Best Macos Apps For Programmers

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Best Macos Apps For Programmers Rating: 5,0/5 5710 reviews

Stts is a must have macOS menu bar app for developers to see up time status of popular services. It contains a very long list of services which are essential for developers and shows you their status if they are down. It shows a list of services that it is monitoring by checking its online status. MacOS power users can 10x their productivity using Homebrew and other CLI tools. Here's a list of my top Homebrew packages to boost your productivity on your Mac development environment. Aug 20, 2018 August 20, 2018 June 13, 2019 maclibstech 2070 8 Comments on Best Mac Apps: 36 Essential Apps for New Mac OS Beginners in 2019 For Mac users, there are a couple of apps out there that would really revolutionize the way you get about completing tasks on your Mac.

  1. Best Macos Apps For Programmers For Sale
  2. Best Mac Software For Developers
  3. Best Mac Apps For Developers
  4. Best Apps For Macos Catalina

Why Trust Us?


I’ve advised people about the best computer for their needs since the 80s, and I’ve used Macs personally for over a decade. In my career, I’ve set up computer training rooms, managed the IT needs of organizations, and provided tech support to individuals and businesses. I recently upgraded my own Mac. My choice? A 27-inch iMac.

But I’ve never worked full-time as a developer. I have a degree in Pure Mathematics and completed several programming courses as part of my study. I’ve tinkered with many scripting languages and text editors when editing content for the web. I’ve worked with developers and taken genuine pleasure in checking out their computers and setups. Of course, all of that only gives me a small taste of what you need.

So I worked harder. I got opinions from real coders–including those of my son, who recently started working as a web developer and is purchasing lots of new gear. I’ve also paid close attention to gear recommendations from developers on the web and referenced them where relevant throughout this review.

What Are the Computing Needs of a Programmer?

Programming is a broad niche including front and back-end web development as well as developing apps for desktop and mobile. It involves many tasks including writing and testing code, debugging and compiling, and even branching in code from other developers.

Hardware needs can vary significantly among programmers. Many devs don’t need a particularly powerful computer. But while writing code uses few resources, some of the apps you write in do. Compiling code is a CPU-intensive task, and game developers need a Mac with a powerful graphics card.

Programming Software

Developers have strong opinions about software, and there are a lot of options out there. Many write code in their favorite text editor and use other tools (including command-line tools) to get the rest of the job done.

Text editors have low system resources. Some popular ones include:

But instead of using a collection of independent tools, many choose a single app that includes all the features they need: an IDE, or Integrated Development Environment. IDEs give developers everything they need from start to finish: a text editor, compiler, debugger, and build or make integration.

Because these apps do more than simple text editors, they have higher system requirements. Three of the most popular IDEs include:

  • Apple Xcode IDE 11 for Mac and iOS app development
  • Microsoft Visual Studio Code for Azure, iOS, Android and web development
  • Unity Core Platform for 2D and 3D game development, which we’ll look at further in the next section

Beyond those three, there are a wide range of IDEs available—many specializing in one or more programming languages)—including Eclipse, Komodo IDE, NetBeans, PyCharm, IntelliJ IDEA, and RubyMine.

A wide range of options mean a wide range of system requirements, some of them very intense. So what does it take to run these apps on a Mac?

A Mac Capable of Running That Software

Each IDE has minimum system requirements. Because they’re minimum requirements and not recommendations, it’s better to purchase a computer more powerful than those requirements—especially as you’re likely to run more than one app at a time.

The system requirements for Xcode 11 are simple:

  • Operating system: macOS Mojave 10.14.4 or later.

Microsoft includes a few more details in their Visual Studio Code 2019’s system requirements:

  • Operating system: macOS High Sierra 10.13 or later,
  • Processor: 1.8 GHz or faster, dual-core or better recommended,
  • RAM: 4 GB, 8 GB recommended,
  • Storage: 5.6 GB of free disk space.

Just about every model of Mac is capable of running these programs (well, the MacBook Air has a 1.6 GHz dual-core i5 processor that’s just barely below Visual Studio’s requirements). But is that a realistic expectation? In the real world, does any Mac offer what a non-game developer needs?

No. Some Macs are underpowered and will struggle when pushed hard, especially when compiling. Other Macs are overpowered and don’t provide developers decent value for their money. Let’s look at some more realistic recommendations for coding:

  • Unless you’re doing game development (we’ll look at that in the next section), the graphics card won’t make much difference.
  • A super-fast CPU also isn’t crucial. Your code will compile faster with a better CPU, so get the best one you can afford, but don’t worry about getting a hot rod. MacWorld observes: “You probably will be just fine with a dual-core i5 processor for coding, or even the i3 in the entry-level MacBook Air, but if you have money to spare, then it won’t hurt to get a more powerful Mac.”
  • Make sure you have enough RAM. That will make the most difference to the way your IDE runs. Take Microsoft’s 8 GB recommendation of 8 GB. Xcode also uses a lot of RAM, and you may be running other apps (say, Photoshop) at the same time. MacWorld recommends you get 16 GB if you want to future-proof a new Mac.
  • Finally, you’ll use relatively little storage space—a minimum of 256 GB is often realistic. But keep in mind that IDEs run much better on an SSD hard disk.

Game Developers Need a Mac with a Powerful Graphics Card

You need a better Mac if you’re doing graphics, game development, or VR development. That means more RAM, a better CPU, and crucially, a discrete GPU. Rdp client for mac el capitan.

A lot of game developers use Unity Core, for example. Its system requirements:

  • Operating system: macOS Sierra 10.12.6 or later
  • Processor: X64 architecture with SSE2 instruction set support
  • Metal-capable Intel and AMD GPUs.

Again, those are just minimum requirements, and they come with a disclaimer: “Actual performance and rendering quality may vary depending on the complexity of your project.”

A discrete GPU is essential. 8-16 GB of RAM is still realistic, but 16 GB is preferred. Here is Laptop Under Budget’s recommendation for the CPU: “If you are into something intensive like game developing or programming in graphics, then we recommend laptops powered by Intel i7 processor to you (hexa-core if you can afford it).”

Finally, game developers need significantly more space to store their projects. An SSD with 2-4 TB of space is recommended.

Portability

Programmers often work alone and can work anywhere. They might work from home, or at a local coffee shop, or while traveling.

That makes portable computers especially tempting. While it’s not a requirement to purchase a MacBook, many developers do.

As you look over MacBook specs, pay attention to the advertised battery life—but don’t expect to get the amount claimed in the specifications. Development software can be highly processor-intensive, which can cut battery life to just a few hours. For instance, “Programmers complain that Xcode eats a lot of battery,” warns MacWorld.

Loads of Screen Space

You don’t want to feel cramped when coding, so many developers prefer a large monitor. A 27-inch screen is nice, but obviously not a requirement. Some developers even prefer a multiple-monitor setup. MacBooks come with smaller monitors but support multiple large external ones, which is super useful when working at your desk. When on the move, a 16-inch MacBook Pro has a clear advantage over a 13-inch model—unless maximum portability is your absolute priority.

What does all that mean? It means you should Include the cost of an extra monitor or two in your budget. Extra screen space can have a positive impact on your productivity. Fortunately, all Macs now feature a Retina display, allowing you to fit more code on the screen.

A Quality Keyboard, Mouse, and Other Gadgets

Developers are particular about workspaces. They love setting them up so that they’re happy and productive when working. A lot of that attention goes to the peripherals they use.

The one they spend the most time using is their keyboard. While many are happy enough with the Magic Keyboard that came with their iMac, or the butterfly keyboards that came with their MacBooks, many developers upgrade to a premium alternative.

Why? Apple’s keyboards have several disadvantages to developers:

  • They have little travel. With a lot of use, that can cause strain to the wrist and hand.
  • The arrangement of the cursor keys isn’t ideal. On recent Mac keyboards, the Up and Down keys only get half a key each.
  • MacBook Pros with a Touch Bar don’t have a physical Escape key. That’s particularly frustrating for Vim users, who access that key frequently. Fortunately, the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro has both a Touch Bar and physical Escape key (and a little more travel as well).
  • Users need to hold down the Fn key to access certain functions. Developers can do without having to press additional keys unnecessarily.

Developers don’t want to compromise on their keyboard, and that includes the keyboard’s layout. While more compact keyboards are getting popular, they’re not always the best tool for programmers. Most prefer a keyboard with more keys over one that requires holding down multiple key combinations at once to accomplish a task.

Quality ergonomic and mechanical keyboards are terrific options for coders. We’ll recommend some options for both in the “Other Gear” section at the end of this article. Premium mice are another popular upgrade. We’ll include a list of those at the end as well.

Fortunately, all Macs include fast Thunderbolt 3 ports that support USB-C devices. Desktop Macs also have plenty of traditional USB ports, and you can purchase external USB hubs if you need them for your MacBook.

How We Tested

Now that we’ve explored what a programmer needs from a computer, we compiled two lists of recommended specifications and compared each Mac model against them. Fortunately, there are more models suitable for coding than, say, video editing.

We picked winners that are sure to give a frustration-free experience, but there’s plenty of room for your preferences. For instance:

  • Do you prefer working on a large screen?
  • Do you prefer working with multiple monitors?
  • Do you do most of your work at your desk?
  • Do you value the portability of a laptop?
  • How much battery life do you require?

Additionally, you need to determine whether you’ll be doing any game (or other graphic-intensive) development.

Here are our recommendations:

Recommended specs for most developers:

  • CPU: 1.8 GHz dual-core i5 or better
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Storage: 256 GB SSD

Recommended specs for game developers:

  • CPU: Intel i7 processor (eight-core preferred)
  • RAM: 8 GB (16 GB preferred)
  • Storage: 2-4 TB SSD
  • Graphics card: a discrete GPU.

We chose winners that comfortably meet those specifications without offering costly extras. We also asked the following questions:

  • Who can afford to save money by purchasing a less powerful Mac than our winners?
  • Who would find genuine value in purchasing a more powerful Mac than our winners?
  • How high can each Mac model be configured, and how can you upgrade it after purchase?
  • What is the size and resolution of its monitor, and any external monitors that are supported?
  • For developers who value portability, how suitable is each MacBook model for coding? What is its battery life, and how many ports does it have for accessories?

Read on for our best picks.

The Winners

Best Mac for Programming: MacBook Pro 16-inch


The MacBook Pro 16-inch is the perfect Mac for developers. It’s portable and has the largest display available on an Apple laptop. (In fact, it has 14% more pixels than the previous 15-inch model.) It provides plenty of RAM, tons of storage, and enough CPU and GPU power for game developers. Its battery life is lengthy, but don’t expect to enjoy the full 11 hours Apple claims.

At a glance:

  • Screen size: 16-inch Retina display, 3072 x 1920
  • Memory: 16 GB (64 GB maximum)
  • Storage: 1 TB SSD (configurable to 8 TB SSD)
  • Processor: 2.3 GHz 8-core 9th-generation Intel Core i9
  • Graphics Card: AMD Radeon Pro 5500M with 4 GB of GDDR6 (configurable to 8 GB)
  • Headphone jack: 3.5 mm
  • Ports: Four Thunderbolt 3 ports
  • Battery: 11 hours

This MacBook Pro is ideal for programmers, and the only Apple laptop suitable for serious game development. The default configuration comes with a 1 TB SSD, but you should seriously consider upgrading to at least 2 TB. The biggest SSD you can get is 8 TB.

RAM can be configured up to 64 GB. Get the RAM you want upfront: upgrading after you purchase it can be difficult, but not impossible. Like the 21.5-inch iMac, it’s not soldered in place, but you’ll need the help of a professional.

Storage is also not user-accessible, so it’s best to choose the desired amount when you first purchase the machine. According to OWC’s Mark C, it’s likely to be soldered in. If you find you need to upgrade your storage after purchase, take a look at our recommended external SSDs.

It also includes the best keyboard of any current MacBook. It has more travel than other models, and even a physical Escape key (despite having a Touch Bar), which will keep Vim users, among others, very happy.

While a 16-inch display is the best available when you’re on the go, you may want something larger when you’re at your desk. Fortunately, you can attach multiple large external monitors. According to Apple Support, the MacBook Pro 16-inch can handle two 5K or 6K displays. One good choice would be the LG 27MD5KB-B UltraFine 27-inch monitor, which you connect to one of its high-speed Thunderbolt ports.

Speaking of ports, this MacBook Pro incorporates four USB-C ports, which many users will find sufficient. To connect your USB-A peripherals, you’ll need to purchase a dongle or different cable. A better option may be Purgo’s aluminum USB-C hub adaptor. It’s designed specifically for MacBooks, looks fantastic, and adds additional connections, including USB-A.

While I believe this Mac is the best solution for those who want something portable, there are other options:

  • The MacBook Air is a more affordable alternative, though with a smaller screen, a less powerful processor, and no discrete GPU.
  • The MacBook Pro 13-inch is a more portable option, but with fewer limitations than the Air. The smaller screen may feel cramped, and the lack of a discrete GPU makes it less suitable for game development.
  • Some may find the iPad Pro an attractive portable alternative, though you’ll have to adjust your expectations.

Budget Mac for Programming: Mac mini


The Mac mini seems to be becoming increasingly popular among developers. After its significant spec bump in 2018, it’s now powerful enough to do some serious work. It’s small, flexible, and deceptively powerful—tests at ProToolsExpert give it a Geekbench score higher than a 2013 Mac Pro! If you’re after a Mac with a small footprint, it’s a great option.

At a glance:

  • Screen size: display not included, up to three are supported
  • Memory: 8 GB (64 GB maximum)
  • Storage: 256 GB SSD (configurable to 2 TB SSD)
  • Processor: 3.0 GHz 6‑core 8th‑generation Intel Core i5
  • Graphics Card: Intel UHD Graphics 630 (with support for eGPUs)
  • Headphone jack: 3.5 mm
  • Ports: Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, two USB 3 ports, HDMI 2.0 port, Gigabit Ethernet

The Mac mini is the cheapest Mac available—partly because it doesn’t come with a monitor, keyboard or mouse—so it’s an excellent choice for those on a tight budget.

Most of its specs compare favorably with the 27-inch iMac. It can be configured with up to 64 GB of RAM and a 2 TB hard drive and is powered by a fast 6-core i5 processor. That’s more than enough to program on. While it doesn’t come with a monitor, it supports the same 5K resolution as the larger iMac, and you’re able to attach two displays (one 5K and the other 4K), or three 4K monitors in total.

For game development, you’ll need more RAM and storage. It’s better to get the configuration you want the first time—expecting to upgrade later is not a good plan.

There is no door to replace the RAM, so, while you can upgrade it, you may need professional help. And the SSD is soldered to the logic board, so it’s not replaceable. It also lacks a discrete GPU, but you can remedy this by attaching an external GPU. You’ll find more details in the “Other Gear” section at the end of this review.

Of course, you’ll also have to purchase a monitor or two, a keyboard, and a mouse or trackpad. You may have your favorites, but we’ll recommend some models in “Other Gear” below.

Best Desktop Mac for Development: iMac 27-inch


If you do most of your coding at your desk, the iMac 27-inch is an excellent choice. It includes a large display, a small footprint, and more than enough specs to run any development app.

At a glance:

  • Screen size: 27-inch Retina 5K display, 5120 x 2880
  • Memory: 8 GB (64 GB maximum)
  • Storage: 2 TB Fusion Drive (configurable to 2 TB SSD)
  • Processor: 3.7 GHz 6-core 9th-generation Intel Core i5
  • Graphics Card: AMD Radeon Pro 580X with 8 GB of GDDR5
  • Headphone jack: 3.5 mm
  • Ports: Four USB 3 ports, two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, Gigabit Ethernet

If you don’t need portability, the iMac 27-inch seems to be the perfect choice for coders. It has all the specs you need, even for game development, though for that we recommend you upgrade the RAM to 16 GB and the hard drive to a large SSD. You can max out the iMac’s power by choosing a 3.6 GHz 8-core i9 processor, though that configuration is not available on Amazon.

This iMac has a large 5K screen—the largest on any Mac—that will display lots of code and multiple windows, keeping you productive. For even more screen real estate, you can add another 5K display or two 4K displays.

Unlike a lot of modern Macs, it’s relatively easy to upgrade the 27-inch iMac after purchase. RAM is upgradable (all the way to 64 GB) by placing new SDRAM sticks in the slots near the bottom of the monitor. You’ll find the specifications you need on this page from Apple Support. It’s also possible to add an SSD later, but that’s a job better left to a professional.

There are plenty of ports for your peripherals: four USB 3 ports and two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports that support DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, USB 3.1, and Thunderbolt 2 (which with adapters allows you to plug in HDMI, DVI, and VGA devices).

The ports are on the back, and a little challenging to get to. The solution: add an aluminum Satechi hub that mounts to the bottom of your iMac’s screen or a Macally hub that conveniently sits on your desk.

While the iMac 27-inch is a great option, it’s not for everyone:

  • The 21.5-inch iMac is a cheaper alternative that will fit into tighter spaces, though it’s not as upgradable and has a smaller screen.
  • Those interested in a similar computer with more power (and a significantly higher cost) should think about an iMac Pro–though it’s overkill for most developers.

Below are a list of other options worth considering.

The Competition

1. MacBook Air


The MacBook Air is Apple’s most portable computer and its most affordable laptop. The Air’s specs are quite limited, and it’s impossible to upgrade its components after you buy one. Is it up to the job? If you do most of your coding in a text editor rather than IDE, then yes.

At a glance:

  • Screen size: 13.3 inch Retina display, 2560 x 1600
  • Memory: 8 GB (16 GB maximum)
  • Storage: 256 GB SSD (configurable to 1 TB SSD)
  • Processor: 1.6 GHz dual-core 8th-Generation Intel Core i5
  • Graphics Card: Intel UHD Graphics 617 (with support for eGPUs)
  • Headphone jack: 3.5 mm
  • Ports: Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
  • Battery: 13 hours

If you write your code in a text editor, this little machine may meet your needs. You’ll run into bottlenecks, though, when using it with an IDE. Its lack of discrete GPU makes it unsuitable for game development. Even though you could add an external GPU, other specs hold it back.

Its small Retina display now offers as many pixels as the 13-inch MacBook Pro. One external 5K or two 4Ks can be attached.

If you’re thinking about using one as a portable development machine, take a look at this feedback from other developers:

  • In 2017, Chen Osipov wrote he had been happily using an Air with 8 GB of RAM and an SSD for four years. He values portability and found it sufficient for writing code, even at maximum loads.
  • More recently, Mosspig laid out his thoughts on switching to a MacBook Air 2019. Though he’s worried about the CPU, it has the same Geekbench score as his old 2015 MacBook Pro 13-inch (a duo-core i7) and it performed pretty well.

2. MacBook Pro 13-inch


The 13-inch MacBook Pro isn’t much larger than a MacBook Air, but it’s far more powerful. It’s a good alternative to the 16-inch Pro if you need something more portable, but it’s not as powerful or upgradable.

At a glance:

  • Screen size: 13-inch Retina display, 2560 x 1600
  • Memory: 8 GB (16 GB maximum)
  • Storage: 512 GB SSD (configurable to 2 TB SSD)
  • Processor: 2.4 GHz 8th-Generation quad-core Intel Core i5
  • Graphics Card: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655
  • Headphone jack: 3.5 mm
  • Ports: Four Thunderbolt 3 ports
  • Battery: 10 hours

Like the 16-inch model, the MacBook Pro 13-inch has all the specs needed for development, but unlike its big brother, it falls short for game developers. That’s because it lacks a discrete GPU. To some extent, that can be remedied by adding an external GPU. We list some options for that under “Other Gear.”

But the 13-inch model can’t be specced as highly as the top-of-the-range MacBook Pro, and you can’t upgrade its components after purchase. If you want more screen real estate when you’re at your desk, you can attach one 5K or two 4K external monitors.

3. iMac 21.5-inch


If you want to save some money and desk space, the iMac 21.5-inch is a reasonable alternative to the 27-inch iMac, but be aware it’s an alternative with some compromises. Besides the smaller screen, this Mac can’t be specced as highly or upgraded as easily as the larger machine.

At a glance:

  • Screen size: 21.5-inch Retina 4K display, 4096 x 2304
  • Memory: 8 GB (32 GB maximum)
  • Storage: 1 TB Fusion Drive (configurable to 1 TB SSD)
  • Processor: 3.0 GHz 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5
  • Graphics Card: AMD Radeon Pro 560X with 4 GB of GDDR5
  • Headphone jack: 3.5 mm
  • Ports: Four USB 3 ports, Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, Gigabit Ethernet

The 21.5-inch iMac is hundreds of dollars cheaper than the 27-inch model and will fit on smaller desks if space is an issue, but it leaves you with fewer options.

It provides more than enough power for most developers, even game developers. But if you need more power, the maximum specifications are lower than the iMac 27-inch: 32 GB of RAM instead of 64 GB, a 1 TB SSD instead of 2 TB, a less powerful processor, and 4 GB of video RAM instead of 8. And unlike the 27-inch iMac, most components can’t be upgraded after purchase.

The 21.5-inch 4K monitor has plenty of room to display your code, and you can attach an external 5K display (or two more 4Ks) via the Thunderbolt 3 port.

There are plenty of USB and USB-C ports, but they’re on the back where they’re difficult to reach. You may like to consider an easier-to-reach hub. We cover a few options when covering the 27-inch iMac above.

4. iMac Pro


TechCrunch calls the iMac Pro a “love letter to developers,” and owning one may make your fantasies come true. But unless you’re pushing the limits—with, say, heavy game or VR development—this is more computer than you need. Most developers would find the iMac 27-inch a better fit.

At a glance:

  • Screen size: 27-inch Retina 5K display, 5120 x 2880
  • Memory: 32 GB (256 GB maximum)
  • Storage: 1 TB SSD (configurable to 4 TB SSD)
  • Processor: 3.2 GHz 8-core Intel Xeon W
  • Graphics Card: AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56 graphics with 8 GB of HBM2 (configurable to 16 GB)
  • Headphone jack: 3.5 mm
  • Ports: Four USB ports, four Thunderbolt 3 (USB‑C) ports, 10Gb Ethernet

The iMac Pro takes over where the iMac leaves off. It can be configured way beyond what most game developers will ever need: 256 GB of RAM, a 4 TB SSD, a Xeon W processor, and 16 GB of video RAM. That’s more than enough room to grow! Even its space gray finish has a premium look.

Who is it for? Both TechCrunch and The Verge thought first of VR developers. “The iMac Pro Is a Beast, but It’s not for Everybody” is the title of The Verge’s review.

They go on to say, “If you’re going to buy this machine, my opinion is that you should know precisely what you plan on using it for.” They suggest those working with VR, 8K video, scientific modeling, and machine learning are ideal.

5. iPad Pro 11-inch


Finally, I leave you with a suggestion from left field that’s not even a Mac: the iPad Pro. This option isn’t so much a recommendation as it is an interesting option. An increasing number of coders use the iPad Pro for development.

At a glance:

  • Screen size: 11-inch Retina display
  • Memory: 4 GB
  • Storage: 512 GB
  • Processor: A12X Bionic chip with Neural Engine
  • Headphone jack: none
  • Ports: USB-C

Programming on an iPad is not the same experience as programming on a Mac. If you do most of your work at your desk, you might think about an iPad Pro instead of a MacBook Pro as a portable tool for when you’re out of your office.

The number of iOS tools for developers is growing, including text editors and iOS keyboards designed for coders:

There are even a growing number of IDEs you can use on your iPad (some are browser-based and others are iOS apps):

  • Gitpod, a browser-based IDE
  • Code-Server is browser-based and allows you to use a remote VS Code IDE
  • Continuous is a .NET C# and F# IDE
  • Codea is a Lua IDE
  • Pythonista 3 is a promising Python IDE
  • Carnets, a free Python IDE
  • Pyto, another Python IDE
  • iSH provides a command-line shell for iOS

If you’d like to learn more about developing on an iPad Pro, these articles will give you plenty to think about:

One key point of that second article is: “The journey begins by lowering my expectations.”

A bigger 12.9-inch iPad Pro is available. Get it on Amazon.

Other Gear

Devs have strong opinions about the gear they use and the way they set up their systems. Here’s a breakdown of some popular options.

Monitors

While many developers prefer a laptop over a desktop, they also love large monitors—and lots of them. They’re not wrong. An old article from Coding Horror quotes a University of Utah study’s results: more screen real estate means more productivity.

Here are some large monitors you can add to your current setup:

  • LG 27MD5KB-B UltraFine 27-inch 5K
  • Dell Ultrasharp 27-inch 4K
  • BenQ PD2700U 27-inch 4K

A Better Keyboard

While many developers like Apple’s MacBook and Magic keyboards, quite a few opt for an upgrade. We cover the advantages of upgrading your keyboard in our review: Best Wireless Keyboard for Mac.

Ergonomic keyboards are often faster to type on, and reduce the risk of injury:

  • Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 (wired)

Mechanical keyboards are a popular (and fashionable) alternative. They’re fast, tactile and durable, and that makes them popular with gamers and devs alike:

A Better Mouse

Similarly, a premium mouse, trackball, or trackpad can help you work more productively while protecting your wrist from strain and pain. We cover their benefits in this review: Best Mouse for Mac. Here are a few options:

A Comfortable Chair

Where do you work? In a chair. For eight hours or more every day. You’d better make it a comfortable one, and Coding Horror lists several reasons every programmer should take the purchase seriously, including increased productivity.

Here are a few highly-rated ergonomic office chairs:

Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Many developers wear noise-canceling headphones to block out the world and give a clear message: “Leave me alone. I’m working.” We cover their benefits in our review, Best Headphones for Home & Office Workers, and recommend these among others:

External Hard Drive or SSD

You’ll need somewhere to archive and backup your projects, so grab some external hard drives or SSDs for archiving and backup. See our top recommendations in these reviews:

External GPU (eGPU)

Finally, if you’ve been using a Mac without a discrete GPU and suddenly get into game development, you may run up against some performance-related bottlenecks. Adding a Thunderbolt 3-enabled external graphics processor (eGPU) will make a world of difference. Here are some we recommend:

For more information, refer to this article from Apple Support: Use an external graphics processor with your Mac.

On this website, I have covered a ton of paid apps, and that’s because in general, paid apps tend to offer more when compared to free apps. However, that does not mean that there are no good free apps out there. In fact, there are a ton of them. That’s why it is going to be a long article as I am bringing a list of 35 best free apps you can get for your Mac right now. Some of the apps on this list are evergreen and you most probably already have them installed on your device. But some of them are entirely new. Well, at least they are new to me and that’s the beauty of it. No matter, how old an app is, it is new for somebody out there. That said, no matter how avid a Mac user you are, I can bet that you will find new Mac apps in this article that you have never heard of before. So, open your Macs and get ready to download these awesome free Mac apps.

Note: Be sure to read our must-have iPhone apps article to get the best apps for your iPhone in 2020.

Best Free Mac Apps You Should Install in 2020

While most of the apps in this list are free, some of them offer a paid option. That being said, when it comes to paid apps, I have only included those options that offer a generous free tier. I am using free versions of all the apps (that offer paid options) and find them suitable for most users. No app with a free trial or heavily restricted free tier has been included.

1. Audiobook Binder

While you can listen to books in MP3 format, I like the M4B format more as it supports chapters. M4B is also the native format that Apple Books support. If you want to keep your music library separate from the book library, this is the format to use. Audiobook Binder is an app that lets you convert MP3 files into M4B files. It also lets you bind multiple MP3 files into a single M4B file and converts those MP3 files into chapters. You can also add custom book cover and edit book’s metadata including name, author, and narrator. I have been using this app for the past year and a half to listen to public domain audiobooks and lectures and it has never failed me.

Install:Free

2. LastPass

Password management is something people ignore. Since passwords are hard to remember and most third-party password managers charge a hefty monthly subscription fee, not everyone is aboard the strong and different password train. To those users, I suggest LastPass. LastPass offers a very generous free tier that allows you to use the software on two different machines. And if you want to use it on more, you can always use its web app that works everywhere. I have been using LastPass for the past two years to manage my passwords and I never had any problem.

Its apps are installed on my primary MacBook Pro (learn MacBook Pro tips and tricks) and my iPhone. Since it supports browser plugins and iPhone’s automatic password fill feature, I never have to type my password or remember them. All my passwords are secure, long, and use an alpha-numeric combination. If you are still using the same password everywhere or setting weak passwords, try out LastPass. It’s free for personal use and you have no excuses not to use it. Its one of the best free Mac apps that you can get.

Install:Free, $3/user/month

3. Brave

While I love Safari and use it for most of my tasks, it’s not perfect and I have to turn to other browsers from time to time. My biggest problem with Safari is its nescient extension library. Safari is also slow to adopt the latest web technologies. I know Apple does this to keep browsing private and secure, but sometimes it causes hindrance in my work. For a long time, I was using Chrome for this work but I hated two things about it. First, Google Chrome is a resource hog and decreases battery life, causes overheating, and several other problems. Second and more importantly, I don’t like sharing my data with Google more than I already do. It was one of the reasons why I switch from Android to iOS several years back.

The solution is the Brave browser. It’s a browser that is built on the same Chromium engine that Google Chrome uses, so you are getting all the features and extension support. But, since the creators focus on privacy, your data is always secure. It brings an automatic tracking blocker and even blocks most of the annoying ads. Since it blocks the most harmful scripts, you get to enjoy a faster internet. Also, in my testing, it’s far better than Google Chrome at handling resources. While it’s not as good as Safari, that’s a trade-off that I am ready to make. If you are also looking for a good Chrome alternative, you should try using the Brave browser.

Install:Free

4. CopyClip

CopyClip is a Mac utility that stores everything you copy in a clipboard. Copy-and-paste is so integral to our work that we cannot even imagine a time when this feature was not available. Still, Mac’s clipboard is probably the most neglected feature in the macOS. Even after so decades, you still cannot hold more than one entry in your clipboard. Enter, CopyClip. It’s a clipboard manager that saves entries into the clipboard. You can use a simple keyboard shortcut to easily copy any item and paste them anywhere you want. CopyClip not only saves text input but also preserves images and documents. While I use “Paste” for my clipboard management as it offers more features, for a free app, CopyClip works exceptionally well.

Install:Free

5. BBEdit

For a long time, it was hard to recommend a good free text editor on Mac. All the good ones were paid, and the free ones were just not up to the mark. Well, after a long hiatus, BBEdit, one of the most exemplary text editors, is back on the Mac App Store. For the past 20 years, BBEdit has been the text editor to beat and now that it’s back on the App Store with a freemium model, you can use it for free. Only the advanced features of BBEdit are hidden behind a paywall and 90% of regular users will not need those features.

Whether you want to write a long blog post, edit snippets of code, design website or web apps, BBEdit is the text editor to use. The best thing about BBEdit is how fast it works. It opens text files with hundreds of thousands of words in seconds and never falters. In my years of using this app, I have not lost even a single line of text. It has a powerful search that lets you locate and find keywords across files. There’s no free text editor out there that can match its prowess.

Install:Free, $49.99

6. NetNewsWire

The death of Google Reader placed a dark cloud over the future of RSS readers. But, if anything, RSS is showing a sign of resurgence in the past year or so. From the launch of acclaimed RSS reader app Reeder 4 to the rebirth of NetNewsWire, RSS readers are becoming popular again. And if you are looking to create a personal news feed, there’s no better app to do it with than NetNewsWire. Built on-top of free and open source reader named Evergreen, NetNewsWire is an excellent feed reader for Mac.

The app makes it easy to subscribe to RSS feeds and brings excellent search capabilities. It also brings a beautiful design and I adore its dark mode. It also supports online feed syncing services such as Feedbin. I still prefer Reeder 4 as it brings more features, but seeing how NetNewsWire is still young and free to use, I cannot fault it. If you are looking for a free RSS reader, you should try NetNewsWire.

Install:Free

7. DaVinci Resolve

While Macs come with a basic video editor for free (iMovie), anyone who is serious about video editing will have to go for the pro video editing apps. The problem with apps like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro is that they cost a lot. If you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars, and still want to use a full-fledged video editor, DaVinci Resolve is the best option for you. Even when I am writing this, I cannot believe that such a capable video editor is free to use.

The latest version of the software, DaVinci Resolve 16 combines professional 8K editing, color correction, visual effects, and audio post-production all in one software tool. Color correction tools of DaVinci Resolve are better than most paid video editors including FCP and Premiere Pro. From custom timeline settings to facial recognition to keyframe editing, it brings all features that you require from a professional video editor. It is one of the best free Mac software that you can install. Free Mac apps don’t get better than this.

Install:Free

8. Folx

Folx is a powerful native download manager for Mac that not only works great but also looks cool. It features a true Mac-style interface and supports both direct and torrent downloads. The app also offers extensions for Safari, Chrome, Opera, and Firefox. The extensions help Folx in catching downloads and thus ensure that you are not using the crappy download manager of your browser. Folx can split downloads into multiple threads resulting in faster downloads and also support download pause and restart. The free version of the app is enough for most users. I was using it for years without any complaints. I only bought the paid version to support the developers. The extra features are nice to have but they have not drastically affected by usage.

Install:Free, $19.99

9. NightOwl

macOS Mojave introduced dark mode to our favorite desktop operating system. The dark mode on macOS Mojave is not half-cooked as it is on windows. When you turn on the dark mode on your Mac, not only it turns the system UI but also the stock apps. Not only that, apps that support automatic dark mode also adhere to the same guideline. Once you turn it on, they automatically default to dark mode.

While that's great in most situation, I wish Apple included a way to create a whitelist for apps that are not functional in dark mode. The default Mail app and the Evernote app are a few examples of an app that still work best in light mode. That's where NightOwl comes in. It's a menu bar app that allows you to create a whitelist of apps that you don't want to use in dark mode. Not only that, but it also allows you to quickly switch between dark and light mode with a simple click at its icon. You can read more about the app in our article here. The app is completely free to download and use with a voluntary donation.

Install:NightOwl

10. Unsplash Wallpapers

I want to start this article with an app which I have discovered just a couple of months back and have fallen in love. As its name suggests, Unsplash Wallpapers is a wallpaper app for Mac which gives you access to unlimited ultra-high resolution wallpapers for your Macs. One of the things that I love most about MacBooks is its display. Apple packs phenomenal displays on the Macs. Stop me if it’s just me, but I enjoy changing the wallpapers on a regular basis just because they look so damn beautiful on my Mac’s display.

Before I discovered Unsplash Wallpapers, it used to be a chore to change wallpapers. First, I had to find good wallpapers, then I had to download them, and only then I could use them. With Unsplash Wallpapers app, you can change the wallpaper just with one click. If you like a wallpaper, you can even download it. If you love wallpapers, you are going to love this free Mac app.

Install:Unsplash Wallpapers

11. The Unarchiver

This is one of the first free Mac apps that I download whenever I move on to a new Mac. The app is basically the best unarchiving app you can get for your Mac, free or otherwise. The Unarchiver cannot only unarchive common formats such as Zip, RAR (including v5), 7-zip, Tar, Gzip, and Bzip2, but it can also open formats such as StuffIt, DiskDoubler, LZH, ARJ, ARC, ISO and BIN disc images, Windows.EXE installers and more. Basically, it’s a one-stop solution for all your unarchiving needs.

Install:The Unarchiver

12. Amphetamine

We all know that Macs bring a long battery life and while some of it has to do with Apple’s excellent hardware, most of it is because of how macOS efficiently manages battery. One of the things that macOS does to preserve the battery life on your computer is to put it to sleep whenever you don’t interact with your Mac for a set period of time. While this is really good, sometimes you need to keep your Mac running even if you are not interacting with it. One of the examples that come to mind is when you are downloading a large file. If your Mac falls asleep during the download, it will stop it, and depending on the software that you are using to download the file, you might have to restart the download from the beginning.

Amphetamine solves this problem by allowing users to keep their Macs awake even when they are not doing anything. The app is powerful and allows users to keep their Macs awake for how much ever long they want. Not only that, users can also set triggers to keep their Macs awake. For example, you can tell Amphetamine to not put your Mac to sleep whenever a certain app is running. Lastly, it allows you to easily access all these features as it lives right there in your Mac’s menu bar. It’s one of the most useful apps for Macs and I love it.

Install:Amphetamine

13. GIPHY Capture

Gifs are all the rage today. More and more users are creating and sharing their own gifs. And if you want to be one of them then this is the tool you need. GIPHY Capture is an app that lets you capture and create gifs. Once you launch the app it will create a translucent green window with a capture button at the bottom. All you need to do is to drop the window on top of the video you want to capture and click on the capture button. Once you are done with the recording, click on the record button again to stop the recording. It is probably the easiest way to create gifs on your Mac.

Install:GIPHY Capture

14. Spectacle

Spectacle is one of the apps that I install instantly on a new Mac. Macs are good at many things but one thing that still eludes it is a good window management feature. Apple has not solved the window management problem in the latest macOS Catalina so I guess, we have to wait for one more year. In fact, the window management problem has become even worse in macOS Catalina in my opinion. If you are also fed up of Apple's native approach towards window management, you should Install Spectacle.

This is a simple menu bar app that allows you to easily resize and place windows with keyboard commands. I can easily set a window to either half of the display both vertically and horizontally, make it go full screen, snap it to the center, and more. Once you install this app, your window management workflow will become ten times faster.

Install:Spectacle

15. ImageOptim

ImageOptim is one of the most used free Mac apps on my MacBook Pro. In my line of work, I have to attach a ton of screenshots (like in this article). And before I upload any picture on my website, I pass it through ImageOptim. The app deletes all the unnecessary metadata such as GPS position and camera's serial number and compresses the image. This allows me to upload the image on the web without any privacy hazards and ensures that the file sizes are low.

The app is pretty easy to use. You just drag and drop images into its window and then click on the button at the bottom-right corner. If you share a ton of images on the web (whether on your blog or social media websites like Twitter and Facebook), it will be good for you to pass it through ImageOptim first. I have used paid image compression apps but nothing has been as good and as easy to use as ImageOptim.

Install:ImageOptim

16. Alfred 4

Alfred is an all-purpose tool for your Mac which can boost your productivity ten folds if you learn how to use it. Of course, there’s a learning curve to this app, but if you invest in it, it will pay you back. Alfred allows you to quickly launch apps, use text expansion snippets, search on the Mac and web, use hotkeys and keywords, and much more. Alfred used to be a paid app, but the developers were kind enough to release the app for free. There are add-on power packs that you can buy, to use cool features like Alfred workflows. But, for most normal users, the free app itself is enough to boost their productivity.

Install:Alfred 4

17. Pocket

Pocket is a popular read it later service which allows you to save articles offline so that you can read them later. I mostly browse for articles on my Mac and whenever I find something that I would want to read, I just save it in Pocket. Pocket has an excellent Safari extension that allows me to save articles and read them later. Since Pocket syncs across devices, all my saved articles are automatically synced to my iPhone where I can read them at my will. Recently, I have also started using Pocket as a research tool. Since Pocket allows me to organize saved articles using tags, I just tag the items I am using for research so that I can find them easily later.

Install:Pocket

18. Spark

Spark is my most favorite free app on Mac. For those who don’t know, Spark is an email client for Mac. I love spark because it intelligently categorizes all the emails that I receive into different categories, giving me access to the most important emails first. It also has a very robust set of features. I can easily snooze, archive, delete, and tag emails. I also love the fact that it allows me easily search for emails using natural language search. I can also search for emails based on attachments, and more. Lastly, Spark also has apps for both iOS and watchOS so no matter which device I am on, I can user Sparks to get through all my emails.

Install:Spark

19. GIMP

GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation Program is an open source photo editor for Mac which packs so many features that you won’t be able to discover all of them in your lifetime. It is basically Photoshop but free. You can use GIMP to perform any kind of image manipulation that you can think of. That said, since it packs so many features, GIMP also has a pretty steep learning curve. Also, being a free an open-source project, its user interface is not very intuitive and feels archaic. That’s why I recommend GIMP only to those users who need a robust photo editing software but cannot afford to buy one.

Install:GIMP

20. DarkTable

As per the description of the app on its website, 'DarkTable is an open source photography workflow application and raw developer. A virtual light-table and darkroom for photographers. It manages your digital negatives in a database, lets you view them through a zoomable light-table, and enables you to develop raw images and enhance them'.

Basically, it is super powerful photo editing app for Mac that allows you to use pro-level photo editing features for free. You are required to learn the app as it has a steep learning curve but once you get used to it, you won't go back to even the best-paid photo editing apps on the market. This one is definitely one of the free Mac apps that you can download in 2019.

Install:DarkTable

21. Simplenote

Simplenote is one of the best designed free Mac apps you can find. As its name suggests, Simplenote is an easy note taking app which allows you to easily jot down notes. What I love about this app is that even though it is completely free, your notes are synced across devices. Apart from its online sync features, I am also a fan of its clean user interface. Simplenote is also a really good app for someone who is looking for a clean app to write long-form content. You can use tags to organize notes easily and search for them using either their title, content, or tags. I have been using this app for quite a few years and I still don’t understand how it’s free. If you love writing, you will love Simplenote.

Install:Simplenote

22. Itsycal

Itsycal is an open source small menu bar calendar application for Mac. If you like Fantastical 2 for Mac, but hate that it’s priced so high, Itsycal is for you. Although Itsycal is nowhere as powerful as Fantastical 2, it brings all the basic features that you would want from a menu bar based calendar app. It shows you month view of your calendar, your upcoming events, and also allows you to create or delete events. I also love the fact that I can configure Itsycal to show not only the date but also the month and the day in the menu bar icon itself. It’s a good menu bar application and a must have for anyone who schedules everything on their calendar.

Install:Itsycal

23. Audacity

Audacity is one of those free Mac apps that is even better than most of the paid apps out there. For those who don’t know, Audacity is an audio editor app for your Mac (available for Windows PC too). If you are someone who deals with a ton of audio, you must have already heard about this software. If you have not, you probably don’t need it. Still, it’s such a good app that I couldn’t keep it away from the list. Just remember that if you ever need to edit an audio file to make it better, Audacity is the tool to do it.

Install:Audacity

24. Lightworks

Lightworks is a full-fledged video editing app which gives you access to all the tools that you will need to get your video editing on. To be fair, Lightworks also sell a Pro version of the app, however, the free version is powerful enough to handle most of the tasks. Whether you are a budding YouTuber or someone who just want to give an edge to their homemade videos, Lightworks is the right tool for you. What I love most about this app is that the website gives you ample tutorial videos to get you started. If by any chance you were looking for a free video editing software, look no further and download Lightworks.

Install:Lightworks

25. HiddenMe

HiddenMe is a small menu bar app which comes in very handy at times when you want to show a clean desktop without having to organize your stuff. The app lives in your menu bar and allows you to do one thing and one thing only, and that’s hiding everything on your desktop. With a click of the button, everything that’s on your desktop is hidden, giving you access to a clean desktop. I constantly use this app whenever I am giving a presentation or taking screenshots of my desktop for an article. This small application has saved me from embarrassing myself a number of times and it can do that for you too.

Install:HiddenMe

26. AppCleaner

Do you know that whenever you delete an app on your Mac, it leaves behind a ton of residual files which does nothing but eating up storage on your Mac? Well, it’s true and if you install and uninstall a ton of apps, you might have lost gigabytes of storage already. While there’s another app on this list which (Onyx) which can help you recover that storage, AppCleaner is an app which makes sure that the apps you delete don’t leave any residual files. Just launch the app and drag and drop the apps that you want to uninstall and it will take care of the rest. It is a must-have utility tool for any Mac user who wants to keep their Mac clean.

Install:AppCleaner

27. LiteIcon

LiteIcon is the app from the same developers who made the AppCleaner. It is a simple app which allows you to change your system icons quickly and easily. Simply drag an icon onto the one you want to change, and click the Apply Changes button. That's all you need to do. If you want your older icon back, just drag out the new icon. If you like to customize how your icons look on Mac, try out LiteIcon.

Install:LiteIcon

28. GrandPerspective

I have written about GrandPerspective a couple of times on this website and you might be familiar with it by now. For those who are new to our website, it’s an app which allows you to visualize storage on your Mac. Using GrandPerspective you can easily find out which files are using how much storage and find and delete the files which are not necessary. GrandPerspective is a very nice app for anyone who doesn’t have any idea as to where all his/her Mac’s storage went.

Install:GrandPerspective

29. Manuscript

Manuscript is a free Mac writing app for students which makes writing school assignments including dissertation easier. Manuscript is a powerful writing app which allows students to complete their assignments right from the planning stage to completing it. It lets students easily insert citations, figures, tables, mathematical equations, and more. The app also allows for importation of citations from various tools including Mendeley, Zotero, Papers 3, Bookends, and EndNote. If you are a student who is looking for a good writing app, you don’t have to look any farther than Manuscript.

Install:Manuscript

30. IINA

IINA is an open-source video player for your Mac which offers one of the best amalgamations of features and user interface. The app looks extremely beautiful and supports all the modern features including force touch, picture-in-picture, and even offers Touch-bar controls for the latest MacBook Pros. IINA also supports almost all the video formats that you can think of, including the ability to play even GIFs. The app also comes with theming capabilities allowing you to use either light or dark themes. I have discovered this app just a few weeks back and I am already in love with it. If you consume a ton of media on your MacBook Pro, this is the right app for you.

Install:IINA

31. OnyX

OnyX is your one-stop solution for all your Mac’s maintenance needs. In fact, I cannot describe the app better and more succinctly than what’s written on its website. OnyX is a multifunction utility that you can use to verify the structure of the system files, to run miscellaneous maintenance and cleaning tasks, to configure parameters in the Finder, Dock, Safari, and some of Apple's applications, to delete caches, to remove certain problematic folders and files, to rebuild various databases and indexes, and more. However, do remember that it is an advanced tool and hence before you do anything, make sure that you get familiar with the app as you don’t want to delete files which can corrupt your entire system.

Install:Onyx

32. SpotMenu

The last app on our list the SpotMenu app which is a nifty little menu bar application. The app basically allows you to control your iTunes and Spotify music player from the menu bar giving you access to controls such as play, pause, forward, and rewind. It’s a pretty basic application, however, it does come in handy. One thing that I like about the app is that it shows the name of the song that is currently playing right on your Mac’s menu bar. When you click on the icon, the drop-down window which harbors all the features also showcase the album art of the song that you are playing.

Install:SpotMenu

33. White Noise Lite

White Noise Lite is an app that helps you sleep better. If you are a light sleeper who wakes up multiple times in the night without any apparent reason then this app can help you sleep better. It brings fifty different HD quality ambient environment noises to help you sleep. The app brings a beautiful cover flow design which lets you easily swipe between cards to select different tasks. Although the app markets itself as a sleep enhancer, I mostly use to provide background music when I am working as it helps me concentrate. You should download this app right now and see if it helps you sleep better or work better. Whatever the result, you will be better off with this one in your arsenal.

Install:White Noise Lite

34. Shazam

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Shazam is an app that needs no introduction. The app helps you discover songs by identifying whatever song is playing in the background. I personally use Shazam more as a tool to keep the list of songs that I have discovered. Suppose I am listening to a song and YouTube and want to save it. I just click on the menu bar icon of Shazam and it identifies the song and saves it on the list. I don't have to write it down anywhere. Later I can see the list and add to my Apple Music Playlist at my convenience. Shazam is a great app for discovering and keeping track of music that you like.

Install:Shazam

35. Muzzy

You know how when you accidentally yank headphones out of your iPhone, the music suddenly stops, well, Muzzy brings that functionality to your Mac. The app also does a lot of other things like allowing users to play, pause, and change the music from its menu bar app, integrates with Last.fm, shows songs lyrics, and more. However, I don’t care for any other features and I just use this app to stop music whenever I accidentally yank my headphones out. Sadly, the app only works if you are playing music through iTunes.

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Install:Muzzy

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I hope that you found some apps which are useful to you. Do let me know which of these were your favorite and which ones you discovered. Also, if you know free apps that deserve to be on the list but aren’t, drop their names in the comments section. That’s all I have for this article. If you liked this article, share this on your social media profiles because we need your help to get the word out. As always, drop your opinions and suggestions in the comments section down below. We love to hear from our readers and your comments are always welcome.