Free Mac apps worth keeping
129 native apps you can download and use without paying: 70 completely free, and 59 marked “Free + Pro” with optional upgrades.
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Free productivity apps
All productivity apps →
Raycast
A faster way to do everything on your Mac.
Alfred
The launcher power users have trusted for a decade.
Session
A focus timer that blocks the noise.
NetNewsWire
A free, open-source RSS reader done right.
Maccy
A tiny, keyboard-first clipboard manager.
Dropover
A floating shelf for drag and drop.
Klipto
A private clipboard manager with ordered pasting.
Tinycast
A small open-source launcher that stays light.
MindNode
Mind maps that grow into outlines and plans.
There
Your colleagues' local times, with faces, in the menu bar.
DeskMinder
Quick timers and reminders that sit on your desktop.
Vicinae
An open-source launcher that runs Raycast extensions.
Deck
A clipboard history that stays on your Mac.
Clocker
World clocks and meetings in the menu bar.
Itsycal
A tiny calendar that lives in the menu bar.
Free writing & notes apps
All writing & notes apps →
Bear
Beautiful notes, linked and tagged.
Drafts
Where text starts, before it knows where it goes.
Craft
Documents that look designed by default.
Tot
Seven dots. Seven notes. That's it.
MarkEdit
TextEdit, if it spoke Markdown.
Agenda
Notes that live on a timeline.
Day One
A private journal for a lifetime of entries.
Highlights
Turn PDF highlights into notes.
Cirrus
A Markdown note that pops up over whatever you are doing.
Tolaria
A knowledge base made of plain Markdown files and Git.
Traverse
An outliner that keeps its work in OPML files.
Glance
A fast Markdown reader with a proper Quick Look.
Clearly
A Markdown editor that opens plain .md files.
Markdown Preview
Read .md files as formatted documents.
Free developer tools apps
All developer tools apps →
Zed
A code editor that runs at the speed of thought.
Ghostty
A fast, feature-rich, truly native terminal.
OrbStack
Docker and Linux machines, light as a feather.
Warp
The terminal, reimagined around blocks and agents.
iTerm2
The terminal that taught macOS new tricks.
TablePlus
A modern client for every database you touch.
Postico 2
PostgreSQL, made approachable.
Sequel Ace
The free MySQL and MariaDB client.
Proxyman
Inspect every HTTP request, beautifully.
Dash
Every API doc you need, offline and instant.
CodeEdit
A native, open-source code editor in Swift.
Cork
A friendly face for Homebrew.
Xcodes
Install and switch Xcode versions painlessly.
Hex Fiend
A fast hex editor for enormous files.
Macsmith
One window for the command-line plumbing of a dev Mac.
Yalqen
A Chromium browser set up for web developers.
Lunavect
Your Claude Code and Codex sessions, watched from the menu bar.
Tracexy
Packet analysis organised by app and session.
Rockxy
An open-source HTTP and HTTPS debugging proxy.
Toplify
Watch where your apps rank on the App Store.
TablePro
An open-source database client for many engines.
PortKiller
See what is holding a port, and free it.
RepoBar
Your GitHub repositories, one click from the clock.
DevHub
A drawer of small developer tools that works offline.
Contained
A Mac interface for Apple's container tool.
CaskHub
Browse and install Homebrew casks like an app store.
Riffle
Compare files, review changes and resolve merges.
InboxFox
A local SMTP inbox for testing app email.
Free design & photo apps
All design & photo apps →
Affinity
Pro vector, pixel and layout tools in one app.
Darkroom
A fast, flexible photo and video editor.
Linearity Curve
Vector design that feels effortless.
Pika
A colour picker with contrast built in.
Image2icon
Turn any image into a folder or app icon.
ImageOptim
Smaller images, same pixels.
ImageFlow
Non-destructive image editing with nodes.
Equinox
Make your own dynamic wallpapers.
RasterFox
Shrink images and check the result side by side.
VectorFox
Convert raster artwork to SVG, gradients included.
Free video & capture apps
All video & capture apps →
IINA
The modern media player for macOS.
Shottr
A tiny, very fast screenshot tool.
Infuse
A beautiful home for your video library.
Gifski
High-quality GIFs from any video.
QuickRecorder
A lightweight, high-performance screen recorder.
Cap
Open-source screen recording with share links.
Palmier Pro
A video editor your coding agent can drive.
Screendrop
Screenshots and screen recordings you can host yourself.
Magpie
Screenshots and recordings with arrows and steps.
Free audio & voice apps
All audio & voice apps →
MacWhisper
Accurate transcription that stays on your Mac.
VoiceInk
Open-source, on-device voice typing.
echo99
Records and transcribes calls without a meeting bot.
FoxSay
Hold a key, speak, and the text appears.
Wispr Flow
Talk naturally and get tidy, written text.
FineTune
Per-app volume and EQ from the menu bar, free.
Lyrimuse
Word-by-word lyrics for whatever is playing.
Free windows & desktop apps
All windows & desktop apps →
Rectangle
Window snapping with keyboard shortcuts.
Loop
Window management with a radial menu.
AltTab
Windows-style alt-tab, with window previews.
Boring Notch
A free, open-source notch companion.
DockDoor
Window previews when you hover the Dock.
Dockaroo
A separate Dock for each display and Space.
Cursor Craft
Swap your pointer for a custom cursor set.
Thaw
A free menu bar manager for recent macOS.
Docky
A Dock replacement with widgets and a launcher.
Tuck
A quieter menu bar, with hidden icons a click away.
Free utilities apps
All utilities apps →
Ice
A powerful, free menu bar manager.
Stats
Free system monitor for the menu bar.
Amphetamine
Keep your Mac awake, on your terms.
Keka
The macOS file archiver.
The Unarchiver
Open almost any archive format.
AppCleaner
Uninstall apps and everything they left behind.
Karabiner-Elements
The keyboard customizer.
Mos
Smooth scrolling for any mouse.
BetterDisplay
Unlock your displays.
Lunar
Smart brightness for external monitors.
AlDente
Charge limiter for a longer battery life.
coconutBattery
Battery health at a glance.
Clop
Automatic image, video and PDF optimizer.
KeyCastr
Show your keystrokes on screen.
Latest
Every app update, in one place.
Diskscape
A treemap of what is filling your disk.
MacOSCleaner
A free cleaner and uninstaller with no telemetry.
Purge
A careful Mac cleaner that uses the Trash.
MacTools
A bundle of system controls in one menu bar item.
AirSync
Continuity-style features for Android phones and Macs.
Harbor
One download queue for torrents and media links.
FlowKeys
An on-screen keyboard that cuts down on presses.
Free ai & automation apps
All ai & automation apps →
Enconvo
An AI agent launcher that works across your whole Mac.
ChatGPT
OpenAI's assistant, a shortcut away.
Hammerspoon
Script your Mac with Lua.
Continua
Picks a Codex task back up after a usage limit resets.
SkillKeeper
A menu bar ledger of what Claude Code spends tokens on.
Osaurus
A local home for AI agents, written in Swift.
Apfel
Use Apple's on-device model from the command line.
Free security & privacy apps
All security & privacy apps →
LuLu
The free, open-source outbound firewall.
OverSight
Know when your mic and camera turn on.
KnockKnock
See what's persistently installed.
Secretive
SSH keys that never leave the Secure Enclave.
Strongbox
KeePass and Password Safe, made native.
Tailscale
A private network for all your devices.
Free money apps
All money apps →
About free Mac apps
What are the best free apps for Mac?
Our favourites that cost nothing are Zed, Ghostty, IINA, NetNewsWire and Maccy. Every app on this page is native to macOS.
What's the difference between free and "Free + Pro"?
70 apps here are completely free, most of them open source. The other 59 are free to download and use, with paid upgrades for extra features. Each card says which kind it is.