RaycastFree to startCleanShot X$35 onceObsidianFree to startThings 3From $9.99MacWhisperFree to startDaisyDisk$9.99 onceProcreate$12.99 onceMerlin Bird IDFree1PasswordFrom $3.99FlightyFree to startStardew Valley$4.99AlfredFree to startScreen StudioFrom $9Day OneFree to startFantasticalFree to startChatGPTFree to startHazel$42 oncePixelmator Pro$49.99 onceVLCFree, open sourceBitwardenFree to startCARROT WeatherFree to startBalatro$9.99Keyboard Maestro$36 onceCapFree to startGoodnotesFree to startGranolaFree to startClaudeFree to startLocalSendFree, open sourceHalideFrom $19.99InfuseFree to startLittle Snitch$59 oncePaprika$4.99 onceBalatro+Apple ArcadeRectangleFree, open sourceShottrFree to startNotionFree to startTodoistFree to startWispr FlowFree to startBackblazeFrom $9HandBrakeFree, open source

Apps worth paying for, and the cheapest way to get them.

300 Mac, iPhone and iPad apps picked by The Useful Tech, with every price and every place to buy: the App Store, the developer, Setapp or Apple Arcade.

Mac248iPhone163iPad162Apple Watch49

This week

No paid rankings. How this site is made

Mac utilitiesRocket Typist expands your snippets on Mac and iPhone for a one-time price, not a subscription.Rocket TypistFree to start
Mac utilitiesSnapset brings back your apps, window positions and browser tabs exactly as you left them.Snapset$35 onceMac utilitiesSupaste turns your Mac's clipboard into a searchable timeline of everything you copied, screenshots included.Supaste$29 once

Updated in the last 7 days

New versions of apps in the directory, straight from the App Store and Homebrew.

  1. ChatGPT app iconChatGPTVersion 1.2026.293
  2. Timing app iconTimingVersion 2026.6
  3. LuLu app iconLuLuVersion 4.5.6
  4. Stats app iconStatsVersion 3.0.24
  5. Paku app iconPakuVersion 7.5.1
  6. Loom app iconLoomVersion 1733.0.0
  7. rcmd app iconrcmdVersion 3.8.0
  8. DockFlow app iconDockFlowVersion 1.91
  9. Clop app iconClopVersion 3.6.6
  10. Play app iconPlayVersion 3.0.0
  11. OfficeSquats app iconOfficeSquatsVersion 1.2
  12. BetterTouchTool app iconBetterTouchToolVersion 6.992
  13. Claude app iconClaudeVersion 1.261030.19
  14. Goodnotes app iconGoodnotesVersion 7.1.34
  15. Granola app iconGranolaVersion 1.16.0
  16. Streaks app iconStreaksVersion 11.5.3

Browse by category

Mac utilities62 apps, top pick RaycastScreenshots and recording10 apps, top pick CleanShot XNotes and writing28 apps, top pick ObsidianTasks, calendars and focus33 apps, top pick Things 3AI and dictation17 apps, top pick MacWhisperFiles, backup and storage29 apps, top pick DaisyDiskPhoto, video and design17 apps, top pick ProcreateWatch, listen and read24 apps, top pick Merlin Bird IDPrivacy, web and email20 apps, top pick 1PasswordHealth and everyday life28 apps, top pick FlightyGames32 apps, top pick Stardew Valley

The winners

Each guide names 1 app for most people, the best free one, and who should pick something else.

All 39 guides
Obsidian app iconNote-taking apps for Mac and iPhoneObsidianbeats 13 othersThings 3 app iconTo-do and planner apps for Mac and iPhoneThings 3beats 9 othersRectangle app iconWindow managers for MacRectanglebeats 7 othersUlysses app iconWriting apps for Mac and iPhoneUlyssesbeats 6 othersFantastical app iconCalendar apps for Mac and iPhoneFantasticalbeats 6 othersone sec app iconFocus and app blocker apps for Mac and iPhoneone secbeats 6 others

Collections

Short lists with a point of view, like playlists for apps.

All 19
The first 10 apps to install on a new Mac10 appsMac apps you can only get from the developer10 appsMac apps you pay for once and keep10 appsFree, open source Mac apps that replace paid utilities10 appsSmall menu bar apps worth the space next to the clock10 appsThe first 10 apps to install on a new iPhone10 appsApps that make distraction harder on Mac and iPhone9 appsApps for writers, from first idea to finished draft9 apps

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