Beyond the Bite: Essential Third-Party Apps to Supercharge Your macOS Experience
Remember the first time you took a big ol’ bite out of that shiny new Apple? With that MacBook or iMac, whether Mac Mini or Mac Pro, you were bathed in the time-honored Apple startup chime and greeted by a slick, intuitive operating system. Inevitably, you noticed that not all the homegrown software Apple decided to include in macOS was as tasty. While one or five bad apples shouldn’t spoil the whole bunch, it’s time to pick out those less-than-ideal apps, throw them away, and find yourself some third-party alternatives that taste sweeter.
We love macOS itself for its out-of-the-box stability—requiring less tinkering than Windows or Linux—so don’t ditch the machine. Instead, take a look at these third-party applications to upgrade your macOS experience. Some address niche needs, others fill gaps in vanilla macOS, and many are not free. But most have free trials for you to check out and decide if it’s worth buying. Many sync with companion apps on your iPhones, making your life a little easier.
Let’s take a bite into these sweet alternatives:
For a Better User Experience
- Magnet & BetterSnapTool: While you can use macOS’s Split View to view two applications side by side, it’s not as intuitive as it is on Windows. Magnet and BetterSnapTool offer a more seamless and efficient way to snap windows into place, saving you time and frustration.
- Caffeine: This app is a godsend for anyone who’s experienced the frustration of the screen going to sleep during lengthy tasks like watching movies, editing videos, or waiting for downloads to complete. Caffeine keeps your screen on for as long as you need it, even when working with external displays.
- Alfred: Looking for a more powerful alternative to macOS’s default search tool? Alfred lets you create custom shortcuts, activate commands by typing, and even automate workflows. The free version is useful, but the Powerpack, which costs around $37, unlocks even more features like contacts and app integrations..
- CheatSheet: Have you ever tried to remember the arcane, hidden keyboard shortcuts that are sprinkled throughout macOS? CheatSheet helps you uncover those shortcuts. It displays all available shortcuts for the currently open app with a simple press of a button, simplifying your workflow and making you a keyboard shortcut master.
- Spotify: While we appreciate Apple Music, we still prefer Spotify for its user-friendly interface, strong music discovery algorithms, and social elements for sharing music. Skip the ads and limited song skips with the Premium tier (around $12 per month). Although Spotify HiFi with CD-quality lossless audio remains elusive, it’s unlikely you’ll even notice the difference unless you’re a dedicated audiophile.
- AdGuard: Block annoying social media extensions, pop-up ads, and URL redirects with AdGuard. This standalone macOS app lets you choose from and customize filters to block distractions across your browser and other apps. Enjoy a free two-week trial, then pay a license fee (around $2.49 per month) for access on three devices.
- Zoom: You might already be using Zoom for work calls, but it’s also great for staying connected with friends and family who don’t have Apple devices for FaceTime. With its free tier, you can enjoy features like screen sharing, messaging, notes, and a whiteboard for collaborative brainstorming. For additional features like longer meeting times or cloud storage, explore their Pro and Business tiers.
For a Better Writing Experience
- LibreOffice: Tired of paying for Microsoft Office or Google Docs? LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite with full-featured applications like a word processor, spreadsheet editor, and presentation creator. It’s fully compatible with Microsoft file types, including legacy formats like ".doc," making this a seamless transition for many.
- Microsoft 365: Despite LibreOffice‘s solid offering, Microsoft 365 still has two features worth considering: its Editor tool for grammar and syntax corrections and its in-app voice transcription for Word—both of which are as accurate as dedicated software.
- Ulysses: This plain text writing app cleans up your workspace, focusing solely on your content. It’s great for longer stories, novels, poetry, and scripts, offering a truly distraction-free writing experience. You can try it out with a free trial before committing to the subscription (around $6 per month).
- Grammarly: Eliminate grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and syntax issues with Grammarly. It operates within your browser and desktop apps, functioning across word processors, email clients, and more. While the free version is helpful, the Premium version (around $12 per month) offers full-sentence rewrites, vocabulary suggestions, and tone recommendations.
- Day One: A beautifully designed digital journaling app that lets you insert photos, audio recordings, and export your entries in various formats. Day One is end-to-end encrypted, automatically backed up, and secured with a passcode or biometrics. While the free version exists, it’s severely limited, so upgrade to the full feature set for $35 per year.
- Apple Notes: A hidden gem among macOS apps. As WIRED reviewer Adrienne So described it: "If you want to know who someone truly is—what they eat, what books they read, what movies they watch, or how furious they get inside their own minds—you should probably check their Notes app." Notes is incredibly versatile, letting you organize checklists, journal, add attachments and web links, and even link notes to each other.
- Apple FreeForm: This digital whiteboard app lets you brainstorm ideas, sketch, import files and web links, and create design boards, itineraries, storyboards, and more. You can also collaborate with other Apple users in real-time. As it’s stored on iCloud, your work will sync across all your devices.
For a Better Viewing Experience
- ApolloOne: For serious photographers who want to edit and view metadata, manage raw image files, and automate organization, ApolloOne is an advanced image viewer. A 14-day free trial with limited functionality lets you explore this powerful tool before committing to a yearly subscription (around $12 for Standard and $20 for Pro) or a one-time perpetual license (around $30 for Standard and $50 for Pro). An alternative for free is XnView MP.
- Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop: Lightroom offers a balance of powerful editing tools and an intuitive interface. To edit images locally on your desktop, you’ll need the $20 per month plan, which also includes Photoshop. This package is ideal for photographers who want professional editing capabilities.
- Adobe Reader: PDFs are ubiquitous, yet their usability on computers can be frustrating. Adobe Reader is a powerful tool for filling and signing PDF forms digitally, saving you from printing, signing, and scanning.
- ImageGlass: This lightweight image viewer is a seamless replacement for the outdated Xee³. It offers a clean and intuitive interface, allowing you to easily browse folders and manipulate images without the bloat of more advanced programs.
- IINA: This sleek video player blends seamlessly with macOS’s design scheme and plays various file formats and codecs, including online streams and YouTube playlists. Another excellent option is the free, and long-running VLC Media Player, though its interface may feel dated.
For Better Organization
- Hazel: Tired of manually organizing your files? Hazel watches your chosen folders, automatically moving and sorting files by name, date, type, source, and more, keeping your digital world tidy. It’s a one-time purchase.
- Shift: Streamline your workflow by combining all your email, workflow, and social media accounts within one app window using Shift. Connect Gmail, Slack, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Airbnb, LinkedIn, Spotify, Google Docs, and more, eliminating the need for countless browser tabs. The free tier is basic, but the Advanced tier (around $149 annually) unlocks a robust suite of features.
- Dropbox: While iCloud works well for some, Dropbox provides a smoother cross-platform experience across Apple, Android, and Windows devices. Enjoy a better file preview, Microsoft Office integration, and up to 2 GB of storage for free. For more extensive storage (2 TB) and document recovery features, consider the paid plan ($10 per month).
- Slack: Embrace this corporate communication platform for hobbyist groups. Slack offers a less pressured communication environment compared to text messages and a better alternative to WhatsApp groups with features like do-not-disturb modes, channel customization, and notification filters.
- Paprika Recipe Manager: Save recipes from web pages, let Paprika automatically format them, and organize them in folders. It features interactive tools to check off ingredients during cooking and adjust serving sizes. You can purchase separate apps for iOS, Android, and Windows (around $5 for iOS and Android, and $30 for Windows), so your recipes are universally accessible.
- Apple Reminders: Always looking for a quick and easy way to keep track of tasks? Reminders is a simple yet powerful app that can be used to set reminders for anything from grocery shopping to important appointments. It’s intuitive and syncs seamlessly with the iOS version. It can also be used to create schedules, collaborate with others, and manage lists with templates for repetitive tasks.
For More Security
- NordVPN: Safeguard your data from snoopers and thieves with a VPN, and NordVPN is a top choice. With fast speeds, a wide array of servers worldwide, and automatic connection on untrusted Wi-Fi, it stands out. A yearly plan is the most affordable option compared to the monthly plan.
- Bitwarden: A secure, free, and open-source password manager with polished macOS and iOS apps. Bitwarden’s code is open for inspection, improving transparency and security. Plus, it supports passkeys for passwordless authentication. It’s free, but paid tiers like Premium ($10 per year) and Families ($40 per year) offer even more features.
- Dashlane: A password manager that can help generate unique, secure passwords for every website you use. Its Advanced tier ($3 per month) offers unlimited device sync, a step up from the free version.
- Vivaldi: A privacy-focused browser that offers a plethora of features, including an RSS reader, calendar, email client, and translation tool, all in-browser, minimizing the need for external apps.
- MSP 360 (formerly Cloudberry): For regular data backup, use MSP 360 and back up to cloud storage services like Amazon AWS S3 or Backblaze B2. Although you need to create separate accounts, this app automates the backup process, offering peace of mind.
Remember, these are just a few of the many incredible third-party apps available for macOS. By exploring and experimenting with these alternatives, you can truly unlock the full potential of your Mac and personalize your experience. So, go ahead and take a bite out of those sweet alternatives. Your Mac will thank you (and maybe even give you a little more "oomph" when you launch applications).
