A curated list of awesome applications, softwares, tools and shiny things for OS X.
Items marked with
are open-source software and link to the source code. Items marked with
are free (as in free beer).
- Applications
- Command Line Utilities
- OS X Utilities
- Setup
- Security
- Miscellaneous
- Discussion Forums
- Contribute
-
Audacity
- Free, open source, cross-platform software for recording and editing sounds.
- Audio Hijack - Record audio from any application like iTunes, Skype or Safari, or from hardware devices like microphones and mixers.
-
BackgroundMusic
- Record system audio, control audio levels for individual apps, and automatically pauses your music player when other audio starts playing and unpauses it afterwards.
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Cog
- A free open source audio player for OS X.
-
Mixxx
- Free DJ software that gives you everything you need to perform live mixes, veritable alternative to Traktor.
- VOX Player - Play numerous lossy and lossless audio formats.
-
XLD
- Rip/Decode/convert/play various "lossless" audio files.
- ReadKit - Have all your Instapaper, Pocket, etc. feeds in one place even when you're offline.
- Spillo - Powerful, beautiful and fast Pinboard client.
-
ChitChat
- A native Mac app wrapper for WhatsApp Web.
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Colloquy
- A GUI IRC Client.
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Goofy
- Unofficial Facebook Messenger client.
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LimeChat
- Instant messaging application.
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Messenger for Desktop
- An app for Facebook messenger.
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Profanity
- A terminal XMPP client.
- Slack - A messaging app for teams.
- Telegram - A messaging app with a focus on speed and security, it’s super fast, simple and free.
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Textual 5
- An Internet Relay Chat (IRC) client.
-
WeeChat
- A terminal IRC client.
- Data Rescue - Comprehensive and professional data recovery for a multitude of scenarios.
- DiskWarrior - Recover from filesystem corruptions when Disk Utility is out of options.
- Base 2 - A GUI for managing SQLite databases.
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Cakebrew
- The Homebrew GUI App.
- Charles - Charles is a Proxy that allow you to view all of the HTTP and HTTPS traffic.
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CocoaRestClient
- An app for testing REST endpoints.
- Dash - An API Documentation Browser and Code Snippet Manager.
-
dlite
- The simplest way to use Docker on OS X.
-
Gas Mask
- A simple hosts file manager which allows editing of host files and switching between them.
-
gitbar
- Open source github contribution stats on your Menu Bar.
- GitHub Desktop - A GUI for using GitHub.
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GitUp
- A simple but powerful Git OS X app.
-
Hosts
- Edit hosts file.
-
ImageAlpha
- Apply lossy compression on PNG files with or without transparency for more efficient files.
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ImageOptim
- Makes images take up less disk space and load faster.
- Insomnia - A modern REST client with a beautiful interface.
- Integrity - Easily find your website's broken links.
- Kaleidoscope - Powerful diff and merge application supporting text, images, and folders.
- Paw - The ultimate REST client.
-
Postgres.app
- The easiest way to get started with PostgreSQL.
- PSequel - A PostgreSQL GUI tool.
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QorumLogs
- Swift Logging Utility for Xcode & Google Docs.
- Quiver - A delightful notebook for programmers that allows mixing rich text, code, markdown, LaTeX, and graphs.
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Sequel Pro
- A MySQL database manager.
- Sip - A simple color picker for developers.
- SourceTree - A free Git & Mercurial client.
- StarUML - A sophisticated software modeler.
- Tower - The most powerful Git client.
-
Unused
- An app for checking Xcode projects for unused resources.
-
Vagrant Manager
- Manage your vagrant machines in one place with Vagrant Manager for OS X.
-
WWDC
- The WWDC app.
-
Zsh
- A powerful command line shell.
-
Calibre
- Incredibly ugly but powerful software for ebook management and conversion.
- Kindle App - Amazon Kindle App for OS X.
- Kitabu - Desktop ePub ebook reader.
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Sigil
- Multi-platform ePub editor.
-
Atom
- The hackable text editor.
-
Brackets
- A modern text editor that understands web design.
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Emacs
- Port of Emacs to work as an OS X app.
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Light Table
- A customizable editor with REPL support for Clojure, JavaScript, Python and others.
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MacVim
- Vim, the text editor.
- Sublime Text 3 - The sophisticated text editor.
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TextMate
- A graphical text editor.
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VimR
- Vim, refined.
-
Visual Studio Code
- Build and debug modern web and cloud applications.
- Airmail - Lightning fast email client designed for El Capitan, and a free Beta.
- MailMate - Advanced IMAP email client, featuring extensive keyboard control and Markdown support.
-
Nylas N1
- An extensible, open source mail client with custom plugin support.
- ForkLift - File Manager and FTP/SFTP/WebDAV/Amazon S3 client.
- Path Finder - A powerful dual-pane browser alternative to Finder.
- Quicklook-Plugins - List of extra quicklook plugins to enable previewing more filetypes in the Finder. ★ 5950, pushed 129 days ago
- TotalFinder - A powerful alternative to Finder.
- XtraFinder - Adds useful features to Finder.
-
Battle for Wesnoth
- Turn-based tactical strategy game, featuring both single-player and online multiplayer combat.
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Boxer
- The DOS game emulator that’s fit for your Mac.
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Dolphin
- A powerful, Open Source emulator for Nintendo GameCube and Wii games.
-
OpenEmu
- Multiple Video Game System.
-
Screentendo
- Turn your screen into a playable level of Mario.
-
Stockfish
- Beautiful, powerful chess application.
- Acorn - A very Mac-like image editor with a comprehensive feature set.
- Affinity Designer - Vector image design tool, possible Adobe Illustrator alternative.
- Affinity Photo - Raster image design tool, possible Adobe Photoshop alternative.
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Blender
- Fully-featured extensible cross-platform 3D content suite.
- Image2icon - Create and personalize icons from your pictures.
- OmniGraffle - An app for creating precise, beautiful graphics.
- Pixelmator - Powerful image editor, possible Photoshop alternative.
- Sketch - Hybrid vector/bitmap layout application, especially useful for UI, web and mobile design.
-
Sketch Toolbox
- A super simple plugin manager for Sketch.
- xScope - Tools for measuring, inspecting and testing on-screen graphics and layouts.
- Alfred - Boosts your efficiency and productivity.
- BetterTouchTool - Configure gestures for mouse and actions for keyboard shortcuts.
- ClipMenu - ClipBoard History Manager.
- CloudClip - Sync your clipboard between your Mac and your iOS devices.
- f.lux - Automatically adjust your computer screen to match lighting.
- Fantastical 2 - Complete Calendar app replacement which uses natural language for creating events.
- Hazel - Create rules to automatically keep your files organized.
- HazeOver - Turn distractions down and focus on your current task.
- HyperDock - Select individual application window.
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Karabiner
- A powerful keyboard customizer.
- LaunchBar - Start applications, navigate folders, manipulate files, control your Mac and much more just by using the keyboard.
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noti
- Display a notification after a terminal process finishes.
- OmniFocus - An incredible task management platform for Mac, iPad, and iPhone.
- Paste - The new way to copy & paste for Mac.
- PopClip - Instantly copy & paste, access actions like search, spelling, dictionary and more.
-
Quicksilver
- Control your Mac quickly and elegantly.
-
SelfControl
- Bclock access to distracting websites.
- TextExpander - Create custom keyboard shortcuts for frequently-used text and pictures.
- Todoist - Cross-platform to-do manager with mobile apps, great UI and has some optional premium features.
- BitTorrent Sync - Multi platform sync tool using BitTorrent protocol.
- CloudApp - Capture and share files and screenshots instantly.
- Jumpshare - Real-time file sharing app with support for instantly sharing code / Markdown, annotating screenshots, screen recording, and voice recording.
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mac2imgur
- Upload images and screenshots to Imgur.
-
Syncthing
- Multi-platform, secure, decentralized sync tool.
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Transmission
- Simple, lightweight, multi-platform torrent client.
-
iTerm 2
- A terminal emulator.
- TotalTerminal - A system-wide terminal available on a hot-key.
- 1Password - Password Manager and Secure Wallet.
- Amphetamine - Prevents OS X from automatically going to sleep, with lots of configurations.
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AnyBar
- A menubar status indicator.
- AppCleaner - Uninstall your apps easily.
- Arthur - Safely optimize some of your Mac's hidden settings.
- Bartender - Organize your menu bar apps.
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BeardedSpice
- Control web based media players with the media keys found on Mac keyboards.
- BetterZip - A very capable and full-featured archive manager.
-
BitBar
- Display output of any script to the menu bar.
-
Burn
- No-nonsense burning of Data/Audio/Video CDs and DVDs, including copying.
- Caret - Very capable markdown editor.
- CheatSheet - Know your short cuts.
- CommandQ - Never accidentally quit an app again.
-
ControlPlane
- Automate running tasks based on where you are or what you do.
- DaisyDisk - Analyze disk usage and free up disk space.
- Deliveries - Beautiful and simple package tracking.
-
DisableMonitor
- Easily disable or enable a monitor on your Mac.
-
EtreCheck
- Output system information and configuration to get more informed help from Apple support professionals.
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Finicky
- App that allows you to set rules that decide which browser is opened for every link.
- Fluid - Turn web applications into Mac applications.
-
gfxCardStatus
- Menu bar app to monitor and switch between integrated and discrete GPUs on MacBook Pro.
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Helium
- A floating browser window that allows you to watch media while you work.
- InsomniaX - Prevents OS X from automatically going to sleep (on lid closing or idle timeout).
- iStat Menus - An advanced system monitor for your menubar.
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Kawa
- A better input source switcher with shortcuts.
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KeePassX
- A free, open source, and light-weight password manager.
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KeepingYouAwake
- Menu bar utility that prevents Mac from going to sleep.
-
Keka
- Compress to and extract from many archive file formats.
- Knock - Unlock your Mac quickly and securely. Now with Apple Watch.
- LaunchControl - Create, manage and debug launchd services.
-
Loading
- See when apps are using your network in your Mac menubar.
- Little Snitch - Protect your privacy.
-
MacDown
- Markdown editor.
-
Mackup
- Keep your application settings in sync.
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MacPass
- Password Manager.
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Media Converter
- Simple (drag and drop) but advanced media conversion.
-
Menubar Colors
- Convenient access to the system color panel.
- Monodraw - A powerful ASCII art editor.
- Noizio - Ambient sound equalizer for relaxation or productivity.
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Notational Velocity
- Store, retrieve and sync notes within a minimal GUI.
- Numi - Beautiful calculator app.
- OnyX - Multifunction utility to verify disks and files, run cleaning and system maintenance tasks, configure hidden options and more.
- Paparazzi - A small utility that makes screenshots of webpages.
- Paragon NTFS - World fastest NTFS driver.
- Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Client - Remote Desktop Connection Client lets you connect from your Macintosh computer to a Windows-based computer and then work with applications and files on the Windows-based computer.
- Site Sucker - Automatically download websites from the Internet.
-
ShiftIt
- Managing windows size and position.
- SmartCapsLock - Makes the Caps Lock key smarter, so that when the key accidentally gets activated and you START YELLING even though you don't want to, you can just select the yelling-text and press the key again to instantly fix its case instead of typing everything all over again.
- Soulver - Beautiful expressive calculator.
- SSH Tunnel - Manage your SSH tunnels, tightly integrated with OS X Keychain, secure and intuitive.
- Subtitles - Automatically downloads subtitles for your movies and TV shows.
- TeamViewer - Remotely control another computer.
- TextBar - TextBar is a tiny but powerful app that lets you add any text to your MenuBar.
- Typeeto - Lets you use your Mac's keyboard as a bluetooth keyboard to type on another devices.
- Typora - Another minimal Markdown editor.
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Übersicht
- Run system commands and display their output on your desktop as widgets.
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The Unarchiver
- Unarchive many different kinds of archive files.
-
VirtualBox
- Powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as home use, free alternative to VMware Fusion and Parallels Desktop.
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Wineskin
- Run Windows applications and games on your Mac.
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HandBrake
- High performance video encoding and conversion tools with a nice GUI.
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MPlayerX
- Media player.
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mpv
- Media player.
- ScreenFlow - Screencasting and video editing software.
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Subler
- Mux and tag MP4 files.
-
Amethyst
- Window manager (automatically keep windows sized in grids).
- Divvy Window Manager - Window management for tiling your windows.
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Hammerspoon
- Extremely powerful scripting engine for OS X.
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kwm
- Tiling window manager with focus follows mouse.
- Moom - Move and zoom windows, super light weight and customizable.
-
Spectacle
- Easily organize windows without using a mouse.
- Stay - Resize/position windows when displays change.
- Zooom/2 - Mac window management.
-
Clocker
- Check time in multiple timezones from your Mac menubar.
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Aerial
- Apple TV Aerial Screensaver for Mac.
-
Catch
- The easiest way to use ShowRSS.
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gInbox
- gInbox is a wrapper made for Mac around Inbox by Gmail.
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hacker-menu
- Hacker News Delivered to Desktop.
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Hacky
- Hacky provides browsing Hacker News in a clean and minimalistic way.
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Karabiner
- A powerful and stable keyboard customizer for OS X.
- PopKey - Allows easy access to animated GIFs from the Mac menu bar.
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Sonora
- A minimal, beautifully designed music player.
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SoundCleod
- A browser for SoundCloud.
- Transmit - A FTP client.
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Vienna
- RSS/Atom newsreader.
- Awesome OS X Command Line - Use your OS X terminal shell to do awesome things. ★ 7528, pushed 126 days ago
- Bluetooth Debug Menu - Factory reset devices and more.
- Command Line Utilities Part 1
- Command Line Utilities Part 2
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EnvPane
- An preference pane for environment variables.
-
Glances
- System monitoring tool that runs in terminal.
- Thread on StackExchange
- https://gist.github.com/kevinelliott/3135044
- https://gist.github.com/kimmobrunfeldt/350f4898d1b82cf10bce
- GPG Suite - Full GPG toolkit with easy to understand GUI applications and Mail.app plugin.
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macchanger
- Easily change your MAC Address
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MIDAS
- Intrusion Detection Analysis System.
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OS-X-Security-and-Privacy-Guide
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OSXAuditor
- A free computer forensics tool.
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santa
- A binary whitelisting/blacklisting system.
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Tunnelblick
- Easy to use OpenVPN client and GUI.
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VeraCrypt
- Free and open source disk encryption software.
- Viscosity - Fully-featured OpenVPN client, ready for enterprise deployment.
- Trackpad Gestures
- Power Tools
- Show hidden files
- Mac Power Users
- Awesome Screensavers ★ 192, pushed 149 days ago
Contributions are most welcome, please adhere to the contribution guidelines .
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