Every Mac user I was wondering how I could increase my productivity. Our selection of programs for macOS can help with this.
Let's divide the selected applications into 4 conditional sections: productivity, technology, working with text, entertainment.
Productivity
AirMail
AirMail is a fast email client that supports many accounts. Like any modern email client, it supports Gmail, Yahoo!, iCloud, Microsoft Exchange, Outlook. AirMail allows you to install a large number of plugins for additional functionality. Also, the undeniable advantages of this program include a built-in system for blocking unwanted messages.
Price:$10, downloadable from .
Alfred
Alfred– this is launching applications using the keyboard, a multi-platform search shell. This program has simply amazing performance. It allows you to search through files and the Internet. Alfred is capable of performing some system actions, such as emptying the trash, rebooting, and so on.
Price: free, can be downloaded.
F.Lux
F.Lux is essentially similar to the Night Shift technology on iOS. Night time color scheme iPhone screens and the iPad will warm up, protecting your eyes from excess stress, and return to its normal position in the morning.
Many studies have shown that exposure to bright blue light in the evening can make it harder to fall asleep. Night mode will use time and geolocation data from your device to determine the time of sunset in your area.
Price: free, can be downloaded.
Simplemind
SimpleMind is a small application for creating mental maps. Creating mental maps is a fairly common method of structuring data and is very often used when working on complex projects and in the educational field.
Price:$30, downloadable from .
Spamsieve
Spamsieve connects to most mail clients, analyzes the email received by the user and learns according to his habits. This program is used to combat spam on Mac. Spamsieve does not delete messages, it only flags them in the client email, so the user will never lose any of the messages he needs. The program learns new ways to protect against spam while it's running, tracking all spammers' techniques.
Price: 30 dollars, yes trial version for 30 days, you can download .
Spectacle
Spectacle Allows you to move and resize windows using simple keyboard shortcuts. You can split the screen into 2 or 4 parts, placing the browser in the upper left corner, the text editor in the upper right corner, and so on.
Price: free, can be downloaded.
The Unarchiver
The Unarchiver is an excellent replacement for the built-in macOS Backup Utility application. It supports most existing formats, including the legacy ARJ.
Price: free, can be downloaded from .
Technologies
Dash
Dash is a document browser and code snippet manager. It comes with over 150 built-in API documents that can be downloaded and viewed in offline mode.
Price: 25 dollars, yes free version with restrictions, you can download .
Github Desktop
Github Desktop is an application that allows you to manage Github databases. It provides a more readable user interface than when working through a terminal.
Price: free, can be downloaded.
iTerm 2
iTerm 2 is a comprehensive multi-window terminal for macOS. One of the best analogues of the built-in Terminal application. iTerm 2 supports rich profile configuration and complex window division.
Price: free, can be downloaded.
Textmate 2
TextMate 2 is a text editor that provides an intelligent set of keyboard shortcuts and a powerful set of plugins that make it suitable for almost any task. Used to edit code or text, and can even act as a task manager.
Price: free, can be downloaded.
Working with text
Ulysses III
Ulysses III is a professional text editor that allows you to fully concentrate on your work. In addition to convenient work with text and its parts, Ulysses boasts full Markdown support for formatting, as well as export to TXT, RTF and PDF formats. In the first case, the text can be saved with HTML markup, Markdows or as plain text; RTF supports export to Pages and Doc formats.
Another cool feature of Ulysses is the ability to flexibly customize the color scheme. Almost every interface element can be recolored to suit your taste. It is possible to synchronize documents via iCloud.
Price:$40, 14-day trial available, downloadable from .
Pixelmator
Pixelator is a photo editor, just like Adobe Photoshop. It provides the features you expect from it: layers, filters, different shapes, smart selection, photo editing, and more.
My relationship with Windows ended in 2012, when I bought my first MacBook. macOS (then OS X) was pretty annoying the first couple of weeks of acquaintance. I had to google basic things like how to switch the language, how to completely remove applications and much more.
After learning the basic principles of how the system works, I came to understand why the operating system is good - I forever forgot about installing drivers, antiviruses, a bunch of security updates and the rest of the headaches that I never wanted to think about. MacBook solved this automatically. But not everything.
I had to solve some common problems myself, and for this I needed special software. I don’t know if this speaks about quality and quantity good apps for desktop operating systems, but in the first month I found so many useful programs on a MacBook, which I haven’t found on Windows for many years. Some have already been removed and forgotten, but a certain set of gentlemen has formed...
So, I'm telling you about best apps on macOS. For convenience, I will divide it into three sections: the desired minimum, useful utilities and everything that does not fit into the first two sections.
Desirable minimum
The coolest combine harvester for cleaning your computer. Scans and finds system garbage, cache, old and large files, cleans the recycle bin, completely removes programs and much more. There is a convenient widget for the menu bar, where in one click you can empty the trash or RAM, and also shows the battery charge.
The first app I installed, but second on this list. Logics? She's gone. By default macOS works fully only with media on file system FAT, which has a nasty write limitation - the file must be no more than 4 GB. NTFS doesn't have this, but Apple only allows such partitions to be read, not written. The problem is solved by the invisible utility Tuxera NTFS - install it once and forget it forever. Bonus: formatting disks in NTFS. There is an alternative in the form of Paragon NTFS.
Free application for managing external and internal drives. Shows brief statistics on memory capacity and allows you to safely remove media. But most importantly: it removes system residual debris. It happens that after macOS, a flash drive connected to Windows will be occupied by invisible files - these are what the program removes.
Simply the best cross-platform media player. Free.
Torrent client. Compact, free and ad-free. Allows you to download files even if some have already been deleted.
Useful utilities
Clipboard manager. I tried a lot of similar programs and settled on this one. A pleasant interface that does not stand out from the general style of the system played a decisive role. Paste performs one simple task: it stores the history of what was copied for later access. There is a search. If you often have to use the “cmd+c” combination at work, then you must install it.
A small utility for saving computer RAM and battery. It sets an inactivity timer for any application. For example, if I don't use iTunes for five minutes, it will automatically close.
A chic window manager in Windows style. Allows you to change and dock windows for convenient organization of your workspace. It works extremely simply: use the cursor to drag the window to the desired corner of the screen and you’re done. I use it all the time. There is an alternative called BetterSnapTool.
Includes any HTML5 video from Safari in Picture-in-Picture mode. Verified on YouTube and Twitch. Works.
A neat timer for the menu bar. You need to pull the icon down and measure the required number of minutes. Useful if you constantly work at the computer.
Screenshot app. Usually standard macOS combinations are enough, but in MonoSnap you can immediately make notes, upload to the cloud and receive a link to the clipboard.
A powerful utility that brings a popup menu of commands from iOS. It works system-wide and depending on where the text is highlighted, the application offers different commands. The list of such commands is customizable and the developer has a whole section with extensions for this, which is constantly updated. You can create a reminder, translate text, find it on a map, and much more in one click. A lot of popular applications are supported.
Almost every software has its own icon in the status bar. In some cases it can be hidden, but in most cases it is not. Bartender will come to the rescue. It frees up space on the menu bar and makes your Mac look a little neater. You can choose which applications to hide, customize shortcuts and the icon of the application itself.
Everything else
Mail client. I use it in conjunction with the iOS version. There are a lot of functions, most of which I didn’t even understand. Conveniently, all mailboxes are saved in iCloud. Another option is Spark. It didn’t catch on with me on iOS, and there wasn’t an app on the MacBook to begin with. Now it's out and many people are praising it. Give it a try. It's free, unlike AirMail.
Graphic editor with wide capabilities. It can do a lot of things that Photoshop does, but it takes up much less space. The only negative is that there is no Russian language.
I first bought it on iOS because of the cool widget for the notification center - it fits the entire month. The application combines a calendar and reminders. There is a widget for the menu bar.
Beneath the minimalist design of this calculator lies enormous power. He can count, convert different quantities, currency, temperature and much more. You can write in text (m and meters - the calculator understands both options), use abbreviations (log, sqrt), signs (%, $). There is even a widget for the notification center. In short, a gun! It's also free.
1Password (free, but with a subscription of $2.99/month)
The most famous password manager. You can store logins in it, bank cards, addresses, notes, bank accounts, driver's licenses, passports and more. Available on iOS, Android, Windows with general synchronization. But a little expensive. Recently, a good alternative has appeared - there are far fewer opportunities, but it is free.
One of the best VPN services from the creators of RememBear. Paid, but the rates are humane.
Every Mac user has wondered how they can increase their productivity. Our selection of programs for macOS can help with this.
Let's divide the selected applications into 4 conditional sections: productivity, technology, working with text, entertainment.
Productivity
AirMail
AirMail is a fast email client that supports multiple accounts. Like any modern email client, it supports Gmail, Yahoo!, iCloud, Microsoft Exchange, Outlook. AirMail allows you to install a large number of plugins for additional functionality. Also, the undeniable advantages of this program include a built-in system for blocking unwanted messages.
Price:$10, downloadable from the Mac App Store.
Alfred
Alfred– this is launching applications using the keyboard, a multi-platform search shell. This program has simply amazing performance. It allows you to search through files and the Internet. Alfred is capable of performing some system actions, such as emptying the trash, rebooting, and so on.
Price: free, can be downloaded.
F.Lux
F.Lux is essentially similar to the Night Shift technology on iOS. At night, the color scheme of the iPhone and iPad screens will warm up, protecting your eyes from excess stress, and return to normal in the morning.
Many studies have shown that exposure to bright blue light in the evening can make it harder to fall asleep. Night mode will use time and geolocation data from your device to determine the time of sunset in your area.
Price: free, can be downloaded.
Simplemind
SimpleMind is a small application for creating mental maps. Creating mental maps is a fairly common method of structuring data and is very often used when working on complex projects and in the educational field.
Price:$30, downloadable from the Mac App Store.
Spamsieve
Spamsieve connects to most email clients, analyzes the email received by the user and learns according to his habits. This program is used to combat spam on Mac. Spamsieve does not delete messages, it only marks them in the email client, so the user will never lose any of the messages they need. The program learns new ways to protect against spam while it's running, tracking all spammers' techniques.
Price:$30, 30-day trial available, downloadable.
Spectacle
Spectacle Allows you to move and resize windows using simple keyboard shortcuts. You can split the screen into 2 or 4 parts, placing the browser in the upper left corner, the text editor in the upper right corner, and so on.
Price: free, can be downloaded.
The Unarchiver
The Unarchiver is an excellent replacement for the built-in macOS Backup Utility application. It supports most existing formats, including the legacy ARJ.
Price: free, downloadable from the Mac App Store.
Technologies
Dash
Dash is a document browser and code snippet manager. It comes with over 150 built-in API documents that can be downloaded and viewed offline.
Price:$25, there is a free version with restrictions, you can download it.
Github Desktop
Github Desktop is an application that allows you to manage Github databases. It provides a more readable user interface than when working through a terminal.
Price: free, can be downloaded.
iTerm 2
iTerm 2 is a comprehensive multi-window terminal for macOS. One of the best analogues of the built-in Terminal application. iTerm 2 supports rich profile configuration and complex window division.
Price: free, can be downloaded.
Textmate 2
TextMate 2 is a text editor that provides an intelligent set of keyboard shortcuts and a powerful set of plugins that make it suitable for almost any task. Used to edit code or text, and can even act as a task manager.
Price: free, can be downloaded.
Working with text
Ulysses III
Ulysses III is a professional text editor that allows you to fully concentrate on your work. In addition to convenient work with text and its parts, Ulysses boasts full Markdown support for formatting, as well as export to TXT, RTF and PDF formats. In the first case, the text can be saved with HTML markup, Markdows or as plain text; RTF supports export to Pages and Doc formats.
Another cool feature of Ulysses is the ability to flexibly customize the color scheme. Almost every interface element can be recolored to suit your taste. It is possible to synchronize documents via iCloud.
Price:$40, 14-day trial available, downloadable from Mac App Store.
Pixelmator
Pixelator is a photo editor, just like Adobe Photoshop. It provides the features you expect from it: layers, filters, different shapes, smart selection, photo editing, and more.
Mac computers are known for having a good starting set of software that allows you to solve many problems right out of the box.
Time does not stand still, new types of data, services, processes and tasks appear, which means it is necessary to supplement the basic set of applications with third-party programs.
Here's what you should pay attention to first.
1. VLC Player
All Mac computers come with a pre-installed application QuickTime. This player is designed to play proprietary and officially supported Apple formats. It cannot handle common AVI or MKV.
Even the most die-hard Apple fans sooner or later face the need to watch videos in an unsupported format. Instead of all kinds of converters and decoders, it’s easier to have an omnivorous player.
VLC has long been considered the best in this category on macOS. It handles multi-channel audio, can switch tracks and subtitles, and also supports control from the proprietary Apple Remote.
2. Audio Hijack
Out of the box, macOS doesn't provide a convenient way to monitor and record system sounds. The user is forced to look for third-party utilities for this.
This program allows you to manage system sounds, record audio signals from instant messengers or dialers, and separate sounds into different devices.
3.BetterTouchTool
A useful utility for fine-tuning the keyboard, mouse, touchpad and other input sources on Mac. You can create all kinds of rules and settings for specific applications. BetterTouchTool understands all mice, keyboards, remotes and media controllers.
The program can quickly place windows of other applications in the desired areas of the screen; Apple will not copy this useful feature from Windows.
In addition, you can overclock the cursor as much as possible by setting the sensitivity to extreme levels, or add a couple of useful keyboard shortcuts.
4. The Unarchiver
The simplest and most convenient application for working with archives on Mac. Minimum settings with all the necessary features available.
The program rightfully takes an honorable place in the top free Mac applications App Store and is almost the only Must Have program from the Apple app store.
5. Little Snitch
Advanced Manager network connections will help you solve several problems on your Mac computer at once.
The utility can quickly deny access to the network for everyone installed programs and services. When you connect for the first time, you will be asked to create a rule for one-time or permanent access.
This will quickly pacify programs that work well offline. This will reduce the load on the network, the Mac will use the connection less often and use battery power more economically.
6. FilePane
A lightweight utility that creates a small menu for working with files different types. The program menu appears as you drag objects, allowing you to quickly copy or change data, send or save files.
You can get used to FilePane within a few hours of work, and then you start to wildly save time on routine operations.
7. CloudMounter
The program will be appreciated by owners of several accounts in different cloud storage Oh.
CloudMounter can work with data for various network protocols without full synchronization on the computer. The utility connects storage in the form of external drives and downloads only the necessary data to the Mac.
This way you can get rid of multiple cloud storage clients and save valuable space on a small SSD drive.
8. DaisyDisk
The application will quickly tell you where the free space on your computer went. All drives and directories will be displayed in the form of a visual diagram.
The utility will color-code data types and allow you to delete everything except system or protected files.
So, in a couple of minutes you can remember that precious space is being consumed by a long-completed project in Final Cut or a 4K movie downloaded last month.
Cleaning space with DaisyDisk is a pleasure, no automatic actions or dubious algorithms - only manual deletion of truly unnecessary files.
You have just become the owner Mac Pro, iMac, MacBook or Mac mini, launched it, entered Apple data ID and started exploring the macOS universe. The first days of using Apple technology turned into aesthetic pleasure from the bright interfaces. There was a gradual acquaintance with features like Handoff and Continuity, which increased the delight of iPhone and iPad owners. You've loaded your media library through Photos, mastered desktops, and quickly synchronized Notes between your devices. Safari has become my favorite browser. iTunes is no longer annoying after the Windows experience. And, it would seem, an idyll has arrived! But not for long.
In about a week, the banal lack of applications even for primitive tasks will make itself felt. No matter how hard the Cupertino people try, there will still be third-party developers producing cool products that outshine Apple's creations. We decided to put them together so that newly minted Mac owners would know which program is best to get in order to organize their workspace in an ideal way.
We hasten to present to you 20 applications that are required to be installed on any Mac!
Clipboard Manager
Paste 2 is a polished clipboard manager that Apple should have created, but was ahead of it by domestic developer Dmitry Obukhov. The app is like a smart referee on a football field who doesn’t get in the way, but is always on the job. Paste 2 very quickly configures the clipboard size (from 100 objects to infinity), the key combination to open the storage, iCloud synchronization and the Direct Paste function to paste data from history with a double click.
It is at the stage quick setup and in the history section, called by the Shift+Cmd+V combination, one can feel the thoughtfulness of the application design. Firstly, it is pleasant to work in it, and, secondly, you want to work in it. Paste 2 saves a lot of time thanks to scrolling through saved information in the form of a ribbon of sketches, as well as a convenient system of markings and fastenings that allows you to scatter the necessary objects into categories. . Price – 749 rub.
Office
Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac remains a life-saving office suite even in Apple territory. Time-tested Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote outshine the standard (albeit free) iWork. You don’t have to worry about quality, because Redmond has long stopped producing semi-finished products for Macs. Besides, now Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac is available as a one-time purchase, without a classic Office 365 subscription. However, you will have to pay a hefty amount. Price – 5,199 rub.
Calendar
Fantastical 2 is a beautiful, powerful and convenient calendar for Mac in all respects. The second part brought the long-awaited large window with a visual display of all events, while the pop-up block was still preserved in the menu bar. The calendar has learned to understand the user’s natural language both through text input and voice typing (the closest language to master is English, but it’s very easy to get used to). In the application, you can quickly add meeting coordinates, specify various parameters and track everything either through the side sidebar or through a widget, where the chic design will once again make itself felt.
The Fantastical 2 calendar can switch design themes from dark to light, allows you to use multiple accounts, and also flexibly configure all calendars linked to them. In short, you will never miss a planned event, and you will always be pleased to add something new to the program. . Price – 3,790 rub.
Control of incoming/outgoing connections
Little Snitch 4 will closely monitor any network activity occurring on your Mac. To a beginner, the purpose of the application may seem rather formidable, however, “Little Snitch” communicates in an accessible language, itself notifies about processes exchanging data with the Internet and, among other things, is incredibly easy to configure. From the top menu bar you can select “Quiet modes”, each of which either allows traffic to pass through all the time, or, conversely, blocks it. If you need total control, switch to Alert - in this case, Little Snitch will always ask for user approval.
Through the Little Snitch 4 configuration, new rules of behavior are added for applications, processes and iOS simulators, taking into account all types of connections. Depending on the specific Mac, you are allowed to juggle with different settings profiles. The developers have screwed in so many filters that even the most paranoid Mac can be flexibly adjusted. The most important thing is that everything is done playfully and without any special knowledge. Isn't this what a macOS beginner needs? Price – 3,000 rubles.
Graphic editor
Pixelmator good for its ease and entry threshold for beginners. It doesn't require a ton of tabs like Photoshop does. It makes it easy to perform any operation such as cutting out the background, leaving the details of the alpha channel behind. Pixelmator is suitable for both drawing and photo editing. Arsenal is no longer inferior to the Adobe product and is ready to satisfy tasks of any nature. Price – 2,290 rub.
Photo retouching
The standard Photo application contains a basic set of tools for processing any photos, however, those who like to get the most out of photos will need a more serious tool - Adobe Lightroom. It will be useful at least for comparing “before/after” results, not to mention curves, masks, presets, display options, creating galleries and methods for quick processing on a quick fix. Price – 644 rub./month.
Password Manager
Favorite password manager mSecure 5 should be used if you lack the capabilities of Keychain Access and don’t like the 1Password subscription, for which exclusive updates have recently been released, bypassing the standalone version. The latest large-scale edition of mSecure introduced a redesigned design with a more modern look, support for cloud synchronization out of the box, as well as more templates, the long-awaited loading of icons for popular services and its own Security Center, which notifies you about duplicates and weak passwords. In short, mSecure 5 is created for those who want to pay once for a quality password manager and never have to worry about monthly fees until they die. Please note that an unlimited license allows you to connect as many devices as you like to your own account. . Price – 2,290 rub.
RSS reader
Reeder 3 is a universal solution when the question arises about tracking a large flow of news on Macs. Reeder 3 can intelligently separate a huge amount of resources, organize them into tags and organize a pleasant-looking space for directly reading materials. The application is very intuitive, all the important buttons are at your fingertips, and once you master the gestures, you won’t want to part with the “magic box” of news. Reeder 3 has enormous potential in terms of sharing and synchronizing accounts - Feedly alone is worth it. There are customizable themes, reading options, hot keys and other adjustments that everyone can define to suit their own needs. Price – 749 rub. .
A good alternative to standard Mail is a colorful and multifunctional application Airmail 3, which has long received cross-platform status. The key feature of this mailer is customization, that is, the user is allowed to add shortcuts, set up automation, smart folders, enable repeat reminders and choose from seven cool styles. You could even say that Airmail 3 imitates Inbox, but it turns out to be much more accessible. The only thing is that we recommend that you carefully study all the options before using it in order to get the maximum benefit from Airmail. Price – 749 rub.
Markdown editor/Text markup editor
Ulysses- a martyr's version of the writer's chic text editor. Let's try to explain in a nutshell. When the developers added iCloud synchronization and a couple of useful functions like export to PDF, we put the good old “Ulysses” on a pedestal and safely threw it off when the developers decided, even for those who had already paid impressive sums for full versions of applications. However, the application itself motivates you to be creative, makes you write and compose texts. The Ulysses environment is great for highlighting text, attaching links, and attaching media files. Cataloging is a separate article, it is executed meticulously, although only one sidebar is enough for happiness. Change the panel display modes, comfortably write a book chapter by chapter and don’t be distracted by anything...except monthly payments;) . Price – RUB 1,690/year
iA Writer– a worthy alternative to Ulysses, which will appeal to everyone who wants to save money on good quality text editor, having received design themes, Markdown markup, a minimalist environment that creates a creative atmosphere when, turning on the typewriter mode and inserting headphones, my fingers spontaneously begin to transfer thoughts to the paper screen. iA Writer has been improving since the days of skeuomorphism, so today the developers have equipped the application with the most productive set: export, basic formatting, iCloud synchronization, simple tables and guidelines for developing printing standards. In addition, iA Writer is available on a huge number of platforms, including macOS, iOS, Windows and Android. Price – 2,290 rub. (one-time payment)
Audio player
VOX– this is support for FLAC, this is an equalizer and advanced music playback settings, these are collections with selected groups of files, this is integration with iTunes, SoundCloud, Last.FM, a personal music library and the proprietary VOX Cloud, which provides an unlimited music library (but you have to pay for it) . Everything else is distributed completely free of charge and in a fairly presentable format. appearance. Price – Free.
