A curated list of awesome applications, software, tools and shiny things for macOS.
Items marked with Open-Source Software are open-source software and link to the source code. Items marked with Freeware are free (as in free beer).
- Applications
- Command Line Utilities
- macOS Utilities
- Setup
- Security
- Miscellaneous
- Discussion Forums
- Contribute
- Audio Hijack - Record audio from any application like iTunes, Skype or Safari, or from hardware devices like microphones and mixers.
- Audio Profile Manager - Allows you to pin input/output devices for each particular combination of connected devices. May suppress HDMI displays from being chosen.
- BackgroundMusic - Record system audio, control audio levels for individual apps, and automatically pauses your music player when other audio starts playing and unpauses it afterwards. Open-Source Software Freeware
- krisp - AI-powered app that removes background noise and echo from meetings leaving only human voice.
- Plug - Discover and listen to music from Hype Machine. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Recordia - Record audio directly from the menu bar or with a global keyboard shortcut.
- VOX Player - Play numerous lossy and lossless audio formats.
- XLD - Rip/Decode/convert/play various "lossless" audio files. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Arq - Encrypted backups to Amazon, Dropbox, Google, OneDrive, etc.
- Carbon Copy Cloner - Create incremental and fully bootable backups of your Mac to external storage.
- ChitChat - A native Mac app wrapper for WhatsApp Web. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Telegram - A messaging app with a focus on speed and security, it’s super fast, simple and free. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Textual - An Internet Relay Chat (IRC) client. Open-Source Software
- Data Rescue - Comprehensive and professional data recovery for a multitude of scenarios.
- DiskWarrior - Recover from filesystem corruptions when Disk Utility is out of options.
- Anvil - Serve up static sites and Rack apps with simple URLs and zero configuration. Freeware
- Base 2 - A GUI for managing SQLite databases.
- CocoaRestClient - An app for testing REST endpoints. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Cork - A fast, intuitive Homebrew GUI Open-Source Software
- Dash - An API Documentation Browser and Code Snippet Manager.
- Decode - Converts Xcode Interface Builder files (Xib and Storyboard files) to Swift source code.
- Fork - a fast and friendly git client for Mac.
- DevUtils - All-in-one toolbox for developers. 42+ beautifully crafted useful developer tools, native macOS app, work offline.
- Gas Mask - A simple hosts file manager which allows editing of host files and switching between them. Open-Source Software Freeware
- gitbar - Open source github contribution stats on your Menu Bar. Open-Source Software Freeware
- GitUp - A simple but powerful Git macOS app. Open-Source Software Freeware
- GitX-dev - A fork (variant) of GitX, maintained and enhanced with productivity oriented changes. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Hopper Dissassembler - A Dissassembler for MacOS and Linux. Has a Demo option for 30 minutes of productivity.
- Hosts - Edit hosts file. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Iconology - Edit Icons and then Export to Xcode, Icns, Ico, Favicon, Mac Iconset, or a Custom List of Sizes. Open-Source Software Freeware
- ImageAlpha - Apply lossy compression on PNG files with or without transparency for more efficient files. Open-Source Software Freeware
- ImageOptim - Makes images take up less disk space and load faster. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Integrity - Easily find your website's broken links. Freeware
- Kaleidoscope - Powerful diff and merge application supporting text, images, and folders.
- Knuff - The debug application for Apple Push Notification Service (APNs). Open-Source Software Freeware
- Medis - A modern GUI for Redis.
- Pasteboard Viewer - Inspect the system pasteboards. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Paw - The ultimate REST client.
- pgMagic - A PostgreSQL client that lets you talk to your database in SQL or natural language.
- Pods Updater - A macOS app which helps you manage dependency releases in your Podfile. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Postico - A modern PostgreSQL client.
- Postgres.app - The easiest way to get started with PostgreSQL. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Proxyman - High-performance man-in-the-middle proxy to observe and manipulate HTTP/HTTPS requests. Freeware
- Pusher - A free tool to do sandbox push notifications. Open-Source Software Freeware
- PSequel - A PostgreSQL GUI tool. Freeware
- QorumLogs - Swift Logging Utility for Xcode & Google Docs. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Quiver - A delightful notebook for programmers that allows mixing rich text, code, markdown, LaTeX, and graphs.
- Sequel Ace - A MySQL & MariaDB database manager. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Sequel Pro - A MySQL database manager. Open-Source Software Freeware
- SnippetsLab - Manage and organise snippets of code.
- SourceTree - A free Git & Mercurial client. Freeware
- Swiftify - Objective-C to Swift code converter and Xcode & Finder extensions.
- TablePlus - A modern, native GUI for multiple databases.
- Touch Bar Simulator - The macOS Touch Bar Simulator as a standalone app. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Tower - The most powerful Git client.
- Trailer - Configurable menubar Git notifications with accompanying native iOS app. Open-Source Software
- Unused - An app for checking Xcode projects for unused resources. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Vagrant Manager - Manage your vagrant machines in one place with Vagrant Manager for macOS. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Versions - SVN GUI client for Mac.
- WWDC - The WWDC app. Open-Source Software
- Xcodes - Install and switch between multiple versions of Xcode. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Kindle App - Amazon Kindle App for macOS.
- CotEditor - Lightweight plain-text editor for macOS. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Emacs - Port of Emacs to work as an macOS app. Open-Source Software Freeware
- MacVim - Vim, the text editor. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Nova - The beautiful, fast, flexible, native Mac code editor from Panic.
- Sublime Text 3 - The sophisticated text editor.
- TextMate - A graphical text editor. Open-Source Software
- VimR - Vim, refined. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Airmail - Lightning fast email client designed for El Capitan.
- MailMate - Advanced IMAP email client, featuring extensive keyboard control and Markdown support.
- Mailplane - A tightly integreted client for Google Mail, Inbox, Calender, and Contacts.
- ForkLift - File Manager and FTP/SFTP/WebDAV/Amazon S3 client.
- Path Finder - A powerful dual-pane browser alternative to Finder.
- Quicklook-Plugins - List of extra quicklook plugins to enable previewing more filetypes in the Finder.
- TotalFinder - A powerful alternative to Finder.
- XtraFinder - Adds useful features to Finder. Freeware
- Battle for Wesnoth - Turn-based tactical strategy game, featuring both single-player and online multiplayer combat. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Boxer - The DOS game emulator that’s fit for your Mac. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Dolphin - A powerful, Open Source emulator for Nintendo GameCube and Wii games. Open-Source Software Freeware
- OpenEmu - Multiple Video Game System. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Screentendo - Turn your screen into a playable level of Mario. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Stockfish - Beautiful, powerful chess application. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Acorn - A very Mac-like image editor with a comprehensive feature set.
- Affinity Designer - Vector image design tool, possible Adobe Illustrator alternative.
- Affinity Photo - Raster image design tool, possible Adobe Photoshop alternative.
- GifCapture - Record GIF screencasts. Open-Source Software
- GIPHY Capture - Capture and share GIFs on the desktop. Freeware
- Image2icon - Create and personalize icons from your pictures. Freeware
- macSVG - Design and edit SVG content for web, mobile, and animation. Open-Source Software Freeware
- OmniGraffle - An app for creating precise, beautiful graphics.
- Pixea - An image viewer for macOS with a nice minimal modern user interface. Freeware
- Pixelmator - Powerful image editor, possible Photoshop alternative.
- Sketch - Hybrid vector/bitmap layout application, especially useful for UI, web and mobile design.
- Sketch Toolbox - A super simple plugin manager for Sketch. Open-Source Software
- xScope - Tools for measuring, inspecting and testing on-screen graphics and layouts.
- hacker-menu - Hacker News Delivered to Desktop. Open-Source Software Freeware
- NetNewsWire - A classic RSS reader reacquired by its original author and rewritten for modern macOS. Open-Source Software Freeware
- ReadKit - Have all your Instapaper, Pocket, etc. feeds in one place even when you're offline.
- Reeder - News reader that integrates with with Feedbin, Feedly, and other popular services.
- Vienna - RSS/Atom newsreader. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Alfred - Boosts your efficiency and productivity.
- BetterTouchTool - Configure gestures for mouse and actions for keyboard shortcuts.
- ClipMenu - ClipBoard History Manager. Open-Source Software Freeware
- CloudClip - Sync your clipboard between your Mac and your iOS devices. Freeware
- Dropzone - Create a popup grid of customizable actions that enhance productivity on your Mac.
- f.lux - Automatically adjust your computer screen to match lighting. Freeware
- Fantastical - Complete Calendar app replacement which uses natural language for creating events.
- Hazel - Create rules to automatically keep your files organized.
- HazeOver - Turn distractions down and focus on your current task.
- HyperDock - Select individual application window.
- iCMD - Fuzzy menubar search and vim emulation.
- Instant Translate - Translate speech and text between 100+ languages from the menu bar.
- ItsyCal - A tiny menubar calendar to display your Mac Calendar app events. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Karabiner - A powerful keyboard customizer. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Keyboard Maestro - Automate routine actions based on triggers from keyboard, menu, location, added devices, and more.
- Keytty - Enables you to control your mouse with a few key strokes. Mouse Keys Alternative.
- LaunchBar - Start applications, navigate folders, manipulate files, control your Mac and much more just by using the keyboard.
- MeetingBar - Your meetings in MacOS status bar Open-Source Software Freeware
- MenubarX - A powerful menu bar browser.
- OmniFocus - An incredible task management platform for Mac, iPad, and iPhone.
- OmniOutliner - Perfect for collecting information, outlining ideas, adding structure to any sort of writing, and much more.
- Pandan - Time awareness in your menu bar. Freeware
- Paste - The new way to copy & paste for Mac.
- PDF Archiver - A nice tool for tagging and archiving tasks. Open-Source Software
- PopClip - Instantly copy & paste, access actions like search, spelling, dictionary and more.
- Presentify - Annotate anything on screen, be it, images, pdfs, videos, code, etc.
- Qbserve - Automatic time and project tracking, timesheets, invoicing, and real-time productivity feedback.
- Quicksilver - Control your Mac quickly and elegantly. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Rocket - Makes typing emoji faster and easier using Slack-style shortcuts. Freeware
- SelfControl - Block access to distracting websites. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Simplenote - Simple cross-platform note taking app with cloud-based syncing. Freeware
- Taskade - Real-time organization and task management tool.
- TaskPaper - Plain text to-do lists.
- Telephone - A SIP softphone. Make phone calls over the Internet or your company’s network. Open-Source Software Freeware
- TextExpander - Create custom keyboard shortcuts for frequently-used text and pictures.
- Timing - Automatic time and productivity tracking for Mac. Helps you stay on track with your work and ensures no billable hours get lost if you are billing hourly.
- CloudApp - Capture and share files and screenshots instantly.
- Jumpshare - Real-time file sharing app with support for instantly sharing code / Markdown, annotating screenshots, screen recording, and voice recording. Freeware
- mac2imgur - Upload images and screenshots to Imgur. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Monosnap - Annotate and upload images and screenshots, supports many backends like S3, SFTP, WebDAV, Dropbox, etc. Freeware
- Transmission - Simple, lightweight, multi-platform torrent client. Open-Source Software Freeware
- iTerm 2 - A terminal emulator. Open-Source Software Freeware
- 1Password - Password Manager and Secure Wallet.
- AnyBar - A menubar status indicator. Open-Source Software Freeware
- APNGb - .apng image assembler/disassembler app. Open-Source Software Freeware
- AppCleaner - Uninstall your apps easily. Freeware
- Artify - A macOS X application for bringing dedicatedly 18th century Arts to everyone. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Bartender - Organize your menu bar apps.
- Batch Image Resizer - Resize a large number of images quickly on your computer. Freeware
- BeardedSpice - Control web based media players with the media keys found on Mac keyboards. Open-Source Software Freeware
- BetterZip - A very capable and full-featured archive manager.
- BitBar - Display output of any script to the menu bar. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Burn - No-nonsense burning of Data/Audio/Video CDs and DVDs, including copying. Open-Source Software Freeware
- CheatSheet - Know your short cuts. Freeware
- ClipboardCleaner - Automatically removes text formatting from the clipboard. Open-Source Software Freeware
- CommandQ - Never accidentally quit an app again.
- ControlPlane - Automate running tasks based on where you are or what you do. Open-Source Software Freeware
- DaisyDisk - Analyze disk usage and free up disk space.
- Deliveries - Beautiful and simple package tracking.
- DisableMonitor - Easily disable or enable a monitor on your Mac. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Dozer - Hide MacOS menubar items. Open-Source Software Freeware
- EtreCheck - Output system information and configuration to get more informed help from Apple support professionals. Freeware
- Equinox - Create macOS dynamic wallpapers. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Fanny - Notification Center widget and menu bar application to monitor your Mac's fans and CPU temperature. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Finicky - App that allows you to set rules that decide which browser is opened for every link. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Flotato - Use any web site as a beautiful Mac app.
- Fluid - Turn web applications into Mac applications.
- gfxCardStatus - Menu bar app to monitor and switch between integrated and discrete GPUs on MacBook Pro. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Gray - Pick between the light appearance and the dark appearance on a per-app basis with the click of a button. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Helium - A floating browser window that allows you to watch media while you work. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Irvue - Thousands of stunning photos and wallpapers from Unsplash on your Mac. Open-Source Software Freeware
- iStat Menus - An advanced system monitor for your menubar.
- Jiffy - Discover and share the best GIFs on GIPHY. Freeware
- Kawa - A better input source switcher with shortcuts. Open-Source Software Freeware
- KeepingYouAwake - Menu bar utility that prevents Mac from going to sleep. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Keka - Compress to and extract from many archive file formats. Freeware
- Knock - Unlock your Mac quickly and securely. Freeware
- LaunchControl - Create, manage and debug launchd services. Freeware
- Loading - See when apps are using your network in your Mac menubar. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Little Snitch - Protect your privacy.
- MacDown - Markdown editor. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Mackup - Keep your application settings in sync. Open-Source Software Freeware
- MacPass - Password Manager. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Media Converter - Simple (drag and drop) but advanced media conversion. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Menubar Colors - Convenient access to the system color panel. Open-Source Software Freeware
- MenuMeters - A set of CPU, memory, disk, and network monitoring tools for macOS. Open-Source Software
- MonitorControl - Control your display's brightness and volume on your Mac as if it was a native Apple Display. Use Apple Keyboard keys or custom shortcuts. Shows the native macOS OSDs. Open-Source Software
- Monodraw - A powerful ASCII art editor.
- Mounty - A tiny tool to re-mount write-protected NTFS volumes under macOS 10.9+ in read-write mode.
- Noizio - Ambient sound equalizer for relaxation or productivity.
- Notational Velocity - Store, retrieve and sync notes within a minimal GUI. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Noti - Receive Android notifications on your mac (with PushBullet). Open-Source Software Freeware
- Numi - Beautiful calculator app. Freeware
- OnyX - Multifunction utility to verify disks and files, run cleaning and system maintenance tasks, configure hidden options and more. Freeware
- Paparazzi - A small utility that makes screenshots of webpages. Freeware
- Paragon NTFS - World fastest NTFS driver.
- Radio Silence - Simple to use firewall and network monitor.
- Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Client - Remote Desktop Connection Client lets you connect from your Macintosh computer to a Windows-based computer.
- RDM - Easily set Mac Retina display to higher unsupported resolutions. Open-Source Software
- Site Sucker - Automatically download websites from the Internet.
- ShiftIt - Managing windows size and position. Open-Source Software Freeware
- SlowQuitApps - Prevent accidental Cmd-Q. Open-Source Software Freeware
- SmartCapsLock - Makes the Caps Lock key smarter, so that when the key accidentally gets activated and you START YELLING even though you don't want to, you can just select the yelling-text and press the key again to instantly fix its case instead of typing everything all over again.
- Soulver - Beautiful expressive calculator.
- SSH Tunnel - Manage your SSH tunnels, tightly integrated with macOS Keychain, secure and intuitive.
- Strongbox - Secure Password Management for iOS and MacOS. Open Source. Compatible with KeePass and Password Safe. Open-Source Software
- TeamViewer - Remotely control another computer.
- TextBar - TextBar is a tiny but powerful app that lets you add any text to your MenuBar.
- Typeeto - Lets you use your Mac's keyboard as a bluetooth keyboard to type on another devices.
- Typora - Another minimal Markdown editor. Freeware
- Ukelele - Unicode Keyboard Layout Editor. Freeware
- Übersicht - Run system commands and display their output on your desktop as widgets. Open-Source Software Freeware
- The Unarchiver - Unarchive many different kinds of archive files. Freeware
- Wineskin - Run Windows applications and games on your Mac. Open-Source Software Freeware
- HandBrake - High performance video encoding and conversion tools with a nice GUI. Open-Source Software
- IINA - Media player with a minimalist design. Open-Source Software Freeware
- mpv - Media player. Open-Source Software
- ScreenFlow - Screencasting and video editing software.
- Subler - Mux and tag MP4 files. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Subtitlr - Drag and drop subititle download utility. Open-Source Software
- Amethyst - Window manager (automatically keep windows sized in grids). Open-Source Software Freeware
- Divvy Window Manager - Window management for tiling your windows.
- Hammerspoon - Extremely powerful scripting engine for macOS. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Hummingbird - Easily move and resize windows without mouse clicks, from anywhere within a window.
- Moom - Move and zoom windows, super light weight and customizable.
- Phoenix - A lightweight window and app manager scriptable with JavaScript. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Rectangle - Easily organize windows without using a mouse. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Stay - Resize/position windows when displays change.
- Swish - Control windows and applications with trackpad gestures.
- yabai - Tiling window manager with focus follows mouse. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Aerial - Apple TV Aerial Screensaver for Mac. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Catch - The easiest way to use ShowRSS. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Clocker - Check time in multiple timezones from your Mac menubar. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Juice - Make your battery information a bit more interesting. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Sonora - A minimal, beautifully designed music player. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Spillo - Powerful, beautiful and fast Pinboard client.
- Transmit - A FTP client.
- Awesome macOS Command Line - Use your macOS terminal shell to do awesome things.
- m-cli - Swiss Army Knife for macOS.
- Mac-CLI - macOS command line tools for developers.
- mas - A CLI for the Mac App Store. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Bluetooth Debug Menu - Factory reset devices and more.
- Command Line Utilities Part 1
- Command Line Utilities Part 2
- EnvPane - An preference pane for environment variables. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Glances - System monitoring tool that runs in terminal. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Thread on StackExchange
Ansible playbook to configure a development and desktop environment from a clean macOS install.
- https://gist.github.com/kevinelliott/3135044
- https://gist.github.com/kimmobrunfeldt/350f4898d1b82cf10bce
- GPG Suite - Full GPG toolkit with easy to understand GUI applications and Mail.app plugin. Freeware
- LinkLiar - Menu application written in Swift to help you spoof the MAC addresses of your Wi-Fi and Ethernet interfaces. Open-Source Software Freeware
- macchanger by acrogenesis - Easily change your MAC Address Open-Source Software Freeware
- macchanger by shilch - Change / spoof MAC address (random, custom and restore). Open-Source Software
- MIDAS - Intrusion Detection Analysis System. Open-Source Software
- OS-X-Security-and-Privacy-Guide Open-Source Software
- OSXCollector - Forensic evidence collection & analysis toolkit. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Pareto Security - A MenuBar app to automatically audit your Mac for basic security hygiene. Open-Source Software
- santa - A binary whitelisting/blacklisting system. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Shimo - Fully-featured VPN client for Mac.
- SimpleumSafe - Encrypt, organize and sync files with macOS or iOS.
- tinc - Secure mesh VPN software. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Tunnelblick - Easy to use OpenVPN client and GUI. Open-Source Software Freeware
- VeraCrypt - Free and open source disk encryption software. Open-Source Software Freeware
- Viscosity - Fully-featured OpenVPN client, ready for enterprise deployment.
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