There is no shortage of free yet useful programs for Windows, but when it comes to macOS, most of the good macOS apps are always paid. So, for the past few months, I've been building a list of free productivity apps for macOS. And I finally have a solid list.
Nov 13, 2020 Best Calendar App: Google Calendar. There are many calendar apps on the market, but Google Calendar is still the best. It's free, works across devices, and works well for both individuals and teams. It lets you manage multiple calendars using color-coding, as well as set multiple reminders for events. Runner-Up: Woven. Jul 16, 2018 Things works on iOS and macOS—and there are a wide range of other to-do list apps, from web-based apps with free versions like Todoist to Apple's built-in Reminders app and the popular GTD app OmniFocus.
So, let's check it out. Shall we?
Free macOS Apps to Boost Your Productivity
1. Itsycal
Looking for a Calendar in the Menu Bar?
Unlike Windows, macOS doesn't show you a calendar when you click on the clock icon in the menu bar, Yes, you can bring up the calendar app from the spotlight (press cmd + spacebar, type in ‘calendar' and hit enter), but that takes too long.
Enter Itsycal, it's a tiny calendar that sits at your menu bar and displays your monthly calendar. It also If you want, it will display your events as a companion to the Mac Calendar app. And to jump between different months and years, you can use the arrow keys on your keyboard.
2. ExternalDisplayBrightness
ExternalDisplayBrightness is a simple utility that allows you to change the brightness of external displays connected to your Mac using keyboard shortcuts. No need to use the keys on your external monition for controlling brightness and contrast.
3. Pearl
Every once in a while, when you want to check your hair, see if something is stuck in your teeth; you scrounge for a mirror to look into and there's none around to your embarrassment.
Before discovering Pearl, I often used facetime to see how I look before you get ready for skype call. But the issue with that is, the preview is so big, that even people sitting beside you might spot your narcissism.
And that's where Pearl comes in, it's a tiny app that sits in your menu bar. Click it, make sure the lights and angles are good enough for your meeting.
4. Be Focused
No productivity app list can be completed without a Pomodoro timer app.
For those who are unfamiliar, the Pomodoro technique is pretty simple. Set a timer for 25 minutes, work for that duration of time, take a short break, then reset a timer and work again.
In Be focused, you can customize work timers like 25 mins or 45 mins, set different break times, and even change the alarm sounds.
You can add up to ten tasks to your to-do list, however, if you are a beginner, I would suggest taking it slow. The less you do Pomodoro, the effective it gets.
5. Timeout
So, here is a disturbing fact for you – if you sit in an office chair for more than six hours a day, then you just might be a risk of getting heart disease 64 percent more than usual.
Well, what can you do about it? I try to follow two systems.
- Drink a lot of water, which will not only keep you hydrated, but you'll also have to periodically get up to go and pee.
- Use a 20-20-20 rule. I.e. every 20 minutes, walk 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
And guess what, this is where time out, comes in picture.
By default, it freezes your computer after the 20 minutes by showing an overlay, and won't let you work for 20 sec, expecting you to walk towards your co-worker and start an awkward conversation for 20 sec.
Although, I'm if, in high productivity mood, I prefer to set up the intervals to about 25 mins so that it syncs well with Pomodoro timer.
6. Usage
One thing that rings true for every work environment is that really It's easy to get distracted these days. And one way to solve this problem is time tracking.
If you know where you are spending your time, you'll have a better idea on how to manage it.
Once you install it, the app will run in the background, it requires no input from your side. And after waiting for few days or weeks, the app will give you a bird's-eye view of your work, about where you are spending most of your time and if you are being productive or not.
7. Quitter
Another way to fight distraction is by hiding or quitting the app, that you no longer use on your mac.
If you waste too much time checking for new messages on skype and slack, then Quitter is what you need. Simply put, if you don't open an app for a select amount of time, Quitter will hide or quit that app so you don't think about it. Overall, if you find yourself wasting time with certain apps just because they're in front of your eyes, this might help you out.
8. Monosnap
macOS already offers a way of capturing screencast with QuickTime. And tbh, it's decent. However, if you do if you often take screenshots and record your screen, then having a third-party app is a must.
For a long time, I was looking for a good screen recording app for my mac, and then I discovered monospace.
Just like any recorder, you can record a part of the screen or the complete area, and it also has a built-in editor. But the best thing I like about it is, say, I found an image, which I want to quickly edit, you can just simply copy the image to your clipboard, go to Monosnap and open it from the clipboard, and you can edit it right then and there.
In a nutshell, Monosnap is the best screen recording and screenshot app you can find for free.
9. Space launch
To open an app on macOS, what we usually do is, bring up the spotlight with cmd + space and type in the first few letters of the app, like ch for google chrome. But what If I told you, there is an easier way to launch an app on macOS with a simple keyboard shortcut. For instance, to open chrome you can press spacebar + c. Or press space + s to launch the slack app.
You can also set child keys, like Space + F then D (while you are holding the space button) to open the Downloads folder and Space + F then c to open iCloud directory. Browser virus mac.
10. Cleaner for Memory
Newer Macs come with plenty of RAM, so you won't see your macOS slowing down or app crashes. but older Macs can get really slow, especially while running apps like FCP or photoshop.
And this the problem Cleaner for Memory tries to solve. It's a small app that lives in your menu bar, and show you memory statistics when you click on it.
But the cool thing here is, — if your system is a bit sluggish, you can click on optimize button, and it'll free up some of your RAM.
But how does that work? Where does it get extra ram from?
Well, your Mac likes to cache things in your 'free' RAM so that it can load apps quickly. This might be nice sometimes, but if you need to free up a lot of memory for a particular app, let's say running FCP on old MacBook, then you'd delete your cache files. And get some extra ram from there.
The world is more distracting than ever before. From social media and streaming services like Netflix to video games and silly YouTube videos, our attention is constantly being diverted from our daily tasks.
If you're frequently finding yourself looking at your smartphone or falling behind in your workload, there are numerous productivity apps available to remove distractions and keep you focused on the task at hand. These tools provide specialized practices for a wide range of needs.
So, what are productivity apps you can use to accomplish more throughout the day? Take a look at this list to find a variety of great productivity tools you can add to your arsenal. Whether you are working on improving yourself or you're a manager trying to help your team be more productive, you'll find multiple options to improve your tactics.
1. Slack (Communication)
Becoming a household name among friends, families, and companies, Slack has revolutionized the concept of online communication. Instead of sending someone an email and waiting for them to check their inbox, send them a message, photo, video, or document via this app and they will instantly get a notification on their computer or mobile device. The conversations are organized with searchable history and numerous tools that keep everyone well within the loop.
Price: Free for small groups. Paid options for larger teams range between $6.67 to $12.50 per person.
2. Evernote (Note Taking)
Evernote has been around for more than 15 years now, but it is still heavily considered the best productivity software for taking notes. With both computer and mobile versions, you can jot down everything from lists to class notes from anywhere at any time. You'll be able to organize all your records into projects to ensure everything can be easily found as soon as you need it.
Price: Free for basic note-taking. Premium features available for personal and business use from $7.99 per month up to $14.99 per user per month.
3. Zoom (Video Calls)
Whether you like to use video calls for personal or commercial needs, Zoom beats out the competition by a mile. Their system offers crisp video with clean audio and simple functions to meet all your expectations. Run business meetings, webinars, conference calls, and more with one of the top productivity tools on the web.
Price: Free for unlimited 1:1 meetings and hosting up to 100 participants. Pro features available for between $14.99 per month and $19.99 per month.
4. 24me (Calendar)
No matter who you are, most people have at least one calendar they have to manage and keep up with. 24me allows users to combine all of your schedules and have easy access to them from one place. From your business agenda and personal schedule to social media events, track everything on one calendar app.
Price: Free to download, but offers in-app purchases.
5. Toggl Plan (Project Management)
Many people may automatically associate project management with business but in reality, Toggl Plan offers functions for both personal productivity and for managers to monitor their team's productivity. Features range from planning tools and checklists to reminder updates and wide overviews. Personal projects and business tasks will be easier to track and complete than ever before.
Price: Free for up to 5 people. Pricing plans start at $8/user per month.
6. Pocket (Bookmark News)
Previously called Read It Later, the Pocket app offers exactly that. Use it to save content from numerous sources and save them to be read at a later time. Whether you want to bookmark a news article to read after work or a Ted talk to look over during your lunch break, you'll be able to keep up with everything and avoid the need to find it later.
Price: Free to save, read, watch, and listen for a limited amount of sources. Monthly membership for $4.99 per month or an annual membership for $44.99 per year offering an unlimited library.
7. Todoist (To-do List)
Everyone in the world has at least one thing they need to accomplish each and every day. Todoist helps you organize your to-do list and get reminders for the tasks as they come up throughout your schedule. You'll be able to declutter your mind and allow the app to keep you on track.
Price: Free for the basic checklist. $3 per month billed annually for basic features.
8. Toggl (Time Tracking)
Do you ever get distracted? Toggl is one of the best productivity apps for tracking your time and preventing procrastination. It offers a handful of useful features ranging from timers and tracking reminders to a project dashboard and more.
Price: Free for up to 5 people. Free 30-day trial for larger groups with monthly and annual payment plans between about $10 to $20 per month. Large enterprises will need to contact them for customized pricing.
9. Shortcuts (Mobile Task Management)
Previously known as Workflow, the Shortcuts app allows you to create tasks that save you time. With template options and the ability to create customized shortcuts, you'll be able to make complicated tasks simple. Create custom speed dial lists, get rapid directions to your next calendar item, instantly open your favorite playlist, and more.
Price: Free to download, but offers in-app purchases.
10. Grammarly (Spell Checker)
Do you struggle with grammar and punctuation from time to time? That's okay because Grammarly has your back with its adaptable grammar checking software. It will integrate with your computer or mobile device and automatically point any misspelled words, missing commas, and other mistakes.
Price: Free for basic writing corrections. Premium from $11.66 per month and business from $15 per month per user.
11. Hootsuite (Social Media Management)
/GettyImages-626970032-497800518dac4d6cafa0dc19b953f1ff.jpg "Best Free Mac Productivity Apps")
There is no shortage of free yet useful programs for Windows, but when it comes to macOS, most of the good macOS apps are always paid. So, for the past few months, I've been building a list of free productivity apps for macOS. And I finally have a solid list.
Nov 13, 2020 Best Calendar App: Google Calendar. There are many calendar apps on the market, but Google Calendar is still the best. It's free, works across devices, and works well for both individuals and teams. It lets you manage multiple calendars using color-coding, as well as set multiple reminders for events. Runner-Up: Woven. Jul 16, 2018 Things works on iOS and macOS—and there are a wide range of other to-do list apps, from web-based apps with free versions like Todoist to Apple's built-in Reminders app and the popular GTD app OmniFocus.
So, let's check it out. Shall we?
Free macOS Apps to Boost Your Productivity
1. Itsycal
Looking for a Calendar in the Menu Bar?
Unlike Windows, macOS doesn't show you a calendar when you click on the clock icon in the menu bar, Yes, you can bring up the calendar app from the spotlight (press cmd + spacebar, type in ‘calendar' and hit enter), but that takes too long.
Enter Itsycal, it's a tiny calendar that sits at your menu bar and displays your monthly calendar. It also If you want, it will display your events as a companion to the Mac Calendar app. And to jump between different months and years, you can use the arrow keys on your keyboard.
2. ExternalDisplayBrightness
ExternalDisplayBrightness is a simple utility that allows you to change the brightness of external displays connected to your Mac using keyboard shortcuts. No need to use the keys on your external monition for controlling brightness and contrast.
3. Pearl
Every once in a while, when you want to check your hair, see if something is stuck in your teeth; you scrounge for a mirror to look into and there's none around to your embarrassment.
Before discovering Pearl, I often used facetime to see how I look before you get ready for skype call. But the issue with that is, the preview is so big, that even people sitting beside you might spot your narcissism.
And that's where Pearl comes in, it's a tiny app that sits in your menu bar. Click it, make sure the lights and angles are good enough for your meeting.
4. Be Focused
No productivity app list can be completed without a Pomodoro timer app.
For those who are unfamiliar, the Pomodoro technique is pretty simple. Set a timer for 25 minutes, work for that duration of time, take a short break, then reset a timer and work again.
In Be focused, you can customize work timers like 25 mins or 45 mins, set different break times, and even change the alarm sounds.
You can add up to ten tasks to your to-do list, however, if you are a beginner, I would suggest taking it slow. The less you do Pomodoro, the effective it gets.
5. Timeout
So, here is a disturbing fact for you – if you sit in an office chair for more than six hours a day, then you just might be a risk of getting heart disease 64 percent more than usual.
Well, what can you do about it? I try to follow two systems.
- Drink a lot of water, which will not only keep you hydrated, but you'll also have to periodically get up to go and pee.
- Use a 20-20-20 rule. I.e. every 20 minutes, walk 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
And guess what, this is where time out, comes in picture.
By default, it freezes your computer after the 20 minutes by showing an overlay, and won't let you work for 20 sec, expecting you to walk towards your co-worker and start an awkward conversation for 20 sec.
Although, I'm if, in high productivity mood, I prefer to set up the intervals to about 25 mins so that it syncs well with Pomodoro timer.
6. Usage
One thing that rings true for every work environment is that really It's easy to get distracted these days. And one way to solve this problem is time tracking.
If you know where you are spending your time, you'll have a better idea on how to manage it.
Once you install it, the app will run in the background, it requires no input from your side. And after waiting for few days or weeks, the app will give you a bird's-eye view of your work, about where you are spending most of your time and if you are being productive or not.
7. Quitter
Another way to fight distraction is by hiding or quitting the app, that you no longer use on your mac.
If you waste too much time checking for new messages on skype and slack, then Quitter is what you need. Simply put, if you don't open an app for a select amount of time, Quitter will hide or quit that app so you don't think about it. Overall, if you find yourself wasting time with certain apps just because they're in front of your eyes, this might help you out.
8. Monosnap
macOS already offers a way of capturing screencast with QuickTime. And tbh, it's decent. However, if you do if you often take screenshots and record your screen, then having a third-party app is a must.
For a long time, I was looking for a good screen recording app for my mac, and then I discovered monospace.
Just like any recorder, you can record a part of the screen or the complete area, and it also has a built-in editor. But the best thing I like about it is, say, I found an image, which I want to quickly edit, you can just simply copy the image to your clipboard, go to Monosnap and open it from the clipboard, and you can edit it right then and there.
In a nutshell, Monosnap is the best screen recording and screenshot app you can find for free.
9. Space launch
To open an app on macOS, what we usually do is, bring up the spotlight with cmd + space and type in the first few letters of the app, like ch for google chrome. But what If I told you, there is an easier way to launch an app on macOS with a simple keyboard shortcut. For instance, to open chrome you can press spacebar + c. Or press space + s to launch the slack app.
You can also set child keys, like Space + F then D (while you are holding the space button) to open the Downloads folder and Space + F then c to open iCloud directory. Browser virus mac.
10. Cleaner for Memory
Newer Macs come with plenty of RAM, so you won't see your macOS slowing down or app crashes. but older Macs can get really slow, especially while running apps like FCP or photoshop.
And this the problem Cleaner for Memory tries to solve. It's a small app that lives in your menu bar, and show you memory statistics when you click on it.
But the cool thing here is, — if your system is a bit sluggish, you can click on optimize button, and it'll free up some of your RAM.
But how does that work? Where does it get extra ram from?
Well, your Mac likes to cache things in your 'free' RAM so that it can load apps quickly. This might be nice sometimes, but if you need to free up a lot of memory for a particular app, let's say running FCP on old MacBook, then you'd delete your cache files. And get some extra ram from there.
The world is more distracting than ever before. From social media and streaming services like Netflix to video games and silly YouTube videos, our attention is constantly being diverted from our daily tasks.
If you're frequently finding yourself looking at your smartphone or falling behind in your workload, there are numerous productivity apps available to remove distractions and keep you focused on the task at hand. These tools provide specialized practices for a wide range of needs.
So, what are productivity apps you can use to accomplish more throughout the day? Take a look at this list to find a variety of great productivity tools you can add to your arsenal. Whether you are working on improving yourself or you're a manager trying to help your team be more productive, you'll find multiple options to improve your tactics.
1. Slack (Communication)
Becoming a household name among friends, families, and companies, Slack has revolutionized the concept of online communication. Instead of sending someone an email and waiting for them to check their inbox, send them a message, photo, video, or document via this app and they will instantly get a notification on their computer or mobile device. The conversations are organized with searchable history and numerous tools that keep everyone well within the loop.
Price: Free for small groups. Paid options for larger teams range between $6.67 to $12.50 per person.
2. Evernote (Note Taking)
Evernote has been around for more than 15 years now, but it is still heavily considered the best productivity software for taking notes. With both computer and mobile versions, you can jot down everything from lists to class notes from anywhere at any time. You'll be able to organize all your records into projects to ensure everything can be easily found as soon as you need it.
Price: Free for basic note-taking. Premium features available for personal and business use from $7.99 per month up to $14.99 per user per month.
3. Zoom (Video Calls)
Whether you like to use video calls for personal or commercial needs, Zoom beats out the competition by a mile. Their system offers crisp video with clean audio and simple functions to meet all your expectations. Run business meetings, webinars, conference calls, and more with one of the top productivity tools on the web.
Price: Free for unlimited 1:1 meetings and hosting up to 100 participants. Pro features available for between $14.99 per month and $19.99 per month.
4. 24me (Calendar)
No matter who you are, most people have at least one calendar they have to manage and keep up with. 24me allows users to combine all of your schedules and have easy access to them from one place. From your business agenda and personal schedule to social media events, track everything on one calendar app.
Price: Free to download, but offers in-app purchases.
5. Toggl Plan (Project Management)
Many people may automatically associate project management with business but in reality, Toggl Plan offers functions for both personal productivity and for managers to monitor their team's productivity. Features range from planning tools and checklists to reminder updates and wide overviews. Personal projects and business tasks will be easier to track and complete than ever before.
Price: Free for up to 5 people. Pricing plans start at $8/user per month.
6. Pocket (Bookmark News)
Previously called Read It Later, the Pocket app offers exactly that. Use it to save content from numerous sources and save them to be read at a later time. Whether you want to bookmark a news article to read after work or a Ted talk to look over during your lunch break, you'll be able to keep up with everything and avoid the need to find it later.
Price: Free to save, read, watch, and listen for a limited amount of sources. Monthly membership for $4.99 per month or an annual membership for $44.99 per year offering an unlimited library.
7. Todoist (To-do List)
Everyone in the world has at least one thing they need to accomplish each and every day. Todoist helps you organize your to-do list and get reminders for the tasks as they come up throughout your schedule. You'll be able to declutter your mind and allow the app to keep you on track.
Price: Free for the basic checklist. $3 per month billed annually for basic features.
8. Toggl (Time Tracking)
Do you ever get distracted? Toggl is one of the best productivity apps for tracking your time and preventing procrastination. It offers a handful of useful features ranging from timers and tracking reminders to a project dashboard and more.
Price: Free for up to 5 people. Free 30-day trial for larger groups with monthly and annual payment plans between about $10 to $20 per month. Large enterprises will need to contact them for customized pricing.
9. Shortcuts (Mobile Task Management)
Previously known as Workflow, the Shortcuts app allows you to create tasks that save you time. With template options and the ability to create customized shortcuts, you'll be able to make complicated tasks simple. Create custom speed dial lists, get rapid directions to your next calendar item, instantly open your favorite playlist, and more.
Price: Free to download, but offers in-app purchases.
10. Grammarly (Spell Checker)
Do you struggle with grammar and punctuation from time to time? That's okay because Grammarly has your back with its adaptable grammar checking software. It will integrate with your computer or mobile device and automatically point any misspelled words, missing commas, and other mistakes.
Price: Free for basic writing corrections. Premium from $11.66 per month and business from $15 per month per user.
11. Hootsuite (Social Media Management)
Are you struggling to manage multiple social media accounts at the same time? Hootsuite provides access to a variety of functions that outranks any other productivity apps in the same industry. With options to schedule posts, monitor numerous accounts, create content, and multiple analytics, you'll be able to handle your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social profiles with ease.
Price: Free 30-day trial. Plans priced between $29 per month to $599 per month, depending on the number of social accounts.
12. Mindmeister (Mind Mapping)
Does your brain need more than words on a page to comprehend how something will work? Mindmeister is the perfect tool for visual people who want to create mind maps and flowcharts for their projects, ideas, or brainstorming sessions. Collaborate with multiple users, create color-coded views, and expand with visual presentation features.
Price: Free for up to 3 mind maps. Unlimited mind maps and additional features available between $4.99 per month to $12.49 per user per month.
13. 1Password (Password Security)
With personal and online security becoming a bigger problem on a daily basis, more and more people are following recommendations to use variable passwords for each login they use. But this also means trying to remember which one you used for each program. Offering the best productivity software for password security and compilation, 1Password will track your login details for every app you use across the web.
Price: Free 30-day trial. Personal paid plans between $2.99 to $4.99 per month. Business plans between $3.99 to $7.99 per month.
14. Pixlr (Image Editing)
Unless you work in graphic design or another creative industry, Photoshop is overkill when it comes to editing photos and other images. Enter Pixlr with the basic graphic features most people need for simple design projects. Use pre-formatted functions or customize your photos with their innovative online app.
Price: Free basic features. Pro offers additional templates and functions starting at $5 per month.
15. CamScanner (Document Scanning)
In a world moving further and further into the digital age, more people and companies are doing all they can to go paperless. This means creating digital versions of paperwork and other documents. CamScanner saves you the headache of needing a separate scanner by allowing you to scan items with your phone and save them in whatever format you need.
Price: Free download with up to 200M cloud storage. Premium features ranging between $4.99 per month to $9.99 per month.
16. CloudConvert (File Conversion)
Are you a Windows user trying to open a file you received from a Mac user or perhaps the other way around? PC and Apple devices frequently use different file format types, making it a hassle to find a way to open a document or image sent from the opposite system. Clear up this annoyance with CloudConvert, one of the top productivity tools for converting files to whatever type you need.
Price: Free plan with limited functionality. Paid options available based on either a package deal or a subscription plan.
17. Blurt (Writing Assistance)
Bloggers, novelists, journalists, and other writers will tell you how difficult it can be to stay on track and reach their writing goals. The Blurt app provides help with this a wide array of editing, composition, and tracking features. Once a project is completed, you can also share it across a large number of publications and other programs.
Price: Free 15-day trial. $4.99 per month.
18. Google Drive (File Storage)
Other file storage productivity apps have surfaced over the last few years, but Google Drive still reigns supreme as the best option. Recently added to the new Google One system, you'll have up to 15GB of free storage for everything from email to documents and videos.
Price: Free for up to 15GB of storage. Pricing plans for additional storage space start at $1.99 per month.
19. Blinkist (Book Summaries)
The world is full of incredible books that contain expert advice, recommendations, and other important things for us to improve ourselves. But who has the time to read hundreds of pages at a time to learn these things? Blinkist provides audio summaries for thousands of non-fiction books, saving you time and letting you get all the most important details in a much shorter period of time.
Price: Free for one pre-selected daily read. A premium membership for unlimited access starts at $8.34 per month, paid annually.
20. Mindfulness (Meditation)
Essentially everyone in the world needs to take a break from the daily grind at one point or another. And while not all of us can take a vacation or trip out of town, one of the best ways to get away for a moment is with basic meditation techniques. Mindfulness is an app offering both simple meditation and longer sessions for relaxation, focus, and more.
Best Free Productivity Apps For Mac
Price: Free to download, but offers in-app purchases.
Best Free Mac Productivity Apps For Windows 10
Incorporate Productivity Apps into Your Day
Free Mac Mini
If you're struggling with procrastination, laziness, or any other distractions, this list of productivity apps offers a great start for you to get back on track. Try them out and see which ones work best for your needs.
For more lists of useful productivity software and other tools, make sure you check out the Toggl Plan blog!
