11 Little Known Apps Everyone Should Install on Their Mac

One of the best things about macOS is the sheer number of high-quality apps. From remapping keys to simply controlling external monitors, there are great apps for just about everything you can think of. While many of us are aware of the big players in the market, there are plenty of lesser-known apps that also deserve your attention. These are 11 of our favorites.

Carbine

If you want to map custom functions to different keys on your Mac keyboard, Karabiner is the app you need. One of its most useful uses is to map broken keys to another button – for example, if your Caps Lock key is broken, you can map it to a function key instead. You can map some keys to mouse buttons and even disable the default Mac keyboard when you connect an external keyboard. Karabiner has plenty of tools for advanced users too, so tinker with them.

Raycast

If Spotlight isn’t right for you, Raycast is the tool you should replace it with . The app is fast, customizable and free. It’s great for finding content on your Mac and has a library of extensions that let you control third-party apps like Spotify directly from Raycast. You can use Raycast extensions to search Google, find and play music on Spotify and YouTube, and more.

If you just want a Spotlight replacement that can find files and run apps for free, Alfred’s free version is great. However, Alfred’s true power as an automation hub is revealed with its Powerpack (which is not free).

Rectangle

Managing windows on macOS is a little tedious, but Rectangle makes it easy to manage. The application allows you to use keyboard shortcuts to quickly rearrange open windows. Even though there is a paid version, the free version is suitable for almost everyone. If you want extra features like custom labels for every window size and position, you can get Rectangle Pro for $8.

Alternatively, you can also check out Magnet ($8) or Swish ($16). Magnet is available in the Mac App Store, making it easy to store your license key and reinstall the app if you buy a new Mac in the future.

Swish offers a new approach to managing windows with trackpad gestures and keyboard shortcuts. Swish adjusts its prices based on the region you’re in, which means it can cost as little as $3 in some regions.

sound source

You’ve probably been annoyed by app alerts while watching a movie or focusing on work before. You can either use the Do Not Disturb (DND) feature in macOS to turn off all alerts, or try SoundSource ($47 after trial) to set your own per-app volume level .

SoundSource also lets you send audio from certain apps like Apple Music directly to your headphones, so you can use alert sounds through your Mac speaker while streaming songs from Apple Music to your headphones. SoundSource is worth the asking price, but if you’re looking for a free alternative, check out Background Music .

amphetamine

Amphetamine stops your Mac from going to sleep, which is a simple feature that has many practical uses, such as closing the lid of your MacBook to use it in clamshell mode while connected to an external monitor. You can also set up custom triggers, such as preventing your Mac from going to sleep when certain apps are open or when certain accessories are connected.

poppies

If you need a clipboard manager for your Mac, try Maccy . The app saves the items you have copied to the clipboard and allows you to quickly retrieve them whenever you need to. It also removes items from the clipboard in certain cases, such as when a password manager removes sensitive data from the clipboard. If you download the app directly from the developer’s site, you can get it for free. It costs $10 on the Mac App Store.

Dato

Dato is a reliable menu bar calendar app for your Mac. Apart from the calendar itself, it can display world time or appointment reminders right in the menu bar, allowing you to set up a distraction-free calendar for your Mac. While the app costs $8, you can get a fully functional free trial on the developer’s website. You will not receive trial updates and you will be reminded to purchase the app twice a day.

Acorn

While Preview is a pretty capable image viewer and basic editor, many people want a better image editing app. Acorn ($40) is what we recommend for most people. It is easy to learn and has powerful features for advanced editing. It even has some basic Photoshop compatibility, which means it can open PSD files and import brushes designed for the Adobe application.

Clean Shot X

The screenshot tool built into your Mac is great, but if you want to take your screenshot game to the next level , look no further than CleanShot X ($29 for one year of updates). This app can take scrolling screenshots to capture entire web pages, create screen recordings and GIFs, and it also has great annotation and screenshot editing tools. It can also copy text from images and add neat backgrounds to help you create screenshots that look great on social media.

Lunar

Experienced Mac users with multiple monitors should use Lunar . It allows you to disable certain displays and allows you to use the hardware keys on your Mac keyboard to control external displays. It’s the best Mac app for managing multiple external displays , and its professional features are worth it for $23.

hyperduck

If you want to send links from your iPhone to your Mac, Hyperduck is the best app for the job . It’s fast, free, and works even when your Mac is turned off. The links will automatically open on the Mac when you download it and open the app.