What is this?

To be clear, I’m not a productivity freak… but I do have a set of tools that I’ve grown accustomed to and without which I am (or feel) significantly less productive.

This post will be a subjective, up-to-date, and curated list of all the Mac tools I use on a daily basis, with some additional good finds worth trying.

🏃   Productivity tools

• Better Spotlight? It’s a must-have, try Raycast
• A good Calendar app? Fantastical 2
• A good Email client, finally? Air Mail or MimeStream
• An open-source, cross-platform password manager? BitWarden.
  Although, NordPass is also pretty neat
• Your MenuBar is too busy? You have a notch?
  Hide the clutter with Hidden Bar (free) or Bartender (paid)
• Clipboard manager?
  Copy Clip is a must have if you’re not using Rambox/Alfred
• All-in-one messenger? Rambox or Franz
• You miss your split-window feature from Windows?
  No problem, Magnet’s got you covered
• Customizable app switcher? Command-Tab Plus (paid) or Alt-Tab (free)
• Wondering what’s next in your day? Next Meeting will let you know
• Tracking your time? Clockify. It has a Mac app and it’s easy to use NO. SAY NO TO TIME TRACKING.

🎨   Graphics tools

• A great screenshot tool? Shottr or Lightshot
• Vector graphics editor? Affinity Designer (paid), or BoxySVG (paid).
  Inkscape is free but not great
• Raster graphics editor? Affinity Photo (paid), GIMP (free) or Seashore (free)
• Desktop publishing software? Affinity Publisher (paid)
• A professional PDF viewer & editor? PDF Expert

🔒   Privacy tools

• A fast, reliable, privacy-oriented VPN? Nord VPN is my choice
• Monitoring your camera and microphone? Micro Snitch. They have amazing support!

👀   Utilities

• Monitoring your Mac’s hardware? iStatMenus integrates pretty well
• Service Station allows you to extend Finder’s capabilities
  (Open with…, custom scripts, etc.)
• New File Menu, if you’re missing your Windows’ “new file” menu
• Your company policy puts your Mac to sleep after 2 minutes?
  Use Caffeine to keep it awake
• Saving your audio books for later? Open Audible
• Want to control multiple monitors’ brightness at once? Check out Monitor Control

👨🏼‍💻   Development tools

• Screen Copier (scrcpy) will mirror your Android devices on the desktop
• Android Tool for Mac allows you to save your Android screenshots
  (and screen recordings, and GIFs)
• A professional, advanced IDE for iOS and macOS development?
  Sorry, you’re stuck XCode 😬

💬   Other

If you know other interesting products, shoot them to my Twitter. I can add them here.