I’m looking for recommendations for useful and essential Mac apps. I want to enhance my productivity and make the most of my Mac. What apps do you rely on and love using? Any suggestions for must-haves would be greatly appreciated.
Okay, so here’s the deal with Mac apps – there’s too many recommendations that get tossed around as ‘essential,’ but a lot of them are meh depending on personal needs. However, these are my go-tos that might work for you too:
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Alfred – It’s like Spotlight search but on steroids. Quick app launcher, file search, and can even do clipboard history if you’re into that. (Seriously, why does macOS not have native clipboard history yet??)
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Magnet – Window management. It’s cheap, simple, and stops you from wanting to punch your screen when you’re trying to align windows side by side.
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Todoist – Because who isn’t drowning in a pile of unorganized to-dos? You could try Apple Reminders, but honestly, Todoist just feels cleaner.
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Bear – Notes app for people who think Apple Notes is too basic. You can markdown everything and tag stuff. Nerdy but nice.
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Obsidian – Speaking of nerdy, if you’re looking to overcomplicate note-taking like the rest of us, this is basically your brain in app form. Links, backlinks, vaults, etc. Warning: rabbit hole territory.
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Bartender 4 – Hides your messy menu bar icons because no one needs THAT much visual chaos in their life.
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Spark – An email client that doesn’t make you want to cry (as much).
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CleanMyMac X – Yeah, it’s paid, but it’s like a Swiss Army knife for decluttering and maintaining your system.
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BetterSnapTool – Similar to Magnet, but if you’re really specific about window snapping edges, this one’s for the perfectionists.
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Pocket – Save all the articles you plan to “read later,” which you’ll probably never read, but hey, at least the intention is there.
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IINA – Forget QuickTime. This is one of the best media players for Mac and plays practically anything you throw at it.
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Notion – If you haven’t been indoctrinated into the Notion cult yet, join. It can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. Database your entire existence? Sure.
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1Password – Because using “password123” for everything might not be the best life choice.
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Kap – If you ever need to make screen recordings or GIFs and don’t want to deal with clunky native options.
I could keep going, but like, what’s the point? Try a few of these out depending on what your daily needs look like. Just don’t download a bunch only to never use them again – your Applications folder deserves better.
If we’re talking practical daily-use Mac apps, I’ll highlight a few different ones from what @nachtschatten mentioned—because we all use our Macs differently, right?
First, Rectangle. Honestly, skip Magnet or BetterSnapTool. Rectangle is free, open-source, and honestly just as good or better for window management. You can remap shortcuts super easily—do you really need to spend money on snapping windows?
Raycast –– I know Alfred has a cult following, but Raycast is the new kid on the block that actually makes Alfred feel a little outdated. It’s insanely fast and has killer customizations, plus extensions galore. It’s my go-to launcher now.
Now, Moom is another one not a lot of people talk about! If you’re into ultimate control over window positioning beyond snapping (pre-setting layouts and arranging windows with precision), this is beyond useful for multi-desktop users.
Setapp –– Okay, not an app per se, it’s like a subscription that bundles a ton of premium apps. If you want to try a bunch without dropping cash upfront, it’s a good deal. Apps like Ulysses, CleanMyMac, Bartender—you get them all. If you don’t want subscriptions hanging over your head forever though, maybe skip it.
For security: LuLu and OverSight. Why do people always plug paid options like 1Password or CleanMyMac when tools like LuLu (firewall) and OverSight (mic/cam oversight) exist for FREE and are privacy-focused? Thank me later.
TickTick–– Honestly, why does Todoist get so much attention when TickTick’s cheaper, has all the essential features, integrates really well, AND gives you a calendar view? Like, stop sleeping on this app, people.
If you’re someone who cares about focus stuff, give Session a try. It’s a distraction-blocker with intent behind it—helps marry time management with mindfulness, if you’re into those vibes.
Listen—Notion is cool if you have time to micromanage your life into impossibly intricate databases. If that’s your jam, enjoy the cult. But for most regular mortals—Simplenote is still a super underrated pairing of lightweight and powerful note-taking. Like, why burn an hour designing a Notion page instead of just writing stuff down?
Finally, if you need time tracking done right or bill clients based on work hours—try Toggl Track. It’ll keep you accountable, and the UI doesn’t give you a headache like some enterprise junk.
Also, let’s be real. Does anyone ACTUALLY ‘maintain their system’ with apps like CleanMyMac or do we all just hoard memes and work files until macOS panics and forces us to nuke the Downloads folder? Anyway, go easy on the ‘must-have’ mindset—use what actually solves YOUR problems, not some Reddit listicle’s idea of productivity.
Rectangle is a solid choice for window management, no question, especially given its price tag (free). But let’s talk about something @nachtschatten and @suenodelbosque didn’t dive into: all-in-one workflows for creatives or multitaskers. If you toggle between productivity and personal projects like video editing, writing, or coding, apps designed for multi-modal use deserve a shout.
For instance, Bunch is criminally underrated. It allows you to create scripts for launching multiple apps or setting specific work environments with one click. Pair that with Raycast (mentioned above) or Alfred, and your setup instantly feels cohesive. Pro: insane time saver once configured. Con: initial setup may intimidate newcomers.
For those skeptical about privacy around cloud-based apps like Todoist, try Things 3. It’s more visual than Todoist and stores data locally unless you opt into syncing. I’d argue it’s cleaner for task management than TickTick, though the lack of a free version could be a dealbreaker for some.
Also, Hand Mirror is a quirky but practical addition if you do a lot of video calls—check your webcam view in a single click, straight from the menu bar. Simple, free, and efficient. @nachtschatten’s Spark mail idea is decent, but some prefer open-source alternatives like Mailspring for similar features without committing to proprietary software. I’m not saying Spark isn’t user-friendly (it is, no doubt)—but sometimes the ‘free and private’ route with Mailspring feels better value-wise.
Now, for note-taking, Typora deserves a mention alongside Obsidian. Not cluttered with plugins, straightforward markdown editor—it’s simple but gets the job done for minimalists. If Obsidian’s backlinks-channeling-your-inner-social-scientist feature feels like overkill, you may find Typora more approachable while still professional-grade.
Finally, since we’re killing myths, CleanMyMac X is decent, but tools like Onyx cover many of the system maintenance features for free. The UI won’t win any awards, but a little patience saves you money.
What works comes down to how specifically you use your Mac. Give minimalists tools like Rectangle or Typora a shot but consider Bunch or Moom if your daily grind involves productivity acrobatics. You don’t need every app—they’ll just weigh down your workflow (and maybe your sanity).