Maximize Your Mac Productivity: 15 Must-Have Apps

Upgrade Your Window Management with Rectangle for Mac

Maccy: The Free, Open-Source Clipboard Manager for Mac Users

Looking for a reliable clipboard manager for your Mac? Look no further than Maccy, the open-source app that lets you keep track of all your recent clipboard items, from text to images and other files. And the best part? Maccy operates under a name-your-price model, so you can get started for as little as $0. Simply invoke the app using the keyboard shortcut (Command+Shift+C by default) and use the arrow keys or on-screen shortcuts to recall past items. Plus, with Maccy's intuitive interface and easy-to-use features, you'll wonder how you ever managed without it.

Customize Your Menu Bar with Vanilla

Say goodbye to a cluttered menu bar with Vanilla, a free app that allows you to reduce the number of icons in the top-right corner of your screen. With Vanilla, you can easily set a file size limit, delete clips when you quit the app, modify where and how the app appears, pin items, ignore apps, and more. Simply drag icons behind a divider and have them automatically hide. Click on the arrow icon to expand the menu bar and show all apps. Keep your menu bar neat and tidy with Vanilla.

Vanilla

Looking for a powerful screenshot tool that won't break the bank? Look no further than Shottr – a free app that expands on the decent screenshot tools already built into macOS. While the built-in tools are great for basic screen captures, Shottr takes things to the next level with advanced features like customizable drop-down bars, custom spacing options, quick search capabilities, triggers, and more. And with its intuitive interface and easy-to-use features, Shottr is a great alternative to pricey options like Bartender ($15). So if you're in need of a powerful screenshot tool that won't cost you a dime, give Shottr a try today.

Shottr

Easily Enhance Your Screenshots with Shortcuts

Capture scrolling windows like web pages, annotate and pixellate objects with ease, add markup notes, overlay images, and more using Shortcuts - Apple's cross-platform workflow app. With custom shortcuts, you can simplify a variety of tasks and pin them to your menu bar or launch them using Spotlight. Simply browse the Gallery in the Shortcuts app located in your Applications > Utilities folder to get started. Plus, take advantage of built-in tools like the ruler and OCR to further enhance your screenshots.

Boost Your Productivity with Shortcuts

Shortcuts are a great way to save time and get things done quickly in the office. Whether you need to empty your Downloads folder, track your time, or access your iCloud Keychain passwords, shortcuts can help you accomplish these common tasks in a snap.

Your Choice of VPN

Why You Need a VPN

In today's digital age, a VPN is an essential tool for protecting your online privacy. By encrypting your web traffic, a VPN can prevent your ISP and other third parties from tracking your browsing activity. With a VPN, you can browse the web anonymously and leave less of a digital footprint behind.

Transforming Your Online Experience with a VPN and Hyperkey

Accessing geo-restricted content, bypassing censorship, and booking cheaper flights are just a few of the benefits of using a VPN. With the ability to make it seem like you're browsing from a different country, a VPN is a must-have tool for any internet user. Check out our roundup of the best VPN services to find one that suits your needs.

But why stop there? Take your online experience to the next level by remapping an unused key on your keyboard with Hyperkey. This powerful tool allows you to activate all four modifier keys (Shift+Command+Option+Control) with just one key press. Say goodbye to awkward hand contortions - with Hyperkey, you can navigate your computer with ease.

Hyperkey

With the "hyper key" enabled, you can effortlessly trigger keyboard shortcuts in other applications like Rectangle or Maccy. This feature adds an extra modifier key to your keyboard that you can use whenever needed. For more advanced key remapping options, Karabiner-Elements is worth exploring.

Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop is a robust virtualization application that allows you to emulate hardware and install different operating systems within macOS. Not only can you install Windows, including the latest Windows 11 on ARM for Apple Silicon Macs, but also Linux distributions and even separate macOS installations.

Easily Run Windows on Your Mac with Seamless Integration

Experience seamless integration between Windows and Mac with the simplest solution available. Downloading and installing Windows on your Mac has never been easier. With the ability to use Coherence mode, you can run Windows apps on your Mac as if they were native Mac apps.

While the app isn't free, a standard license for home and student use can be purchased for $99.99. If you're unsure about committing to the purchase, take advantage of the 14-day trial to evaluate the software beforehand. Alternatively, if you're looking for free alternatives that may require a bit more effort, consider checking out VMware Fusion Player and VirtualBox.

Automator

Automator: The Mac-Exclusive Workflow Tool That Can Save You Time

Automator, a powerful workflow tool exclusive to macOS, has been around for much longer than Shortcuts. It's a faster and more powerful alternative if you know how to use it. One of its specialties is adding items to the right-click "Quick Actions" menu. With Automator, you can quickly resize images within Finder, convert file types, create custom applications, and save time all over the Mac desktop. You'll find Automator in the Applications > Utilities folder.

IINA

IINA: The Open-Source Media Player for macOS

IINA is a powerful media player designed specifically for macOS using Apple's Swift programming language. Based on the mpv project, it boasts the ability to play virtually any media format while utilizing macOS features such as Dark Mode, Picture-in-Picture, and Force Touch functionality. Best of all, IINA is open-source, meaning developers are continually improving the player and adding new features.

Hyperduck

Hyperduck: The Ultimate Link-Sharing App for Apple Users

Hyperduck is the perfect app for Apple users looking to streamline their workflow. This innovative app enables users to send links from their iPhone or iPad directly to their Mac, without the limitations of AirDrop. With Hyperduck, there's no need to worry about your Mac being within range or even turned on. Simply install the app on both devices, and voila! Link sharing has never been easier.

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When sending a link from your iPhone to your Mac, Hyperduck takes care of everything by automatically opening it in your default browser. Even if your Mac is offline, the request will be fulfilled the next time you're online. While you could use Safari's Reading List or a similar "read it later" service, Hyperduck takes it a step further by opening the links for you.

Raycast

For users who prefer keyboard shortcuts over using Spotlight, Raycast is the ultimate launcher with its powerful and customizable features. While mainly catered towards developers, the Raycast Store makes it easy for anyone to integrate additional functionality. The app is free for personal use, but a premium plan is required for shared usage among a team.

Maximizing Productivity with Raycast Extensions

With Raycast, you can easily set a Pomodoro timer, access OpenAI GPT3 with ChatGPT, search Spotify, run a connection speed test, and perform many other tasks without leaving your screen. If you're interested in exploring more launchers, Alfred is another great option to consider.

CodeEdit

CodeEdit is a fantastic option for Mac users who are looking for a native, open source, and free text editor and code editing environment. With features such as syntax highlighting, code completion, find and replace, code snippets, debugging, integration with git, extensions, and more, this app has everything you need to streamline your coding process. Despite still being in the alpha stage of development, CodeEdit has already made quite a splash in the Mac community, thanks in part to the fact that it is one of the few native Mac code editors available (along with Nova and TextMate).

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