The most valuable utilities for macOS users.
Like any other operating system, macOS needs utilities to keep it running in top shape. Utilities can also extend or enhance the functionalities of the system.
Countless utilities exist for Macs, but the ones on this list are the gems. I always install them on every Mac I use.
Bartender
I tend to keep many apps running, which clutter the menu bar. There may be apps that I want to keep running, but I don’t want them to clutter the menu bar. Bartender can be configured to hide these apps from the menu bar until I activate the Bartender icon.
In the image below, you can see that I only have a few items configured to show on the menu bar. After clicking the Bartender icon, it shows the hidden apps.
Bartender has a free trial, but it costs $16 to purchase. It’s worth it, especially if you have a small screen or if you like to keep things nice and tidy.
CleanShot
CleanShot is an ultimate screen recording app. It can capture the entire screen, a screen section, a window, or a scrolling capture. You can annotate, highlight, or blur the captured images.
CleanShot can also record the entire screen or a screen section as a video or animated gif.
CleanShot also supports capturing and OCRing text on the screen. This has replaced the Text Snippet app that I was using before.
CleanShot costs a $29 one-time payment, including a year of cloud storage. The app is yours to keep forever.
App Tamer
macOS is stable and usually does a good job keeping everything running smoothly. From time to time, misbehaving or aggressive apps could cause the system to be sluggish.
App Tamers allows you to set limits on your apps. When the set threshold is reached, it will either reduce CPU cycles the program can utilize or stop it completely, depending on your setting for the misbehaving app.
CleanMyMac
CleanMyMac is the best cleaning and optimizing utility for macOS.
It’s a powerful application for system cleanups, software updates (even for some sideloaded apps), software uninstallation, malware removal, secure file shredder, speed booster, privacy enhancement, system optimizations, etc.
I’ve used this software for several years now. It’s very stable and does an excellent job cleaning and optimizing the system.
The price for a single license is $34.95 for an annual license or $89.95 for a one-time purchase.
Yoink
It frees up your mouse, enabling you to navigate more comfortably to the destination of your files. When you start dragging files in Finde…
Yoink is a drag-and-drop utility that makes it easier to copy or move files, apps, and anything that can be dragged to other windows, apps, folders, etc. Yoink can also copy to iPhone or iPad if Handoff is enabled.
Yoink is available in the Mac App Store for $8.99.
Alfred
Alfred provides powerful ways to interact with various things on the Mac. You can use it for hotkeys, keywords, text expansion, local and web searching, and automation.
You can replace repetitive tasks with workflows. These workflows can integrate with your favorite Mac applications and web services — from social networks and note-taking apps to shopping and music services. Workflow is like IFTTT (If This Then That), so it’s a powerful feature.
Alfred’s search is faster and more powerful than Spotlight. It picks up where Spotlight ends. I’ve configured it to use Alfred in place of Spotlight.
Alfred’s search can integrate with third-party apps and services.
To list all the extra features Alfred provides would be enough to fill another article.
Alfred Powerpack costs $44 for version 4 or $77 for a lifetime upgrade.
Keyboard Maestro
Keyboard Maestro is a powerful automation software. It can launch applications, open documents, rearrange windows, play music, create reports, OCR images, download files, expand texts, filter clipboards, etc.
It can do the tasks of many other paid apps, such as text expander.
I set it up so that if I type a keyword in any app, it would insert the date. I also use it to OCR images I copy. I use it to type into some fields that don’t allow pasting. The possibility is endless.
Keyboard Maestro costs $36.00.
Moom
Moom is an app for windows management, making it easy to move, zoom, and rearrange windows.
The most helpful feature for me is the ability to save where apps are positioned when I disconnect and reconnect external monitors to my MacBook. This allows me to position my application windows on different monitors automatically.
Moom is available in the Mac App Store for $10.00.
iStat Menus
iStat Menus provides system information on the menu bar. It provides convenient and helpful information and stats about battery, memory, CPU, network, etc.
iStat Menu costs $11.99 for a single license or $14.99 for the Family Pack.
Haze Over
HazeOver is a utility that can minimize distraction. Haze is there to help you focus on one thing at a time. For example, when you’re coding in vs Code, you could set all other applications to be dimmed to avoid distractions.
HazeOver costs $4.99.
Little Snitch
Little Snitch is essentially a desktop firewall that controls all network traffic to or from the Mac. This tool lets you see what the apps do — where they send data and how much data.
Little Snitch also gives you fine-grain control of all network communications. You can see on a map the geolocations of the remote servers.
Little Snitch costs $45 for a single license.
Last Words
I have been using these utilities on my Macs for many years. I’m always looking for better tools, so let me know if you know something that you consider invaluable.
Thank you for reading.
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By Mad Machine on .
