30 free macOS apps every Mac user should have From useful utilities to handy archivers and transcoders, here are 30 free yet powerful macOS apps you can download today.
Most free photo editors available on the App Store are quite basic, offering just a limited number of filters and allowing you to easily and quickly liven up your photos before posting them on social media.
But if you’re an aspiring or professional photographer, you probably need a more powerful app with a broader set of tools to use your creativity to the fullest. Besides, you probably use your Mac for photo editing because working on a large screen makes it possible to adjust the slightest details.
1. Apple’s Photos (Built-in app)
Apple’s Photos app is included for free on all recently released Macs. It does a good job at organizing your photos, but its collection of photo enhancement tools leaves much to be desired. Hopefully, our selection of the best free programs for photo editing on Mac will help you choose the right app to suit all your creative needs.
2. Luminar (7 days trial)
Luminar is another full-featured photo editor that’s popular with both Mac and Windows users. It can work as a standalone app as well as a plugin for such popular programs as Apple Photos. Clean up app installs mac.
Luminar uses Artificial Intelligence to enable sophisticated yet quick photo enhancements. Among these AI features are Sky Enhancer, which adds more depth and detail to the sky in your photos while leaving other areas untouched; Accent AI, which analyzes a photo and automatically applies the best combination of different effects to enhance your image; and Sun Rays, which allows you to place an artificial sun and adjust the lighting to your liking or make the sun rays already in your photo look even more incredible.
Luminar has over 60 filters you can apply to your photos to enhance them in a moment. Luminar also provides a set of powerful tools for cropping, transforming, cloning, erasing, and stamping, along with layers, brushes, and many more incredible features. Luminar supports the Touch Bar on the latest MacBook Pro, making photo editing even more effortless and pleasing.
3. Photolemur 3 (Free Version with watermark)
Photolemur is a relative newcomer on the photo editing market but it has all the chances to win the favor of beginner photographers and hobbyists. Running on Artificial Intelligence, Photolemur is a completely automatic photo enhancer, meaning that it does all the editing for you in no time. It has the simplest interface, with only a few buttons and sliders to adjust the enhancement to your liking and view the before and after results.
All you need to do is choose a photo (or a few) that you want to improve, drag and drop or import them using the Import button, and let the program make enhancements. After it’s done, you can compare the edited version with the original image by using the before–after slider and, if you want, adjust the skin tone or even enlarge the eyes using additional sliders. Pretty easy, huh?
Photolemur also offers a number of impressive styles to touch up your photos and give them a sophisticated and professional look. With this app, you don’t need to stuff your head with photo editing nuances and terms. Just run Photolemur and watch the magic happen!
4. Aurora HDR (14 days trial)
As you probably can tell from the name, Aurora HDR is designed to help photographers enhance their HDR photos, making them even more detailed and beautiful. It’s an ideal tool for editing your photos, with an extensive collection of more than 20 tools including details, tone, mapping, color, glow, and vignette. Each tool has its unique selection of controls to adjust its effects.
Aurora HDR enables you to work with brushes, layers, and masks, and provides a number of automatic AI tools for recognizing and removing noise, enhancing colors, lighting, and details, improving clarity, and adding contrast to dull areas while leaving other areas untouched.
Aurora HDR does a great job dealing with difficult lighting situations and creating full-of-life images while being easy to use.
5. Pixelmator (Trial 30 Days)
Pixelmator is a photo enhancer beloved by many Mac users, as it offers a good combination of a modern and simple interface, the ability to work on multiple layers, and powerful features that take photo editing to a whole new level. With so many editing tools, brushes, and effects, you can enhance your photos to your liking. You can choose between two versions of Pixelmator – standard and pro – depending on your needs. The standard version is great for basic photo editing with its selection of essential tools and filters, while the pro version is packed with extra brushes, tools, and effects that let you push your creativity to new boundaries. You can decide which version is suitable for you according to what features you’re looking for in a photo editing app.
6. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020 (Trial link)
Photoshop Elements isn’t as affordable as other photo enhancers for beginner photographers. But luckily there’s a trial version available, so you can check it out before deciding whether this app is worthy of your money. Photoshop Elements acquired many powerful features from Photoshop, only Elements is simplified for amateur photographers and enthusiasts. It includes a good number of effects and filters, plus automated editing options for improving lighting, color balance, and exposure, and even opening closed eyes and reducing the effects of camera shake.
In addition to all of these awesome features, Photoshop also offers editing modes for beginners, intermediate users, and experts. The evernote app wont open on my mac. Beginners will probably prefer Quick mode, as it focuses on essential tools to quickly enhance your photos by improving color, lighting, and other basic settings. Guided mode provides intermediate users with step-by-step guidance with more professional features like artistic effects, skin tone correction, and background replacement. Expert mode gives you full access to the app’s really powerful editing features and is ideal for creating stunning images.
7. Affinity Photo (Free Trial)
Affinity Photo’s interface may seem overwhelming at first, especially for novices, but when you come to grips with it you’ll find that the app is just what you’ve been looking for. Its numerous professional tools, effects, and filters encourage you to get creative with your photos. Among the coolest features Affinity Photo has to offer is a before and after view to compare the original photo with its edited version.
Affinity Photo works with 15 file types, including common ones like PDF, PSD, JPG, and GIF as well as some less popular ones. The app amazes with its abundance of basic and top-notch editing tools, allowing you to tweak your photos using all possible kinds of instruments. Affinity Photo allows you to edit HDR photos, apply artistic filters and effects, play with masks and layers, and create breathtaking compositions by combining several images in one. If you find its interface a bit much and are afraid of getting lost in all those advanced tools, you should probably look for something more suitable for your level. But Affinity Photo is worth mastering.
https://klfmti.weebly.com/how-to-find-32-bit-apps-on-mac.html. 8. Google Photos
Google Photos is a popular cloud storage service for photos and videos. It can’t boast countless masterly tools like other photo enhancers that we review in this article, but it includes some fundamental features like filters, color adjustment sliders, and transformation tools.
Although Google Photos may not be that helpful when it comes to editing photos, it does a pretty good job at storing high-resolution images and videos with 15GB of free online storage, compared to iCloud’s mere 5GB (which you can upgrade to 50GB for a monthly fee). If you’re planning to go on a trip and take plenty of photos, then it might be smart to sign up for Google Photos to use that extra storage space when you come back.
9. PhotoScape X (Free)
A relatively new photo editing app, PhotoScape X has been gaining popularity with many Mac and PC users since its release in 2008. Its interface is simple but unconventional, with a number of tabs running along the top of the window. Each is responsible for a specific stage of editing. The Viewer tab allows you to browse and organize your photos. How to uninstall downloaded app on mac. After you pick a photo, you can switch to the Editor tab, which includes a broad set of instruments, filters, and effects and a useful feature that enables you to compare the adjusted photo with the original.
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The next tabs, including the Batch tab, mainly concentrate on editing and renaming multiple photos at once. The GIF tab allows you to easily create an animated GIF from a group of selected photos.
The downside of PhotoScape X is a lack of selection tools, so all changes are applied to the whole image rather than to a selected part.
Best Free Mac Apps
10. Gimp (Free)
Gimp is a free open-source photo editing app that has been on the market for over 22 years and is available for Windows, Mac, and even Linux. Unlike many free apps, Gimp doesn’t have any ads or in-app purchases. Its grey interface might seem a little old-fashioned and it may be a bit sluggish when it comes to complex effects, though.
Gimp offers a vast collection of advanced tools that hardly any free photo editor can boast. It has numerous enhancement options such as clone and heal brushes, layers and channels, accurate selection tools, a number of transformation instruments, and, of course, color adjustment controls. Gimp is one of the most powerful tools for enhancing photos and is beloved by so many users for its price (free) and versatility. But if you can’t come to grips with Gimp’s interface, it may be worth paying some cash for a more user-friendly program.
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Whether you are upgrading to a newer Mac version, or it’s your first time using a Mac, you need to install some apps. Of course, your Mac will be very boring if there isn’t one app in there. Don’t worry. We are here to help. We’ve scraped every corner of the web to ensure we give a detailed list of the best Mac apps this 2018.
Here’s a quick note before we start our list. Apple has updated its security settings, especially in the newer Mac versions, so you’ll have to manually allow your system to accept and open the apps below. More often, you’ll be prompted that the application is downloaded from the Internet. It’ll ask for your confirmation if you want to continue opening it. When you click Open, the installation will push through.
Anyway, we won’t make this any longer. Without further ado, here are the best apps for Mac.
1. Tweakbit MacRepair
We listed Tweakbit MacRepair as one of the top Mac apps this 2018 because we believe that efficiency and security are of utmost importance. This app optimizes your RAM to give room for more active apps and helps keep your Mac free from any junk that may cause it to perform poorly.
This app is very easy to use. Simply click on the Scan button and the app will start going through all your files and get rid of any junk it sees. It’s that easy.
Another great thing about this app is that it is so smart that it only scans the files that can be safely cleaned. It does not go over the system files because it knows they are important for Mac to run. After the scan, your Mac should perform at its optimum.
2. VLCBest Free Mac Apps 2018 Free
Are you looking for an audio/video player for your Mac? VLC is all you need. It has a user-friendly interface and does not consume so much space on your hard drive. It also has advanced features such as audio/video filters and subtitle synchronization you might want to explore before using.
In addition, VLC can also support a number of video and audio formats. That means you can use it to play music or videos from various sources. As you can see, VLC is such a powerful app. No wonder why it’s listed among the best Mac apps you need this 2018.
3. Handbrake
In case your audio/video player does not support the video format of the movie you just downloaded, perhaps Handbrake can save you. Using this app, you can quickly and conveniently convert a video to any format that is widely supported by existing audio/video players.
Although the interface of Handbrake is pretty plain and straightforward, there are advanced features you must practice on before using. Adding chapters and subtitles to videos is one.
Handbrake is a free app and is available not only for macOS but also for Windows and Linux.
4. Parallels Desktop
One of the most popular apps for Mac, Parallels Desktop allows you to run a Windows OS on a Mac even without rebooting your computer.
Now, you might be wondering why the need to run Windows OS on Mac? Well, Windows gaming will run efficiently on Mac at a faster pace. So, if you want to play any Windows games, you just need to add them to your Mac’s Touch Bar for instant access.
However, Parallels Desktop requires a license that can cost up to $99.99 per year, depending on whether it’ll be used for home or work.
5. BitDefender Antivirus for Mac
Your Mac is one of your most valuable possessions. So, protect every bit of it with BitDefender Antivirus. It’s most recent version has already been redesigned for ease of use, hence it won’t require technical skills to use.
With BitDefender installed on your Mac, rest assured it will be protected against viruses, malware, and ransomware. It can quickly detect threats and remove them as soon as possible. And if you are concerned that performing a scan will affect your Mac’s overall performance, you are wrong. Believe us, it won’t interfere with any running app and it does its job quite fast.
Aside from protecting your Mac, this app also protects your backups. Plus, it is constantly being updated to ensure your Mac gets the level of protection it deserves.
6. iMindMap
Got a lot of ideas running through your mind? Draw them all using iMindMap. This amazing app allows you to design or arrange your ideas in your own way.
This app is known for its Fast Capture View that lets you capture your ideas lightning fast. As soon as your ideas are captured, it will be easier for you to sort and organize them. From there, you can improve your ideas and turn them into a plan using a certain map type. Comments and links can then be added to your map as you wish.
iMindMap is available in Home, Student, Ultimate, and Ultimate Plus versions. The license fee ranges from $100 to $217.
7. Unarchiver
Need to open an archived document on your Mac? You will need Unarchiver. Regardless of the archived document format, this app won’t fail you as it supports a wide range of archived document formats.
To use, you just have to launch the Unarchiver app. Next, go to File > Menu. Lastly, choose the file you want to open the app. The app is free to use. It also does not have any in-app purchases.
8. 1Password
1Password is, by far, one of the best password managers designed for Mac. It works by letting you create one master password, which you can use to access all your other passwords. You get to decide whether to randomly generate passwords inside the app. If you do so, rest assured that they’ll be strong and nearly impossible to hack.
You need not remember any of these passwords. As long as you know your master password, you can easily access the other passwords.
Because it is secure and reliable, you can store your credit card information, software serial numbers, passport numbers, secure data, and bank account details. And if you feel the need to share some passwords with family members or teammates, you can edit the permissions and choose which passwords to make available to co-workers or family members.
9. OmniFocus
If you think you’ve got a digital brain, you’ll need an absolutely reliable task manager like OmniFocus. Although it is very powerful, it has a neat user interface, which makes it easy to use for other Apple products such as Apple Watch.
Because it has many handy features, OmniFocus can be intimidating at times. But if you take time to master how to use it, there should be no dull moment.
This 2018, the developers of this app are looking to release a newer version with more features, including tags and a more flexible scheduling.
10. Dropbox
If you are using your Mac for work, Dropbox makes a handy tool. Besides real-time data synchronization in the cloud, you can use it to collaborate on various projects as a team, regardless of your members’ location.
Once installed, a Dropbox folder is created on your drive. This folder is just like any ordinary folder, but with a few noticeable differences such as changes made here are automatically synced to the Dropbox accounts of the users you have shared the files with.
Why consider Dropbox? There are a lot of reasons, but, we’ll specifically highlight its affordable pricing plans. The Basic plan costs nothing but gives you 2GB storage space and an added 500 MB for every referral. The Pro plan, which comes with a 1TB storage space, is available for $9.99 per month. The Business for Teams plan, on the other hand, costs $15 per user and the storage space is unlimited.
11. Pocket
More than 14 million Mac users use Pocket to save videos and articles for later viewing. Using this app, all contents are saved in one place, allowing easy access for any device. So, even if you are offline, riding the train or in flight, you can read and access your saved files.
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If you have never used Pocket before, you will have to sign up for a new account. After installing the app, open it and click Sign Up and you are good to go.
12. Deliveries
For a worry-free and easy tracking of your packages, use Deliveries. Whether it’s a new dress you ordered overseas or the latest published book of your favorite author, Deliveries keeps you posted on the whereabouts of your package, thus you won’t miss the doorbell.
The app allows you to add estimated delivery dates to your calendar. It also lets you share your shipment updates over AirDrop, iMessage, or email. Now, who wouldn’t want this app on their Macs?
13. Prey
Getting your Mac stolen sucks, but you can do something to prevent it. A theft protection app, Prey allows you to look over your Mac, whether you are abroad or in the local market. And in case of theft, it helps you recover it.
Once the app is installed, it will silently sleep and hide in the background, waiting for a go signal. As soon as you trigger it remotely using another device, your Mac will start collecting detailed evidence and send it to you.
14. Simplenote
Want a fast and easy way to store your ideas or important notes? With Simplenote, you can achieve that. The best way to use this app is to try it firsthand. You have to make an account first. After that, you can write down your thoughts and organize them with pins and tags. If you want, you can share and publish them so others can read.
15. Gimp
Gimp or GNU Image Manipulation Program is a free application that allows you to perform tasks such as image authoring, photo retouching, and image composition.
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Other than that, Gimp has many features and capabilities. It can be used as an online batch processing system, an image renderer for a number of photos, an image converter, and an advanced photo retouching app. Thanks to its advanced scripting interface, all the mentioned tasks can be done effortlessly.
Bottom Line
Every Mac owner has his own needs. While some require advanced applications that are useful for work, others only want an app for entertainment. Then again, we’re confident that there is a corresponding app to answer that need.
Featured above are just some of the best Mac apps this 2018. Install them on your Mac for a convenient year ahead. Soon thereafter, you will realize that everything you need to do on your computer will be easy-peasy, regardless if it’s for work, leisure, hobby, or entertainment.
Is there an app you recommend that didn’t make our list? Let us know. Share the best Mac apps you know of in the comments section below.
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