The best programs for mac os. Applications on macOS: from interesting to best. Blocker - ad blocker

My relationship with Windows ended in 2012, when I bought my first MacBook. macOS (then OS X) was pretty annoying the first couple of weeks of acquaintance. I had to google basic things like how to switch the language, how to completely remove applications and much more.

After training basic principles operation of the system, I came to understand why the operating system was good after all - I forever forgot about installing drivers, antiviruses, a bunch of security updates and the rest of the pain that I never wanted to think about. MacBook solved this automatically. But not everything.

I had to solve some common problems myself, and for this I needed special software. I don’t know if this speaks about quality and quantity good apps for desktop operating systems, but in the first month I found so many useful programs on a MacBook, which I haven’t found on Windows for many years. Some have already been removed and forgotten, but a certain set of gentlemen has formed...

So, I’m telling you about the best applications on macOS. For convenience, I will divide it into three sections: the desired minimum, useful utilities and everything that does not fit into the first two sections.

Desirable minimum

The coolest combine harvester for cleaning your computer. Scans and finds system garbage, cache, old and large files, cleans the recycle bin, completely removes programs and much more. There is a convenient widget for the menu bar, where in one click you can empty the trash or RAM, and also shows the battery charge.

The first app I installed, but second on this list. Logics? She's gone. By default, macOS only works fully with media on file system FAT, which has a nasty write limitation - the file must be no more than 4 GB. NTFS doesn't have this, but Apple only allows such partitions to be read, not written. The problem is solved by the invisible utility Tuxera NTFS - install it once and forget it forever. Bonus: formatting disks in NTFS. There is an alternative in the form of Paragon NTFS.

Demon paid application for managing external and internal drives. Shows brief statistics on memory capacity and allows you to safely remove media. But most importantly: it removes system residual debris. It happens that after macOS the flash drive connected to Windows will be busy invisible files- the program removes them.

Simply the best cross-platform media player. Free.

Torrent client. Compact, free and ad-free. Allows you to download files even if some have already been deleted.

Useful utilities

Clipboard manager. I tried a lot of similar programs and settled on this one. A pleasant interface that does not stand out from the general style of the system played a decisive role. Paste does one simple task: Stores the history of what was copied for later access. There is a search. If you often have to use the “cmd+c” combination at work, then you must install it.

A small utility for saving computer RAM and battery. It sets an inactivity timer for any application. For example, if I don't use iTunes for five minutes, it will automatically close.

A chic window manager in Windows style. Allows you to change and dock windows for convenient organization of your workspace. It works extremely simply: use the cursor to drag the window to the desired corner of the screen and you’re done. I use it all the time. There is an alternative called BetterSnapTool.

Includes any HTML5 video from Safari in Picture-in-Picture mode. Verified on YouTube and Twitch. Works.

A neat timer for the menu bar. You need to pull the icon down and measure the required number of minutes. Useful if you constantly work at the computer.

Screenshot app. Usually standard macOS combinations are enough, but in MonoSnap you can immediately make notes, upload to the cloud and receive a link to the clipboard.

A powerful utility that brings a popup menu of commands from iOS. It works system-wide and depending on where the text is highlighted, the application offers different commands. The list of such commands is customizable and the developer has a whole section with extensions for this, which is constantly updated. You can create a reminder, translate text, find it on a map, and much more in one click. A lot of popular applications are supported.

Almost every software has its own icon in the status bar. In some cases it can be hidden, but in most cases it is not. Bartender will come to the rescue. It frees up space on the menu bar and makes your Mac look a little neater. You can choose which applications to hide, customize shortcuts and the icon of the application itself.

Everything else

Mail client. I use it in conjunction with the iOS version. There are a lot of functions, most of which I didn’t even understand. Conveniently, all mailboxes are saved in iCloud. Another option is Spark. It didn’t catch on with me on iOS, and there wasn’t an app on the MacBook to begin with. Now it's out and many people are praising it. Give it a try. It's free, unlike AirMail.

Graphic editor with wide capabilities. It can do a lot of things that Photoshop does, but it takes up much less space. The only negative is that there is no Russian language.

I first bought it on iOS because of the cool widget for the notification center - it fits the entire month. The application combines a calendar and reminders. There is a widget for the menu bar.

Beneath the minimalist design of this calculator lies enormous power. He can: count, convert different sizes, currency, temperature and a lot more. You can write in text (m and meters - the calculator understands both options), use abbreviations (log, sqrt), signs (%, $). There is even a widget for the notification center. In short, a gun! It's also free.

1Password (free, but with a subscription of $2.99/month)

The most famous password manager. You can store logins in it, bank cards, addresses, notes, bank accounts, driver's licenses, passports and much more. Available on iOS, Android, Windows with general synchronization. But a little expensive. Recently, a good alternative has appeared - there are far fewer opportunities, but it is free.

One of best VPN services from the creators of RememBear. Paid, but the rates are humane.

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- it's fast mail client, supporting many 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 the Mac App Store.

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 technology Night Shift on iOS. Night time color scheme iPhone screens and the iPad will warm up, protecting your eyes from excess stress, and return to its normal position 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 the Mac App Store.

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 flags them in the client email, so the user will never lose any of the messages he needs. The program learns new ways to protect against spam while it's running, tracking all spammers' techniques.

Price: 30 dollars, yes trial version for 30 days, you can download .

Spectacle

Spectacle Allows you to move and resize windows using simple keyboard shortcuts. You can split the screen into 2 or 4 parts by placing the browser in the upper left corner, text editor in the upper right corner, and so on.

Price: free, can be downloaded.

The Unarchiver

The Unarchiver is an excellent replacement built in macOS applications"Archiving utility". 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 dollars, yes free version with restrictions, you can download .

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.

Working with text

Ulysses III

Ulysses III is a professional text editor that allows you to fully concentrate on your work. Except comfortable 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 plain text, RTF supports export to Pages and Doc formats.

Another interesting feature of Ulysses is the ability to flexibly configure 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 Mac App Store.

Pixelmator

Pixelator is a photo editor, just like Adobe Photoshop. It provides the features you expect from it: layers, filters, various shapes, smart choice, photo editing and more.

Mac OS is one of the most popular operating systems in the world. It is characterized by stability, ease of use and high level protection against viruses. mac OS comes pre-installed with many system programs, but for comfortable work users download additional ones. Below we will talk about the most useful and popular applications for mac OS, which 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 alphabet.
• It is possible to select the folder into which the contents of the archive will be moved when unpacking it.

MacID

MacID - 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 don’t have to constantly remember and enter complex passwords, also take care of the safety of your gadget. You can log into the system with just one click of your finger on your smartphone.

Slack

Slack- 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 forward 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 latest version f.lux 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 use computer in the dark.

A very convenient and functional e-reader is included in the list best apps 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 a general theme, but also a font, size, line spacing, paragraph and so on. This feature is especially relevant for visually impaired users.

Also in Ridkit convenient system filtration. 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 cache, 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.

Except antivirus programs a computer that is constantly connected to the Internet requires additional protection for 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;
• available fine settings to select applications whose operation will be monitored;
• 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 a variety of 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 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. Also it works with the library iTunes data, 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 functions- Possibility of delayed 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 graphic images any types (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 - clipboard between your Mac and mobile device on iOS. He works in 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. Selection and copying can be done by anyone in a convenient way: 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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