macOS is a robust and flexible operating system, but it is not always easy to find the ideal applications for every need. The good news is that there is a wide variety of free and paid apps that let you perform different tasks. I have already written here before about the best applications of 2024. In this article, I present other essential apps for any user who wants to gain productivity, simplify daily life and get the most out of their Mac.
Did you know there are applications that can improve your macOS experience even further?
Stats is a lightweight, open source and free application that lets you monitor your Mac’s performance directly from the menu bar, with no complications, just clear and useful information. It is ideal for users who want to stay on top of system resources without opening Activity Monitor all the time.
Ice’s main function is to hide and show items in the menu bar, but its scope goes far beyond that, which makes it one of the most complete tools in its category. With an intuitive design and active development, this app is an excellent alternative to paid solutions like Bartender.
LocalSend is an excellent free tool for local file sharing, ideal for anyone who wants speed, security and ease of use between devices on different platforms. Easy to set up and operate, it removes the need for cloud services or USB drives, making the user’s workflow more efficient and fluid. If you want an effective way to share files between Mac, Windows, Android and iOS without sacrificing privacy, this is definitely an app to try today.
PDFgear is a free, AI powered PDF editor for macOS, compatible with Intel and Apple Silicon processors, that lets you edit, convert, sign, compress, organise and protect documents at no cost. It has been praised in the press and stands out as a powerful alternative to Adobe Acrobat and other paid solutions.
Latest is a free and open source macOS application that simplifies the task of checking and updating your applications. With support for apps from the Mac App Store and those that use the Sparkle framework, Latest offers a quick view of available updates, including release notes, all in a clear and efficient design.
Easydict is a lightweight, elegant and free application for macOS, ideal for anyone who wants to translate text or selected words quickly and naturally without interrupting their workflow. Designed to be discreet, it runs in the menu bar and provides translations with a click or shortcut, using several services and even optical character recognition (OCR) for images or screenshots.
ItsyCal is a compact and elegant calendar that integrates directly into the macOS menu bar. Perfect for those who want to check dates, events and quickly access the main calendar without opening a full application, it combines a discreet design, useful features and advanced customization in a lightweight and free utility.
Emby is a complete media server solution that lets you organise and watch your videos, movies, music, photos and even live TV on any device. Available for macOS both as Emby Server and as client apps (Emby Media or Emby Theater), it is a powerful platform to manage your home media library with elegance and ease.
Battery Health 3 is a professional application available for macOS (from macOS 10.13) that provides detailed statistics about the state of your MacBook battery and your iOS devices. It is one of the most respected tools in this field, used by more than one million users around the world.
If you care about pixel perfect, fast screenshots with advanced features, Shottr is the ideal alternative for macOS. Lightweight, with annotation tools, long page capture and built in OCR, it stands out for its speed and efficiency.
If dragging files between windows, folders or apps has become tedious, Dropover arrives to transform your method. It turns drag and drop into a more fluid, organised and powerful action with its floating shelves.
If you already work with text on the Mac, you surely know the frustration of switching between selections, shortcuts and menus. PopClip solves that. It feels so natural that it seems like part of the operating system, but with more powerful abilities. Whenever you select text in any app, a floating menu appears with useful actions, from copy and paste to advanced features with extensions.
Developed by Charlie Monroe Software, Downie is a video downloader exclusive to macOS that lets you download content from more than 1,000 sites, including YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook and many others. It supports downloads in 4K resolution, audio extraction and conversion to formats like MP4, ideal for Apple devices or general compatibility.
Microsoft 365 for Mac brings together the latest versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and OneDrive in a single subscription plan. Designed to maximise productivity, it offers advanced tools, real time collaboration and tight integration with the Apple ecosystem, with the convenience of always being up to date.
Final Cut Pro is Apple’s professional video editing solution, focused on high performance, smoothness and advanced creative features. It is ideal for filmmakers, content creators and professionals who expect power, precision and a workflow without interruptions.
Things is an award winning task manager created by Cultured Code that helps you plan your day, structure projects and reach goals with clarity and visual beauty. It has won two Apple Design Awards and is widely recommended by publications such as The Sweet Setup, Wirecutter (NYT) and Wired for combining simplicity with deep functionality.
