Best Mac Apps
10 apps worth installing in 2026
A new Mac does a lot out of the box, but a handful of apps make it noticeably faster to use every day. These are ten we’d install first — launchers, screenshot and window tools, notes, tasks and a few utilities that quietly earn their place in the menu bar.
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The best Mac apps
#1Raycast
raycast.com
A fast, extensible launcher that replaces Spotlight — search apps and files, run scripts, manage windows and clipboard history, and add hundreds of community extensions.
#2CleanShot X
cleanshot.com
Screenshots and screen recordings with annotation, scrolling capture, OCR and quick cloud sharing — far beyond the built-in tools.
#3Rectangle
rectangleapp.com
Snap windows to halves, thirds and corners with keyboard shortcuts or by dragging. Simple, reliable window management.
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#4Things 3
culturedcode.com
A beautifully designed task manager for planning your day, projects and areas of life, with sync across Mac, iPhone and iPad.
#5Obsidian
obsidian.md
A private, local-first notes app built on plain Markdown files, with linked notes, a graph view and a large plugin ecosystem.
#61Password
1password.com
A password manager that fills logins, passkeys and cards across browsers and devices, with secure sharing for families and teams.
#7Fantastical
flexibits.com
A calendar and tasks app with natural-language event entry ("lunch with Sam Friday at 1") and a handy menu bar view.
#8iStat Menus
bjango.com
Detailed CPU, memory, disk, network, battery and temperature stats right in your menu bar.
#9Pixelmator Pro
pixelmator.com
A powerful, Mac-native image editor for photo editing, design and illustration with smart, machine-learning tools.
#10IINA
iina.io
A modern video player for macOS that plays almost any format, with picture-in-picture, subtitles and trackpad gestures.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Mac apps to install first?
A launcher like Raycast, a window manager like Rectangle, a screenshot tool like CleanShot X and a password manager like 1Password make the biggest everyday difference on a new Mac.
Are there good free Mac apps?
Yes. Rectangle, IINA and Obsidian are free, and Raycast and Fantastical have free plans.
How can I get my Mac app featured on this list?
Contact LaunchStall at founder@launchstall.com or launch your app on LaunchStall — featured apps get a highlighted spot on this page and a followed link.
Listed for information; LaunchStall isn’t affiliated with these apps. Prices and features change — check each developer’s site for current details.