The best applications for mac os. Useful programs for mac OS

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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 .

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 .

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 right as it works, tracking all the techniques of spammers.

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, 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 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.

Work 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.

Mac OS is one of the most popular operating systems in the world. It is distinguished by stability, ease of use and a high level of protection against viruses. There are many system programs preinstalled on mac OS, but for comfortable work, users download additional ones. Below we will talk about the most useful and popular applications for mac OS that will make it more functional.

Mac has its own archiver, but it only works with files that were created on this OS. They cannot open data from Windows, Linux, Android. Reads almost all existing archive extensions:

Zip and 7-zip;
Tar-GZip and so on.

The benefits of The Unarchiver program are as follows:

It is freely available, free to use, no activation required.
When unzipping, it accurately saves file names in both Latin and Cyrillic.
It is possible to select the folder into which the contents of the archive will be moved when unpacking it.

MacID

MacID is a useful utility for those who want to automate password entry. The only limitation is that this program requires an iPhone. You also need to download a similar paid application to it. The version for PC and laptops is free.

MacID works as follows. After installing the program on your computer and smartphone, both devices are synchronized. When you move away from your PC, it will lock. To log in to the system, you need to go to your computer and unlock your iPhone. The Mac will unlock automatically.

With this application, you won’t have to constantly remember and enter complex passwords, and you won’t have to worry about the security of your gadget. You can log into the system with just one click of your finger on your smartphone.

Slack

Slack is the best program for mac OS X for business correspondence. In the application you can not only exchange messages, but also create and conduct entire business projects. Its main advantage is integration with cloud services and social networks. For example, Slack allows you to create, edit, and share Google Docs.

The most interesting features of this utility for Mac include:

creating an unlimited number of subgroups in one chat;
uploading data to your own hosting and file sharing;
search, archive and restore sent messages;
ability to add built-in plugins and extensions.

VLC Player is an alternative to the standard media player, which has limited functionality and does not support many extensions. VLC Player not only plays most files, but also reads DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and allows video broadcasting.

Features of VLC Player that will simplify your work with audio and video:

playing videos directly from YouTube;
converting files from one format to another;
installing a video as a screensaver on your desktop;
transcription of audio recordings;
creating high-quality screenshots while watching a video.

f.lux

Often, using a computer is very harmful to your eyesight. f.lux will help reduce eye strain for Mac users. This utility adapts screen settings depending on the time of day.

Artificial light is warmer than natural light, so the monitor becomes colder in contrast at night. During the day, on the contrary, warm colors return. In the latest version of f.lux, the developers have added an interesting feature. The system selects settings based not only on time, but also on the user’s individual schedule.

There are two more modes available in the utility:

Movie Mode - for watching movies and long videos.
Darkroom - for comfortable computer use in the dark.

A very convenient and functional reader is included in the list of the best applications for mac OS. It works with many services, so after installation you can automatically move your reading feed into one program.

ReadKit has the ability to fine-tune the design: not only choose the general theme, but also the font, size, line spacing, paragraph, and so on. This feature is especially relevant for visually impaired users.

In addition, Ridkit has a convenient filtration system. Files can be sorted by the following parameters:

content;
date added;
Internet link;
the service from which the content was downloaded;
read or unread.

Fantastical - a calendar with advanced features. It allows:

Create event reminders. Each of them is marked with a special color to make it easier to navigate.
Automatically reschedule scheduled events. For example, if you write “meeting tomorrow at 8,” then the next day the information “meeting today at 8” will appear on the calendar. Please note that reminders must be written in English.
Add a widget for quick notifications so you don’t miss anything important and instantly create new tasks.

Pocket is a new approach to data storage. It stores not files, but entire pages from the browser. Thanks to this, they can be viewed even when there is no Internet connection. Once installed and registered, Pocket creates a widget that you simply click on to archive the page.

Web pages remain as designed. This means that in offline access you will not see a random set of symbols and pictures, but the same thing that you opened earlier.

As you use programs, some data is stored in your computer's memory. Often this is completely unnecessary information: application caches, installation files and other garbage. It not only clutters the device, but also significantly slows down its operation.

CCleaner can clear unnecessary data. This utility performs the following functions:

deleting browser cache, bookmarks, downloads and other information;
uninstalling installed programs;
setting up applications to start automatically when you log in;
emptying the trash can.

In addition to antivirus programs, a computer that is constantly connected to the Internet requires additional protection for a secure connection. For Mac, this will be provided by Little Snitch - a simple and functional firewall.

Initially, the system has its own utility installed, but Little Snitch has several advantages over it:

the ability to block not only incoming but also outgoing connections;
fine settings are available to select applications whose operation will be controlled;
scanning network traffic to monitor changes in program operation.

Transmission is a version of the torrent tracker for Mac OS. It is distinguished by its laconic design, ease of use and many useful functions. With Transmission you can:

create torrent files;
broadcast data download speed;
control the speed of file distribution;
automatically delete downloads after they are installed;
sort torrents into groups.

Bear

Bear is a text editor made in the best traditions of minimalism. You can create both long entries and short notes in it. The program allows you to format the text as needed: arrange paragraphs, lists, headings, and so on. Records are sorted using tags that the user assigns to each document.

An important advantage of Bear is synchronization with the mobile version. You can open and edit files simultaneously on your computer and on your smartphone or tablet.

VOX

VOX is a music player that allows you to listen to music online without saving it to your device's memory. It also works with the iTunes data library, so all files can be imported directly from it.

The main advantages of the VOX media player include:

simple and clear interface in laconic black and white colors;
support for many music formats, including ALAC, FLAC, OGG;
fine-tune the sound using the built-in equalizer;
control applications by swiping rather than pressing buttons.

This email client turns messages into tasks for which notifications are sent. You can connect profiles from two systems to it - Gmail and iCloud.

Immediately after receiving, messages are sorted by volume and importance, and read and unread messages are highlighted. The application is very convenient for working with drafts - they are automatically saved in the Dropbox cloud.

One of the most convenient features is the ability to delay reading. With its help, you indicate that you saw the letter, but will read it later.

GIMP

There are no quality pre-installed image editors on Mac, so GIMP will fill their role. It retains all the basic functions of Photoshop, but the application is completely free.

GIMP offers the following features:

creation of graphic images of any type (drawings, logos, etc.);
processing photographs and other images using color correction, filters, cropping and distortion;
drawing from scratch - for this, brushes of various shapes and thicknesses are available, control of layers, their transparency and position, and so on;
support for scanners and tablets for creating graphics;
creating animation files and much more.

Paste 2 is a data exchange buffer between a Mac computer and an iOS mobile device. It works in the background and allows you to instantly copy a selected object on two gadgets simultaneously.

The buffer storage capacity is unlimited, you can move even heavy files. Selecting and copying is done in any convenient way: using a key combination, dragging, and so on.

Due to the closure of access to some programs by law, programs that provide a secure and private connection have become popular today. For Mac, Betternet is considered the most popular.

The functionality of the application allows you to:

download applications that are not available in your local region;
open web pages that are blocked;
use public networks safely;
remain completely anonymous while searching the Internet.

Conclusion

There are many useful programs available for mac OS. They improve the speed of your PC, make it safer to use, and simplify the creation and editing of files in a wide variety of formats. Most of the utilities are free, but some require a fixed fee to download or pay for the program once a month.

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You've just owned a Mac Pro, iMac, MacBook or Mac mini, fired it up, entered your Apple 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 keyboard shortcut to open the storage, iCloud synchronization and the Direct Paste function to paste data from history with a double click.

It is at the quick setup stage and in the history section, called by the Shift+Cmd+V combination, that the thoughtfulness of the application design is felt. 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. In addition, Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac is now 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.

Graphics 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 is useful at least for comparing “before/after” results, not to mention curves, masks, presets, display options, creating galleries and quick processing methods in a hurry. 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. .

Mail

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 we recommend is to thoroughly study all the options before using it in order to get the maximum benefit from Air Mail. 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 is a worthy alternative to Ulysses, which will appeal to everyone who wants to save money on a good 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, fingers spontaneously begin to transfer thoughts to paper and the 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 appearance. Price – Free.

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This is a traditional article where I talk about all the applications installed on my personal Mac. This year, 58 applications made the list.

This is a traditional article where I talk about all the applications installed on my Mac and MacBook. This year, 58 programs were included in the list: 11 were removed, 16 were added. I marked my favorite apps with a heart ❤️, and new ones with an apple 🍏.

The main source of good software for me is still the Setapp service. It's sort of like an alternative App Store, where for $9.99 a month you get access to 100+ items, most of which are not in the Apple store.

Perhaps for the “old people” who already have all this software, a subscription does not make much sense. But for beginners this is a real find: they bought a new Mac, installed Setapp and now you have a hundred applications from different categories. In addition, Setapp eliminates the hassle of updating and storing personal licenses.

For this occasion, I divided the selection of my software into 3 sections:

Applications from Setapp;
applications from the App Store;
and applications that have to be downloaded from official websites.

This set of software suits me, but not the fact that it will suit you. At the same time, other people's lists are always inspiring. I am sure you will find something useful for yourself here.

1. Subscription apps from Setapp

Archiver - archiver

Bartender hides unnecessary icons from the menubar

🍏 BetterTouchTool - customize your keyboard and mouse

❤️ CleanMyMac X - cleaning and keeping your Mac in a “fresh” state

Elmedia Player - video player

Flume - Instagram client

CPU load by thread. iStat Menus

❤️ KeyKey - keyboard trainer

❤️ Yoink - file buffer

❤️ DaisyDisk

Things is the friendliest planner I've ever seen. Beautiful and without in-app purchases and subscriptions

1Blocker - ad blocker

❤️ iA Writer - text editor

Alfred helps you launch apps, keep clipboard history, and automate routines

❤️ Arq - backups for Mac

Arq backs up my laptop directly to Dropbox every hour

🍏 Carbon Copy Cloner - disk cloning

❤️ Sketch - vector editor

Buy for $99 per year
Vector editor for Mac. In it I draw a new design for the KeyKey keyboard trainer and do all the illustrations for this blog. Without Sketch it’s like having no hands.

I make illustrations for an article in Sketch

Sublime Text - text editor for programmers

Download for free
Text editor for programmers. I often use it to layout articles and edit theme files for this blog. I've been using the trial version for two years now. It seems to be eternal.

🍏 ScreenFlow - recording screencasts

Buy for $129
Program for recording screencasts. I switched to it from iShowU, since it records better from iPhone and iPad. I bought it recently and in the hope that I will start recording more screencasts :)

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

Price:$10, downloadable from the Mac App Store.

Alfred

Price: free, can be downloaded.

F.Lux

Price: free, can be downloaded.

Simplemind

Price:$30, downloadable from the Mac App Store.

Spamsieve

Price:$30, 30-day trial available, downloadable.

Spectacle

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

Price: free, can be downloaded.

Textmate 2

Price: free, can be downloaded.

Work with text

Ulysses III

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.

The best applications for mac os. Useful programs for mac OS

Productivity

AirMail

Alfred

F.Lux

Simplemind

Spamsieve

Spectacle

The Unarchiver

Technologies

Dash

Github Desktop

iTerm 2

Textmate 2

Work with text

Ulysses III

Pixelmator

MacID

Slack

f.lux

Bear

VOX

GIMP

Conclusion

Video on the topic

Clipboard Manager

Office

Calendar

Control of incoming/outgoing connections

Graphics editor

Photo retouching

Password manager

RSS reader

Mail

Markdown editor/Text markup editor

Audio player

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1. Subscription apps from Setapp

Archiver - archiver

🍏 BetterTouchTool - customize your keyboard and mouse

❤️ CleanMyMac X - cleaning and keeping your Mac in a “fresh” state

Elmedia Player - video player

Flume - Instagram client

❤️ KeyKey - keyboard trainer

❤️ Yoink - file buffer

❤️ DaisyDisk

1Blocker - ad blocker

❤️ iA Writer - text editor

❤️ Arq - backups for Mac

🍏 Carbon Copy Cloner - disk cloning

❤️ Sketch - vector editor

Sublime Text - text editor for programmers

🍏 ScreenFlow - recording screencasts

Productivity

AirMail

Alfred

F.Lux

Simplemind

Spamsieve

Spectacle

The Unarchiver

Technologies

Dash

Github Desktop

iTerm 2

Textmate 2

Work with text

Ulysses III

Pixelmator

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