Free Mac apps: 12 must-have downloads to get you began

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The 12 free Mac apps on this roundup show that the most effective 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 at all times set up first

You will see 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 just most likely already heard of or are utilizing.

However there are many different free apps in your Mac that you just probably don’t learn 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 at all times set up first

Raycast

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 substitute for Mac that may combine with different apps and providers. So, I can instantly do a Google Search from Raycast, search by way 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 may well deal with window administration, fast note-taking, clipboard historical past, textual content translation, script execution, and rather more. Plus, it may seamlessly combine with nearly all fashionable apps and providers you may consider, like Slack, 1Password, and so on.

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 high quality.

It’s wonderful how a lot performance Raycast’s free model packs. And when you like, you may at all times improve to Raycast AI for $8 per thirty days to take pleasure in AI integration. However the majority of customers will discover Raycast’s free model adequate for his or her wants.

Obtain: Raycast

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 presents app switching by way 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 way 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 not too long ago used.

By default, AltTab on Mac makes use of the Possibility + Tab key for window switching on Mac. However identical to different components of the app, you may 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

Screenshot of Maccy pop-up on macOS — Maccy will supercharge your Mac’s clipboard expertise without spending a dime.
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 nearly all of the options you may ask for in a clipboard supervisor: search, means to pin objects, assist for keyboard shortcuts, alias assist, Shortcuts integration and extra. For the reason that app makes use of open-source code, you may relaxation assured that your copied information stays non-public.

For those who obtain Maccy instantly from the App Retailer, you’ll need to buy it by paying $9.99. However you will get the app without spending a dime instantly from the developer’s web site with none loss in performance. Try our information on methods to use Maccy to get probably 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 objects simply. The perfect half? The hidden objects are shortly accessible with a click on or hover. Plus, Ice even permits for menu bar customization, resembling 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 information 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 may lower and paste information in your Mac utilizing the Cmd + X and Cmd + V shortcuts.

Obtain: Command X

Stats

Monitor your Mac's resource usage right from the menu bar. — Monitor your Mac’s useful resource utilization proper from the menu bar.
Picture: Stats

I prefer to preserve 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 value, 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 when you solely care about performance, Stats will get the job executed. It should 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 amount of management with out the complexity or price.

Obtain: Stats

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 a straightforward, open-source and free app that provides this performance. Whereas macOS presents Mission Management and App Exposé, a fast hover preview from the dock usually feels sooner and extra handy.

Obtain: DockDoor

Loop

Free Mac app Loop brings an progressive answer to reinforce macOS’ restricted window administration options. It makes use of a radial menu interface to allow you to transfer, resize and organize 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 method 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 fashion, you retain your desktop clear whereas nonetheless having fast entry to essential app home windows.

Obtain: Loop

App Cleaner

Not like Home windows, macOS doesn’t supply an uninstall performance for eradicating apps. As a substitute, you may instantly 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 information.

Obtain: AppCleaner

The Unarchiver

You’ll be able to’t actually use a Mac with out first putting in The Unarchiver. Whereas macOS presents built-in assist for unzipping primary archive codecs, The Unarchiver goes a number of steps additional. It may well extract a variety of compressed file varieties, together with Zip, RAR (even multi-part), 7-Zip, Tar, Gzip, Bzip2, and so on., simply.

What actually units this free Mac app aside is its means to deal with obscure and legacy codecs like LZH, ARJ, StuffIt, and even disk picture information resembling 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 information proper the place you need them.

Obtain: The Unarchiver

Amphetamine: A free app that retains your Mac from sleeping

Have to preserve your Mac awake whereas downloading giant information or working lengthy duties? Amphetamine makes it easy. It sits in your Mac’s menu bar, letting you stop sleep with only a click on. You’ll be able to preserve your Mac awake indefinitely or set a timer or circumstances like app utilization or file downloads.

Amphetamine stands out for its assist for superior triggers. So, you may preserve your Mac awake solely when particular peripherals are linked or when linked to a selected community.

Obtain: Amphetamine

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 modern, 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