Top 25 essential macOS apps that you should have already installed on your Mac

Got a new Mac? Do you want to go further in using your MacBook? Here is our selection of tools and apps that must be installed on macOS.

After 18 years of using macOS, I've tested hundreds of apps. Here is our selection of the truly essential tools that will transform your user experience.

Before diving into third-party applications, it must be recognized that Apple has done a remarkable job with its native applications. Tools like Shortcuts make it possible to automate many tasks, Freeform offers an innovative collaborative workspace, and the new application Passwords built-in is a great alternative to traditional password managers. But for certain specific needs, third-party applications remain essential.

Productivity essentials

Alfred & Raycast

If you only had to install one app, it would be one of them! Imagine Spotlight with superpowers.

Alfred is the veteran of the genre, but Raycast stands out with its modern features and sleek interface.

Notion

The digital Swiss army knife par excellence. You can centralize everything there: notes, projects, documentation, and even your task management. Its flexibility is impressive and adapts to all working styles.

CleanShot X

Forget basic macOS screenshots. CleanShot X is the professional tool par excellence, with advanced features such as instant annotation or intelligent blurring of sensitive information.

Peek AI

Artificial intelligence just a click away! Access ChatGPT, Gemini and other AI directly from your Mac. A true digital assistant always available. It's Peek AI!

Tripsy

No more chaos of reservations and scattered itineraries. Tripsy centralizes everything in style on iPhone and iPad, but not Android.

Essential utilities

AppCleaner

Clean uninstallation, finally! Drag and drop an app, and AppCleaner takes care of deleting all associated files. It's simple and devilishly effective.

Coconut Battery

A must-have for MacBook owners. Monitor your battery health from day one with Coconut Battery. You'll know exactly when it's time to replace it.

Stats & Hidden Bar

The perfect duo for your menu bar. Stats displays essential system information, while Hidden Bar keeps your menu bar organized by hiding rarely used icons.

FlyCut

The memory of your copy and paste Never lose a copied element again. FlyCut remembers everything for you.

Pure Paste

A little utility that does one thing perfectly: it automatically cleans your clipboard of unwanted formatting. No more texts that keep their weird formatting when you paste them. Pure Paste makes copying and pasting predictable and clean.

The Unarchiver

It opens EVERYTHING. Really everything. The unzip tool that macOS should have had natively. Here's where to download The Unarchiver.

PDFgear

All the essential features for working with PDFs, without the price of pro solutions, you can edit, annotate and modify them. Very complementary to Overview. You can download it here.

Dropover

An innovation so practical that we wonder why Apple hasn't integrated it natively. Create floating temporary storage areas for your files on the move. Particularly useful when working with multiple windows or spaces. You can download it here.

Specialized tools

VMware Fusion

Need Windows on your Mac? VMware Fusion is the most reliable solution. The integration is remarkable, and the performance is there.

CrossOver

Windows without Windows… Here is an alternative to VMware Fusion. Instead of installing a full virtual machine, CrossOver does some magic: it directly translates Windows apps to run natively on your Mac. I use it for gaming and the performance is very good. However, be careful: not all applications are compatible. Check their database first before jumping in.

GeForce Now

Nvidia version of cloud gaming on your Mac. Transform any Mac into a powerful gaming machine without local installation. Latency is minimal, and graphics quality can go up to 4K at 120 Hz depending on your subscription. Ideal for Mac gamers who don't have a PC. Plus, you can use GeForce Now on every machine in the house.

Arc

Arc is a browser redesigned for professionals. The workspace management is brilliant, and the keyboard shortcuts are a real productivity revelation.

HandBrake

The champion of video conversion. Simple interface, advanced options available, and always free. Perfect for optimizing your videos. It's also Linux and Windows compatible, here's where to download it.

OpenMTP

Transfer your files to Android without hassle. More reliable than the official solution. Here is OpenMTP!

WhatsApp

Finally WhatsApp on your Mac, correctly integrated. No more fiddling with your phone.

THERE & VLC

IINA is the modern video player designed specifically for macOS. Elegant interface, support for all formats, perfectly integrated into the system. VLC remains the robust and proven alternative, less pretty, but capable of reading everything. Both are free – IINA for elegance, VLC for rock-solid reliability.

VNC Viewer

Access your Mac from anywhere. The benchmark for remote control, period. You can download it here.

LanguageTool

More than a simple spell checker, it is a real linguistic assistant. LanguageTool not only detects spelling mistakes, but also grammatical and stylistic subtleties that traditional proofreaders miss. Perfect for those who write a lot, whether in French or other languages.

The little extras that make the difference

ImageOptim

Optimize your images without visible loss of quality. Ideal for the web or to free up disk space. Here to download it.

Rocket & TextPal

Inserting emoji becomes child's play. A little “:” and you have access to all possible emoji, in any application. Here to download TextPal.

FlyCut

Never lose a copied item again! This clipboard manager, FlyCut, remembers all your copy and paste history.

Calibre

Manage your ebooks like a pro on your Kindle, Kobo and more. Conversion, organization, synchronization… Caliber does it all and manages all formats.

Affinity Designer

The Illustrator challenger…All the power of a professional design tool, without a subscription. A real alternative to Adobe.

Pika

An open-source color picker that makes a difference. Capture any color on screen with surgical precision. Simple, effective and free — just what designers and developers need.

To conclude: the perfect ecosystem

One of the strengths of macOS is precisely this balance between native applications and third-party applications. Apple's tools like Shortcuts, Maps, Reminders or Notes are constantly improving and are sufficient for many users. The arrival of Freeform shows that Apple continues to move forward, and the new system password management now rivals third-party solutions.

However, the real magic happens when you combine these native tools with the third-party apps mentioned above. For example, Raycast or Alfred can connect to Apple Shortcuts, LanguageTool can improve your writing in Notes, and CleanShot X perfectly complements system screenshots.

The secret to a productive Mac in 2024? Start by exploring native tools — they're often more powerful than you think. Then, gradually complete with third-party applications that meet your specific needs. Don't rush to install everything at once: take the time to master each tool.

And remember: the best app is the one that fits naturally into your workflow. Some will prefer Raycast to Alfred, others will opt for alternatives to Notion. The important thing is to build an environment that suits you.


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