I am a mac app enthusiast who really enjoys trying new apps to see what best fits into my workflow. This originally started as, and still remains a reference for me when I setup a new computer, but I hope this helps others find what they need without having to try everything. For the apps listed below, I was not compensated in any way. These are just the apps I use on a daily basis or use to use in the past. I try to prefer free solutions but occassionally I end up coming across a nice deal for a paid app which I can purchase at a price that is affordable. I try to avoid subscriptions unless I absolutely have to. I think the most expensive app I have purchased is Alfred.
Anyone who wants can buy me a 📘️ or 🍺️ or app on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/viralshah. I plan on creating a complete website to showcase these in the near future and try out new apps that I hear about.
💰️ Paid
✅️ Freemium / Free Prepetual Trial / Free
⭐️ Must Have
🔄 Subscription
- FiraCode: https://github.com/tonsky/FiraCode
- MesloLGS NF: https://github.com/romkatv/powerlevel10k#meslo-nerd-font-patched-for-powerlevel10k
- Enpass: Offline cloud agnostic password manager https://www.enpass.io/ ⭐️ 💰️💰️ or 💰️🔄
- Bitwarden: Open source password manager https://bitwarden.com/ ✅️
- Authy: 2FA manager https://authy.com/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Encrypto: Securily encrypt files and folders with a password https://macpaw.com/encrypto ✅️
- Cryptomator: Create secure vaults https://cryptomator.org/ ✅️
- Keka: Compress and Uncompress Archives https://www.keka.io/en/ ⭐️ ✅️
- The Unarchiver: Compress and Uncompress Archives https://theunarchiver.com/ ✅️
- BetterZip: Browse, Preview, Compress and Uncompress Archives https://macitbetter.com/ ⭐️ ✅️
- PDF Squeezer: Compress PDF documents https://witt-software.com/pdfsqueezer/ ⭐️ 💰️
- NameChanger: Batch rename files https://mrrsoftware.com/namechanger/ ✅️
- Syncthing: Encrypted host to host file synchronization. Great for Mac/Android File Transfer https://syncthing.net/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Transmit: Remote / Local file browser and transfer app https://panic.com/transmit/ 💰️💰️💰️
- Forklift Remote / Local file browser and transfer app https://binarynights.com/ ⭐️ 💰️💰️
- Dropover: Drag and Drop files, text, images to store them temporarily https://dropoverapp.com/ ⭐️ 💰️
- PhotoMill: Batch convert, edit, manipulate photos https://overmacs.com/?p=photomill 💰️
- PhotoSweeper: Duplicate / Similar photo finder https://overmacs.com/?p=photosweeper ⭐️ 💰️
- Pixea: Minimalistic photo viewer https://www.imagetasks.com/pixea/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Gemini: Duplicate / Similar file finder https://macpaw.com/gemini 💰️💰️
- AppCleaner: App to completely uninstall other applications https://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/ ⭐️ ✅️
- DaisyDisk: Disk Usage Browser https://daisydiskapp.com/ 💰️
- KeyboardCleanTool: Temporarily disable keyboard to wipe clean https://folivora.ai/keyboardcleantool ⭐️ ✅️
- Docky: Edit dock animations https://dockey.publicspace.co/ ⭐️ ✅️
- TinkerTool: System setting manipulation https://www.bresink.com/osx/TinkerTool.html ⭐️ ✅️
- Onyx: Perform detailed system cleanup https://www.titanium-software.fr/en/onyx.html ⭐️ ✅️
- Macpilot: Advanced system setting manipulation https://www.koingosw.com/products/macpilot/ 💰️💰️
- Bartender: https://www.macbartender.com/ ⭐️ 💰️
- Hidden Bar: https://github.com/dwarvesf/hidden ⭐️ ✅️
- Dozer: Hide menubar icons https://github.com/Mortennn/Dozer ✅️
- Dato: Menubar Clock with support for different timezones and calendar integration https://sindresorhus.com/dato ⭐️ 💰️
- Clocker: Menubar Utility to view time in different timezones https://apps.apple.com/us/app/clocker/id1056643111?mt=12 ⭐️ ✅️
- OneSwitch: Menubar utility to toggle useful settings like connecting bluetooth headphones https://fireball.studio/oneswitch/ ⭐️ 💰️
- Rectangle: Window snapping and keyboard shortcuts for window positioning ⭐️ ✅️
- Mosaic: Advanced Window Management https://www.lightpillar.com/mosaic.html 💰️
- BetterTouchTool: Customize Touchbar and trackpad gestures https://folivora.ai/ 💰️💰️
- Kap: Elegant screen recorder https://getkap.co/ ✅️
- Annotate: Edit Screenshots to blur certain aspects https://apps.apple.com/us/app/annotate-capture-and-share/id918207447?mt=12 ✅️
- Gifski: Create GIFs from videos https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gifski/id1351639930?mt=12 ✅️
- Airflow: Cast local media to Airplay, Chromecast, etc. https://airflow.app/ ⭐️ 💰️
- IINA: Video Player https://iina.io/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Unclutter: Clipboard Manager, Notes, File Shelf https://unclutterapp.com/panels/clipboard ⭐️ 💰️
- Maccy: Clipboard manager https://maccy.app/ ✅️
- aText: Automatic text expansion https://www.trankynam.com/atext/ 💰️
- Rocket Typist: Automatic text expansion https://witt-software.com/rockettypist/ 💰️
- Espanso: Fast CLI based text expansion https://espanso.org/ ✅️
- TextSniper: OCR anything https://www.textsniper.app/ 💰️
- Parcel: Package Tracking https://parcelapp.net/ ✅️ or 💰️🔄
- Numi: Human friendly calculator https://numi.app/ ⭐️ 💰️
- Soulver: Human friendly calculator https://www.acqualia.com/soulver/ 💰️
- PDFExpert: Create/Edit/Annotate PDFs https://pdfexpert.com/ 💰️
- Notion: Advanced notetaking app https://www.notion.so/product ✅️
- Amphetemine: Prevent mac from going to sleep https://apps.apple.com/us/app/amphetamine/id937984704?mt=12 ⭐️ ✅️
- Muzzle: Automatically turn on Do Not Disturb when screen sharing https://muzzleapp.com/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Alfred: Spotlight replacement with extra features https://www.alfredapp.com/ ⭐️ ✅️ 💰️💰️💰️
- Mac Updater: Keep all applications up to date https://www.corecode.io/macupdater/ ⭐️ 💰️
- Finicky: Open links in browsers based on rules https://github.com/johnste/finicky ⭐️ ✅️
- Browserosaurus: Prompt browser selection when opening links https://browserosaurus.com/ ✅️
- Hazel: Rule based automatic file organization https://www.noodlesoft.com/ ⭐️ 💰️💰️💰️
- Whatsapp: https://www.whatsapp.com/download/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Telegram: https://telegram.org/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Signal https://signal.org/en/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Discord: https://discord.com/ ✅️
- Slack: https://slack.com/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Brave Browser: Chromium based privacy web browser https://brave.com/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Firefox Browser: Secure web browser https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/ ⭐️ ✅️
- IntelliJ Idea: Java / Kotlin IDE https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Webstorm: Javascript IDE https://www.jetbrains.com/webstorm/ 💰️💰️💰️
- PyCharm: Python IDE https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/ ✅️
- DataGrip: Database IDE https://www.jetbrains.com/datagrip/ ⭐️ 💰️💰️💰️
- VS Code: Text editor https://code.visualstudio.com/ ⭐️ ✅️
- ITerm 2: Customizable terminal emulator https://iterm2.com/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Fork: Git repository manager https://git-fork.com/ ⭐️ ✅️ or 💰️💰️
- Tower: Git repository manager https://www.git-tower.com/mac 💰️🔄
- GitKraken: Git repository manager https://www.gitkraken.com/ 💰️🔄
- Postman: Rest client https://www.postman.com/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Docker: Docker for desktop https://hub.docker.com/editions/community/docker-ce-desktop-mac/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Kitematic: Docker container manger https://kitematic.com/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Firefox Developer Edition: Development browser https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/developer/ ⭐️ ✅️
- Figma: Web design tool https://www.figma.com/ 💰️
- XCode Command Line Tools: Essential tools
xcode-select --install
- Homebrew: Command line applications manager https://brew.sh/
- List user installed packages:
brew leaves
- List user installed packages and their dependencies:
brew leaves | xargs brew deps --installed --for-each | sed "s/^.*:/$(tput setaf 4)&$(tput sgr0)/"\
- List user installed cask packages and their dependencies:
brew cask leaves | xargs brew deps --installed --for-each | sed "s/^.*:/$(tput setaf 4)&$(tput sgr0)/"\n
- ffmpeg: Manipulate audio and video
brew install ffmpeg
- git: Git version control
brew install git
- gradle: Gradle dependency management
brew install gradle
- httpie: CLI rest client
brew install httpie
- jenv: Manage java installations
brew install jenv
- rename: Perl powered renamer
brew install rename
- the_silver_searcher: Fast file search
brew install the silver searcher
- trash: Move files to trash
brew install trash
- tree: List directory trees
brew install tree
- vim: Vim text editor
brew install vim
- watch: Periodically execute command
brew install watch
- wget: Internet file retriever
brew install wget
- yajl: CLI json manipulation
brew install yajl
- youtube-dl: Internet video downloader
brew install youtube-dl
- python: Python language
brew install python@<version>
- yq: yaml document processor
brew install yq
- kubernetes-cli: Manage Kubernetes clusters
brew install kubernetes-cli
- helm: Helm deployments manager
brew install helm
- AdoptOpenJDK Tap: Repository for openjdk casks
brew tap AdoptOpenJDK/openjdk
- adoptopenjdk11: OpenJDK 11
brew cask install adoptopenjdk11
- adoptopenjdk8 OpenJDK 8
brew cask install adoptopenjdk8
- Oh-My-Zsh: Zsh shell customizer https://ohmyz.sh/#install
- powerlevel10k/powerlevel10k: Oh My Zsh Theme: https://github.com/romkatv/powerlevel10k#oh-my-zsh
- plugins: Add useful plugins:
plugins=(git osx web-search kubectl z zsh-autosuggestions zsh-syntax-highlighting aws jira wac)
in~/.zshrc
- nvm: Node version manager https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm#installing-and-updating
- Youtube Downloader
alias ytdl='youtube-dl '
- Brew Aliases
alias brewup='brew update; brew upgrade; brew cleanup -s; brew doctor'
- Python Aliases
alias activate='source venv/bin/activate'
alias venv='python3 -m venv venv && source venv/bin/activate && pip install --upgrade pip'
- Gradle Alias
alias gw='./gradlew'
- Misc Aliases
alias watch='watch '
alias usage='du -h -d1'
alias runp="lsof -i "
- Krew: Kubectl Plugin manager https://krew.sigs.k8s.io/docs/user-guide/setup/install/
- ns: Configure namespace for cluster
kubectl krew install ns
- tail: Tail logs in cluster
kubectl krew install tail
- uBlock Origin: Ad blocker https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/
- SponsorBlock: Skip Youtube sponsor segments https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/sponsorblock/
- Privacy Badger: Tracker blocker https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/privacy-badger17/
- Decentraleyes: Prevent CDN level tracking https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/decentraleyes/
- HTTPS Everywhere: Automatically update connections to HTTPS https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/https-everywhere/
- Firefox Multi-Account Containers: Isolated cookie session containers: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/multi-account-containers/
- Facebook Container: Isolated container for Facebook https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/facebook-container/
- Temporary Containers: Create short lived containers https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/temporary-containers/
- Reddit Enhancement Suite: Reddit customizations https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/reddit-enhancement-suite/
- Tabliss: Elegant customizable new tabs https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tabliss/
- View Image: Restore Google View Image button https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/view-image/
- Cookies.txt: Export cookies https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/cookies-txt/
- Dark Reader: Change website to dark theme https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/darkreader/
- uBlock Origin: Ad blocker https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm
- SponsorBlock: Skip Youtube sponsor segments https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/sponsorblock-for-youtube/mnjggcdmjocbbbhaepdhchncahnbgone
- Privacy Badger: Tracker blocker https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/privacy-badger/pkehgijcmpdhfbdbbnkijodmdjhbjlgp
- View Image: Restore Google View Image button https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/view-image/jpcmhcelnjdmblfmjabdeclccemkghjk
- Decentraleyes: Prevent CDN level tracking https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/decentraleyes/ldpochfccmkkmhdbclfhpagapcfdljkj
- Reddit Enhancement Suite: Reddit customizations https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/reddit-enhancement-suite/kbmfpngjjgdllneeigpgjifpgocmfgmb
- Dark Reader: Change website to dark theme https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/dark-reader/eimadpbcbfnmbkopoojfekhnkhdbieeh
- Enable Smooth Pinch Zooming:
apz.allow_zooming=true
- Use Minimal theme: Appearance > General > Theme > Minimal
- Open new tabs in current directory: Profiles > General > Working Directory > Reuse previous session's directory
- Use vertical cursor bar: Profiles > Text > Cursor > Vertical bar
- Enable blinking cursor: Profiles > Text > Cursor > Blinking cursor
- Use MesloLGS NF font: Profiles > Text > Font > MesloLGS NF
- Enable window transparency: Profiles > Window > Window Transparency > 25%
- Enable unlimited scrollback: Profiles > Terminal > Scrollback Buffer > Unlimited scrollback
- Turn off sound bell notification: Profiles > Terminal > Notifications > Silence bell
- User Natural Text Editing key bindings: Profiles > Keys > Key Mappings > Presets > Natural Text Editing
defaults write -g NSFileViewer -string com.binarynights.ForkLift-3;
defaults write com.apple.LaunchServices/com.apple.launchservices.secure LSHandlers -array-add '{LSHandlerContentType="public.folder";LSHandlerRoleAll="com.binarynights.ForkLift-3";}'
Restart computer
defaults delete -g NSFileViewer`
defaults write com.apple.LaunchServices/com.apple.launchservices.secure LSHandlers -array-add '{LSHandlerContentType="public.folder";LSHandlerRoleAll="com.apple.finder";}'
Restart computer
- Auto Close Tag by Jun Han: Automatically add html/xml closing tags
- Auto Rename Tag by Jun Han: Automatically rename paired html/xml tags
- Bracket Pair Colorizer by CoenraadS: Color code matching brackets
- indent-rainbow by oderwat: Add colors to different indentations
- Text Power Tools by Daniel Tar: Powerfull text manipulation
- Git Lens--Git supercharged by Eric Anidui: Add advanced Git capabilities
- ESLint by Dirk Baeumer: ESLint JavaScript integration
- JavaScript (ES6) code snippets by charalampos karypidis: Code snippets for JavaScript in ES6 syntax
- Live Server by Ritwick Dey: Launch local development server with live reload
- Paste JSON as Code by quicktype: Copy JSON and generate classes/types in various languages
- Prettier - Code formatter by Prettier: Code formatter
- vscode-icons by VSCode Icons Team: Icons for VS Code
- Todo+: Manage todo text based todo lists
- Rainbow Brackets: Color code matching brackets https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/10080-rainbow-brackets/
- Material Theme UI: Add support for Material Theme https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/8006-material-theme-ui/
- Atom Material Icons: Add support for Material Icons https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/10044-atom-material-icons/
- Kotlin: Kotlin language support https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/6954-kotlin/
- typescript: Add support for Typescript
npm i -g typescript
- ts-node-dev: Add support for hot reloading typescript
npm i -g ts-node-dev