Looking to make the most of the robust? We’ve got you covered. There are literally hundreds of thousands of great software applications compatible with MacOS in the App Store — not to mention the thousands more that are scattered across the web. Because of this, we’ve compiled some of the best Mac apps available.
Since there are so many apps, we pared our list down to only include programs that are most likely to be useful to the average Mac user, whether you’re looking to quickly access an abundance of RSS feeds or automatically upload your photos to the cloud. Interface Think of Alfred as Spotlight with a dash of Siri. It’s an application launcher, but it can do a lot more than just that. With Alfred, you can quickly perform calculations, execute web searches, and quickly find word definitions, among many other functions. It fills the gap between Siri and your Spotlight search, by allowing you to automate tasks and perform advanced functions that, frankly, Siri should be able to handle without voice input. Bartender 3 is an app made for when you’re utilizing too many apps. It’s a subtle tool that’s specifically designed with organization in mind, and as such, it lets you better systematize various aspects of your interface.
Mail Support. Look up your Mail settings. How to use Mail settings. Learn which option is best for you. Set up an account. If you can’t send or receive email on your Mac. Follow these steps if the Mail app on your Mac suddenly doesn't send or receive email. Get help with Mail. Get help using iCloud Contacts, Calendars, or Reminders. Welcome to Episode 12 of Best Mac Apps. Today I'll be showing you 6 more Best Mac Apps as of January 2018.
With Bartender 3, you choose which apps appear in the menu bar and rearrange their position to your liking. You can also search for specific items, or move them into the optional Bartender Bar if you’re in dire need of additional space. The latest version added support for MacOS, an interface that leverages the new operating system, and the ability to navigate via your keyboard.
You can choose a 4-week free trial before purchasing if you want. Always a favorite, Amphetamine keeps your computer from going into sleep mode, starting the screensaver, or performing the auto-dim function.
It’s ideal for watching streams, videos, or any other activity in which you don’t touch the keyboard or mouse for an extended period of time. Note that Amphetamine no longer works with older versions of the operating system like Yosemite. Once installed, Dropzone 3 feels like an integral part of MacOS.
The bare-bones application functions as a shortcut tool, meaning you can use it to quickly copy and move files, launch applications, and share content through popular services such as Facebook and Flickr. You can also upload files via FTP and Amazon S3, or shorten URLs using the newly-added Goo.gl shortener. It’s all housed within a tiny icon that sits in the menu bar. Safari will never boast the kind of intuitive integration afforded by Google’s proprietary browser.
Chrome is for desktop platforms, one that also features the ability to automatically sync all your information — bookmarks, open tabs, recent searches, etc. — across multiple computers and mobile devices.
That, combined with its robust customization and instant search capabilities, make it worthwhile. It’s not always easy to view multiple windows side by side, at least, not without Magnet. The app is made for the multitasker inside all of us, and thus presents a quick way to arrange your desktop. With Magnet, you can drag and snap windows to the edges and corners of your screen, which will then lock into place.
It’s a terrific tool, complete with predefined keyboard shortcuts, if you want to copy content from one app to another. Unclutter is a basic piece of software that suits its name.
The app is accessible with a quick swipe from the top of your screen, and, better yet, functions as a convenient place for storing quick notes, recent files, and clipboard information. Recent updates also allow for a light or dark theme (although MacOS Mojave now has a native dark mode), and include an option for dragging cards on top of other desktop windows. Files and notes even automatically sync across your devices via Dropbox, a suitable addition that adds to the app’s lasting appeal.
Apple's included Mail app for iOS is gets the job done, but it doesn't include many tools to help you manage your email. Whether you're a power user who craves more control over how you organize your email, or you feel overwhelmed by your inbox, there's an app that can help you. I've rounded up five valuable email apps for your iPhone or iPad that can help change the way you deal with your inbox, or just make the process of reading and responding to messages more productive. All of these apps are available for Android as well, though Acompli is still in beta.
Screenshot by Sarah Mitroff/CNET The best feature of the official Gmail app is that it works just the same way that Gmail does on the Web. If you use the tabbed Inbox setup, you can easily use the same setup here, as the app divides your email into Primary, Social, Promotions, Updates, and Forums. All of your custom labels are available in the app as well. You can sign into multiple Google accounts in the app and get access to your Gmail contacts to send emails.
Other features include setting up a vacation responder and customizing your email signature. One of the only downsides of the app is that there's no unified inbox. If you have multiple accounts in the app, it gets tedious switching between them. Google recently updated the app so that it's compatible with the larger screens on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, and it works well on the iPad, too. What's great: The app has the same familiar design and features as Gmail on the Web, making it a great choice for dedicated Gmail users. What's not: There's no unified inbox, and the swipe-to-archive gesture is finicky. CloudMagic Sporting a very light and clean design, CloudMagic has a lot going for it as an email app.
First, there's a unified inbox, if you prefer to see all of your email from multiple accounts in one view. CloudMagic also integrates with many different productivity services to help you take action on your emails, whether that's sending them to Evernote, creating a new to-do list item in Todoist, or adding a new lead to your Salesforce account. You can use gestures to manage your mail, and select multiple conversations at once to be archived or deleted. The app supports Gmail, Microsoft Exchange, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, iCloud and IMAP accounts. What's great: The app clears out any clutter from your inbox and displays your email in a clean, simple state. What's not: You can't mark Gmail messages as spam.
Screenshot by Sarah Mitroff/CNET Owned by Dropbox, Mailbox has made a name for itself with it's inbox-zero approach. The goal of the app is get all of the email out of your inbox as quickly as possible by categorizing it, instead of letting it languish in your inbox. For each email, you're encouraged to reply if necessary, delete the message, archive it, or set it aside for later.
You can schedule messages to return to your inbox when you're ready to deal with them, in a few hours, days, or a specific date and time. That's helpful for reservations or tickets, so you have the information you need at the appropriate time. What's great: The minimal design and inbox-zero approach is great for anyone who gets easily overwhelmed with their email. What's not: You can't easily access folders or labels in your email, and it supports only Gmail and iCloud accounts.
Screenshot by Sarah Mitroff/CNET Boxer gets a lot of love on the Internet for its feature-packed email app. Like others, it takes a minimalist approach with the design and gives you tools to get your email organized quickly. Boxer also excels at letting you customize its features, including choosing an action for different swiping gestures in the app. You can turn emails into to-do list items, and even assign to-dos to other people. The app also lets you send out emails and attachments to Evernote.
Other features include Quick replies, which sends a prewritten email response, and the ability to 'Like' a message, which sends a note to the sender that you like what you read. With the premium version, you get support for Exchange accounts, you can add multiple email accounts, connect your Dropbox or Box cloud storage account and customize your quick replies. What's great: Boxer's nearly endless list of features makes it great for email power users. What's not: The free app doesn't let you add more than one email account, and $10 is a bit steep for the paid app. Screenshot by Sarah Mitroff/CNET One of the more business-focused apps on this list, Acompli helps you organize your email, calendar, and files.
You can view your calendar in the app and see all of the attached files in your email, as well as your Google Docs and Dropbox files, in one dashboard. There's also a tool that lets you schedule emails to send whenever you want. Acompli's inbox also has a unique approach; All of your messages are organized into two categories, Focused and Other. Focused are messages that the app thinks you want to read right now, such as personal messages and important updates. Other encompasses everything else, including newsletters, pesky promotional emails, and anything that Acompli deems less important.
While Acompli automatically drops your emails into each category, you can move messages around, and the app gets smarter about what message goes where the more you use it. What's great: Acompli gives you access to your calendar and files without leaving the app. What's not: The app's design isn't the prettiest, and it can take some time to find your way around.