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Powerful tools for image editing.
Frequent upgrades and friendly user community.
Apps on a Macbook Air.Place.to / Mockup Photos
Sometimes slow to load.
No CMYK export option.
Limited 3D design options.
GIMP can be used to retouch photos, or as a simple paint program.
It has a customizable interface and an extensive filter library.
Most file formats, with the exception ofCMYK, are supported.
GIMP is a free download from GIMP.org.
Best for Minimalist Note-Taking: Bear
Clean, easy-to-use design.
Supports markdown, typography, and links.
Available only for macOS and iOS devices.
Syncing between devices requires a paid plan.
This beautifully designed note-taking app is perfect for quick notes, and its focus mode helps you concentrate.
Users who want more needn’t look elsewhere.
Basic Bear is free from the Mac App Store.
Bear Pro is available for a monthly or yearly subscription.
Best for Visual Brainstorming: MindNode
Intuitive, colorful interface.
Another app that has switched to subscription mode.
Only Plus version supports images, links, themes, etc.
Integrate services such as Feedly simply.
Steep learning curve for those inexperienced in RSS feeds.
How do you stay up to date on your favorite news outlets and feeds?
By using one simpleappto house them all.
Reeder 5 has a learning curve for those who are inexperienced in RSS feeds.
However, for those who useRSSfeeds daily, Reeder 5 is simple to integrate.
This app includes multiple themes, including a dark mode for night reading and white for more contrast.
Best Productivity App for Mac: Evernote
Store everything in one app.
Camera option for easy document sharing.
Passcode lock for privacy.
There’s a limit to what you might do without Evernote Premium.
Using Evernote on Mac, you’re free to do just that.
Use Evernote to keep important receipts and statements for tax purposes.
Or, use Evernote to store ideas and collaborate with your teams.
The options are endless when it comes to this app.
Evernote can be synced anywhere, meaning you could use any computer, phone, or tablet.
Multiple participants can work inside Evernote at one time, making collaboration a breeze.
From business to education, Evernote has a use case in every industry.
Although Evernote is free to download, there’s a limit to what you might do without Evernote Premium.
Evernote Premium gives you 10GB of new uploads each month, an unlimited number of devices, and more.
Best for Managing Personal Finances: Debit & Credit
Companion iOS and Apple Watch app.
Easy to input transactions.
Financial info private: stored in iCloud.
A premium subscription is needed for all features.
Keeping your financial records in this app simplifies managing your everyday finances.
Privacy is a priority.
You don’t make an account with the developer.
Your information is stored in youriCloud.
The Debit & Credit app is available as a free download from the Mac App Store.
A premium subscription of $19.99 is needed for access to all the features.
Best for Weather With a Dose of Snark: CARROT Weather
Weather courtesy of a programmable character.
Clues to hunt down over 60 secret locations.
Non-default sources only available with upgrade.
In-app purchases on top of a robust purchase price.
The CARROT Weather app is crazy-powerful and just plain crazy!
What other weather app comes with characters, spoken dialogue, and hidden locations?
CARROT Weather is the weather app for anyone who prefers their forecasts with a heavy dose of snark.
Privacy-conscious CARROT Weather is available for download at the Mac App Store for $14.99.
Best Collaboration App: Slack
Easy collaboration between team members.
Search for past messages using the search bar.
Add GIFs, images, and emojis with shortcuts.
Each group runs continuously, regardless of use.
Working in a team can sometimes be difficult, especially when everyone is in a different place.
Slack resembles chatrooms of the past, with a sleek design that’s easy to maneuver.
you could addemojisand GIFs with easy shortcuts and integrations.
you could also integrate tools such as Asana and Trello to your Slack channel for easy project management.
Slack is free to use for up to ten app integrations and with the ability to search 10,000 messages.
Slack charges per active user per month for the Pro and Business+ tiers.
Best Writing App for Mac for Distraction-Free Writing: Ulysses
Distraction-free writing to get work done faster.
Create e-books, DOCX, PDFs, and HTML.
Publish to Medium and WordPress from the app.
Takes some practice to get just right.
Ulysses is an app that hides necessary toolbars and other distractions until you’re ready for them.
It’s a window with a blinking cursor.
Using Ulysses, you’re free to create e-books, documents, PDFs, and more.
Plus, you’re free to publish to Medium and WordPress from the app.
Ulysses offers a 14-day trial for new users.
After that, pay either by month or annually for continued use.
Best Website and App Blocker: 1Focus
Choose the sites or apps you want to block.
Block entire categories of sites.
Choose the time you want the block to start and end.
The Pro version is another subscription model.
1Focus helps you with that lack of self-restraint.
Turn off individual websites and apps to suit your schedule.
it’s possible for you to block individual sites and apps or entire categories.
1Focus creates a chunk of uninterrupted free time for focused work.
Best Journal App for Mac: Day One
Easily add reminders, photos, and more.
End to end encryption for strong security.
Sync across all devices.
Requires a yearly subscription to unlock all features.
Instead of keeping your to-do list and journal in two separate places, combine them using Day One.
Day One is available for free with limited features.
Best Recipe Manager: Paprika
Auto-formats recipes from other sites.
Create smart grocery lists that sort by aisle.
Must buy a separate app for iOS devices.
After you download recipes from your favorite websites or input your recipes, meal planning is a breeze.
The app streamlines the process of meal planning, list-making, and grocery shopping.
The pantry feature keeps track of ingredients you have on hand and when they expire.
The app can scale ingredients for smaller (or larger) quantities.
Add your photos to recipes or download them from the internet.
Paprika is available for download at the Mac App Store for $29.99.
The iOS companion app is $4.99.
Best for Visualizing Your Disk Space: DaisyDisk
Scans are quick.
Cool disk visualization tool.
Scans hidden APFS snapshots.
Doesn’t help with fragmentation.
Only does one thing.
Doesn’t display last-used dates on files.
Its interactive map shows you where your files and folders are.
With its fun and interesting user interface, locating and removing unnecessary files is a breeze.
DaisyDisk is available at the Mac App Store for $9.99.
Best Mac Calendar Substitute: Fantastical 3
Polished, attractive interface.
Easy to create reminders from events.
Mini window for checking your schedule.
Pricey subscription for the Premium version.
Tired of the stock Mac Calendar?
Anyone who wants a clean look for their detailed schedule will like Fantastical’s sleek and organized interface.
Fantastical is a free download at the Mac App Store.
Best Gmail Client: Mimestream
Fast Fast Fast.
Works like a Mac app should.
Expensive app for a (generally) free service.
No iOS companion app.
But, it’s expensive (it’s a yearly subscription).
And it’s Gmail-only.
And there’s no iOS app.
Best To-Do List: Microsoft To Do
Shared to-do lists.
Daily checklist with reminders.
Syncs across devices with other Microsoft apps.
May be too simple for some users.
Doesn’t include Gantt chart capability.
Microsoft To Do is a free download at the Apple Mac Store.
Best Mac App for Multitasking: Magnet
Control workspace by snapping windows.
Break windows multiple ways.
Some apps can’t be resized under a certain width.
If you use your Mac daily for work, you understand the importance of multi-tasking.
For each task, you might need to open multiple windows.
There are two ways to arrange windows using Magnet.
Instantly, the window is resized and moved accordingly.
you’re able to break windows in halves and thirds and move windows to all four corners.
you’ve got the option to also maximize and center at the touch of a button.
However, some apps can’t be resized to a certain degree, depending on the developer.
Magnet is $4.99.
Best Time-Tracking App: Harvest
Track time easily from your desktop screen.
Tracks how much time spent on each project.
When you’re working on multiple projects, tracking your time can help you stay productive.
Instead of manually tracking your time, use an app to do it for you.
Harvest is a time-tracking app that works from your desktop screen on a Mac or online.
While limited, Harvest offers reports to show you where you spent most of your time and more.
Harvest offers a free version for one person and two projects.
From there, it offers a solo plan for $12 a month for one person and unlimited projects.
For teams, Harvest offers a team plan for $12 a person per month.
If you have a large team, this app can get pricey.
Best for Arcade Racing: Asphalt 8
Beautiful graphics and user interface.
Includes a calendar with special events.
Lots of replay value.
Difficult to progress in the game.
New cars are expensive.
High-octane driving and impressive jumps makeAsphalt 8a not-to-be-missedarcade racer gamewith spectacular graphics and a soundtrack to match.
It feels like an action movie and delivers spectacular aerial jumps.
Best Summer-Themed Music Player: Poolsuite FM
Best summer-curated player out there.
Designed to help listeners chill out.
Has a fun companion website.
Throwback interface might not appeal to all.
Down in the dumps?
You need Poolsuite FM.
The tiny interface is a shout-out to the early days of the Mac.
Poolsuite FM is a free download at the Mac App Store.
