As a macOS regular user or software developer, you may be constantly on the lookout for ways to improve your productivity. Luckily, there are plenty of free tools available that can help you do just that. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the top free tools for macOS that can help you boost your productivity.
Rectangle is a window management app that can help you organize your workspace. With Rectangle, you can move and resize windows with just a few keystrokes. Free in macOS.
Alfred is a productivity app that can help you save time and be more efficient. With Alfred, you can launch apps, search the web, and perform actions with just a few keystrokes. You can also create custom workflows to automate tasks and save even more time. Alfred is available as a free app for macOS, and it also has a paid version with more advanced features.
CopyQ is a free clipboard manager for macOS that can help you work more efficiently with text and images. With CopyQ, you can save and organize clipboard contents, create custom commands and shortcuts, and search and filter clipboard history. It also supports scripting and plugins to extend its functionality.
Amphetamine is a free app for macOS that can help you keep your computer awake and prevent it from going to sleep. With Amphetamine, you can create custom profiles and rules to control when your computer stays awake, and you can also use it to prevent your computer from locking or dimming the screen. It’s a great tool for developers who need to keep their computer running for long periods of time.
An all-in-one writing assistant that works on your desktop and in your browser. Use it in apps, word processors, email clients, and more.
Cyberduck is a libre server and cloud storage browser for Mac and Windows with support for FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, OpenStack Swift, Backblaze B2, Microsoft Azure & OneDrive, Google Drive and Dropbox.
alternative: FileZilla
LICEcap is a free and open-source screen recording tool for macOS that can help you create GIFs and screen recordings. With LICEcap, you can capture and record your screen, customize recording settings, and save your recordings as GIFs or videos. It’s a great tool for creating quick demos or tutorials.
Clockify is a time tracking app that can help you keep track of how much time you spend on tasks and projects. With Clockify, you can track your time manually or with a timer, and you can also create reports to see how much time you’re spending on different activities. Clockify is available as a free app for macOS, and it also has a paid version with more advanced features.
Quicktime Player is a built-in app for macOS that can be used to record your screen and create screencasts. With Quicktime Player, you can record your entire screen, a specific window, or a selected portion of your screen. It also includes editing features like trimming and splitting to help you create polished recordings. Quicktime Player is a great tool for creating video demos or tutorials.
Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that makes it easy to install and manage open-source software. With Homebrew, you can quickly install tools and libraries like Git, Python, and Ruby, as well as many other command-line tools and utilities. It also keeps your software up-to-date and can help you manage dependencies for your own projects.
What about specific tools for software development? Sure, let’s continue the list 🙂
iTerm2 is a powerful terminal emulator that can help you work more efficiently with the command line. With iTerm2, you can split panes, customize your color scheme, and use keyboard shortcuts to navigate the terminal. It also supports multiple tabs, making it easy to switch between different sessions. iTerm2 is available as a free app for macOS.
Termius is a modern terminal emulator for macOS that can help software developers work more efficiently with the command line. With Terminus, you can split panes, customize your color scheme, and use keyboard shortcuts to navigate the terminal. It also supports multiple tabs, making it easy to switch between different sessions. Terminus is available as a free app for macOS, with a paid version that adds more advanced features.
Open Lens is the open-source core version of the Lens Desktop. Lens is the most powerful IDE for people who need to deal with Kubernetes clusters on a daily basis.
Alternatives: k9s
Visual Studio Code is a powerful and versatile code editor that can help you write and debug code more efficiently. With Visual Studio Code, you can customize your workspace, use Git integration, and install extensions to enhance your development experience. It also supports many programming languages, making it a great choice for developers who work with multiple languages. Visual Studio Code is available as a free app for macOS.
Postman is a popular API development tool that can help you test and debug APIs more efficiently. With Postman, you can send requests, inspect responses, and automate workflows. It’s a great tool for developers who work with APIs regularly, as it provides an easy-to-use interface for testing and debugging. Postman is available as a free app for macOS.
Alternatives: Bruno, Insomnia
Sequel Ace is a free MySQL and MariaDB database management tool for macOS. With Sequel Ace, you can manage your databases, write and run SQL queries, and visualize data in tables and charts. It also includes features like syntax highlighting and code completion to make working with databases easier and more efficient.
Alternatives: MySQL Workbench or DBeaver
Docker Desktop is a platform for building, shipping, and running applications using containers. With Docker Desktop, you can create containerized applications and run them locally on your macOS machine. It’s a great tool for developers who need to test and deploy applications quickly and easily. Docker Desktop is available as a free app for macOS.
Alternative: OrbStack
Gimp is a free and open-source image editing tool for macOS. With Gimp, you can edit and manipulate images using a wide range of tools and filters. It also supports layers, masks, and alpha channels, making it a powerful tool for graphic design and digital art. Gimp is a great alternative to more expensive image editing tools like Photoshop.
Paint S is an easy-to-use drawing tool and image editor which can help you to draw something or edit your existing photos.
Bruno is an open-source API client, designed as a faster, Git-friendly, and privacy-focused alternative to tools like Postman and Insomnia.
Alternatives: Postman, Insomnia
htop is a command-line utility that allows you to interactively monitor your system’s vital resources or server processes in real-time that can be accessed from any CLI
22. Sublime Text 3
Text editor, that can also be integrated in your terminal to directly open folders
23. UTM
useful for virtual machines (if you want to install ubuntu, windows or other operating systems on your macOS). It is free.
Spark ideas. From personal notes to journaling, knowledge bases, and project management, Obsidian gives you the tools to come up with ideas and organize them.
25. Notion
A flexible all-in-one workspace for notes, databases, and project management.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these are just a few of the top free tools for macOS that can help you boost your productivity. Whether you’re looking to organize your tasks, manage your windows, or improve your writing, there’s a tool out there that can help. Give these tools a try and see how they can help you work smarter, not harder.
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