The 12 free Mac apps on this roundup show that the perfect software program doesn’t have to price you something.
These are the primary apps I set up on any new Mac, as they both increase my productiveness or add important performance lacking from macOS.
12 must-have free Mac apps I all the time set up first
You’ll find loads of free apps on the Mac App Retailer. And a few of them are genuinely helpful. There are the usuals like WhatsApp, Slack and Telegram that you simply most likely already heard of or are utilizing.
However there are many different free apps to your Mac that you simply possible don’t find out about. For me, these 12 apps are must-have downloads any time I arrange a brand new Mac.
Desk of contents: 12 must-have free Mac apps I all the time set up first
Raycast
Screenshot: Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac
I’ve beforehand written extensively about Raycast and the way it’s amongst my most-used Mac apps. As a fast refresher, Raycast capabilities as a Highlight alternative for Mac that may combine with different apps and providers. So, I can immediately do a Google Search from Raycast, search by means of my Google Drive, toggle my Mac’s system settings, management Apple Music and extra.
Raycast can act as extra than simply an app launcher. It will possibly deal with window administration, fast note-taking, clipboard historical past, textual content translation, script execution, and way more. Plus, it might seamlessly combine with virtually all common apps and providers you’ll be able to consider, like Slack, 1Password, and so forth.
What’s much more spectacular is that regardless of packing a lot performance, the core Raycast options stay free to make use of. Till and until you need the AI options, the free model will serve you simply superb.
It’s superb how a lot performance Raycast’s free model packs. And if you happen to like, you’ll be able to all the time improve to Raycast AI for $8 per thirty days to get pleasure from AI integration. However the majority of customers will discover Raycast’s free model ok for his or her wants.
Obtain: Raycast
AltTab
Photograph: AltTab
Because the identify suggests, AltTab brings the acquainted Home windows Alt + Tab performance to your Mac. It replicates Home windows-style window switching by displaying a stay preview of all open home windows, together with a number of home windows from the identical app. Whereas macOS gives app switching by means of the Cmd + Tab shortcut, it doesn’t preview particular person home windows or show a number of situations of the identical app. AltTab fills that hole, making multitasking on Mac much more environment friendly.
Plus, this free Mac app helps mouse and keyboard navigation, customized shortcuts and window filtering. You’ll be able to set a shortcut to solely present open home windows from the present app, use the arrow keys to cycle between completely different home windows and even kind apps by lately used.
By default, AltTab on Mac makes use of the Possibility + Tab key for window switching on Mac. However similar to different components of the app, you’ll be able to customise and alter this shortcut as per your liking. Given the performance AltTab packs, it’s outstanding that it’s free to obtain and use.
Obtain: AltTab
Maccy: A free Mac app for a greater clipboard expertise
Picture: Alex Rodionov
Whereas Raycast comes with a built-in clipboard supervisor, I want utilizing Maccy for dealing with my copy-paste and clipboard wants. It’s light-weight, quick and works as meant.
Maccy packs virtually all of the options you’ll be able to ask for in a clipboard supervisor: search, potential to pin gadgets, help for keyboard shortcuts, alias help, Shortcuts integration and extra. For the reason that app makes use of open-source code, you’ll be able to relaxation assured that your copied information stays personal.
Should you obtain Maccy immediately from the App Retailer, you’ll should buy it by paying $9.99. However you will get the app without cost immediately from the developer’s web site with none loss in performance. Take a look at our information on easy methods to use Maccy to get essentially the most out of this free clipboard supervisor.
Obtain: Maccy
Ice, a free Mac app that brings order to the menu bar
Because the variety of apps I set up and use on my Mac will increase, so does the litter on the menu bar. Fortunately, Ice takes care of the mess, permitting me to cover undesirable menu bar gadgets simply. The most effective half? The hidden gadgets are shortly accessible with a click on or hover. Plus, Ice even permits for menu bar customization, equivalent to including a gradient, a border, or dividing it into two sections.
Ice delivers a shocking quantity of performance, all with out charging a dime.
Obtain: Ice
Command X
I switched to Macs greater than a decade in the past. Whereas I don’t miss Home windows, I do miss a couple of small options, like the flexibility to chop and paste recordsdata utilizing the Ctrl + X / Ctrl + V shortcut. Fortunately, free Mac app Command X brings the identical performance to Apple computer systems. As soon as put in and arrange, you’ll be able to reduce and paste recordsdata in your Mac utilizing the Cmd + X and Cmd + V shortcuts.
Obtain: Command X
Stats
Photograph: Stats
I wish to hold an summary of my Mac’s CPU and RAM utilization, working temperatures, and different data. iStats Menus is a well-liked Mac app that locations key system useful resource stats proper in your menu bar. Whereas iStat Menus comes at a price, free Mac app referred to as Stats provides you related performance — with out the worth tag.
Sure, Stats lacks the polish of iStat Menus. However if you happen to solely care about performance, Stats will get the job executed. It’ll show your Mac’s CPU, RAM, disk and community utilization on the menu bar for straightforward monitoring. You’ll be able to even customise what metrics to point out and the way they seem, providing you with simply the correct quantity of management with out the complexity or price.
Obtain: Stats
DockDoor
Photograph: DockDoor
macOS doesn’t present a preview of open app home windows while you hover the mouse over an app’s dock icon. DockDoor is an easy, open-source and free app that provides this performance. Whereas macOS gives Mission Management and App Exposé, a fast hover preview from the dock typically feels sooner and extra handy.
Obtain: DockDoor
Loop
Free Mac app Loop brings an modern answer to reinforce macOS’ restricted window administration options. It makes use of a radial menu interface to allow you to transfer, resize and prepare home windows shortly. As a substitute of fumbling with a number of key combos or dragging home windows manually, Loop provides you a visible, mouse-friendly strategy to snap home windows to predefined positions or customized layouts.
You’ll be able to even tuck home windows on the display edge. These tucked home windows stay partially seen and could be introduced again immediately when wanted. This manner, you retain your desktop clear whereas nonetheless having fast entry to essential app home windows.
Obtain: Loop
App Cleaner
In contrast to Home windows, macOS doesn’t supply an uninstall performance for eradicating apps. As a substitute, you’ll be able to immediately transfer the app to the trash to take away it. The issue is that this nonetheless leaves behind some app residue. A free Mac app referred to as AppCleaner solves this downside by cleanly uninstalling undesirable apps out of your pc, together with their cache and different related recordsdata.
Obtain: AppCleaner
The Unarchiver
Photograph: The Unarchiver
You’ll be able to’t actually use a Mac with out first putting in The Unarchiver. Whereas macOS gives built-in help for unzipping fundamental archive codecs, The Unarchiver goes a number of steps additional. It will possibly extract a variety of compressed file sorts, together with Zip, RAR (even multi-part), 7-Zip, Tar, Gzip, Bzip2, and so forth., simply.
What actually units this free Mac app aside is its potential to deal with obscure and legacy codecs like LZH, ARJ, StuffIt, and even disk picture recordsdata equivalent to ISO and BIN. The app is light-weight, free, and integrates seamlessly with Finder. Simply double-click on any supported archive, and The Unarchiver will quietly do the job within the background, putting the extracted recordsdata proper the place you need them.
Obtain: The Unarchiver
Amphetamine: A free app that retains your Mac from sleeping
Have to hold your Mac awake whereas downloading giant recordsdata or working lengthy duties? Amphetamine makes it easy. It sits in your Mac’s menu bar, letting you forestall sleep with only a click on. You’ll be able to hold your Mac awake indefinitely or set a timer or circumstances like app utilization or file downloads.
Amphetamine stands out for its help for superior triggers. So, you’ll be able to hold your Mac awake solely when particular peripherals are linked or when linked to a specific community.
Obtain: Amphetamine
IINA
Photograph: IINA
Free Mac app IINA is an open-source media participant that helps a variety of video and audio file codecs. Whereas VLC is the go-to for a lot of, IINA stands out with its glossy, fashionable interface constructed particularly for macOS. It helps native options like picture-in-picture, Contact Bar controls, darkish mode, and gesture-based playback.
Obtain: IINA
Different free Mac apps?
Know another superb free Mac apps? Drop your favorites within the feedback beneath!
