What are some must‑have cool apps for Mac these days?

Mac
1

I just switched to a new Mac and feel like I’m missing out on the best productivity, creativity, and utility apps that other users rely on. The App Store recommendations feel generic and a lot of blog lists seem outdated or sponsored. Can you share your favorite cool Mac apps, why you use them, and any hidden gems that really improved your workflow or daily use?

2

I’ve swapped Macs a few times over the years, and every time I set up a fresh one I fall into the same rabbit hole: “what are the actually good apps I’ll keep using in six months?”

Here’s what ended up sticking on my machines. Some are obvious, some I kind of tripped over by accident.

Stuff I install almost immediately

Raycast

I used to be one of those “Spotlight is fine” people. Then I tried Raycast on a random Sunday and now Spotlight feels like typing into a brick.

What I use it for daily:

  • Launching apps without touching the mouse
  • Quick math so I don’t open a browser and get lost
  • Controlling Spotify
  • Clipboard history (saved me from rewriting long messages too many times)

It can do a ton more with extensions, but even just using it as a smarter Spotlight feels worth it.

Rectangle

For years I was dragging windows around like some kind of medieval peasant. Rectangle fixes that with simple shortcuts:

  • ⌥⌘← to snap left
  • ⌥⌘→ to snap right
  • ⌥⌘F for full screen (without going into macOS’s weird green-dot full screen)

It sounds tiny. It’s not. After a week, using a Mac without it feels wrong.

Amphetamine

I stumbled on this after my Mac kept sleeping during long file transfers. Amphetamine basically says “stay awake until I tell you otherwise.”

I’ve used it for:

  • Keeping the screen on while following long tutorials
  • Preventing sleep during giant downloads or Time Machine restores
  • Running scripts overnight without the Mac deciding to nap

It sits in the menu bar and stays out of the way. That’s all I wanted.

Browsing, writing, and “pretending to be productive”

Arc (or your favorite browser)

I got dragged into Arc by a coworker. I was convinced it was overhyped. Then I started using it for:

  • Splitting work and personal spaces
  • Keeping research tabs grouped instead of scattered across three windows
  • “Little Arc” pop-up windows for quick links

Some days it feels a bit extra, but I haven’t gone back to Chrome full time since.

Obsidian

I didn’t get the hype at first. It looked like yet another note app until I stopped trying to make it “perfect” and just started dumping stuff in there:

  • Meeting notes
  • Code snippets
  • Random ideas at 1:10 a.m.

Local files, markdown, no lock-in. I sync it via iCloud. It’s messy but it’s my messy, and it never feels like the app is fighting me.

Media & video stuff

This is where I tried a lot of options, broke a few, and kept the ones that didn’t annoy me.

Elmedia Player

I added this to my Mac on a whim after QuickTime choked on yet another file. I wasn’t expecting much. It stayed.

Why I still have it installed:

  • It opens formats QuickTime just looks at and gives up on
  • I can tweak playback speed without artifacts getting too gross
  • Subtitles are easier to manage than I expected
  • Streaming to other devices works more reliably than I thought it would

Here’s the link if you want to see the exact feature list:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/elmedia-video-player/id1044549675?mt=12

I wouldn’t say it replaces everything (I still keep VLC around for the odd edge case), but Elmedia quietly became the one I open first.

IINA

IINA feels like “macOS-native VLC with a bit more polish.”

Moments it shines:

  • Hardware-accelerated playback that doesn’t turn my laptop into a jet engine
  • YouTube / streaming playback via URL
  • Custom keybindings without going through ten obscure menus

If I’m doing anything slightly more technical with video, it’s usually IINA.

VLC

Honestly, I don’t love the interface. Never have. But every time some bizarre file shows up from who-knows-where and refuses to play in anything else, VLC just shrugs and plays it.

So it stays. Like that one tool in the toolbox you never want to use but always end up needing.

Utilities that seem boring, then you miss them when they’re gone

Alfred (or sticking with Raycast)

There was a phase where I bounced between Alfred and Raycast like a confused squirrel. Alfred is incredibly customizable:

  • Custom workflows
  • File browsing
  • Clipboard manager
  • Snippets

If you’re the type who loves building little automations, you can sink days into it. I gradually went all-in on Raycast, but I still recommend at least trying Alfred once to see which one fits your brain.

CleanShot X

Screenshots on macOS are fine. CleanShot X is “fine, but with taste.”

I use it for:

  • Annotating bug screenshots for devs
  • Recording short GIFs to show someone what I’m doing
  • Hiding desktop icons when I’m sharing my screen

I didn’t think I’d pay for a screenshot tool. Then I did. I haven’t regretted it.

AppCleaner

Every time I think I’ve fully uninstalled some random trial app, AppCleaner finds:

  • Config files
  • Hidden folders
  • Cache junk sitting deep in Library

Drag the app into it, select the mess, remove. Not flashy, just clean exits.

Coding / tech leaning stuff

If you don’t code, you can skip this bit. If you do, you’ve probably heard of half of these anyway, but I’ll mention how I actually use them.

iTerm2

Apple’s Terminal is fine for quick commands. iTerm2 is what I end up switching to when I realize I’m going to be in the terminal for hours:

  • Split panes
  • Profiles for different servers / projects
  • Better search in scrollback

It’s one of those tools that feels unnecessary until you’re juggling multiple SSH sessions and logs at once.

Visual Studio Code

Yes, everyone uses it. I tried to be “different.” I went full Neovim for a bit. Then deadlines happened.

I came back to VS Code because:

  • Extensions are everywhere
  • Remote SSH and Containers just work
  • Git integration is good enough for daily use

Not perfect, but I spend most of my coding hours in it without thinking about the editor too much, which is what I want.

Little things that make the Mac feel “yours”

Hidden Bar or Dozer

My menu bar used to look like a NASCAR hood. Hidden Bar (or Dozer) just hides the junk until you need it. Now I only see:

  • WiFi
  • Battery
  • Maybe one or two essentials

Everything else gets tucked away behind a little arrow. Cleaner, less distracting.

Karabiner-Elements

I accidentally became a keyboard snob over time. Karabiner-Elements lets me:

  • Remap Caps Lock to Escape or Ctrl
  • Create weird shortcuts that only I understand
  • Make external keyboards behave like the built-in one

It does require a bit of tinkering. Once it’s dialed in, you forget it exists, which is perfect.

If I had to pick a short starter pack for a new Mac right now, I’d probably go with:

  • Raycast
  • Rectangle
  • Elmedia Player
  • Obsidian
  • AppCleaner

Then add the rest as you feel the pain for each missing feature. That’s usually how I realize I need something: I hit the same annoyance three times in a week, then go hunting for an app to kill it.

8 Likes
3

I’m with @mikeappsreviewer on a bunch of their picks, but I’ll throw in a different angle so this doesn’t just become “install everything everyone else installs.”

If I were setting up a fresh Mac today, here’s what actually earns its place long‑term:

1. Core productivity & focus

1Password
If you’re not using a real password manager yet, fix that first. iCloud Keychain is ok, but 1Password handles:

  • Multiple vaults (work / personal)
  • 2FA codes in the same entry
  • Secure notes & bank info

This is one of the few subscriptions I don’t resent paying for.

Notion
Obsidian is awesome if you love local markdown. If you live in teams / shared docs land, Notion is usually easier:

  • Shared docs that don’t feel like clunky Word files
  • Light databases & kanban boards
  • Quick wiki for your own life

I use Notion for stuff I share, Obsidian for stuff that lives in my own brain.

Magnet
Rectangle is great, but if you want something simpler with almost no config, Magnet does basic window snapping, period. It just sits in the menu bar and works. I actually prefer its minimalism over tweaking 30 shortcuts.

2. Text, writing & “I do actually type words”

BBEdit
If you find VS Code too heavy for quick edits, BBEdit is the “open this file, edit, close” champion. Fast, boring, reliable. Great for logs, HTML, random text cleanup.

Marked 2
If you ever write in Markdown (Obsidian, notes, docs), Marked 2 is a live preview window that updates as you type. Nice for writing reports, README files, or blog posts without wrestling some WYSIWYG editor.

3. Creativity & media

Affinity Photo / Designer / Publisher
If you don’t want the Adobe subscription vortex:

  • Photo: alternative to Photoshop
  • Designer: alternative to Illustrator
  • Publisher: alternative to InDesign

Perpetual license, very capable, and they run well on Apple Silicon.

Elmedia Player
Since you mentioned media: Elmedia Player is one of those quiet heroes. QuickTime feels fragile with weird codecs; Elmedia just handles a ton of formats, handles subtitles cleanly, and lets you tweak playback speed without things turning into a glitchfest. I still keep VLC around for emergencies, but Elmedia is what I open by default now.

HandBrake
Old but not dead. If you ever need to:

  • Convert video formats
  • Shrink huge files
  • Rip a DVD you legally own but technology decided to punish you for

HandBrake still does the job.

4. Utilities that look boring but you’ll miss instantly

BetterTouchTool
Raycast / Alfred are great for launching and automations. BetterTouchTool is where I go when I want to rewire how the Mac feels:

  • Custom trackpad gestures
  • Keyboard shortcuts that do multiple actions
  • Turning window edges into “hot zones”

It’s insanely deep and occasionally overkill, but once you dial in a few gestures, you’ll try them on other people’s Macs and get sad when they don’t work.

Bartender
@mikappsreviewer mentioned Hidden Bar as a free option, which is fine. Bartender is the fancier, more polished version:

  • Rules for when icons show/hide
  • Separate “second row” of menu icons
  • Works better with weird menu bar items

If your menu bar looks like traffic at rush hour, this is worth paying for.

Dropzone
Tiny app that gives you a little drop area. Drag files there, then:

  • Upload to services
  • Move to preset folders
  • Run scripts

Feels small, ends up saving way more clicks than expected.

Keka
Forget the built‑in Archive Utility. Keka handles ZIP, 7z, RAR, etc. with a sane UI and good compression options. One of those “install once and forget it exists” utilities.

5. Network, backup & “oh no, I broke it”

Little Snitch
For people who care a lot about what’s phoning home:

  • Alerts whenever an app wants outbound network
  • You can block / allow per app, per destination

It can be noisy at first, but you’ll quickly see which apps are a little too chatty.

Arq Backup
Time Machine is good but not enough. Arq lets you:

  • Back up to your own cloud (Backblaze B2, S3, etc.)
  • Keep real versioning & encryption
  • Avoid yet another random proprietary backup system

If you ever lose a folder and actually get it back from Arq, you’ll forgive its slightly nerdy interface.

6. “Make the Mac feel actually yours”

Mos
If you use a non‑Apple mouse and the scrolling feels like it’s trying to fight you, Mos smooths it out and gives you natural / reverse scrolling per device. Small thing, big sanity saver.

HazeOver
This one’s niche but I love it. It dims background windows, so the one you’re using is highlighted. Sounds gimmicky, but on a big screen with lots of windows, it really helps focus.

Paste
Yes, Raycast / Alfred have clipboard managers, but if you want something visual and dedicated, Paste gives you a timeline of everything you copied. For writers, coders, or serial copypasters, this is gold.

If you want a short “install this and forget it” starter pack that isn’t just a duplicate of @mikeappsreviewer’s list:

  • 1Password
  • Magnet
  • Notion (or Obsidian if you’re markdown‑brains)
  • BetterTouchTool
  • Elmedia Player
  • Keka
  • Bartender or Hidden Bar
  • Arq or at least some non‑Time‑Machine backup

You can always layer on fancier stuff later when you hit a specific annoyance. Biggest trap is installing 40 “cool” apps and using 5 of them, so I’d start small and add as you go.

4

You’re right that the App Store lists feel like they were last updated during Catalina. Since @mikeappsreviewer and @nachtschatten already covered a bunch of the “usual suspects,” here’s what I’d actually keep on a new Mac that isn’t just a remix of their lists.

I don’t agree with both of them on everything, btw. Raycast vs Alfred vs “just use Spotlight” becomes a weird religion. My honest approach: start simple, only add tooling when you actually feel the pain.

1. Stuff that quietly fixes daily annoyances

1. BetterDisplay
If you use external monitors at all, this is huge:

  • Proper scaling for non‑Apple displays
  • Virtual monitors for screen sharing
  • Per‑display color / brightness tweaks
    macOS is still weird with scaling; BetterDisplay makes third‑party monitors not look like either blurry soup or microscopic UI.

2. Keyboard Maestro
This is for when you realize BetterTouchTool and Raycast workflows aren’t enough and you secretly want a tiny robot living in your Mac.
Examples I use it for:

  • Auto renaming downloaded files into neat formats
  • Hitting one shortcut to open “work layout” (specific apps + windows)
  • Converting clipboard text, stripping formatting, etc.
    It can absolutely be overkill, but if you’re automation‑brained, it’s crack.

3. AlDente
If you use a MacBook plugged in a lot, this lets you cap battery charge (like 80%) so you don’t cook it over time. More useful long‑term than yet another “focus” app.

2. Productivity & writing that don’t feel bloated

I’m a bit less hot on Notion than @nachtschatten; it’s great but can be slow and kinda heavy.

4. Craft
Mac‑native note app that feels lighter than Notion, prettier than plain Obsidian, still supports:

  • Markdown-ish input
  • Backlinks and pages
  • Good iOS / iPadOS sync
    I use Craft for “living docs” and Obsidian for brain‑dump archives.

5. Typora
If you like Markdown but hate seeing the raw syntax, Typora’s a super clean editor with live formatting. Great for longform writing, documentation, or just nicer notes.

3. Browsing & research

I like Arc, but it can feel “extra” if you just want a browser.

6. SigmaOS or Orion

  • SigmaOS: Tab-as-tasks approach. Nice if you live in the browser for work and want “workspaces” that actually feel structured.
  • Orion: WebKit based, runs Chrome extensions, lighter than Chrome, privacy‑friendlier. Good middle ground if you don’t want another Chromium thing eating RAM.

4. Media & creative apps that actually feel modern

Here I strongly agree with them on one thing: QuickTime is cute until you try to play anything non basic.

7. Elmedia Player
If you watch or work with video a lot, Elmedia Player is honestly one of the best “just works” options:

  • Handles a ton of formats QuickTime chokes on
  • Subtitle control that doesn’t make you curse
  • Precise playback speed and audio sync tweaks
  • Reliable streaming to Chromecast / smart TVs
    I still keep VLC as a “nuclear option,” but my default click is Elmedia Player now. For most people it’s the perfect Mac video player: capable, fast, not ugly.

8. ScreenFlow
If you ever record tutorials, UI demos, or do light video editing:

  • Screen recording plus solid timeline editor
  • Cursor zooms, callouts, text overlays
    I’d pick this over wrestling with full Final Cut if you’re mostly doing screen content.

9. DaVinci Resolve (free)
If you want serious editing and color grading without paying Adobe or Apple, Resolve’s free version is insanely good. Heavy, yes, but professional level.

10. Pixelmator Pro
Alternative to Affinity Photo that’s more explicitly Mac‑native and feels lighter. Great for:

  • Quick graphics editing
  • Social media images
  • Simple photo tweaks without full Photoshop brain.

5. System & network power tools

This is the stuff most people ignore until something breaks.

11. Stats
Lightweight menubar system monitor: CPU, RAM, temps, fan speed, network. Less fussy than iStat Menus, free, and enough info to know “is my Mac dying or is Slack just being Slack.”

12. TripMode
If you tether or are on capped Wi‑Fi:

  • Per‑app network blocking on specific networks
  • Track how much data each app uses
    I don’t always need it, but when I’m traveling it saves me from Dropbox eating my entire hotspot.

13. Mullvad or ProtonVPN
If you care about privacy at all, pick a VPN that isn’t junk. Both are solid, audited options. Built‑in iCloud Private Relay is not the same thing.

6. File & data sanity

14. ForkLift
Think “Finder but actually competent”:

  • Dual‑pane file manager
  • FTP / SFTP / WebDAV / cloud connections
  • Folder sync
    If you ever touch remote servers, this replaces half a dozen little tools.

15. Hazel
File automation that works in the background:

  • Auto sort downloads into folders
  • Rename files using patterns
  • Trigger scripts when files appear
    Super handy for invoices, PDFs, screenshots, etc. The “set it and forget it” of Mac file hygiene.

16. DEVONthink
This is if you’re dealing with a lot of documents, research, PDFs:

  • AI-ish search and classification
  • Massive offline knowledge base
    It’s admittedly niche, but for researchers / lawyers / academics it’s a game changer.

7. “Nice to have” polish

17. Lasso
If you didn’t fully click with Rectangle or Magnet, Lasso gives an interesting twist:

  • Click and drag to “draw” where you want the window to snap
    Feels more intuitive for some people than learning keyboard shortcuts.

18. Velja
If you juggle multiple browsers, Velja lets you:

  • Set rules for which browser opens which link
  • Quickly choose a browser via a popup
    No more copy‑pasting URLs between Safari, Arc, and Chrome.

19. MonitorControl
Control brightness and volume of external monitors from your keyboard like they were native Apple displays. Removes so much stupid friction.

If you want a tight starter pack that isn’t just echoing the others, I’d do:

  • BetterDisplay
  • Keyboard Maestro
  • Craft (or Obsidian if you’re markdown‑purist)
  • Elmedia Player
  • ForkLift
  • Hazel
  • MonitorControl
  • AlDente (if on MacBook)

Install that, use the Mac for a week or two, then add extras only when you hit a specific annoyance. The trap is to install thirty “productivity” apps and end up being very productive at… configuring them.

5

Skipping all the stuff @nachtschatten, @ombrasilente and @mikeappsreviewer already nailed, here are a few “kept after 6 months” picks plus a quick take on Elmedia Player.

1. Window, mouse & focus tweaks

  • BetterTouchTool
    Turn your trackpad / mouse into a shortcut machine. I’d actually grab this before something like Keyboard Maestro if you’re mostly battling window chaos and repetitive gestures.

    • Pros: Highly configurable, window snapping, per‑app gestures.
    • Cons: Can feel overwhelming; you need to spend 15–30 minutes setting it up.

  • HazeOver
    Dims background windows to keep focus on the active one.

    • Pros: Great for giant monitors or multiple displays.
    • Cons: Some people find it visually distracting at first.

2. Notes & writing without going full “system”

You already saw Obsidian and Craft mentioned. One alternative lane:

  • Tot
    Seven tiny scratchpads that sync via iCloud.

    • Pros: Perfect for temporary notes, snippets, copied links.
    • Cons: Not a long‑term knowledge base at all; more like digital sticky notes.

  • iA Writer
    Minimal markdown editor, no databases, no graph view.

    • Pros: Stays fast, uses pure files, great for writing text instead of building a second brain.
    • Cons: Lacks the fancy connection / backlink stuff of Obsidian or Notion.

3. File handling & search that actually feel “Mac‑y”

  • HoudahSpot
    Spotlight on steroids, but without the full automation angle of Alfred or Raycast.

    • Pros: Very precise file search across metadata, tags, content.
    • Cons: Overkill if your files are already tidy or you mostly live in cloud apps.

  • Dropzone 4
    Little “dock” for dragging things to actions or destinations.

    • Pros: Super fast way to upload, move or compress files via drag and drop.
    • Cons: Requires some initial setup of your preferred actions.

4. Media: where Elmedia Player fits

You already have IINA and VLC in the mix. I tend to keep all three around because they each cover different moods.

  • Elmedia Player
    My “default double click” media app on macOS right now.

    Pros:

    • Much nicer interface than VLC while still feeling powerful.
    • Handles a large variety of formats that QuickTime fails on.
    • Very granular playback controls, including speed, audio delay, and subtitle timing.
    • Streaming to TVs and other devices is more reliable than most “free” players in practice.
    • Good subtitle handling with easier switching and loading external files.

    Cons:

    • Some advanced features live behind a paid tier, which might bug you if you want absolutely everything free.
    • Heavier than something ultra‑minimal like QuickTime for tiny clips.
    • If you are already deep into IINA configs, it can feel redundant.
    • Occasional rough edges with extremely niche codecs where VLC still wins.

    I disagree a bit with the idea that VLC should be the first stop for everything. For normal daily viewing, Elmedia Player is simply more pleasant. I only pull VLC when I hit a very odd file or need advanced filtering.

5. Little utilities you only appreciate later

  • MonitorControl
    Adjust brightness and volume of external monitors with your keyboard.

    • Pros: Feels native, especially if you have non‑Apple displays.
    • Cons: Some displays are stubborn and don’t expose proper controls.

  • KeepingYouAwake
    Very simple “prevent sleep” utility. I actually prefer this to heavier solutions like Amphetamine if all you need is a short‑term toggle.

    • Pros: Tiny, focused, one job only.
    • Cons: No complex schedules or workflows.

If I were setting up a Mac fresh today, on top of what those three already recommended, I’d add:

  • BetterTouchTool
  • HazeOver
  • iA Writer or Tot
  • HoudahSpot
  • Dropzone 4
  • MonitorControl
  • Elmedia Player as my main video player

Use the machine for a week, then only add more apps when you keep cursing at the same problem repeatedly. That filter alone prevents the “40 cool apps, use 5” situation.