Free picks
12 Best Free Mac Apps
These free Mac apps fix small annoyances and add features macOS should have shipped with: window snapping, external monitor control, a faster launcher, screen recording and system clean-up.
Short answer
Our top picks for free Mac apps are Raycast, Loop and MonitorControl. Of the 12 picks on this list, 11 are completely free and 1 has a free plan.
Updated
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
The list
Every pick is free or has a usable free plan. Pricing and features change, so check each tool's own site before you commit.
- 1
A launcher that turns your Mac or Windows PC into a command palette.
Why it stands out: Saves dozens of clicks a day
Best for Developers, Designers, Professionals · Desktop App
- 2
Window management made elegant for macOS.
Why it stands out: Radial menu makes window snapping fast and satisfying
Best for Personal Use, Professionals, Developers · Mac App
- 3
Control your external display's brightness and volume on a Mac like a native Apple display.
Why it stands out: Native keyboard brightness and volume keys work on external monitors
Best for Personal Use, Professionals, Developers · Mac App
- 4
The legendary keyboard launcher that lets you control your Mac quickly and elegantly.
Why it stands out: Blazing-fast keyboard control of your Mac
Best for Professionals, Developers, Personal Use · Mac App
- 5
An open-source screen recorder for Mac built with web technology.
Why it stands out: Free and open source
Best for Creators, Developers, Designers · Mac App
- 6
Free, open-source macOS cleaner with zero telemetry.
Why it stands out: Completely free and open source
Best for Developers, Personal Use, Professionals · Mac App
- 7
Free, open-source menu bar toolkit for macOS with eighteen tools in one panel.
Why it stands out: Replaces a dozen single-purpose menu bar apps
Best for Personal Use, Professionals, Developers · Mac App
- 8
A productivity booster and a global search tool.
Why it stands out: Highly customizable with a vast array of plugins
Best for Developers, Professionals · Desktop App
- 9
Free, open-source window snapping for Mac with keyboard shortcuts.
Why it stands out: Free and open source
Best for Developers, Professionals, Personal Use · Mac App
- 10
A keyboard-driven tiling window manager for macOS inspired by i3.
Why it stands out: Fast workspace switching without animations
Best for Developers, Professionals, Designers · Mac App
- 11
Remap any key on your Mac and build your own shortcuts.
Why it stands out: Make any key do exactly what you want
Best for Developers, Professionals, Writers · Mac App
- 12
A powerful terminal replacement for Mac.
Why it stands out: Split panes, hotkey window and instant replay
Best for Developers, Professionals, Personal Use · Mac App
Frequently asked questions
- Which of these free Mac apps is the top pick?
- Raycast is our first pick. A launcher that turns your Mac or Windows PC into a command palette. Raycast has a free plan, with paid plans that unlock more features or usage.
- Are all of these Mac apps free?
- Every pick is free to start. 11 picks are completely free, and 1 has a free plan with paid upgrades for more features or usage.
- Which ones are easiest for beginners?
- Raycast, Loop and MonitorControl are rated beginner-friendly in our directory, along with 4 other picks.
- What platforms do these tools run on?
- The most common platforms are macOS (12 of 12 picks), Windows (2) and iOS (1). Check each tool's page for its full list of platforms.
Compare before you choose
Free Notion database
1,100+ ways people are making money online
Real online businesses, creators and projects, broken down by how they make money: apps, online stores, AI tools and more. Free on Gumroad.
Get the free databaseFree Notion database
399+ ways to make money online
Hundreds of online income methods in one place, so you can compare options and pick one to try. Free on Gumroad.
Get the free listFor research and ideas only. Results vary and nothing here is a promise of income. See our Disclaimer.
Weekly newsletter
Everything new, every Monday.
One short email every Monday with everything shipped that week: new free tools and websites, new guides, new free browser tools and what's new in my free Gumroad libraries, plus how the site is growing. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Join the newsletterYou sign up on Gumroad, which stores your email to send the newsletter. See our Privacy Policy.