Best Apps To Download For Your Mac

14-05-2021

Best Apps To Download For Your Mac

Your Mac comes preloaded with a bunch of great applications like iMovie, iTunes, and Calendar (just kidding about Calendar). But while these default apps are good in their own right, there are so many applications available that will improve your Mac experience dramatically. If you want to create the perfect balance of productivity and usability than check out our carefully curated list below.

The Best 15 Mac Apps that Every Mac owner should have

1. MacID

Download Best VPN Apps for your device and get the fastest speeds, unmatched security, and enjoy complete anonymity on the internet. Cisdem Video Converter - 5.2.0 - Download and Convert Videos on Mac without Quality Loss! CISDEM Converter Video Converter Video Downloader Converter, Video / 2020-03-05 16:14. The Mac App Store is the place to look if you want to download free Mac apps. With so many free apps already installed on your Mac you might think that there’s not much more you need, but there.

MacID is one of the coolest applications a Mac user can have. With MacID you can automatically lock your Mac whenever you walk away using the proximity feature or even create a haptic unlock code with your trackpad or Magic Mouse. Simply connect your iWatch, iPad, or iPhone running at least iOS 8 to your compatible Mac and enjoy a more secure and more awesome way to secure your Mac. Download the free Mac app here, and download the mobile app for $3.99 in the App Store.

2. CleanMyMac 3

Your Mac will run like new for years if you keep up with the maintenance. There are tons of individual applications that can help keep your Mac running at its most optimal. But CleanMyMac is an all-in-one application that is easy to use and well worth the download. We already reviewed how you can quickly scan your computer for unused programs, completely uninstall apps and their associated profiles, and more using the app.

➤ Download CleanMyMac

3. VLC Player

QuickTime Player is the default Mac app for watching media. And while QuickTime is a perfectly adequate application, VLC media player is simply the better option. It will play almost any type of video format you throw at it, has a bunch of great features, while still being extremely lightweight and best of all, it’s completely FREE! Download VLC Media Player for Mac here.

4. CheatSheet

What’s the shortcut close all tabs in Google Chrome? If you don’t know the answer, it’s all good. CheatSheet was designed to answer all your shortcuts questions, for any of your Mac apps. Simply hold the command key to access each app’s shortcut list. That’s what you call a cheat sheet. Download CheatSheet for free here.

5. 1Password

1Password is a popular app amongst mobile users as it provides extra security for all passwords and applications if a phone were to be lost or stolen. 1Password creates complex, unique passwords for all of your favorite sites and allows you to log in with your “one password.” All your new and old passwords are safe behind your own 1Password password. Check out Agile Bits 1Password for “simple, convenient security” for your Mac.

6. f.lux

Jailbreak fans will recognize one of Cydia’s essential iOS apps, f.lux. The application is super simple, but so helpful. f.lux automatically adjusts the brightness of your Mac screen based on what time of day it is. For people who stay up late working, you don’t have to worry about being blinded by your computer’s backlight or needing to adjust the brightness anymore. Download the free Mac app here.

7. PopClip

PopClip by Pilotmoon is a super handy application for writers and pretty much anyone that uses the internet. Simply put, you can select text with your Mac mouse or trackpad to bring up an assortment of actions like auto-translate, add quotations, or speak. There are over 100 PopClip extensions to make PopClip work just the way you want. Download the free trial here, and purchase the full application for 6.99 in the Mac App Store.

8. Spectacle

There is one major reason why multitasking on a Windows PC is so much better than a Mac — the Snap feature. Being able to snap windows side-by-side is so useful and there is no real way to replicate this with any of the default Mac apps. If you want to resize, move, and enjoy multitasking on your Mac then you need to download Spectacle.

9. Alfred

Alfred seems to have surpassed the former fan favorite Quicksilver in recent months. Both applications basically do the same thing, but Alfred was recently updated and bodes a sleeker UI. While Alfred is technically an application launcher, it does so much more. Think of it like Spotlight Plus. You can launch applications, search the web, play iTunes music, create workflows, and even complete system commands. Alfred is a free download, but has the PowerPack option that comes with many of the best features. You can grab the PowerPack for $18.76 here and the Alfred Remote for $4.99 in the App Store.

10. Dropbox

Yes, I put Dropbox on the list. While the app may be a household name, it’s still an essential Mac app for users that want to get the most out of their computer and enhance their productivity across multiple devices. The seamless integration of Dropbox to your computer still makes it the best cloud-based file management tool available for personal use. Grab your 2 gigabytes of free space and start syncing your files.

11. Wunderlist

For those of us that like to keep organized, creating lists and setting tasks are all part of the routine. Wunderlist is an application (recently joined with Microsoft) that provides its users with an easy way to create list, tasks, and events across all your devices.

12. Mac App Blocker

Mac App Blocker lives up to its name and provides users with an option to password protect individual apps on their Mac computers. Don’t want people opening up Photos and checking out all your pictures from the Taylor Swift concert you “didn’t go to”? If so, Mac App Blocker is the choice for you. Download the 15 day free trial or purchase the individual license for $9.95 from their homepage.

13. The Unarchiver

Mac does have its own Archive Utility for opening ZIP or RAR files, but I have found it to be somewhat unreliable. I download apps from developers, music from random blogs, and games for my Android and sometimes you need a little bit more punch. The Unarchiver has yet to fail me, and I suggest it for anyone that downloads common and uncommon file types.

14. Pocket

Saving things for later was something I had to remind myself whenever I bought candy. While consuming an entire bag of Skittles would be undoubtedly pleasing, saving some for later prolongs the satisfaction. Same goes for reading on the wonder inter webs. Pocket makes it super easy to save articles, videos, blogs, you name it, and come back to it later. All saved items are stored in one convenient place ready for whenever you have the time to consume them.

15. Caffeine

My Mac can go to sleep when I tell it to. If you have ever been watching a movie or reading an article and your Mac screen turns off, Caffeine has come to the rescue. The devilishly simple application can prevent you Mac from dimming the screen, going to sleep, or starting the screen saver without your command. Download Caffeine for free from the Lighthead homepage.

Your favorite app not on the list? Let us know what Mac app you think we overlooked in the comment section.

iBooks

Every Mac comes with iBooks installed. It is perfectly designed to work, not only on your computer but also across all of your mobile devices. So, you can read a chapter or two on your Mac, and pick up on your iPad or iPhone without missing a beat. There is a quick-access button that lets you browse the iBooks Store, where you can download content to iCloud and access on all your supported Apple devices. You can also drag-and-drop PDFs to iTunes from your Mac, so if you've got a great book that isn't in ePub form, you can still read it in iBooks.

As for the features, iBooks on the Mac has most of the same tools and themes as iBooks on iPhone and iPad, like color options, text size and style customizations, highlighting tools, dictionary lookup, notes, sharing, illustration rendering, voice over, and more.

If you are knee-deep in the Apple ecosystem, iBooks is the best e-reader on your Mac. You'll love the ability to sync your eBooks and audiobooks across all of your devices.

Kindle

The Kindle reader on Mac is ideal for people that purchase, rent or borrow books from Amazon, which supplies the largest digital book collection. When you sign in to your Amazon account, you can access all Amazon books in your library. You can't browse the Amazon books store from the Kindle app, but when you buy a book on Amazon, it will be added to your collection, which you can access from all your devices, whether they are Apple, Android, or Windows. Amazon supports borrowing books, renting textbooks, sampling books, and more. It is especially beneficial to Prime subscribers. Prime reading offers hundreds of free ebooks, magazines, and more. Kindle Unlimited, which is a subscription-based service, lets you read about a million titles (including magazines and newspapers) for a monthly price.

Kindle on the Mac has plenty of customization features, too. You can change the theme to white, sepia, or black, and adjust the font size and style to tailor your reading experience. You can also add highlights and notes. One of my favorite features is the ability to browse through popular highlights from others that have also read the book.

If you have a collection of ebooks you've purchased from Amazon, or if you are a Prime subscriber, use Kindle for the Mac to read and sync your books across all of your devices.

Free - Download now

OverDrive Read

OverDrive is the number one app for borrowing digital content from your local public library. All you need is an active library card and a PIN. Just like borrowing physical books, you can browse your library's entire collection of digital content and check out multiple titles at the same time. When you borrow an ebook or another item, you can download it on your Mac and access it as much as you want during your loan period. When your ebook is due, you don't have to worry about returning it to the library on time, it will automatically be removed from your Mac when your time is up.

The OverDrive Read app on Mac is actually a web browser supported software program, but it's on this list because it is the officially supported app for borrowing books from public libraries.

Although you have to access the OverDrive Read on Mac from a web browser, you can download content for offline reading, listening, or watching. You'll need to bookmark the page so you can access it without an internet connection, but if you remember to download the content while you're online, you can continue reading while offline.

OverDrive Read includes tools for changing the color, adjusting the size and style of font, adding notes, highlighting, and voice over for some titles. It also supports fixed-layout digital books (like comics and magazines) so your favorite illustrated content doesn't look weird on your Mac.

If you want to read digital books, but prefer borrowing from your local library, OverDrive Read is your go-to app for accessing your loans on Mac.

Free - Download now

Adobe Digital Editions

Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) is an ePub reader that makes it super easy to read digital books on your Mac without having to drag them into an app or upload them to a cloud server. Once ADE is on your Mac, you can select it as the reader for any ePub file, so you can get started reading right away. I use ADE for ebooks that I get from HumbleBundle. I occasionally use it for ebooks I download from my public library, too. It supports all ePub formats and PDF files.

You can add a bookmark and highlight text. You can also add notes to pages and passages. Searching a book for a specific word or phrase is as easy as using the Find feature on your Mac.

If you download and store a lot of ePub files, and don't want to upload them to iCloud for reading in iBooks, ADE is the next best thing.

Best Apps To Download Now For Your New Mac

Free - Download now

BookReader

BookReader is the e-reader for all files. It supports EPUB, MOBI, PRC, AZW, FB2, Microsoft DOC, RTF, RTFd, xHTML, Webarchive and TXT. No matter what type of ebook you have on file, you can read it on BookReader. It only supports DRM-free files, though, so make sure your digital books don't have digital rights protections before you try to use it.

You can store all of your books in one bookshelf for easy access. It also has a few features that make book reading on the Mac a pleasant experience, like realistic page flipping, hypertext support, Text to Speech, and a fully customizable color option. You can make the font, background, and book border any color available on the spectrum.

If you tend to download a lot of different types of eBook files, you'll be happy with the level of support BookReader has. You can download a free, seven-day trial version to decide whether you want to invest further.

$9.99 - Download now

Your favorites?

Do you use a specific e-reader as your go-to app on Mac? Let us know what it is in the comments and tell us why it's your favorite.

macOS Catalina

Main