10 FREE Mac Apps I Regret Not Using Sooner
TLDRDiscover 10 essential free Mac apps that enhance productivity and user experience. 'Today' offers a seamless calendar integration, Shottr provides advanced screenshot capabilities, and QuietReader delivers a distraction-free reading environment. Command X app replicates Windows' file-cutting functionality, while AltTab streamlines app and window switching. Shazam identifies songs effortlessly, MacMouseFix enables trackpad-like gestures for mice, and PurePaste ensures clean text transfers. OneThing serves as a digital sticky note, and Latest consolidates app updates. These apps are a must-have for any Mac user seeking efficiency and customization.
Takeaways
- 📅 **Today App**: A menu bar app that integrates with your default calendar app, allowing quick view and creation of events, with customization options like changing the icon and selecting visible calendars.
- 📸 **Shottr**: A superior screenshot tool living in the menu bar, offering quick capture, annotation, color code copying, and the ability to blur or erase parts of the screenshot.
- 📚 **QuietReader**: An app that provides a distraction-free reading experience by presenting only essential text and images, with customization options for text size and color.
- ✂️ **Command X**: An app that enables the Windows-like 'cut and paste' functionality on Mac, allowing users to move files from one location to another.
- 🔄 **AltTab**: A utility that enhances app and window switching on Mac, offering a visual overview of open apps and windows, with customizable keyboard shortcuts.
- 🎶 **Shazam for Mac**: The Mac version of Shazam resides in the menu bar and can identify songs playing around you or through your Mac speakers, with quick access options.
- 🖱️ **MacMouseFix**: Allows customization of third-party mouse actions to mimic trackpad gestures, enhancing the functionality of non-Apple mice on Mac.
- 📋 **PurePaste**: A menu bar app that simplifies pasting by offering options to paste text as plain text, stripping it of source formatting, with customizable features.
- 🔖 **OneThing**: A simple menu bar app that serves as a digital sticky note, allowing users to store and view a word or short text snippet at all times.
- 🔄 **Latest**: An app that consolidates updates for all your Mac apps, including those not on the Mac App Store, providing a one-click update feature.
- 📚 **Additional Resources**: The video series offers more useful Mac apps, promising to fill your app dock with even more valuable tools after watching.
Q & A
What is the primary function of the 'Today' app for Mac?
-The 'Today' app allows users to view their schedule directly from the menu bar without opening the Calendar app, integrates with any default Calendar app, and offers customization options such as choosing a menu bar icon, showing event end times, and selecting which calendars to display.
How does Shottr differentiate itself from other free screenshot apps?
-Shottr stands out by offering extensive annotation options, including cropping, adding arrows, shapes, text, and highlighting. It also provides advanced features like on-screen rulers for measuring, copying hex codes of colors, adding counters for step-by-step guides, blurring confidential parts, and erasing unwanted text.
What does the QuietReader app do to improve the reading experience on the internet?
-QuietReader opens a distraction-free view of text-dominant websites, presenting only the essential text and images while removing ads, notifications, and other background elements. It also offers customization options such as changing text size and adjusting text or background color.
How does the Command X app mimic the Windows file-cutting functionality on a Mac?
-Command X allows users to cut files by copying and deleting them in one location and then pasting them in another, just like the Command X shortcut on Windows.
What is the main advantage of using AltTab over the default Mac app-switching shortcut?
-AltTab provides an overview of all currently open apps and their respective windows, allowing users to switch between different windows of the same app with ease and offering additional actions like closing, minimizing, or customizing keyboard shortcuts.
How does the native Shazam app for Mac differ from its iPhone counterpart in terms of functionality?
-The Mac version of Shazam resides in the menu bar and can identify any song playing around the user or directly from the Mac speakers. It also offers features like One Click Shazaming and keyboard shortcuts for quick access.
What is the purpose of the MacMouseFix app?
-MacMouseFix allows users to replicate trackpad gestures using a third-party mouse, enabling actions like opening the launchpad, accessing mission control, or looking up words with specific mouse button clicks.
How does PurePaste help with pasting text from different sources?
-PurePaste lives in the menu bar and can be set to automatically clear the formatting of copied text, allowing users to paste text as plain text without hyperlinks or the formatting style of the source document.
What is the main feature of the OneThing app?
-OneThing allows users to type a word or short snippet of text into the menu bar and store it there, serving as a digital equivalent of sticky notes for quick, visible reminders or motivational quotes.
What does the Latest app do to streamline the process of updating apps on a Mac?
-Latest checks if all installed apps are up to date, provides a quick overview of which apps have been updated and what changes were made, and allows users to update them all in one place, including apps from the AppStore.
What additional resource is available for users seeking more useful Mac apps?
-Users can watch part 1 or part 2 of the Mac apps video series for an introduction to 10 additional useful Mac apps, which can be found in the app dock after watching.
Outlines
📅 'Today' App for Schedule Management
The first app, 'Today', is a menu bar utility that provides a convenient way to view and manage your schedule without opening the Calendar app. It integrates seamlessly with your default Calendar app and offers a simple interface. Users can quickly access specific events or create new ones with minimal effort. Additionally, 'Today' enhances user experience with customization options such as changing the menu bar icon, displaying event end times, and choosing which calendars to view. It is available for download on the App Store.
📸 'Shottr' for Advanced Screenshot Annotation
The second app, 'Shottr', is a powerful and user-friendly screenshot tool that surpasses many free and even paid alternatives. It resides in the menu bar for easy access and allows for quick screen capture with customizable keyboard shortcuts. 'Shottr' includes a comprehensive set of annotation tools for cropping, adding arrows, shapes, text, and highlighting. It also features unique capabilities like a ruler for measuring on-screen distances and copying the hex code of any color. The app enables users to add counters for step-by-step guides and to blur or erase sensitive information. It is available for free from the developer's website.
📚 'QuietReader' for a Distraction-Free Reading Experience
The third app, 'QuietReader', is designed to provide a clutter-free reading environment for online articles. It removes ads, notifications, and other distractions, focusing solely on the text and images. The app offers a reader view that can be accessed with a keyboard shortcut and allows users to isolate specific sections of text for deeper focus. 'QuietReader' also provides customization options, such as changing text size and colors, to enhance the reading experience. It is available for free download from the developer's website.
🔄 'Command X' App for File Management
The fourth app, 'Command X', addresses the missing 'cut' functionality on Mac for files, which is available in Windows. Once set up, it enables users to cut and paste files between locations, mimicking the Windows experience. This utility runs in the background and allows for moving files with a simple keyboard shortcut combination.
🔄 'AltTab' for Efficient App and Window Switching
The fifth app, 'AltTab', brings the window switching functionality familiar to Windows users to the Mac. It provides an overview of all open apps and their respective windows, allowing for easy switching between them. The app also includes options to close, minimize, or quit apps, and users can customize keyboard shortcuts for various actions. 'AltTab' is open source and free to download.
🎶 Native 'Shazam' App for Mac
The sixth app mentioned is the native 'Shazam' app for Mac, which is not widely known but offers significant utility. It resides in the menu bar and can identify songs playing around you or through your Mac speakers, similar to its iPhone counterpart. Users can activate One Click Shazaming for immediate music recognition and even set a keyboard shortcut for quick access.
🖱️ 'MacMouseFix' for Enhanced Mouse Functionality
The seventh app, 'MacMouseFix', allows Mac users to replicate trackpad functionalities using a third-party mouse. It enables customization of mouse buttons for various actions, such as opening the launchpad or revealing the desktop. The app also supports keyboard shortcuts and can be customized for additional buttons, offering a seamless experience for users without a trackpad. It is open source and available for download online.
📋 'PurePaste' for Formatting-Free Pasting
The eighth app, 'PurePaste', solves the issue of pasting text with unwanted formatting from one source to another. It sits in the menu bar and provides options to automatically clear formatting or to do so manually each time. 'PurePaste' pastes text as plain text, maintaining the formatting style of the current document. It also includes customization options and the ability to preserve links when copying from sources like Wikipedia. It is available on the App Store.
📌 'OneThing' for Quick Note-taking
The ninth app, 'OneThing', serves as a digital equivalent of sticky notes, allowing users to store a word or short text snippet in the menu bar for constant visibility. It is useful for keeping track of daily goals, tasks, or inspiring quotes. 'OneThing' supports drag-and-drop functionality and offers customization options such as changing text style, size, and color. It can be downloaded from the App Store.
🔄 'Latest' App for Unified App Updates
The final app, 'Latest', consolidates app updates into one place, simplifying the update process for all Mac apps, including those not on the App Store. It checks for updates, provides a quick overview of changes, and allows users to update apps with a single click. 'Latest' is open source and free to download, making it easier to keep all apps up to date.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Today
💡Shottr
💡QuietReader
💡Command X
💡AltTab
💡Shazam
💡MacMouseFix
💡PurePaste
💡OneThing
💡Latest
Highlights
Today is a Mac app that allows users to view their schedule directly from the menu bar without opening the Calendar app.
Today integrates seamlessly with any Calendar app set as default and offers a simple interface.
Users can click on an event in Today to quickly navigate to it in the Calendar app.
The app includes a button for creating new events without delay.
Today provides a quick way to join video calls and offers customization options like changing the menu bar icon and choosing which calendars to display.
Shottr is a superior free screenshot app with extensive annotation options and the ability to measure distances on the screen.
Shottr allows users to copy the hex code of any color on the screen, which is particularly useful for graphic designers.
The app enables users to add counters to a screenshot for showcasing a series of steps.
Shottr includes features to blur confidential parts of a screenshot or erase unwanted text completely.
QuietReader is a game-changer for reading articles distraction-free on the internet by presenting only essential text and images.
With QuietReader, users can isolate specific sections of text for deeper focus and enjoy a range of customization options.
Command X is an app that enables the Windows-style file cutting feature on Mac.
AltTab brings the Windows app-switching interface to Mac, allowing users to switch between open windows of different apps.
Shazam for Mac resides in the menu bar and can identify any song playing around the user or from the Mac speakers.
MacMouseFix allows users to perform trackpad-like gestures using a third-party mouse.
PurePaste is an app that pastes copied text as plain text, maintaining the formatting style of the current document.
OneThing is a simple app that functions as a digital sticky note, allowing users to store and view short text snippets in the menu bar.
Latest is an app that consolidates updates for all Mac apps, including those not on the AppStore, into one place.