Best apps for Mac
286 apps
Top Mac apps ranked by the community
Cline is an open source AI coding agent that runs inside VS Code and compatible editors. It plans tasks, creates and edits files, runs terminal commands and can drive a browser to test web apps, asking for approval at each step unless you grant more autonomy. You bring your own API key for providers like Anthropic, OpenAI and Google or use local models, and MCP servers extend what it can do.
9 Cline alternativesPros
- Open source agent that runs inside VS Code
- Bring your own API key or use local models
- Asks for approval at each step, keeping you in control
Cons
- API costs can climb quickly on long agent tasks
- Step-by-step approvals can slow down routine work
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesContinue is an open source extension for VS Code and JetBrains IDEs that adds AI chat, autocomplete, inline edits and an agent mode. Its main appeal is flexibility: you choose the models, from commercial APIs to local models through Ollama, and add rules, prompts and context providers that a team can share. With local models, code never has to leave your machine.
9 Continue alternativesPros
- Open source, with a free choice of models
- Works with local models, so code can stay on your machine
- Shared rules and prompts help teams standardize usage
Cons
- Setup takes more effort than turnkey assistants
- Quality depends on the models you configure
- Local models need capable hardware to run smoothly
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesAider is an open source command-line tool for pair programming with large language models. It maps your repository so the model understands the codebase, edits multiple files in place and commits each change to git with a descriptive message, which makes edits easy to review or undo. It works with models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, DeepSeek or local ones, accepts voice input and can lint and test after edits.
8 Aider alternativesPros
- Free and open source, and works with any model, including local ones
- Commits each change to git for easy review and rollback
- Repository map gives the model context across the codebase
Cons
- Terminal-only workflow is less approachable than IDE tools
- Model API costs are on you unless you run local models
- Results depend heavily on the model you choose
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesCodex is OpenAI's software engineering agent. Connected to a GitHub repository, it works on tasks in a cloud sandbox from ChatGPT and proposes pull requests. The open source Codex CLI runs locally in the terminal, and an IDE extension brings the same agent to VS Code-based editors. It can build features, fix bugs, answer questions about a codebase and review code. Access comes with paid ChatGPT plans or API billing.
8 OpenAI Codex alternativesPros
- Cloud tasks run in a sandbox and come back as pull requests
- Open source CLI for local work in the terminal
- Same agent across the cloud, the terminal and the IDE
Cons
- Requires a paid ChatGPT plan or API billing
- Cloud tasks depend on connecting your GitHub repository
- Changes still need careful review before merging
Cost / LicensePaidProprietaryCategoriesFathom records, transcribes and summarizes meetings on Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, delivering notes and action items shortly after each call. You can highlight key moments, share clips, ask questions about past calls and sync notes to CRMs such as HubSpot and Salesforce. The free plan includes unlimited recordings and transcripts, while paid plans add advanced AI summaries and team features.
9 Fathom alternativesPros
- Free plan includes unlimited recordings and transcripts
- Notes and action items arrive shortly after each call
- Highlight key moments and share them as clips
Cons
- Advanced AI summaries and team features need a paid plan
- A bot joins the call, which not every participant welcomes
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesGranola is an AI notepad for people with back-to-back meetings. It transcribes audio directly from your computer instead of adding a bot to the call, and when the meeting ends it combines your rough notes with the transcript into structured notes you can edit. Templates adapt the output to the meeting type, notes can be shared and queried by chat across folders, and apps exist for Mac, Windows and iPhone.
10 Granola alternativesPros
- No bot joins the call: audio is captured on your computer
- Merges your rough notes with the transcript into clean notes
- Templates adapt the output to each type of meeting
Cons
- No web or Android app
- Without a visible bot, informing participants is up to you
- Heavier use requires a paid subscription
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryKrisp started as an app that removes background noise, echo and other voices from your microphone and speakers in any calling app, and now adds a bot-free AI meeting assistant. Running on your computer, it transcribes Zoom, Meet or Teams calls, writes summaries and action items, and also offers accent conversion for call centers. A free plan includes limited daily usage.
10 Krisp alternativesPros
- Removes background noise and echo in any calling app
- Bot-free transcription and summaries run on your computer
- Accent conversion option for call center teams
Cons
- Free plan is capped by daily usage
- Desktop only, with no web or mobile app
- Real-time processing can weigh on older computers
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesFlutterFlow is a low-code builder for mobile, web and desktop apps based on Google's Flutter framework. You design screens visually, connect Firebase, Supabase or REST APIs, add logic and authentication, then export the Flutter code or deploy straight to app stores and the web. It targets developers and technical founders who want speed without losing access to the code, and includes AI page generation.
8 FlutterFlow alternativesPros
- Exports Flutter code you can keep developing on your own
- Builds mobile, web and desktop apps from one project
- Ready-made Firebase and Supabase integrations
Cons
- Code export and some deployment options require paid plans
- Assumes more technical knowledge than typical no-code tools
- Complex custom logic can be awkward to build visually
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesTrello organizes work on boards made of lists and cards that you drag from one stage to the next, a model that suits small teams, personal projects and simple workflows. Owned by Atlassian, it adds calendar, timeline and table views, Butler automations and Power-Ups that connect boards to Slack, Google Drive, Jira and many other tools.
12 Trello alternativesPros
- Simple card-and-list model anyone can learn in minutes
- Power-Ups connect boards to Slack, Google Drive, Jira and more
- Butler automations take care of repetitive card moves
Cons
- Gets hard to manage for large or complex projects
- Timeline, calendar and table views require a paid plan
- Reporting is limited without add-ons
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryAsana helps teams plan projects, assign tasks and track progress in list, board, timeline and calendar views. It is aimed at cross-functional teams in mid-size and large companies, with portfolios and goals to follow work across departments, rule-based automations, a large catalog of integrations and built-in AI features.
12 Asana alternativesPros
- List, board, timeline and calendar views for the same project
- Goals and portfolios connect work across departments
- Large catalog of integrations and rule-based automations
Cons
- Per-seat pricing gets expensive as teams grow
- Timeline, goals and portfolios require paid plans
- A task can only have one assignee
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesmonday.com is a work management platform where teams build boards with custom columns to track projects, requests or pipelines, then switch between table, Kanban, Gantt and calendar views. No-code automations, dashboards and integrations make it suit operations, marketing and other non-technical teams, and the same platform powers the separate monday CRM and monday dev products.
12 monday.com alternativesPros
- Colorful, flexible boards adapt to projects, requests or pipelines
- No-code automations and dashboards that non-technical teams can build
- Switch between table, Kanban, Gantt and calendar views
Cons
- Seats are sold in bundles, which raises the cost for small teams
- Automation and integration actions are capped by plan
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesClickUp combines tasks, documents, whiteboards, goals, chat and time tracking in a single workspace, with more than a dozen views including list, board, Gantt and calendar. Its depth and customization appeal to teams that want to replace several tools at once, and ClickUp Brain adds AI search, writing and summaries across the workspace.
12 ClickUp alternativesPros
- Tasks, docs, whiteboards, goals and chat in a single workspace
- More than a dozen views, from list and board to Gantt and calendar
- Deep customization of fields, statuses and automations
Cons
- The sheer number of features creates a steep learning curve
- The interface can feel slow and cluttered in large workspaces
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesLinear is an issue tracker for software teams that emphasizes speed, keyboard shortcuts and an opinionated workflow with cycles, projects, roadmaps and triage. It syncs with GitHub and GitLab to update issues from pull requests, integrates with Slack and support tools, and exposes a GraphQL API for custom automation.
9 Linear alternativesPros
- Fast interface built around keyboard shortcuts
- GitHub and GitLab sync updates issues from pull requests
- Cycles, projects and roadmaps follow a clear, opinionated workflow
Cons
- The opinionated workflow leaves little room for custom processes
- Designed for software teams, less suited to other departments
- Cloud only, with no self-hosted option
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesBasecamp, made by 37signals, gives each project its own space with to-dos, a message board, schedule, documents, a card table and group chat, cutting down on email and status meetings. It favors calm, asynchronous communication over Gantt charts and heavy reporting, which suits agencies and small companies that work with clients.
9 Basecamp alternativesPros
- Each project gathers to-dos, messages, files, schedule and chat
- Calm, asynchronous approach cuts down on email and status meetings
- Clients can be invited into projects with controlled visibility
Cons
- No Gantt charts, task dependencies or detailed reporting
- Less customizable than tools like ClickUp or monday.com
- The free plan covers only a single project
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesWrike is a work management platform for organizations that run many projects at once, combining Gantt charts, Kanban boards, workload views and built-in time tracking. Custom request forms, approval workflows, tasks shared across several projects and AI features help marketing, professional services and PMO teams standardize how work is planned and delivered.
11 Wrike alternativesPros
- Handles many parallel projects with Gantt, Kanban and workload views
- Custom request forms and approval workflows standardize intake
- Built-in time tracking and tasks shared across several projects
Cons
- Steep learning curve and a dense interface
- Advanced features and analytics sit in the more expensive tiers
- Often overkill for small teams with simple needs
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesTodoist is a task manager by Doist that captures tasks quickly with natural language dates, such as every Monday at 9am, and organizes them into projects, sections, labels and filters. It runs on almost every platform, offers list, board and calendar layouts, supports shared projects for small teams and integrates with calendars, email and many other apps.
12 Todoist alternativesPros
- Fast natural language capture for dates and recurring tasks
- Runs on almost every platform with reliable sync
- Projects, labels and filters scale from simple to complex lists
Cons
- Several useful features are limited to paid plans
- Collaboration is basic for larger team projects
- No built-in time tracking without integrations
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesMicrosoft To Do is a free task manager, the successor to Wunderlist, that syncs lists, reminders and recurring tasks across devices with a Microsoft account. Its My Day view helps pick what to tackle today, lists can be shared with family or colleagues, and flagged Outlook emails and Planner tasks show up next to personal to-dos.
9 Microsoft To Do alternativesPros
- Completely free with a Microsoft account
- My Day view keeps daily planning simple
- Flagged Outlook emails and Planner tasks appear next to your to-dos
Cons
- No board or timeline views for organizing projects
- Few integrations outside the Microsoft ecosystem
Cost / LicenseFreeProprietaryCategoriesThings is a personal task manager from Cultured Code, built exclusively for Apple devices with a clean, focused design. Tasks flow through Inbox, Today, Upcoming and Someday lists and can be grouped into projects and areas, with Things Cloud syncing everything for free. The apps are one-time purchases rather than a subscription, and there is no web or team version.
11 Things 3 alternativesPros
- Clean, focused design that makes planning pleasant
- One-time purchase instead of a subscription
- Free Things Cloud sync across Apple devices
Cons
- Apple-only, with no Windows, Android or web version
- No collaboration or shared lists
- Mac, iPhone and iPad versions are sold separately
Cost / LicensePaidProprietaryCategoriesTickTick is a cross-platform to-do app that combines tasks and checklists with a built-in calendar, habit tracker and Pomodoro focus timer. It understands dates typed in natural language, offers list, Kanban and timeline views, and a Premium subscription unlocks the full calendar views and higher limits.
11 TickTick alternativesPros
- Tasks, calendar, habit tracker and Pomodoro timer in one app
- Natural language dates speed up task entry
- Available on nearly every platform, including browser extensions
Cons
- Full calendar views require Premium
- The packed feature set can make the interface feel busy
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesAny.do is a task manager and daily planner that brings lists, reminders and a calendar together, with a planning routine to review what lies ahead each day. It syncs across mobile, desktop and the web, can send reminders through WhatsApp, and offers shared spaces for families and small teams on paid plans.
10 Any.do alternativesPros
- Lists, reminders and calendar combined in a clean app
- Daily planning routine helps review the day ahead
- Reminders can be delivered through WhatsApp
Cons
- Many useful features sit behind the Premium subscription
- Less suited to complex projects than full task managers
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesOmniFocus is a task manager from The Omni Group designed around the Getting Things Done method, with projects, tags, defer and due dates, and regular reviews. Custom perspectives and Omni Automation scripts let power users shape it to their own system. It runs on Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, with a web version for subscribers and encrypted sync.
8 OmniFocus alternativesPros
- Deep GTD support with projects, tags, defer dates and reviews
- Custom perspectives and automation scripts for power users
- Native apps across Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
Cons
- Steep learning curve for people new to GTD
- Expensive compared with most to-do apps
- No native apps for Windows or Android
Cost / LicenseFree trialProprietaryCategoriesSunsama is a daily planner for professionals who want a calmer workday. Each morning it walks you through picking tasks from Asana, Trello, Jira, Gmail, Slack and other tools, estimating their duration and dragging them onto your calendar, then closes the day with a shutdown ritual and a short review. There is no free plan beyond the trial.
9 Sunsama alternativesPros
- Guided morning planning ritual encourages realistic workdays
- Pulls in tasks from Asana, Trello, Jira, Gmail and Slack
- Daily shutdown and review help prevent overwork
Cons
- No free plan and a high subscription price
- The daily ritual can feel like overhead on busy days
- Built for individuals rather than team planning
Cost / LicenseFree trialProprietaryAkiflow collects tasks from email, Slack, Notion, Asana, Todoist and other tools into one inbox, then lets you time-block them on your calendar with drag and drop. A command bar with natural language input and keyboard shortcuts suits people who live in their calendar and juggle many meetings and sources of work.
9 Akiflow alternativesPros
- Pulls tasks from email, Slack, Notion and more into one inbox
- Drag-and-drop time blocking straight onto your calendar
- Command bar and keyboard shortcuts make capture very fast
Cons
- No free plan, and the subscription is on the expensive side
- Connecting every source and building the habit takes time
- Not designed for team project management
Cost / LicenseFree trialProprietarySuperlist is a task and notes app co-founded by Wunderlist creator Christian Reber, where each list doubles as a document mixing text, headings and checkable tasks. Lists can be shared for real-time collaboration, tasks can be pulled in from Slack and Gmail, and AI features can draft a list from a short prompt.
9 Superlist alternativesPros
- Lists double as documents mixing notes and tasks
- Real-time collaboration on shared lists
- Pulls tasks in from Slack and Gmail
Cons
- Younger app with fewer advanced features than established rivals
- Smaller integration catalog than established task managers
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesRemember The Milk is an online to-do service launched in 2005 and available on the web, desktop and mobile. Smart Add understands dates, priorities, tags and lists typed in a single line, smart lists save advanced searches, and reminders can arrive by email, text message or push notification. A Pro subscription unlocks extras such as subtasks and wider sharing.
7 Remember The Milk alternativesPros
- Smart Add parses dates, tags and priorities from a single line
- Smart lists save advanced searches as dynamic views
- Reminders by email, text message or push notification
Cons
- Interface looks dated next to newer to-do apps
- Subtasks and wider sharing require the Pro plan
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesAmazing Marvin is a personal task manager whose features, called strategies, are switched on one by one, from time blocking and Pomodoro to habit tracking, rewards and procrastination helpers. It suits people who have struggled with rigid to-do apps, including people with ADHD, and runs on the web, desktop and mobile after a free trial.
8 Amazing Marvin alternativesPros
- Strategies let you switch on only the features you need
- Tools against procrastination and ADHD-friendly planning
- Combines time blocking, Pomodoro and habit tracking
Cons
- The sheer number of options can be overwhelming at first
- Interface feels less polished than mainstream to-do apps
- No free plan after the trial
Cost / LicenseFree trialProprietaryCategoriesEvernote is a long-standing note-taking app, owned by Bending Spoons since 2023, that stores notes, web clips, PDFs, scans and audio in notebooks with tags and full-text search, including text inside images. Recent versions add tasks, calendar integration and AI features, while the free plan has become very limited compared with the paid tiers.
12 Evernote alternativesPros
- Mature web clipper and full-text search, even inside images
- Stores notes, PDFs, scans and audio in one place
- Tasks and calendar integration alongside notes
Cons
- The free plan is very limited compared with paid tiers
- Paid plans are expensive compared with many note apps
- Apps can feel heavier and slower than lighter note tools
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesMicrosoft OneNote is a free digital notebook that organizes notes into notebooks, sections and pages, where text, images, drawings and handwriting can be placed anywhere on the page. It syncs through OneDrive, supports shared notebooks for classes and teams, and works closely with Outlook, Teams and the rest of Microsoft 365.
9 Microsoft OneNote alternativesPros
- Freeform pages for text, drawings and handwriting anywhere
- Free, with OneDrive sync on all major platforms
- Works closely with Outlook, Teams and Microsoft 365
Cons
- The freeform layout gets messy and is hard to export
- Sync can lag or conflict with large notebooks
- No native app for Linux desktops
Cost / LicenseFreeProprietaryCategoriesBear is a writing and note-taking app for Mac, iPhone and iPad from Shiny Frog, built on Markdown with nested tags, links between notes and a choice of themes. The app is free to use on a single device, while Bear Pro adds iCloud sync across devices, OCR search in images and PDFs, and more export formats.
12 Bear alternativesPros
- Elegant Markdown editor with a choice of themes
- Nested tags and note links keep things organized without folders
- Native, fast apps designed for Mac, iPhone and iPad
Cons
- Apple only, with no Windows, Android or web version
- Sync across devices requires the Pro subscription
- No shared notes or real-time collaboration
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesStandard Notes is an open source note-taking app focused on privacy, with end-to-end encryption for every note and file and apps on all major platforms. Notes work offline and sync across devices, and paid plans add rich editors, file storage and longer revision history. The company became part of Proton in 2024, and the sync server can be self-hosted.
9 Standard Notes alternativesPros
- End-to-end encryption for every note and file
- Open source apps on all major platforms
- The sync server can be self-hosted
Cons
- Rich editors, file storage and longer history need a paid plan
- Collaboration features are minimal compared with mainstream apps
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategories
