Best Mac Apps: 60+ Must-have macOS Apps in 2020

A rich collection of optimized apps is one of the reasons why many people shift to macOS from Windows or Linux. You also get to enjoy the many benefits of being inside the Apple ecosystem, such as iCloud sync. But, how do you find the best Mac apps out there? It may be a tough task, especially considering that we see the launch of new apps every single day.

Even when we narrow things down to a single category, say Maintenance, there are so many apps. However, random selection doesn’t work here. You should keep in mind that a Mac, like Windows and Linux devices, is also prone to malware and privacy threats. So, you have to use trusted applications that come from verified developers across the globe.

Understanding all these, we decided to create an ultimate list of the essential macOS apps out there. These are the apps you want to install on your Mac for the ultimate experience. For your convenience, we’ve split this list into five sections. Depending on what you expect, you can explore apps from these categories. We have also made sure that there is a right proportion of free, freemium, and paid apps on the list.

Maintenance

#1 CleanMyMac X – Best Mac Cleaner

CleanMyMac X is a comprehensive cleaning and optimization tool for Mac devices. It helps you clean up junk files, temporary files, malware, and unwanted software from your Mac in a single click. It also comes with a few utilities such as file shredder and disk space analyzer.

Using CleanMyMac X, you can take care of all your Mac maintenance needs. If you are someone who uses a lot of programs like Premiere Pro or Photoshop, your Mac may become slower. At these times, you can use the utilities mentioned above to clean up and speed-up your macOS system.

It also comes with a few handy features like RAM free-up, disk permission repair, app updater, and overall speed optimization. You can also clean up web traces and cookies from your Mac using this easy-to-use Mac cleaning software.

Pros

• Easy-to-use User Interface
• Comprehensive Mac maintenance
• Rich utilities like File Shredder
• Built-in Security

Cons

• A limited free version

Also Read: CleanMyMac X Review

#2 Bitdefender for Mac – Best Antivirus for Mac

Bitdefender for Mac is one of the most popular and trusted antivirus software for macOS. It can protect you and your device from various types of malware, including spyware, adware, and ransomware. As an antivirus suite, Bitdefender will keep your Mac under check.

Using Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac, you can have real-time protection from digital threats. The company is also including a VPN, which allows you to browse the web anonymously and securely. When compared with other antivirus tools, Bitdefender is pretty easy to use and consumes fewer resources.

It also offers protection for your offline files and backups. Using Safe Files and Time Machine Protection, you can protect your data from potential ransomware attacks. There are also other utilities like anti-tracker and anti-phishing protection. This antivirus suite offers comprehensive protection in browsers also.

Pros

• Powerful anti-malware protection
• Advanced Privacy protection
• Included VPN
• Easy to use

Cons

• Limited support options

#3 Get Backup Pro – Best Mac Backup Software

Get Backup Pro is a feature-rich yet easy-to-use backup software for macOS. It is a must-have macOS app if you want the best protection for your files. You can use this app to automate backup, sync, clone, and archive options with ease.

You can create and store backups in a regular folder or as an encrypted disk image. For instance, if you want to save the backups in an external hard drive, you can do that. You can also set up Get Backup Pro to start the process when you connect the drive.

Get Backup Pro also lets you create bootable backup disks and syncing profiles that suite your convenience. This is a fantastic choice for professionals who need a better level of control over their macOS file system and security.

Pros

• Supports various backup modes
• Automated backup and sync
• Scheduling options
• Advanced compatibility

Cons

• No cloud backup support

#4 Gemini 2 – Best Duplicate File Finder for Mac

Gemini 2 is a must-have macOS application for photographers and other professionals who may have some duplicate files on their Mac. Using powerful algorithms and AI support, Gemini 2 will help you find and delete duplicate files from your Mac.

Finding and removing duplicate files is an effective way to save storage space on a Mac. Gemini 2 makes it easy to do this since you don’t have to compare folders manually. You can scan various folders or the drive itself to get instant results.

Gemini 2 also does not consume many resources from your Mac. You can run it once in a while to clean up the device. It offers several options to filter the duplicate files and manage them flexibly. In short, this app can save several GBs of space from your Mac.

Pros

• Easy-to-use UI
• Advanced review options
• Completely secure
• Smart algorithms

Cons

• Limited features

#5 iStat Menus – Best System Monitor for Mac

iStat Menus is an advanced system monitoring utility for macOS. This lightweight app shows you a complete overview of your Mac through a menu-bar widget. You can track a variety of stats such as CPU consumption, battery status, and memory consumption.

Setting up iStat Menus is an easy task. Once you have provided the permissions, it will start showing a basic set of data on the menu bar. Using the Preferences pane, you can control what appears on the menus. For instance, you can set up iStat Menus to show only the battery stats if you want.

We believe iStat Menus is a fantastic way to know the health status of your Mac. For instance, it can help you track down runaway apps and apps that drain your Mac. There are also options to track sensor data and network activity.

Pros

• Minimal UI
• Customizable design
• Advanced stats
• Intelligent notifications

Cons

• Not beginner-friendly

#6 Stellar Data Recovery for Mac – Best Data Recovery Software for Mac

One of the most trusted data recovery software in the market, Stellar Data Recovery for Mac would help you recover a variety of deleted/lost/corrupted files from your Mac. Even better, you can use the tool to recover data from external devices like USB drives and HDDs.

As a professional who deals with sensitive data, you should have a tool like Stellar Data Recovery for Mac at your disposal. So, even if you accidentally delete a file/folder from your Mac, you have a shot at recovering it. This app offers a higher recovery rate as well.

You don’t have to worry about compatibility either. This data recovery suite supports many file systems like HFS+ and APFS. This means you can recover data from both old and new Macs alike. Last but not least, its minimalistic UI makes things awesome.

Pros

• High recovery rate
• Top performance
• Broad compatibility
• Intuitive UI

Cons

• Time-taking recovery

#7 NetSpot – Best Wi-Fi Analyzer for Mac

If you use a Wi-Fi connection at home or office, NetSpot is one of the must-have macOS apps in this category. You can use NetSpot to analyze the Wi-Fi network coverage and other technical aspects of your network. It is quite useful in understanding what you need to fix.

The NetSpot app for macOS allows you to create a virtual map of your home or office by analyzing the total strength of Wi-Fi connectivity. You can use this map to fix your network coverage issues and set up the most effective network infrastructure.

You should use this free Wi-Fi analyzer app if you face poor network speeds due to wrong placement of network equipment. The data from NetSpot will also help you in choosing the best Wi-Fi extender, booster, and other accessories for your home/office network.

Pros

• Easy-to-use UI
• Advanced Wi-Fi analysis
• Wi-Fi mapping support
• Affordable

Cons

• Requires prior experience

#8 Commander One – Best File Manager for Mac

Commander One is an excellent Finder replacement and a fantastic file manager for macOS. Compared to Finder, Commander One offers a flexible and advanced way to manage the files on your Mac. Most notably, it’s a dual-pane file manager.

It means you can seamlessly manage files between two locations inside or outside your Mac. While the free version comes with essential features like unlimited tabs, zipping support, and customizable hotkeys, its Pro version brings advanced compatibility, among other things.

For instance, you can easily connect and manage cloud storage options like Google Drive and Amazon S3. In addition, this tool brings customizable themes and FTP support. In short, Commander One does everything you wish Finder had done.

Pros

• Dual-pane interface
• Customizable hotkeys
• Cloud storage support
• Advanced control

Cons

• UI could be simpler

#9 Unclutter – Best Mac Desktop Organizer

Unclutter is an easy-to-use app that lets you organize your Mac’s desktop. Unclutter opens up a new space on the top portion of your Mac desktop. You can use this space to store files, create notes, and access things you had copied to the clipboard.

Customizability is probably the best feature that Unclutter offers. While the basic options remain the same, you can control how things appear in each of these sections. For instance, you can control how files appear on the Drop Zone interface.

Once you get used to the Unclutter space, it can help you keep your Mac desktop cleaner. When you want to get a file, you can move the cursor to the top area, and voila. We think this is one of the best maintenance apps you can ever have on your Mac.

Pros

• Intuitive UI
• Built-in clipboard history
• Sync support
• Customizable

Cons

• Needs getting used to

#10 Battery Health 2 – Best Battery Health Monitor for Mac

Battery Health 2 is a dedicated battery health monitor tool for Mac. This tool helps you track the charge and health of your MacBook battery without hassles. It presents all that information through an intuitive UI, in addition to the battery percentage icon on the menu bar.

So, if you want advanced battery monitoring statistics from your Mac, Battery Health 2 is an impressive shot indeed. You get to know the actual capacity, current capacity, age, condition, and also the manufacture date of the battery inside your MacBook Air/Pro.

You can use this lightweight app to know if your device battery is running correctly. For instance, keeping an eye on the cycle count is an effective way to know when you have to replace the battery. There is also an option to enable power history at an extra cost.

Pros

• Low footprint
• Minimal UI
• Advanced statistics
• Mostly free

Cons

• Doesn’t support alerts

#11 Geekbench 5 – Best Mac Benchmark Tool

Geekbench 5 is one of the most trusted and feature-rich benchmarking tool available for Mac and Windows. You can use this app to understand the performance capabilities of your Mac, and Geekbench 5 provides a standardized figure.

Geekbench 5 stands on the huge side when it comes to the storage space it requires. A considerably big app, it can test your CPU performance based on multiple metrics. Once the benchmarking is done, you can see a single-core and multi-core score.

Apart from maintenance, Geekbench 5 becomes a standardized way to compare the performance of a Mac with other devices, including PCs and Linux. It’s an industry standard that even experts use while comparing laptops.

Pros

• Industry-standard system
• Detailed benchmarking
• Single-core and multi-core scores
• Intuitive UI

Cons

• Limited free version

#12 Parallels Desktop 15 for Mac – Best Windows Emulator for Mac

Parallels Desktop 15 for Mac is currently the most effective way to run Windows apps on macOS. However, it can go beyond your expectations from a typical emulator. Parallels Desktop allows you to run Windows apps without opening up the virtual machine every single time.

The process of setting up and using Windows and Windows apps via Parallels Desktop is an easy task. There is a wizard that allows you to decide how things work. Once set up, you can access not just files but also the internet connection via the virtual Windows system.

Because it’s a fully-fledged emulator, you can use Parallels Desktop to run other OSs like Linux virtually. Long story short, this simple-looking app allows you to manage multiple virtual machines without any compromise on the performance side.

Pros

• Easy to set up
• Customizable design
• Support for Windows and Linux
• Easy internet/files access

Cons

• No free version

Productivity

#13 Alfred – Best Keyboard App Launcher for Mac

Alfred is one of the most popular keyboard app launchers and Spotlight alternatives for Mac. However, when compared to Spotlight, Alfred brings a fantastic set of advanced features and customizability. You can do a lot of tasks you just imagined doing with Spotlight.

One of the best points is that Alfred works with web-based services rather smoothly. Using keywords, you’d be able to do searches on Google, YouTube, and Amazon, among others. It also has options to automate your Mac experience.

While the core elements of Alfred are free, advanced features require a subscription. But, for most people, even the free version of Alfred is several times better than the Spotlight experience. Last but not least, you can set up keyboard shortcuts as well.

Pros

• Well-integrated
• Works fine with web services
• Customizable design
• Free to use

Cons

• Some features are too advanced

#13 Things – Best To-Do List App for macOS

Things has a huge fan following when it comes to the world of to-do list apps. This well-designed app allows you to manage multiple tasks and projects with ease. Things integrates with macOS so well that you get to access the calendar/reminder data.

An app from Cultured Code, a trusted developer, Things focuses on straightforward design. Most of the features focus on workflow management and efficient management of your tasks. There are also features such as auto-complete to make to-do lists awesome.

As you can see, the interface is super-cool, and it enables easy navigation. You can explore various types of tasks using the links on the sidebar. Of course, we get standard features like cloud sync support and support for some level of optimization.

Pros

• Efficient design
• Easy to use UI
• Cloud sync support
• Multi-level tasks

Cons

• No free version

#14 Dashlane – Best Password Manager for Mac

There are so many password managers available for Mac, but Dashlane is currently the best choice. It’s a full password management service that works on multiple devices, including PC, Linux, Android, and iOS. You do get excellent apps on other platforms too.

Coming to the Mac apps, Dashlane for macOS integrates well with the system and web browsers. This way, you get to enjoy features like auto-fill data and instant password generation. You can also use Dashlane to save important information, such as credit card details.

As a service, Dashlane offers some advanced security-focused services too. For instance, it will analyze your existing passwords and notify you about vulnerabilities and breaches. Altogether, you cannot go wrong with the Dashlane app or the service.

Pros

• Simple user interface
• Well-integrated with browsers
• Built-in security checker
• Multi-device support

Cons

• Limited free version

#15 Evernote – Best Note Taking App for Mac

One of the essential apps for everyone, Evernote brings a rich note-taking experience to Mac. Besides, the app brings the benefits of cloud-based syncing and integration with other apps. Just like Dashlane, Evernote also offers its apps for multiple platforms.

More importantly, Evernote has a bunch of features that help you create and manage rich notes. It offers a Web Clipper, which essentially grabs content from the web and converts into a note. There are also so many templates and integrations to check out.

In short, Evernote does way more than a typical note-taking app. You can even collaborate with others while editing a note and do OCR with PDF and scanned documents. The service offers free and premium plans that provide value for money too.

Pros

• Efficient note-taking
• Multi-device support
• Web Clipper
• Plenty of integrations

Cons

• Can be too bulky

#16 Snagit – Best Screen Capture Software for Mac

Snagit is a popular screen capture software that is available for Mac and other platforms. While macOS does come with a built-in screen capture utility, it misses a lot of advanced features. Snagit brings those features and presents everything in a professional layout.

The best part about Snagit is that it can help you create explanations and how-to videos with ease. You get a superb collection of editing and annotation tools in the package. You can use plenty of templates Snagit comes with as well.

Altogether, Snagit is your best friend when it comes to capturing the screen of your Mac. It works with both screenshots and videos, making it a fantastic choice for writers and YouTubers alike. The developers keep adding new features with every release too.

Pros

• Easy to use interface
• Powerful annotation tools
• Efficient editing
• Templates and Elements

Cons

• Many features are Pro-only

#17 PDFpen – Best PDF Editor for Mac

PDFpen is a must-have macOS app if you deal with many PDF documents every day. It’s a powerful PDF suite that lets you annotate, create, and edit PDF documents with ease. You can use this app to convert documents to PDF and vice versa as well.

You can use PDFpen as an overpowered PDF viewer as well. Just like Preview, it shows the snippets of pages on the sidebar. And, you can start editing or annotating the text/images using the plenty of tools on the top toolbar.

Compared to other PDF editors in the market, PDFpen offers an intuitive way to correct and replace text. If you want to make slight changes to a PDF document, you can do it without trouble. Last but not least, it has OCR support as well.

Pros

• Powerful editing tools
• Impressive PDF viewer
• Conversion capability
• OCR support

Cons

• Expensive

#18 GoodTask – Best Task Manager for Mac

GoodTask is your best choice when looking for an advanced task manager for Mac. Despite the rich features it comes with, the app does not consume many resources from your Mac. The minimal User Interface makes things easy to navigate, as well.

Just as you wanted, GoodTask can sync with iOS Reminders and Calendar entries. It means you won’t have to miss the notifications on any device. You can also get impressive apps for devices like the iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad.

GoodTask for Mac is an extended version of these mobile apps. You get a fully-fledged interface with a proper sidebar. You can use this extra real estate to manage your tasks and projects efficiently. Smart List is a cool feature that can boost your productivity as well.

Pros

• Feature-rich design
• Multi-device compatibility
• Integrated to macOS
• Fully-fledged interface

Cons

• No free version

#19 Pixelmator – Best Photo Editor for Mac

One of the most popular photo editors in the world right now, Pixelmator is a Mac-optimized photo editor. This tool is made for both professionals and everyday users. The user gets to customize the UI, toolbars, and other aspects of the editing suite as they wish.

Pixelmator is also the best Photoshop alternative to Mac at this point. Yes, Photoshop is available for macOS, but Pixelmator sure feels more optimized than the Adobe suite. It should also be noted that Pixelmator has an affordable price tag.

In addition to its smart editing features, Pixelmator and Pixelmator Pro come with support for Sidecar and Apple Pencil. Because it’s quite popular among professionals, you won’t have trouble in getting community support either.

Pros

• Optimized for Mac
• Powerful editing
• Extensive support
• Affordable pricing

Cons

• No free version

#20 MindNode – Best Mind Mapping App for Mac

MindNode is a popular mind-mapping app available for macOS. It is an essential app for those who deal with complex ideas and want to clarify their thoughts most effectively. You can use MindNode when creating multi-level mind maps with easy-to-use tools.

As a mind-mapping app, MindNode has features that cater to all types of users. For instance, you can use it to create maps for travel, technical projects, or even your upcoming story’s plot. The interactive elements in the package make things way easier for even beginners.

As you can see, creating and organizing your thoughts via MindNode is an easy task. You can use a variety of connection elements and modules to make the mind-maps amazing. In short, it’s a must-have app for those who love to plan.

Pros

• Impressive UI
• Rich elements
• Export options
• Broad compatibility

Cons

• Subpar workflow

#21 Focus – Best Distraction Blocker App for Mac

While there are so many distraction blocker solutions for macOS, we believe Focus is the best one you could pick. It is an easy way to block distractions, both online and offline when you are working on something. A single click on the icon enables all the features, which is excellent.

Focus lets you block what distracts you from working. This could be an app or a website. If you want to be a bit more precise, you can set up Focus to allow only a few websites/apps when you enable the Focus mode. The app also lets you have convenient time schedules for the Focus period.

Once you are in the Focus mode, the app will show you a motivational quote every time you try to open one of the blocked sites. The Focus app also comes with options like scheduling, Pomodoro mode, and the break mode.

Pros

• Efficient distraction blocking
• Easy to set up
• Highly customizable
• Pomodoro mode

Cons

• Paid-only

#22 Ulysses – Best Writing App for Mac

Ulysses is undoubtedly one of the must-have macOS apps for writers. It’s a distraction-free writing app that can provide a focused writing experience. It also comes with exporting and document conversion techniques that help writers.

The clean, intuitive workspace is one of the best features in Ulysses. As soon as you open the app, you can start writing. Support for dark mode, customizable text styles, etc. can enrich your writing experience. Once you are done, you can export the document to PDF, DOC, or TXT.

Compared to other writing apps, such as Microsoft Word, Ulysses provides a minimal writing experience and a better multi-device environment. Everything you save on your Mac will be accessible on your iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices.

Pros

• Minimal writing environment
• Distraction-free writing
• Advanced export options
• Multi-device support

Cons

• Can be expensive

#23 Movavi Photo DeNoise – Best Photo Noise Reduction Software for Mac

Reducing the noise from photographs is a tiresome task. However, with the help of Movavi Photo DeNoise, you can complete the job in seconds. Using the power of AI and content analysis, this app allows you to get rid of noise from photographs.

Movavi Photo DeNoise comes with several presets that you can customize and use. All of these presets bring a predetermined level of noise reduction. Once you have denoised a photograph, you can crop or resize the photo using the same app.

As a photographer, it’s one of the best macOS apps indeed. If not perfect, this app can bring you a beginner-level noise reduction. After that, you can use some advanced apps to focus more on details or crispness. And if you have just started photo editing, Movavi Photo DeNoise can be a great companion.

Pros

• Simple UI
• Preset support
• Added functionalities
• Plenty of export options

Cons

• Slow denoising process

#24 Mosaic – Best Window Manager for Mac

Unlike Microsoft Windows, macOS does not have a robust window-management system. Mosaic is a macOS app that can fix the issue. It creates virtual compartments on the desktop, where you can place the different app windows.

Compared to other apps for the same purpose, Mosaic is a little heavy. It also needs a bit more time to set up. However, once set up, it can change the way you manage app windows on Mac. Every time you try to arrange an app window, Mosaic will show you the potential spaces where you can put the window.

Despite being a system-level app, Mosaic offers an impressive amount of customization. You can create your layouts or choose one from the Quick Layout options. With the Pro version, it brings keyboard shortcuts, window capture, and Touch Bar support.

Pros

• Easy window management
• Well-integrated with macOS
• Support multi-display setup
• Touch Bar support

Cons

• Complicated set-up process

#25 BusyCal – Best Calendar App for macOS

The built-in calendar app on macOS does a decent job, sure. However, if you need advanced features, among other benefits, you should check out BusyCal. This calendar app brings a lot of features that you expect in a proper calendar suite, along with multi-device compatibility.

Because the BusyCal interface is similar to that of Apple Calendar, you won’t have issues with getting started with the app. However, as you begin making events and setting goals, you can see the rich options like smart scheduling and deep integration with services.

The BusyCal apps are available for iPhone and iPad, which means enhanced control. Support for to-dos and weather data are just two of the many features packed inside this suite. It also comes with a minimal menu-bar app, which makes things superb.

Pros

• Easy to set up
• Integrates well with third-party calendars
• Built-in To-Do and Weather
• Smart scheduling

Cons

• An expensive package

#26 f.lux – Best Display Optimization App

f.lux is an intelligent macOS app that optimizes the display brightness and temperature according to the time of the day. So, when you open your Mac in the morning after sleep, it won’t destroy your eyes with that hot brightness.

This app analyses multiple factors to set the optimal brightness/color temperature for your Mac. For instance, it will consider the amount of light in your room, and the time of sunset/sunrise. So, no matter when you open up your Mac, you will be looking at a comfortably lit display.

Once set up, you can forget about f.lux. It will keep track of your Mac’s maintenance all the time. Probably the best part is that the app is entirely free to use. If you care about your health, this is an app that you must install on your Mac.

Pros

• Health-friendly
• Easy to set up
• Automatic location
• Customizable

Cons

• Needs time to get used to

#27 Apptivate – Best Hotkeys App for Mac

There are some useful hotkeys on macOS by default. If you think they aren’t enough, you can check out Apptivate, which is a hotkey management app for Mac. Using this intuitive app, you can create and use a wide variety of hotkeys on your Mac.

You can use these hotkeys to perform a diverse set of tasks. For instance, you can open specific applications or run predetermined scripts. You can also set up Apptivate to open and manage multiple files and folders via the interface.

Apptivate also comes with a menu-bar interface that lets you access essential areas of your Mac. Despite being a simple app, it gets the job done. You can add items where you select an app/file/script and assign a hotkey.

Pros

• Simple set-up
• Easy hotkey management
• Intuitive menu-bar UI
• Completely free

Cons

• Infrequent Updates

#28 LogMeIn – Best Remote Desktop Client for Mac

LogMeIn is one of the trusted apps that you can use to enable remote desktop access on the Mac. Compared to other apps like TeamViewer, LogMeIn offers enhanced features and better optimization with macOS. You also get some ecosystem-based features.

Once you have installed and given the right permissions to the LogMeIn client, you can enable desktop access in no time. The developers have also focused on how the program improves overall security, using military-grade encryption.

When it comes to remote access alone, you get features like file storage, file sharing, mobile access, remote printing, multi-display support, real-time control, etc. All these features make LogMeIn a suitable choice for personal and enterprise uses alike.

Pros

• Easy to set up
• Military-grade encryption
• Multi-display support
• Excellent assistance

Cons

• The UI could be better

#29 Franz – Best Instant Messaging App for Mac

Franz is a unified Instant Messaging app that allows you to use WhatsApp, Messenger, Slack, and a few other messaging platforms from a single window. You can connect as many messaging accounts as you want and use them without trouble.

Franz is an excellent choice if too many messaging apps on your Mac are bothering you. On the other hand, if you are a professional who has to handle multiple messaging channels at once, this app can save a lot of time.

The app also brings convenient features like native notification support. It also comes with an impressive to-do list, built into the messaging management. This means you can easily manage your tasks without needing a third-party app.

Pros

• Supports all popular IMs
• Built-in to-do list
• Notification support
• Simple UI

Cons

• Some features are Pro-only

#30 Spark – Best Email Client for Mac

Spark is one of the most third-party email clients made for macOS. Compared to Mail, the built-in mail client on the OS, Spark offers impressive performance, customizability, and convenient features. It comes with an intuitive design that both personal and team users will love.

Using the Smart Inbox, you can control how your email inbox appears on the app. Because it’s an app made for multiple platforms, you can globally sync your preferences as well. It also comes with a robust algorithm that can tell apart essential emails from the spammy ones.

There are also additional features like Email Send Later, Follow-Up Reminders, Email Signatures, Notification support, and Attachment management. You can also integrate the Spark app with popular web services and share your attachments easily.

Pros

• Efficient inbox management
• Smart notifications
• Send Later & Follow-Up
• Multi-Device Sync

Cons

• Third-party support could be better

#31 Apple Logic Pro X – Best Audio Recording/Editing Suite for Mac

One of the most popular software products from Apple, Logic Pro X is undoubtedly the best audio recording and editing suite you can get for macOS. It’s also one of the most reliable Digital Audio Workstation software in the market, and it has helped thousands of musicians and professionals so far.

On Mac, however, Logic Pro X can provide the best performance on any day. You can expect an ultra-efficient workflow and best rendering speeds on any day. Because it’s an industry-standard solution, Logic Pro X also benefits from available add-ons, enhanced compatibility, and community-based support.

The best part about Logic Pro X is that you can use it for any type of audio editing/recording project. It could be a simple podcast or a multi-track musical composition. The DAW interface provides so much control when you connect MIDI devices as well.

Pros

• Industry-standard suite
• Broad compatibility
• Enhanced performance
• DAW Interface

Cons

• A heavy package

#32 Adobe Premiere Pro CC – Best Video Editing Software for Mac

Just like Logic Pro X, Adobe Premiere Pro CC is one of the industry-leading software. However, this suite from Adobe is used by professional video editors across the globe. So, even if you are taking the baby steps of film editing, Premiere Pro CC is your go-to option.

Adobe includes Premiere Pro with the Creative Cloud suite, which means you can use it alongside popular apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, etc. On the front end, Premiere Pro has an impressive UI that enhances overall efficiency.

If you already use products from the Adobe ecosystem, you don’t have to think twice before getting Premiere Pro CC as the video editing suite. As you can guess, the app brings you the benefits of global support and an immense variety of available add-ons.

Pros

• Made for film editing
• Feature-rich system
• Compatible with other Adobe CC products
• Industry-standard interface

Cons

• Not suitable for beginners

#33 Folx – Best Download Manager for Mac

Folx is an all-in-one download manager tool that you can use on your Mac. This single tool allows you to get things downloaded from various parts of the internet. In addition to a standard file download, Folx also supports torrents, which is excellent.

A product from Eltima Software, people love the Folx download manager for its easy-to-use design. You will find it intuitive to start and manage multiple downloads at the same time. When compared to other downloaders we have tested, Folx provides good speed as well.

While Folx is free for the most part, there are some Pro-only features in the package. For instance, you will get a built-in password manager and YouTube downloader with the premium version. But, if you want a better download experience on Mac, the base version is sufficient.

Pros

• Good download speeds
• Integrates with web browsers
• Easy-to-use UI
• Built-in YouTube downloader

Cons

• Not all features are free

#34 PhotoBulk – Best Mac App for Bulk Photo Editing

We already recommended Pixelmator as the best photo editor for Mac. However, if you want to edit photos in bulk, you should go for PhotoBulk. This app allows you to make changes, such as watermarking, resizing, compressing, etc., to multiple photos at once.

It should be noted that PhotoBulk works quite well with macOS. You can simply drag and drop the files you want to create and save them accordingly. The app also lets you create presets that you can use to manage edits again.

As you can guess, you can include multiple commands inside a single preset. This comes in handy if you have to optimize screenshots/photos for a particular channel. Thanks to the high-speed performance and design, this app can help you save a lot of time.

Pros

• Intuitive UI
• Preset support
• Drag-and-drop design
• High-performance

Cons

• Could have more features

#35 TunnelBear – Best VPN for Mac

TunnelBear is undoubtedly one of the best VPN software you can have on macOS. More importantly, it’s a fantastic VPN service that provides multi-server support, among other features. The best part about this macOS app is that it’s so simple.

Instead of opening a fully-fledged interface, TunnelBear takes its place on the macOS menu-bar. Using this simple interface, you can select the desired server and connect to it instantly. The app also brings some extra features for security.

For instance, the TunnelBear can stop your internet connectivity if there is something fault with the private connection. It also works fine with the rest of the macOS. In short, TunnelBear is the best option you have when it comes to simplicity and efficiency.

Pros

• Easy to manage UI
• Multiple server support
• Advanced security
• Quite customizable

Cons

• Limited free version

#36 Microsoft Office 365 – Best Office Suite for Mac

Microsoft Office 365 is a must-have macOS app if you want to manage documents efficiently. Though there is a full iWork suite built into macOS, compatibility isn’t its strongest forte. This office suite from Microsoft, however, has been the gold standard.

As you know, the Microsoft Office 365 package comes with a variety of apps, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The product is available through a monthly/yearly subscription or as a one-time purchase. You can even get student discounts.

The latest version of all apps in the Microsoft Office 365 bundle are well optimized for macOS. It even gets Dark Mode support, which is great. All apps come with options like Export to PDF, which can save you a lot of money as well.

Pros

• Industry-standard suite
• Optimized for macOS
• A full office software suite
• Excellent support

Cons

• No free version

#37 Meeter – Best Meeting Management App for macOS

Managing multiple meetings can be a tricky affair, especially when you work from home. Meeter is a Mac app that can change this situation. It allows you to schedule, manage, and join meetings by collecting data via multiple sources.

The best part is that you don’t have to open up the Calendar app to see what’s ahead. Instead, Meeter can provide an impressive way to keep track of them. Simply clicking on a meeting entry would take you to the corresponding app, and you can start the meeting right away.

It’s also cool that the Meeter app comes with an intuitive User Interface. The app can also show you minimal notifications when it’s time to attend a specific meeting. Long story short, the app can save a lot of time, at the same time giving so many customization options.

Pros

• Simple UI
• Integrates with popular meeting apps
• Customizable
• Minimal notifications

Cons

• Doesn’t offer standalone meetings

#38 WinZip – Best Unzip App for Mac

WinZip has been the industry standard for making and extracting archive files. As it happens, WinZip has an excellent app for macOS as well. This means you can expect high-quality archive management through a similar interface.

WinZip for macOS, however, comes with some additional features. For instance, there is an option to share the ZIP files with cloud storage services like Dropbox. The app also integrates well with macOS, which allows you to access the features from Finder and contextual menus.

Of course, you get standard features like encryption and security. You can also choose from 3 different compression modes according to your needs. Another advantage is that you can use the zipped files on PC without any trouble.

Pros

• Industry-standard compression
• Built-in encryption
• Customizable interface
• Various zipping options

Cons

• No free version

#39 Duet – Use iPad As a Second Display

Duet is an innovative macOS app that allows you to use your iPad as a secondary screen for your Mac. But, instead of merely extending the display, Duet does a good job of making use of the touch input and the other GPU resources.

In the end, Duet can provide you a seamless macOS experience with the touch input. The app is made by some of the ex-Apple engineers, and they continuously improve the software. More importantly, this second display works with no lag at all.

If you need the advantages of a second display but don’t want to carry one, you should try installing Duet on your Mac. It should be noted that you can get additional features like gesture support and Touch Bar support on both screens.

Pros

• Easy to set up
• Free to use
• Gesture support
• Optimized for macOS

Cons

• Lag on the wireless connection

#40 Brave – Best Browser for Mac

Brave is hands down one of the best browser apps for Mac. It’s available for all platforms, and its Mac version is also focusing on ultimate privacy. Because Brave is based on the Chrome browser engine, you don’t have to worry about compatibility.

You also get a compatible UI, which is easy to navigate. However, the Brave browser brings some cool features like ad-blocking and privacy protection. If combined with a VPN, Brave is your best shot at protecting your privacy on the web.

Making things more exciting, the Brave browser provides you a better experience as well. The browser takes up way fewer resources than Chrome as well. So, if you think Safari isn’t your cup of tea and want something more productive, you should check out Brave.

Pros

• Built-in ad-blocking
• Low resource consumption
• Chrome engine
• Privacy-friendly

Cons

• No integration options

Developer Tools

#41 Homebrew – Best Package Manager for Mac

Homebrew is a must-have package manager app every developer should have. It does not matter which kind of apps/web apps you develop; Homebrew can help you in managing software and other digital packages with ease.

Because it’s a free, open-source project, you don’t have to worry about support. Even a simple question via Quora or Reddit will give you enough support. As you may have noted, Homebrew does everything using a command-line interface.

Once you get the hang of it, however, this command-line interface becomes an easy way to install, manage, update, and remove packages from your Mac. If you have the basic coding knowledge, you can even go to the extent of creating your Homebrew packages.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Command-line interface
• Complete package management
• Great community support

Cons

• No GUI

#42 iTerm – Best Terminal App for Mac

macOS comes with a built-in Terminal app that lets you access various things via command-line. However, if you find it not up to the mark, you can check out iTerm, which is a Terminal replacement app made for Mac devices.

Compared to the native counterpart, iTerm 2 brings several features to the table. For instance, you can use a double-pane interface, search within the terminal window, and even get mouse-less copying. iTerm 2 is also capable of suggesting auto-complete entries.

Also, there are hundreds of metrics that you can use to configure iTerm 2. From the developer’s point of view, this customizability and flexibility are unparalleled. In the end, this app can give you a superior experience of handling terminal commands.

Pros

• Free to use
• Highly customizable
• Auto-complete support
• Editable

Cons

• Can be too advanced for beginners

#43 Fork – Best git Client for Mac

If you use git for managing your versions, you should consider Fork as the must-have macOS app. This tool is so popular among git users and has been attracting developer teams for quite a few years. Of course, you are getting a fantastic set of features here.

When it comes to the list of features, Fork is pretty much comprehensive. It gives you so much control over repositories, and you can make many changes as well. You can check out the entire list of features on the official website.

The intuitive User Interface of Fork also needs special appreciation. This interface helps you in keeping your repositories on track. There are also some progressive features like notifications support and easy editing as well as interactive rebase.

Pros

• Notification support
• Minimalistic UI design
• Comprehensive control
• Interactive rebase

Cons

• No free version

#44 Atom – Best Code Editor for Mac

It does not matter which area you work; Atom is a macOS app that you should check out. One of the popular code editors in the market, this app can make your coding experience easier and more efficient. Of course, you get auto-complete support for a variety of coding platforms.

There are so many features in this package, but the major ones are its built-in package manager, file system browser, and smart autocompletion. Also, if you work on multiple devices, you can use this app on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Customization is also a strong forte of this program in that you can change how Atom looks and works. First of all, you can choose a theme from the many options. Going further, you get to know under-the-hood stuff like packages and other modes.

Pros

• Smart autocomplete support
• Simple UI
• Customizable
• Open-source

Cons

• Lack of plug-ins

#45 Visual Studio Code – Best HTML Editor for Mac

Visual Studio Code is an exceptionally powerful and complete coding editor from Microsoft, and it happens to be the best choice to edit HTML projects. As a product that is loved by developers across the globe, this app offers so much control.

You have access to essential features like auto-complete and support for multiple coding languages on any given day. However, a feature that makes Visual Studio Code awesome is its amazing collection of extensions — both free and paid.

In short, you can optimize Visual Studio Code according to your workflow. If you happen to manage multiple coding projects and want the best productivity, you should have this app from Microsoft on your MacBook Pro or iMac.

Pros

• Extension support
• Completely free
• Multi-platform support
• Comprehensive editing

Cons

• A heavy package

Education

#46 Numi – Best Calculator for Mac

Numi is one of the best calculator apps for macOS right now. However, it’s different from the standard type of calculator you have seen. What makes Numi unique is its smart way of managing calculations and the fresh and innovative design.

It’s more important to know that Numi is entirely free to use. You can keep this on your menu-bar, and the app will launch a minimal interface whenever you want to calculate something. You can use this simple calculator app for a variety of needs.

Apart from essential calculus and functions, Numi supports currency conversion, percentage, sum, SI prefixes, CSS, variables, etc. In short, this smart calculator app can double as many other utilities, and you don’t need the other apps either.

Pros

• Simple UI
• Multiple operations
• Conversion support
• Smart algorithms

Cons

• Learning curve

#47 iStudiez Pro – Best Learning App for Mac

If you have to tackle multiple subjects, classes, and notes from school or college, iStudiez Pro is a must-have app for macOS. You can use this app to create a digital reflection of your everyday academics and manage things with efficiency.

You can create a semester in iStudiez Pro and add the subjects you are taking in that semester. After that, it becomes easy to manage assignments, due dates, exams, and other submissions. The app gives you on-time notifications and alerts as well.

At any given time, this app can give you an overview of your academic life. Now that things are going more online than ever, you have a safe place to show you what you need to do and what you have done. By the way, you can get the iStudiez Pro app for other devices as well.

Pros

• Easy learning management
• Notifications & alerts
• Multi-device support
• Easy-to-manage UI

Cons

• Limited free version

#48 MateTranslate – Best Translation App for macOS

If you are looking for a capable translation app that works fine with macOS, you must check out what the MateTranslate package has to offer. There are so many features that make MateTranslate a favorite pick of students and language learners.

First of all, MateTranslate integrates so well with macOS and user-installed browsers. It means you can use the MateTranslate app to translate a word/sentence when you are reading something on the internet. It has support for 103 languages as well.

Another noteworthy feature in the package is its pronunciation support. Made by experts in the field, you can listen to how each word is pronounced. This will be a fantastic app for those who spend translate on a regular basis.

Pros

• Supports 103 languages
• Pronunciation support
• Personal dictionary and sync
• High accuracy

Cons

• Needs extensions for browser integration

#49 Mouseless – Keyboard Shortcut Learning App for Mac

People usually find it hard to understand keyboard shortcuts, right? Mouseless solves the issue by creating an inspiring environment to learn macOS shortcuts and attach them to your muscle memory. The app uses a simple session to reinforce the learning as well.

As an app, Mouseless can boost your productivity like never before. For instance, thanks to offline support, you can keep practicing even if there is no internet connection. Also, the team keeps adding more shortcuts for different apps.

The learning process is so effortless and straightforward. Mouseless first shows you a shortcut and then asks you to type it in. Through a repetitive process, you end up mastering the shortcuts for good. The app has shortcuts for professional Adobe suites as well, which is excellent.

Pros

• Intuitive learning process
• Supports so many apps
• Muscle memory-based
• Simple UI

Cons

• Lists are still developing

#50 PocketCAS – Best Math Solver for Mac

Do you come across difficult-to-solve math problems often? Then, you may want to check out PocketCAS, a popular math solver app for macOS. This app helps you solve algebra and graphing problems using your Mac, with as little effort as you imagine.

If you are studying mathematics or some branch of science that makes use of mathematics, it makes sense to have PocketCAS installed on your Mac. This simple app can not only save your time but also teach you the important aspects of the subject.

Plotting support, linear algebra, calculus, and scripting support are great features you’d find in the package of PocketCAS. Besides, you are looking at PDF export options and mathematical keyboard for additional input.

Pros

• Easy management
• Wide support for functions
• PDF export options
• Mathematical keyboard

Cons

• No free version

Lifestyle

#51 Wallpaper Wizard 2 – Best Wallpaper App for Mac

If you like to be welcomed by a fresh wallpaper every time you open up your Mac, you should check out the Wallpaper Wizard 2 app. It is a clean and effective way to discover and enable high-quality wallpapers on Mac’s desktop.

The best part is that you are not restricted to a single image. Instead, Wallpaper Wizard 2 lets you select an entire collection of wallpapers. Images from this collection would take their place on your desktop, in the intervals you set.

More importantly, Wallpaper Wizard 2 adds well-curated pictures of 4K quality. So, even if you let the app to select things randomly, your macOS system would look cool. It’s completely free to use, though some Pro features are there.

Pros

• Easy to set up
• 4K wallpaper collection
• Customizable frequency
• Well-curated images

Cons

• Difficult to find out-of-the-box wallpapers

#52 VLC Player – Best Video Player for Mac

VLC Player is hands down the best video player that you can download and use on your Mac. Compared to the limited options in QuickTime, VLC offers an impressive media consumption experience indeed. You don’t have to spend a single penny either.

Probably the best part about VLC Player is that you can stop worrying about compatibility. This open-source app comes with support for almost every media format in the world. Even if there is a lack of support, you’d be able to fix that by downloading a codec.

When it comes to the aspect of features, VLC Player does not disappoint. You can choose between different sources, subtitles, and playback modes according to your convenience. The app takes up a minimal amount of resources as well.

Pros

• Free and open source
• Amazing compatibility
• Great subtitle support
• Low resource consumption

Cons

• A rather rudimentary UI

#53 OBS Studio – Best Streaming App for Mac

OBS Studio is an open-source streaming app that is available for macOS and other platforms. Regardless of the place you want to stream to, OBS Studio can help you set up sources and arrange them according to your priorities.

Compared to other streaming apps in the market, OBS is very easy to use. You don’t have to know about the codes or advanced audio management to understand how it works. In seconds, you can set up the sources and start streaming.

You can use OBS Studio to record things as well. Unlike typical screen recording software, OBS Studio has features to help you create multi-layer records. That is, you can record content from multiple sources at once and create a final video of high quality.

Pros

• Easy to set up and use
• Multiple source support
• Good integration with services
• Completely free to use

Cons

• Some glitches

#54 Quicken Premier – Best Financial Software for Mac

Quicken Premier is a macOS app that can make finance management an easier task for all of you. It comes with a bunch of features that enable quick collaboration of multiple sources and systems. You can use this app to create comprehensive financial reports.

You can start using this program even if you are getting started with finance management. If you want to be aware of how you are spending your monetary resources and the overall health, Quicken Premier will be of amazing help. It even helps you keep your bank accounts on a check.

In short, Quicken Premier for Mac becomes your digital assistant when it comes to managing your expenses and keeping track of budgets. Thanks to the modular design, you don’t have to use a specific feature unless you want to.

Pros

• Easy to learn
• Multiple accounts
• Bank account sync options
• Investment management

Cons

• No free version

#55 Gifox – Best GIF Maker for Mac

Gifox is probably the best solution to create GIFs on Mac. While there are many apps in the market, Gifox is noted for its simple design and effective system. The app sits on your menu-bar and allows you to control a lot of things via hotkeys.

Even better, the app comes with options to share the GIFs with online sources. Thanks to the built-in editor, you can control how the final GIF file looks and works. Just like you use a screen recorder, you can select the area that you want to record using Gifox.

Despite the simple interface, Gifox allows you to customize the whole GIF-making process. For instance, you can control the compression ratio and overall quality of the app. You can also create custom shortcuts and sharing presets for easy access.

Pros

• Simple UI
• High-quality compression
• Built-in editor
• Precision control

Cons

• A limited free version

#56 Forecast Bar – Best Weather App for Mac

We have chosen Forecast Bar from the many options as the best weather app due to two reasons. First, the app provides you super-accurate weather predictions daily. Second, the app takes up a minimal amount of space from your menu-bar only.

The app can provide so much weather-related data through a simple UI and design. Having said that, you should be in a prime location if you want to get the best out of Forecast Bar. Only then will you get options to check out features like Time Machine and Minute-by-Minute predictions.

You can also use Forecast Bar as a dock app if you want. In either case, there is no compromise on the size or accuracy of the weather data you get. Forecast Bar app is available for iOS, which means you can get the same experience elsewhere.

Pros

• Minimal-design app
• Accurate predictions
• Smart notifications
• Multi-device syncing

Cons

• No full interface

#57 World Clock Pro – Best World Clock App for Mac

Among the many apps that show you time from different time-zones, we have chosen World Clock Pro as the best world clock app for macOS. This simple app brings such an impressive design and accurate tracking features in a simple package.

If you work with people from different time-zones, World Clock Pro is a must-have tool on your Mac. It can be a huge help in sending emails, scheduling meetings, and getting an overall knowledge about the time on the other side.

As an app, World Clock Pro comes with a lot of features. For instance, you can use the swiping interface to know the time changes in different locations. On MacBook Pro devices, you get Touch Bar support as well. Besides, World Clock Pro brings live weather data as well.

Pros

• Easy time management
• Support for scheduling
• Touch Bar support
• Mini-app available

Cons

• Expensive

#58 Day One – Best Journaling App for Mac

Keeping a journal is one of the best favors you can do to yourself. If you are ready for that, you should check out Day One, which is a remarkable journal app for macOS. This app brings an impressive interface that will encourage you to write journals.

Something that everyone loves about Day One is that it has an appealing interface. The colors and the cool icons can help you create more than a typical journal. The journals become a memory of these days you live, which is another reason to write more.

The award-winning design of the app contributes to overall usability as well. We recommend checking out this app even if you are no regular journal writer. There is a high chance that you may start writing one from the next day.

Pros

• Simple, classy design
• Multimedia support
• iCloud sync options
• Automatic backup

Cons

• Many features are Premium

The Bottom Line

So, these are definitely the best macOS apps that you should try at least once. We understand that you may not need all these apps. For instance, not everyone wants something like Adobe Premiere Pro or the Visual Studio Code suite from Microsoft.

At the same time, everyone will find it awesome to have tools like Gemini and CleanMyMac X.

The idea is to purchase and keep apps that can keep your Mac experience top of the line. You can either get them individually or go for subscriptions like Setapp, which gives you access to multiple apps by paying a low monthly fee. At the end of the day, it all depends on what kind of experience you expect from your Mac.