If you've just gotten a MacBook Pro and you're coming from Windows, it's normal to miss your... favorite apps like PowerToys, AutoHotKey, or productivity utilitiesThe good news is that macOS has a spectacular ecosystem of programs, both free and paid, that can take your workflow to the next level.
In this guide you will find a very complete selection of Essential macOS software focused on productivity, creativity, security, and everyday tasksYou'll see free and paid alternatives, apps to get the most out of Apple Silicon, and even alternatives to Paintand ideal tools if you are an engineer, architect, designer or developer.
Why it's worth installing good apps on your Mac in 2025
Beyond the pre-installed apps, installing Well-optimized macOS apps can completely change your experienceYou work faster, automate repetitive tasks, and get better organized.
Current free apps are usually very lightweight, secure, and frequently updated.especially if you download them from the Mac App Store or from official websites of recognized developers.
Many free apps are actually Basic versions of professional suites that allow you to thoroughly test them. before you pay, so you only invest money in what really suits you.
Furthermore, in such a competitive environment, developers struggle to differentiate themselves with Innovative features, improved macOS integration, and full Apple Silicon compatibilitywhich translates into higher performance with lower resource consumption.
Another key point is that many of these apps have active communities that share tips, shortcuts, and workflowsThis helps you learn much faster and get the most out of every tool.
How to install apps from outside the Mac App Store (and risks to consider)
On macOS you're not limited to the official store: you can download apps in .dmg or .pkg format directly from the developers' websites, something very common in professional programs and advanced utilities.
The process is simple: first Download the installer from a trusted sourcePreferably from the official website of the app creator and never from unknown repositories or strange links.
Once you have the file, simply Open the .dmg file to mount the image and drag the icon to the Applications folder., or run the .pkg and follow the steps in the installation wizard as in any classic installer.
If macOS blocks you from opening the file because the developer is not identified, you can go to System Settings > Security and Privacy and allow one-off execution of that specific application in order to open it.
However, installing software from outside the App Store involves risk: You might encounter malware, apps without automatic updates, incompatibilities with newer versions of macOS, or programs that become outdated and unsupported.Therefore, it is advisable to exercise extreme caution.
To minimize problems, it is recommended Check reviews, verify that the developer is trustworthy, use a good antivirus, and avoid cracks or pirated versions. which, in addition to being illegal, are a magnet for malicious software.
Essential paid apps for macOS
There are times when it's worth paying, because some Professional tools for Mac offer such a level of power and convenience that become a key part of your daily life.
Scrivener: professional writing and long-term project organization
Scrivener It is a writing environment designed for those who work with long and complex projects such as novels, screenplays, theses, or extensive documentationwhere a simple text editor falls far short.
Its strong point is a flexible organizational system with projects, folders, scenes, and documentswhich allows you to reorder chapters, take side notes, and have all your research centralized.
It includes a full-screen writing mode for Reduce distractions and focus only on the words, something that is appreciated when you need deep concentration for hours.
It also has tools for research, annotation, review, and export to multiple formats (Word, PDF, ePub, etc.), so you can prepare your manuscript for publishers or self-publishing without leaving the app.
It works on virtually any modern Mac, It requires few resources and its license costs around €70, with a discount for students.In addition to offering a 30-day free trial so you can really get the most out of it.
Ulysses: minimalist and cross-platform Markdown writing
If you prefer a lighter experience, Ulysses bet on a Markdown-focused editor with an extremely clean interface, ideal for writing articles, notes or books without visual noise.
It allows you to organize your texts in folders, groups and sheets, add labels and quick filtersand create export templates tailored to your style or the needs of your client or media outlet.
The great advantage is that the app is available in macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, syncing your documents via iCloudso you can continue your texts from your iPhone or iPad without noticing any difference.
Affinity Designer: Powerful vector and raster design at a single price
Affinity Designer has earned a niche as A professional alternative to tools like Illustrator with a one-time payment model, without a subscription, which many designers appreciate.
Combine in the same interface Vector and rasterized editing, with layers, effects, advanced text, and lightweight layout tools, which allows you to create logos, icons, interfaces or complex illustrations.
It's very well optimized for Mac, including Apple Silicon, so Large projects move smoothly, and the macOS license is usually around €75 as a one-time payment.
SketchUp Pro: accessible and versatile 3D modeling
SketchUp Pro It's another key option if you work with 3D modeling of buildings, interiors, furniture or landscapes, very popular among architects, interior designers and designers.
It offers simple yet powerful drawing tools for draw lines, faces and volumes, as well as advanced utilities for complex curves and surfacesall with a reasonable learning curve.
Includes functions of 3D visualization, animations, extensions, and compatibility with rendering engines, and has a huge ecosystem of models already created by the community.
Your Pro license is paid annually, with different plans depending on your needs. Web and iPad version only, or the full package with the macOS desktop app?and allows you to try it free for 30 days.
CleanShot X, Magnet, HazeOver, Be Focused Pro and other paid productivity utilities
In the area of productivity, there are several paid apps that are almost becoming System extensions for working more comfortably and quickly.
CleanShot X is one of the best utilities for Screen capture and recording on macOS, with scroll capture, annotations, GIFs, and direct cloud upload.Ideal if you document processes or provide support.
Magnet, for around €5, solves a long-standing macOS deficiency by Allows you to organize windows using keyboard shortcuts or by dragging them to the edges to snap them together., very useful on large monitors or for intensive multitasking.
HazeOver automatically dims background windows to Maintain focus on the active app and reduce distractions, with intensity options and support for multiple monitors.
Be Focused Pro implements the Pomodoro Technique on your Mac, allowing you to divide your day into blocks of focus and rest, create tasks, and review statistics about how you spend your time.
Free apps that look like paid apps (and that you should install now)
There are quite a few Mac applications that are completely free, many open source, and yet they offer a near-professional levelSeveral of them are clear candidates to be among the first you install on any new Mac.
General productivity tools
Aiko is a perfect example of how AI has landed on the desktop: it uses OpenAI models such as Whisper to transcribe meetings, classes, or video calls in multiple languages, directly from your Mac.
AppCleaner has become an essential classic for completely uninstall applications and their residual filespreventing lost folders and settings from taking up space.
Bear, in its free version, functions as a A very polished note and text editor, with support for formatting, images, links, and tags, leaving your information very well organized and accessible.
Notion, even with paid plans, is already sufficient in its free version to be used as central hub for notes, databases, project management, and personal or team documentation, with cloud synchronization.
Things 3, although it's a paid game, is often considered one of the more polished task management apps in the Apple ecosystem, integrating seamlessly with calendars and reminders.
Launchers, automation, and workflow
Raycast, in its free version, has been gaining ground as Ultra-fast launcher to open apps, run commands, search for files, and even activate advanced workflowsall from the keyboard.
Launchy, specifically designed for macOS, displays a Floating wheel with shortcuts to your favorite apps, websites, and tools using a keyboard shortcut, avoiding constant trips to the Dock.
BetterTouchTool is a Swiss Army knife of automation: it allows Assign gestures, keyboard shortcuts, and custom actions to your trackpad, mouse, keyboard, Touch Bar, and more.creating true productivity superpowers.
Bunch, which is free, lets you define "packages" of apps and settings for Open up your entire work environment at once, specific to each type of task. (for example, writing mode, development mode, video editing mode).
Supercharge is another utility that adjusts internal macOS behaviors and adds small improvements to windows, menus, and shortcuts, refining the system experience without having to touch the terminal.
Window, menu bar and desktop management
Rectangle offers a free and open-source alternative to manage windows using keyboard shortcuts and predefined positionsThis is essential if you work with several apps at the same time.
Ice for macOS lets you hide menu bar icons and show them only when you need them, helping you Keep the top of the screen clean and well organized.
Recents for Mac displays, from a very discreet icon, All the recent files you've opened, grouped by application.This saves you from having to dive through folders and Finder windows to resume work.
DockDoor adds a much-requested feature: when you hover your mouse over the Dock you can View thumbnails of the windows that each app has open.making it easy to switch between them without wasting time.
File managers, PDF, compression, and system utilities
Path Finder is an advanced replacement for Finder that offers tabs, dual panels, bulk renaming tools, and features for demanding usersalthough it may be intimidating at first due to the number of options.
Transnomino, a free service, specializes in Rename files in batches using patterns, regular expressions, prefixes, suffixes, and numberingIdeal if you handle a lot of photos, videos, or documents.
MacCleaner Pro, although it is paid software after a trial period, includes tools for disk cleaning, duplicate file search, deep uninstallation, memory management, and space analysis, ideal for keeping the system running smoothly.
App Cleaner & Uninstaller, from the same developer, focuses more on Remove apps and all their components, reset them to factory settings, and manage startup items. that can slow down your Mac.
Audio, video, photography and multimedia
Audacity, although its interface isn't the most modern, continues to be a A very complete free audio editor for recording, editing, applying effects, and exporting in multiple formats., perfect for podcasts or home recordings.
VLC remains the all-rounder player it's always been: it's capable of Open virtually any video or audio format, create playlists, play streams, and even set up small media servers.
IINA presents itself as a modern alternative to QuickTime Player, with More supported formats, a more user-friendly interface, and multiple extra features that facilitate the control of reproduction.
Darktable is an open-source photo editor focused primarily on RAW file processing, with advanced adjustments for color, exposure, and tone curve, a great free alternative to paid solutions.
Darkroom, in its subscription version, is committed to a Non-destructive photo and video editing, supporting RAW/ProRAW, batch processing, and good integration with iCloud photo library.
Photoscape X, with a very capable free version, offers Simple yet powerful photo editing tools, filters, text, and batch management, sufficient for most users without needing the Pro edition.
Pixelmator Pro combines a meticulously crafted interface with advanced photo tools, machine learning-based editing, and support for layers and effects, positioning itself as a leading editor on macOS.
Browsers, communication and collaboration
Firefox remains a solid bet as The primary browser on Mac, with a focus on privacy, powerful extensions, and full web standards compatibility.
The Tree Style Tab extension for Firefox reorganizes tabs into a A tree-shaped side panel allows you to group, nest, and navigate sessions with dozens of tabs. without going crazy.
Spark, a very popular email service, offers in its free version a Smart inbox that organizes emails into personal, notifications, and newsletters, in addition to quick responses, snooze and scheduled delivery.
Loom focuses on the communication via short video combining screen and cameraThis is perfect for distributed teams who replace long emails with quick visual explanations.
Security, passwords and privacy
1Password continues to be one of the most comprehensive password managers, allowing Store credentials, cards, secure notes, and encrypted documents with synchronization across all your devices.
Includes a robust key generator, autofill on websites and apps, two-step authentication, and the Watchtower feature, which alerts you if any password appears in data leaks.
Proton VPN, developed by the ProtonMail team, focuses on offering a secure VPN connection, with strong encryption, a no-logs policy, and distributed servers in multiple countries to protect your privacy. If you're looking for free options, you can check out the Best free VPNs for Mac.
Writing, note-taking, and text editing
Despite the competition, Evernote remains robust for Create notes with text, images, audio, and attachments organized into notebooks and tags, in addition to including a powerful web trimmer.
LanguageTool is a writing assistant that Corrects spelling, grammar, and style in more than 20 languages, available through browser extensions and its own editor, very useful if you write a lot.
UPDF, with its trial version and affordable subscription, has become a All-in-one PDF tool: edit, annotate, convert to multiple formats, password protect, and apply AI-powered OCR to scanned documents.
Its integration with AI models allows summarize, search, and work with content from long documents much fasterThis is key if you handle a lot of technical or legal documentation.
Task management, calendar, and personal organization
Fantastical has gained fame as one of the The best calendars for Apple users, with natural language input, crystal-clear views, and support for multiple services such as iCloud, Google or Exchange.
Its integration of tasks, travel times, weather forecasting, and collaborative features makes it a central daily organization panel Very convenient from Mac, iPhone or iPad.
Reminders MenuBar, free and very lightweight, adds your Add Apple Reminders lists directly to the menu barmaking it easier to mark tasks as done or create new ones without opening the Reminders app.
One Thing is a small, free utility designed to Always keep in mind that the only task you should be focused on is the one in the menu bar.helping you not to get distracted.
Day Progress does something similar with time: It visually shows what percentage of the day has passed.giving your brain an intuitive reference point for urgency and helping you plan better.
Tools for developers and advanced users
Visual Studio Code, which is free, has become the editor of choice for many developers by offering a huge ecosystem of extensions, integrated debugging, version control, and support for countless languages.
Warp introduces a modern terminal to macOS where Each command and its output are treated as independent blocks.making it easier to navigate history, share snippets, and automate tasks.
Color Picker, by Sindre Sorhus, is one of those small but essential tools that They allow you to capture colors from any part of the screen and obtain their codes in different formats., ideal for developers and designers.
Entertainment and gaming on macOS
Spotify has crept into almost every device, such as music streaming service with millions of songs, personalized playlists and podcastssyncing your content between Mac, iPhone, and other devices.
GOG (Good Old Games) offers a huge library of DRM-free games, from classics to modern titles, that you can download and keep without restrictions., with the Galaxy client to unify your platforms.
Steam remains the leading platform for PC gaming, allowing Buy, download and manage AAA and indie titles, with cloud saves, achievements and community, in addition to frequent aggressive offers.
OpenEmu, focused on emulation, brings together under a single interface emulators of multiple classic consoles with support for controllers, collections, and cover artprovided you have your own legal backups of the games.
File sharing and cloud utilities
Blip appears as a strengthened alternative to AirDrop that It allows you to send files between Mac, iPhone, iPad, Windows and Android., overcoming the Apple ecosystem barrier.
The app integrates into the menu bar to Drag and drop files and share them with other devices or even with contacts using your email., without too many complications.
Dropover creates small “floating trays” where you can temporarily drop files before moving them to their final destinationfacilitating drag-and-drop operations between folders, apps, or cloud services.
As you can see, the macOS ecosystem in 2025 is full of Apps that take full advantage of Apple Silicon, improve your productivity, and cover almost any needFrom writing a novel to designing a building or managing hundreds of emails a day; by combining a few of the above tools you can set up a work environment tailored to your needs that has nothing to envy from the one you had in Windows, and even go much further in comfort and efficiency.
