Our selection of the must-have Mac Apps of 2023 has something for everyone, whether you’re new to using a Mac or an experienced Mac user trying to boost your productivity. The majority of these applications are free and target non-geeks as well as regular Mac users.
The Best Mac Apps & Utilities
The well-known Mac programmes like Evernote, 1Password, Dropbox, Skype, OneNote, or Google Drive aren’t included in our list of essential Mac apps because they tend to be less well-known. Additionally, Big Sur and Catalina, the most recent macOS versions, are both compatible with every software on this page.
I have included links to the Mac App Store whenever possible because it not only makes it simple to install software on your Mac but,in the case of paid apps, you also have an option for requesting refund
Certainly! Here’s a list of essential Mac apps and utilities for the year 2023:
- 1Password: A password manager that securely stores your passwords and personal information.
- Alfred: A powerful productivity app that helps you quickly launch apps, search the web, and perform various tasks with custom shortcuts.
- Magnet:With the help of keyboard shortcuts or drag-and-drop, you can quickly arrange and resize windows with the window manager Magnet.
- CleanMyMac X: A comprehensive utility for cleaning and optimizing your Mac, removing junk files, and improving performance.
- Bartender: A menu bar organizer that lets you control and rearrange menu bar icons to reduce clutter.
- Flux: A utility that adjusts your Mac’s display color temperature based on the time of day, reducing eye strain and improving sleep quality.
- Dropbox: Dropbox is a cloud storage platform that syncs your data across devices and makes it simple to collaborate and share files.
- Carbon Copy Cloner: A backup utility that creates bootable backups of your Mac’s hard drive, ensuring you can recover your system in case of a failure.
- VLC Media Player: A versatile media player that supports a wide range of audio and video formats.
- AppCleaner: An uninstaller that helps you completely remove apps and their associated files from your Mac.
- Amphetamine: A utility that prevents your Mac from going to sleep or dimming the screen, useful for presentations or lengthy tasks.
- HandBrake: A video transcoder that lets you convert videos to different formats, optimize them for specific devices, or compress their size.
- The Unarchiver: A file extraction tool that supports a wide range of compressed file formats.
- Spark: An email client that provides a smart inbox with intelligent email sorting and customizable features.
- iStat Menus: A system monitoring tool that provides detailed information about your Mac’s performance, including CPU usage, memory usage, and network activity.
- Pixelmator Pro: A powerful image editing app with advanced features and a user-friendly interface.
- PDF Expert: A robust PDF editor that allows you to annotate, sign, and edit PDF documents.
- Fantastical: A calendar app that integrates with various services and offers natural language input for creating events and reminders.
- Slack: A team communication platform that allows for real-time messaging, file sharing, and collaboration.
- Notion: A versatile note-taking and organization app that combines documents, databases, and task management into one platform
- Dropbox Paper: A collaborative document editor that allows teams to work together on projects, brainstorm ideas, and track progress.
- Things: A capable task organiser that aids in maintaining organisation, making to-do lists, and managing projects.
- Magnetometer: A programme that locks your screen when you walk away from your Mac using the magnetometer built into the device.
- CleanShot X: A screenshot and screen recording tool with advanced editing features and easy sharing options.
- Pocket: A read-it-later app that allows you to save articles, web pages, and videos for offline viewing.
- Hazel: A file organization utility that automates file sorting, renaming, and cleaning up your Mac’s folders.
- Time Machine: Apple’s built-in backup solution that creates regular, automatic backups of your entire system.
- iA Writer: A distraction-free writing app that provides a clean interface and advanced typography options.
- Homebrew: Homebrew is a simple-to-use package manager for the macOS operating system.-source software.
- Bear: A versatile note-taking app that supports markdown, cross-note linking, and file attachments.
- Bartender 4: The latest version of Bartender, a menu bar organizer, with additional features and customization options.
- TripMode: A utility that allows you to control which apps can access the internet and saves data while using mobile hotspots.
- Handoff: A macOS feature that enables seamless continuity between your Mac and other Apple devices, allowing you to start a task on one device and continue it on another.
- Transmit: A reliable FTP client that lets you transfer files to and from remote servers.
- PixelSnap: A measurement tool that helps you accurately measure distances and sizes of objects on your screen.
- Keyboard Maestro: A powerful automation tool that allows you to create custom keyboard shortcuts and automate repetitive tasks.
- Airmail: An email client with a modern interface, smart inbox management, and powerful email organization features.
- Hazel: An advanced file organization and automation tool that helps you keep your files and folders organized automatically.
- Quicksilver: A versatile launcher and productivity app that lets you quickly access apps, files, and perform actions with custom shortcuts.
- Sketch: A professional vector graphics editor that is widely used for UI/UX design and prototyping.
- TinkerTool: A utility that provides access to additional macOS settings and customization options, allowing you to fine-tune your Mac’s appearance and behavior.
- AdGuard: A powerful ad blocker that helps you browse the web faster and more securely by blocking intrusive ads, trackers, and malware.
- Hazel: An advanced file organization and automation tool that helps you keep your files and folders organized automatically.
- iMovie: Apple’s video editing software that allows you to create and edit professional-looking videos with ease.
- Zoom: A popular video conferencing app that enables high-quality online meetings, webinars, and screen sharing.
- Shazam: An app that can identify songs playing in the background, providing you with the artist, song title, and lyrics.
- Bartender 4: The latest version of Bartender, a menu bar organizer, with additional features and customization options.
- Handoff: A macOS feature that enables seamless continuity between your Mac and other Apple devices, allowing you to start a task on one device and continue it on another.
- The Archive: A note-taking app that focuses on plain text organization, with powerful search capabilities and Markdown support.
- MindNode: A mind mapping app that helps you visually organize your thoughts, ideas, and projects.
- Magnet: A window manager that allows you to easily organize and resize windows using keyboard shortcuts or drag-and-drop.
- Fantastical: A calendar app that integrates with various services and offers natural language input for creating events and reminders.
- Bartender: A menu bar organizer that lets you control and rearrange menu bar icons to reduce clutter.
- Todoist: A versatile task management app that allows you to create to-do lists, set due dates, and collaborate with others.
- Figma: A collaborative design tool that allows teams to create, prototype, and collaborate on user interfaces and designs.
- Handbrake: A video transcoder that lets you convert videos to different formats, optimize them for specific devices, or compress their size.
- Day One: A journaling app that allows you to capture and organize your thoughts, memories, and experiences with photos and tags.
- CleanMyMac X: A comprehensive utility for cleaning and optimizing your Mac, removing junk files, and improving performance.
- Backblaze: An online backup service that automatically backs up your files to the cloud, ensuring you never lose important data.
- Grammarly: A writing assistant that helps you improve your writing by checking grammar, spelling, and providing style suggestions
These are just some of the many useful Mac apps and utilities available in 2023. Depending on your specific needs and preferences, there may be additional apps that suit you.
These additional apps and utilities should provide you with further functionality and convenience for various tasks on your Mac. Remember to explore and choose the ones that align with your specific needs and workflow.