New Mac essentials
The first ten things we install on a fresh Mac, before anything else.
10 apps · Last checked
- Free + Pro
Raycast
Productivity · A faster way to do everything on your Mac.
- Paid
CleanShot X
Video & Capture · The screenshot tool that does everything.
- Open source
Rectangle
Windows & Desktop · Window snapping with keyboard shortcuts.
- Open source
Ice
Utilities · A powerful, free menu bar manager.
- Open source
Maccy
Productivity · A tiny, keyboard-first clipboard manager.
- Free
Amphetamine
Utilities · Keep your Mac awake, on your terms.
-
FreeThe Unarchiver
Utilities · Open almost any archive format.
-
Open sourceIINA
Video & Capture · The modern media player for macOS.
-
FreeAppCleaner
Utilities · Uninstall apps and everything they left behind.
-
Open sourceStats
Utilities · Free system monitor for the menu bar.
The whole setup at a glance
| App | Price | Mac App Store | Homebrew | Open source | GitHub stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raycast | Free + Pro | No | raycast | No | – |
| CleanShot X | Paid | No | cleanshot | No | – |
| Rectangle | Open source | No | rectangle | Yes | 30k |
| Ice | Open source | No | jordanbaird-ice | GPL-3.0 | 30k |
| Maccy | Open source | No | maccy | MIT | 22k |
| Amphetamine | Free | Yes | No | No | – |
| The Unarchiver | Free | Yes | the-unarchiver | No | – |
| IINA | Open source | No | iina | GPL-3.0 | 47k |
| AppCleaner | Free | No | appcleaner | No | – |
| Stats | Open source | No | stats | MIT | 43k |
Other setups
Free & open source
Native apps you can read, build and keep forever, without paying a thing.
The developer's desk
Terminals, editors, databases and debuggers with no Electron in sight.
Menu bar masters
Small apps that live up top, earn their spot and never get in the way.
The writer's room
From first scribble to final manuscript, the apps that make words flow.