Best Mac utilities

Improve your Mac user experience and boost productivity with these awesome apps

- Written by Phil King

While macOS offers a solid suite of built-in apps and features, third-party utilities can take your Mac experience to the next level. In this guide, we highlight the best free and paid Mac utilities that can enhance workflow, improve usability, and keep your system organised and safely backed up.

Utility apps might not be the flashiest in the App Store, but they can transform how you use your Mac day to day. We begin with tools that enable you to personalise and streamline your macOS experience; personalising how you use your Mac is akin to organising your physical workspace, providing a comfortable and efficient environment to help you stay focused.

From tidying up a cluttered menu bar, to keeping your Mac awake when needed, small tweaks can make a big impact. And even something as simple as an upgraded clipboard manager or handy menu bar-based web browser can make a difference.

We also explore productivity and backup tools. From artificial intelligence (AI) powered note-takers and OCR (optical character recognition) text copiers to document outliners, productivity-boosting apps can help you to improve your workflow. Data backup and system maintenance is also crucial; a Mac's storage can soon become cluttered with all sorts of redundant files and apps, so give it a spring-clean will also help to revitalise your work space.

Customise & organise

Personalise macOS and keep everything in order