Ask HN: What macOS apps/programs do you use daily and recommend?

Hacker News Discussion ↗

App Launchers & Productivity Hubs

  • Heavy use of Spotlight replacements: Alfred, Raycast, LaunchBar, Quicksilver legacy.
  • Raycast praised for breadth: app launching, window management (backs Rectangle), clipboard history, conversions, calendar integration, app shortcuts, plugins, and extension model.
  • Concerns about Raycast: VC funding, subscription/AI focus, weaker file workflows, higher resource use; several prefer Alfred or LaunchBar’s simpler, faster workflows.
  • Some want a non-AI, non-subscription “lifetime” Raycast tier; Raycast has signaled they’re exploring cheaper or lifetime options.

Window & Workspace Management

  • Rectangle (and Pro) is the dominant recommendation; many say they “can’t use a Mac without it.”
  • Alternatives: Magnet, Spectacle, Amethyst, Multitouch, Cinch, Wins, BetterSnapTool (now redundant with BetterTouchTool’s snapping).
  • Tiling WMs: yabai+skhd (+SketchyBar) revered by power users; concerns over required privileges, though elevated mode is optional. AeroSpace is suggested but has issues with tabbed apps like Finder. Some stick with Amethyst.
  • Note that basic tiling is coming to a future macOS release, but many still expect to prefer third‑party tools.

Terminals, Dev & CLI Ecosystem

  • iTerm2 widely loved (splits, tmux -CC, profiles, history, timestamps); some mention an AI feature controversy but see it as overblown since it’s opt‑in.
  • Others favor Kitty, WezTerm, Alacritty, Warp, or Kitty+tmux; some miss iTerm2 when on Linux.
  • Package managers: Homebrew is common; multiple people argue MacPorts is older, more “sane,” and less invasive; some use Nix (nix‑darwin + home‑manager) for full system config.
  • Built‑in CLI tools highlighted: pbcopy/pbpaste, networkQuality, caffeinate, open, security, xattr -cr, etc.

Notes, Writing & Task/Info Management

  • Strong use of markdown/note tools: Obsidian, Craft, Bear, iA Writer, Typora, MarkEdit, Highland, NotePlan, Scrivener, FreePlane.
  • Things 3 is a standout todo app for many (polish, hotkeys, OS integration); critics point out lack of end‑to‑end encryption and regulatory implications.
  • Other task/journal tools: TickTick, Todoist (mentioned by comparison), OmniFocus, Day One, Notion, Be Focused/Focus for Pomodoro.
  • “Math notepads” like Calca and Soulver get praise for units and inline calculations.

Security, Privacy & Networking

  • Outbound firewalls: Little Snitch and LuLu (FOSS alternative) are heavily recommended; LuLu noted as lighter, Little Snitch as more full‑featured.
  • Additional Objective‑See tools: KnockKnock, BlockBlock, RansomWhere, Oversight.
  • SSH/key security: Secretive (Secure Enclave keys), yubikey‑agent for YubiKey‑backed SSH.
  • VPNs: Tailscale and WireGuard are frequently mentioned.
  • 2FA: Authy’s desktop app is gone and Authy is seen as “dying”; several switch to 1Password, Strongbox, OTP Auth, or upcoming Apple Passwords; some warn that desktop 2FA weakens security.

Clipboard, Screenshots & Small Utilities

  • Clipboard managers: Maccy, CopyClip, Paste, PastePal, Raycast’s built‑in clipboard, CopyClip; warnings about retaining sensitive data.
  • Screenshot/annotation tools: Shottr, CleanShot X, Xnapper, Snipaste, LiceCap; favored for fast annotations, OCR, pinning, and GIF recording despite strong built‑in macOS shortcuts.
  • Sleep control: Amphetamine, KeepingYouAwake, Owly, Caffeine; others just use caffeinate CLI. Amphetamine’s per‑app monitoring can be CPU‑heavy.
  • Monitor/menubar: MonitorControl and BetterDisplay for external display brightness and HiDPI; iStat Menus and Stats for system metrics.
  • Menubar organizers: Bartender is now distrusted due to a poorly handled ownership change; Ice and IceMenuBar are suggested replacements.

Browsers, Email & Media

  • Browsers: Arc has devoted fans citing “spaces” and organization, but others distrust its unclear monetization and future; concern it may move to paywalled features. Orion, SigmaOS, Firefox+containers, Safari+content blockers, Edge, Brave also appear.
  • Email: Mimestream (native Gmail), MailMate, Superhuman, Fastmail (service) plus native/Outlook; some prefer lightweight or privacy‑respecting clients.
  • Media: IINA is widely preferred over VLC for performance, native UI, HDR, and multi‑video support; VLC still valued for subtitle customization. Infuse, Pixelmator/Pixelmator Pro, Acorn, Affinity suite and others cover media editing.

Automation & Power‑User Tools

  • Keyboard Maestro and Hammerspoon frequently described as transformative, replacing multiple smaller utilities for automation, window management, and UI scripting.
  • Karabiner‑Elements is standard for advanced key remapping (e.g., dual‑role Caps Lock); macOS’s simple modifier remaps are seen as insufficient.
  • Other helpers: Hazel for file automation, Shortcat for keyboard‑driven UI navigation, Shortcuts and AppleScript/JavaScript for Automation for built‑in scripting.

Built‑In macOS Features & Philosophy

  • Several urge learning native tools before installing many apps: Spotlight, QuickLook, Preview+Markup, TextEdit in plain‑text mode, Image Capture, Script Editor/Shortcuts, Finder path/status bars, screenshot tools, live text from images.
  • Some intentionally “purge” third‑party utilities, preferring a lighter, more maintainable setup; others embrace a full “power user” stack but acknowledge trade‑offs in complexity and potential performance impact.