against ads in Safari and other browsers, but it also protects you from tracking, phishing, and fraud. Here is a screenshot of my own AdGuard status.
Must Have App For Mac Os 10.13
(=) iTerm2
I have been using iTerm2 as a terminal replacement for the native terminal in MacOS for a long time. iTerm2 has a bunch of useful features such as Split Panes, Hotkeys, Search, Autocomplete, and it is very configurable. Some of the benefits have been diminished with Zsh integration into MacOS, but it is still convenient, and it is free!
(+) ToothFairy
I have been looking for an app to control my Bluetooth devices for a little while because going into Bluetooth configuration every time I need something different is a pain. ToothFairy allows me to use hotkeys to connect and disconnect devices, rename devices, adjust icons, and run bash scripts when connecting/disconnecting devices. Because it provides hotkeys I was also able to integrate into StreamDeck.
(+) Karabiner Elements
Karabiner-Elements is a powerful and stable keyboard customizer for macOS. If you want to use a non-Apple keyboard, this is the right tool for you. Karabiner allows simple and complex key modifications and supports multiple devices and profiles. I use it with my Microsoft Sculpt keyboard it works flawlessly.
(=) SnagIt
SnagIt if my go-to-app to quickly capture and edit screenshots, especially when blogging. One of the features I like the most is the scrolling screen capture that allows me to take a full-page webpage. SnagIt also record video and audio. I also use the native macOS screen capture tool quite a lot, but SnagIt has many features for editing that make this tool essential for my day-to-day.
(+) Fresco
If you have multiple displays connected to macOS this app is a must-have! Fresco makes it dead simple to span a panorama image over multiple displays, resize, and position images to make them fit to your liking, and even allow you to create your own desktop by combining images. It’s awesome and it’s free!
Honourable mentions:
- VMware Fusion (for Virtual Machines)
- Filezilla (easy FTP)
- MS Office (sure, there’s no real alternative to Office)
- Caffeine (macOS never sleep)
- OBS (the top app for streamers)
- AudioSwitcher (change and/mix audio input-output using shortcuts)
- Bartender 3 (organize your menu bar icons)
- NordVPN (get around firewalls)
This article was first published by Andre Leibovici (@andreleibovici) at myvirtualcloud.net.
Purchasing a new MacBook is much similar to buying a ticket to a land of fabulous software & apps. In addition to all the free programs offered by Apple to all the fresh Mac owners, there are some extras essential Mac apps too that help to make the most out of your Machine.
We’ve organized a list of the most useful Mac software and programs that are categorized into ten major categories, ranging from Best Mac Cleaning utility to Best Media Player & so on. Take a look at our best of bunch & let us know which of these suits the most for your needs!
Top 10 Best Mac Apps & Utilities for 2020
We’ve trawled the software market to find the most ideal Mac utilities & apps in every major category for better productivity and efficiency. Try them now!
1. Disk Clean Pro (Best Mac Cleaner & Optimizer)
An all-in-one solution to keep your Mac machine clean & optimized for smooth performance.
Disk Clean Pro is an affordable tune-up utility to help users maintain their system for a longer time. It features dedicated modules to remove junk files along with hidden redundant files to improve response time & speed up Mac. It’s ‘One-Click Care’ works like magic to keep your machine run clutter-free.
Disk Clean Pro is an excellent Mac optimizer, packed with all the advanced features that several Mac Cleaning utilities miss. Packed with various tools like Junk Cleaner, Logs Cleaner, Crash Reports, Partial Downloads remover, Duplicate Finder, Large & Old Files Cleaner & more. Moreover, it offers a module, Internet Privacy Protector, that works efficiently to remove traces of your browsing history for best-in-class Mac security.
The best part? Disk Clean Pro is available at just $0.99, & it’s a limited time offer, so what are you waiting for? Optimize the storage space in a single scan & make the most of Mac’s disk space.
Several websites have reported Disk Clean Pro, as the #1 Mac Cleaning & Optimization Utility!
2. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard (Best Data Recovery Tool for Mac)
An advanced data recovery tool to retrieve accidentally deleted files, documents, music, videos and much more.
Losing data & important files is the kind of nightmare no one would ever want to experience. But unfortunately, it has been known to happen for a variety of reasons such as, drive failure, human error & viruses. However, the “good thing” is the availability of a Data Recovery Software that makes restoring lost files effortless.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is one such data recovery service that lives up to its name, by offering easy yet effective recovery solutions that makes users task super simple. The tool not only helps in locating recently deleted files from corrupted & critical file systems, but also helps in restoring data from external storage devices such as memory sticks, USB drives etc.
There are three different versions available with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: Free, Pro & Unlimited. Free edition allows you to recover data up to 200 MB. Get this Best Mac App for your system now!
3. Systweak Anti-Malware (Best Anti-Malware for Mac)
The 24/7 malware protection against your Mac.
Systweak Anti-Malware is a robust Mac security software that does a fantastic job of detecting any type of malicious content hiding in your system. Its smart algorithms understand which types of threats can put your Mac Machine at risk, and hence keep a close check that no suspicious program, malware, adware or spyware could bypass Mac’s defenses.
The antivirus software claims to have a 100% success rate for detecting dangerous malware and viruses. The lightweight application offers multiple scanning methods to make sure you have an ultimate protection against malware and other infections.
To keep your Mac safe, the antivirus software regularly updates its malware database, so that no latest suspicious threat can bypass you Mac’s security. It not only shields your Machine from online threats but also optimizes it for smooth-functioning, which probably makes it one of the best anti-virus programs in the market.
4. CyberGhost VPN Mac (Best VPN App for Mac)
A feature-rich, powerful VPN for PC with an easy-to-use interface, suitable for both novices & professionals.
Must Have Mac Programs
CyberGhost is one of the most reliable VPN services for Mac. It boasts a really easy set-up process. In fact, all you have to do is download the VPN for your OS from the below button and launch it with one-click on your system. The VPN software boasts more than 3,700 servers across 60+ countries, including optimized servers for torrenting & other streaming services.
The VPN solution comes with a bundle of extra tools to block unnecessary ads, track malicious websites that attempts to make unauthorized access on your system and an automated HTTPS redirection that ensure most secure connection.
It’s one-month plan costs $12.99 which is a bit higher than other standard VPN services in the market. But that’s totally worthy as it supports connecting up to seven devices simultaneously.
5. Duplicate Files Fixer (Best Duplicate Files Cleaner for Mac)
An efficient, fast and easy-to-use duplicate file cleaner to get rid of identical documents, photos, videos, music and other digital media files.
Duplicate Files Fixer by Systweak Software is an awesome duplicate cleaner that helps you reclaim chunks of occupied hard drive space, clogged with unnecessary duplicates such as Documents, Videos, Music, Photos and other files. It’s one of the Best Mac Software for both professional and novice users for finding exact and similar-looking files.
This duplicate file finder comes with a robust set of functionalities for scanning different file types in just a few moments. The Mac utility has a sleek & intuitive interface for great navigation experience. It lets you create a backup of all your duplicate files before you delete them. The application is capable of scanning external devices as well for finding duplicates.
To use this Mac software all you have to do is download it > Add files or folders containing duplicates > click the Scan button to begin sorting > Remove to clean all the duplicate files at once! Enjoy deduplicate library in three-clicks. Duplicate Files Fixer is a must have mac application to fill your bucket of Best Mac Utilities 2020.
6. Stellar Drive Clone (Best Disk Cloning App for Mac)
A robust Mac utility to help you clone & restore all the files on your hard drive, so you can always have your peace of mind.
Stellar Drive Clone is a complete suite to create a Clone or Image of your Mac hard drive. The Cloned copy can be used as a ‘read-to-use’ copy of the original hard drive. And, the Image file can be used for ‘restoring purpose’ in case any data mishap happens.
The advanced Mac cloning tool supports various types of cloning including, HFS-to-HFS, FAT-to-FAT & NTFS-to-EXFAT. Stellar Drive Clone is a must-have Mac app if you wish to clone an encrypted Mac drive and volumes as well. You can also choose to ‘Schedule’ Periodic Backup’ to create timely backups.
This amazing disk cloning service stands out for two reasons, it’s ease-of-use and high compatibility. It supports all the commonly used OS X versions including the latest MacOS Mojave. Download this app for MacBook Pro now!
7. Photos Exif Editor (Best Exif Data & Editor For Mac)
Editing photo metadata or EXIF data was never this easy. Meet Photos Exif Editor, an ultimate batch photo editing tool for your Mac.
For people unaware what EXIF Data is, it’s basically a set of data attached to every image you capture. It includes basic parameters such as date, time, location, camera settings etc. This can be immensely useful info, when you might want to examine how a particular picture is taken, what are its shutter speed or ISO. Moreover, you can certainly edit and modify those set of info using an Exif data editor.
Presenting, Photos Exif Editor a fast and easy-to-use Mac software to read, write and modify metadata of single or thousands of images in one-go. You can manually manipulate the GPS coordinates of images to change its location. Rename multiple files at once, create EXIF Presets for repeated metadata editing to speed up the process.
It’s one of the best Mac apps to view, edit and modify EXIF, IPTC & XMP metadata. The Mac software supports various common photo formats including RAW image file format.
8. Cisdem Video Player for Mac (Best Media Player on Mac)
A universal video player with an impressive set of features to play up to 5K resolution videos without any jerks or tearing.
You saw that coming, right? Talking about the Best media player and not mentioning Cisdem’s Video Player is certainly not possible. It’s one of the most popular and utilized OS X apps that comes with interactive interface to play both audio and video. The video player is known for its smooth playback assistance offering crystal clear views.
With Cisdem Video Player, you don’t require to download any Codec pack, it lets you directly play WMV, FLV, MKV, AVCHD, AVI etc. videos on your Mac Machine. Best part? Unlike other media player for Mac, Cisdem allows you to automatically load subtitle files for the movie.
Download Mac Os App
Looking to convert your video files for other Apple devices? Cisdem does that too for you with an optional in-app purchase. The video player is designed to support more than 50 audio and video formats. As soon as install the app, it’s ready to go!
9. Tweak Photos (Best Batch Photos Editor for Mac)
Most popular photo editing app that lets you brighten single or thousands of photos in a few clicks.
Tweak Photos is a brilliant package featuring an attractive interface, powerful filters, plethora of customization, adjustment tools and a lot more. This OS X app is available for just $4.99 on Mac app store.
From performing basic editing like renaming, resizing, cropping, simple color fixes, format conversions to advanced editing like applying complex photo filters, watermarking, multi-layer management, Tweak Photos does all for you.
You can download this amazing photo editor for Mac to de-noise bulk images, change texture/stylize, auto-correct orientations, blur multiple images, add frames and other artistic elements to batch photos at once. And just everything to create vivid and dazzling photo collection.
10. iSkysoft PDF Editor (Best PDF File Editor for Mac)
A super-smooth Mac software for editing PDF files easily & quickly.
iSkysoft’s PDF Editor is an ultimate solution to edit PDF documents without compromising file formatting. You can download this OS X app to get a complete suit of PDF editing tools to manipulate texts, images, links and other elements present in a PDF file.
Considered as one of the best alternatives to Adobe Acrobat, you can download this Mac software for easy editing, cropping, rotating, extracting, splitting, adding watermarks, altering background colours and a lot more.
Download this free PDF File Editor to quickly edit, convert, create, merge & convert scanned PDF files with ease. Not only this, iSkysoft enables you to protect your PDF files with passwords, you can set permissions for other users to perform specific functions like editing, commenting or printing. It’s one of the best Mac app available to share your PDFs to Email, Google Drive, Evernote and Dropbox in one-click.
Best Mac Apps You Need To Install On Your New Machine!
The MacOS app ecosystem is certainly packed with a lot of hidden gems. All the aforementioned Mac software & utilities are great to get you started. For the least frustration and better efficiency, download these handy extras now!
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