A curated collection of useful macOS apps, tools, and utilities worth discovering.
This repository is the open-source companion to Cool Mac Apps, an independent platform dedicated to helping people discover great Mac software. Apps are organized by category, with concise descriptions and links to their official websites.
Whether you're setting up a new Mac, looking for better tools, or simply exploring what's out there, this list is a good place to start.
Browse all Mac apps · Suggest an app · Contribute · Buy me a coffee
- AI
- Audio & Music
- Calendar & Scheduling
- Clipboard
- Communication
- Design
- Developer Tools
- File Management
- Menu Bar
- Notes & Knowledge
- Productivity
- Screen Capture
- Security & Privacy
- System Utilities
- Video
- Window Management
- Writing
A collection organized by each app’s primary category. Each entry includes a concise description, its official website, and a page on Cool Mac Apps for further reading.
-
Nativ - Runs open AI models locally on your Mac with a chat interface, live usage analytics, and integrations for coding agents.
Official website · Read more -
Openbroca - Uses AI-powered voice dictation to clean up spoken text, insert it at the cursor, and translate speech into multiple languages.
Official website · Read more
- Spotifast - An open-source Spotify player for Mac with Spotify Connect support, customizable themes, and compact Winamp-inspired controls.
Official website · Read more
- Dot - A menu bar calendar for checking upcoming meetings, receiving alerts, managing Apple Reminders, and creating events without opening a calendar app.
Official website · Read more
- Supaste - A visual Mac clipboard manager with searchable copy history, screenshot text recognition, a notch shelf, and quick-paste shortcuts.
Official website · Read more
- ZapFast - A lightweight open-source WhatsApp client for macOS designed to work without bundling an embedded web browser engine.
Official website · Read more
-
Compositor - A layer-based photo editor for macOS designed for image retouching, combining multiple images, and creating visual compositions.
Official website · Read more -
Refbox - Keeps visual references such as photos, videos, and 3D models visible while you work in other creative applications on your Mac.
Official website · Read more
-
Kitbar - Shows deployment statuses, code checks, payments, and AI coding-tool usage in a slim desktop status bar with quick details from connected services.
Official website · Read more -
Tray - Provides a Mac interface for browsing Claude Code projects, sessions, skills, and settings without navigating everything manually.
Official website · Read more -
Wasdy - A menu bar utility for viewing and managing Claude Code skills and MCP servers from your Mac without switching to another workspace.
Official website · Read more
-
Bloom - A Finder alternative with multi-pane browsing, quick file search, batch renaming, archive previews, and undoable file operations.
Official website · Read more -
DigUp - Searches local photos, PDFs, recordings, videos, and code using the content inside those files rather than only their filenames.
Official website · Read more -
KarmaDisk - Visualizes Mac storage, locates duplicate files, and helps clean up space, including lossless compression of supported photos.
Official website · Read more -
Looq - Extends Finder Quick Look to preview Markdown files, source code, databases, and archives without opening separate applications.
Official website · Read more -
Tilde - A native alternative to macOS Finder that provides split-view file browsing and customizable ways to arrange and organize files.
Official website · Read more
-
Crowny - Turns the MacBook notch into a control area for coding agents, music playback, clipboard history, timers, and other quick-access tools.
Official website · Read more -
Hushtop - Uses the MacBook notch to surface music, meetings, system controls, and approval prompts from Claude Code and Codex coding agents.
Official website · Read more -
NotchNook - Adds a utility panel around the MacBook notch for controlling music, checking calendars, taking notes, setting timers, and holding files.
Official website · Read more
-
Resurf - Organizes saved bookmarks, notes, screenshots, and PDFs in a local-first Mac library with full-text search and optional iCloud sync.
Official website · Read more -
Spatial. - A freeform visual canvas for arranging notes, images, videos, and web clips together when organizing ideas or references.
Official website · Read more
-
Cuewake - Lets you attach context-aware notes, checklists, and reminders to the apps and web pages where you need to see them on your Mac.
Official website · Read more -
Jolt - A Mac launcher that uses natural language to find files, run app commands, control macOS settings, and access clipboard history.
Official website · Read more -
Monocle - Helps you concentrate on the active Mac window by blurring distracting background windows while keeping your current work visible.
Official website · Read more -
Soulver - A notepad-style calculator that solves written math as you type, with linked results, reusable variables, and unit and currency conversions.
Official website · Read more -
TapMac - Uses customizable MacBook tapping gestures to start dictation, edit selected text, and open clipboard history without switching apps.
Official website · Read more
-
Obry - Keeps screenshots and snippets of text accessible as floating cards on your Mac, with interactions controlled through trackpad gestures.
Official website · Read more -
Recordly - Creates macOS screen recordings and product demos with automatic zoom effects, smooth cursor animations, and a built-in video editor.
Official website · Read more -
Screen Studio - Records the Mac screen with automated zoom effects and smooth cursor movements, then lets you edit the video in the same app.
Official website · Read more -
ScreenKite - Records and edits Mac screen videos with automatic zoom, caption tools, and an editing workflow that supports AI agents.
Official website · Read more -
ShotGlass - Captures and edits Mac screenshots and videos with automatic zooms, multi-window recording, and 3D MacBook presentation scenes.
Official website · Read more
-
FaceGate - Protects individual Mac applications using on-device facial recognition, Touch ID, or a password before allowing access.
Official website · Read more -
VPNonly - Routes selected Mac applications through a WireGuard VPN while leaving other applications on the device's regular connection.
Official website · Read more
-
Alcove - Adds Dynamic Island-style interactions to the MacBook notch, including live activity updates, notifications, and media playback controls.
Official website · Read more -
CoolDock - Adds a customizable secondary Dock to macOS with live widgets, application shortcuts, and quick controls for everyday tasks.
Official website · Read more -
Droppy - Adds a customizable Dynamic Island-style panel to macOS with a file shelf, clipboard history, live activities, and optional extensions.
Official website · Read more -
DynamicHorizon - Transforms the MacBook notch into an interactive area for media playback, notifications, timers, and visible system activity.
Official website · Read more -
FaceUnlock - Enables facial recognition for unlocking a Mac using its webcam, with the existing account password available as a fallback.
Official website · Read more -
Kiiwi - Simulates mechanical keyboard switches as you type, with selectable recordings and optional mouse click and scrolling sound effects.
Official website · Read more -
Klack - Plays configurable mechanical keyboard sounds while you type on your Mac, adding simulated typing feedback without physical switches.
Official website · Read more -
Muro - Provides live video wallpapers for macOS that can appear on the desktop, lock screen, and screen saver instead of static images.
Official website · Read more -
Parall - Launches multiple instances of supported Mac applications with separate Dock icons and distinct profiles where the app allows them.
Official website · Read more -
Perchy - Turns the MacBook notch into a quick dashboard for cryptocurrency prices, music, calendar events, clipboard history, and files.
Official website · Read more -
Purge - An open-source Mac cleanup utility for removing caches, developer-generated files, large files, and leftovers from removed apps.
Official website · Read more -
Shortap - Lets you trigger supported MacBook actions and Apple Shortcuts by tapping designated areas on either side of the laptop.
Official website · Read more -
UTM - Runs Windows, Linux, macOS, and older operating systems in virtual machines on a Mac, with support for Apple silicon and Intel hardware.
Official website · Read more
- Vidyst - A video production app for 4K recording, live streaming, and podcasts with simultaneous horizontal and vertical video output.
Official website · Read more
- Betterswitch - A macOS window switcher that lets you move directly between open windows and organize groups of apps into task-specific workspaces.
Official website · Read more
- Superwhisper - An AI dictation app for macOS with offline transcription support, configurable writing modes, and tools for taking meeting notes.
Official website · Read more
Know a great Mac app or found something that needs fixing? Contributions are welcome.
- Suggest an app — Recommend an app for inclusion.
- Report an issue — Flag outdated information or broken links.
- Improve a listing — Open a pull request to correct or improve a description.
Before contributing, please read our contribution guidelines and editorial standards. All submissions are reviewed.
Cool Mac Apps is an independent project. If you enjoy the collection, consider supporting its development.
Copyright © 2026 Cool Mac Apps contributors.
Original editorial content, including application descriptions, is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Original software code is licensed under the MIT License only where explicitly designated.
Third-party applications, names, trademarks, logos, icons, screenshots, artwork, and other proprietary materials are not covered by these licenses. Listing an application does not imply endorsement or affiliation with its developer.
Suggested attribution: "Based on content from Cool Mac Apps contributors, licensed under CC BY 4.0."
Indicate any modifications when applicable. The suggested wording does not impose additional license conditions.