12 must-have free Mac apps I always install first

The 12 free Mac apps in this roundup prove that the best software doesn’t need to cost you anything.

These are the first apps I install on any new Mac, as they either boost my productivity or add essential functionality missing from macOS.

12 must-have free Mac apps I always install first

You will find plenty of free apps on the Mac App Store. And some of them are genuinely useful. There are the usuals like WhatsApp, Slack and Telegram that you probably already heard of or are using.

But there are plenty of other free apps for your Mac that you likely don’t know about. For me, these 12 apps are must-have downloads any time I set up a new Mac.

Table of contents: 12 must-have free Mac apps I always install first

• Raycast: Spotlight on steroids
• AltTab: Windows-like app switching
• Maccy: Powerful clipboard manager
• Ice: Tidy your Mac’s menu bar
• Command X: Cut and paste files easily
• Stats: Monitor your Mac’s resource usage
• DockDoor: Add previews to the dock
• Loop: Radial window manager
• App Cleaner: Uninstall apps cleanly
• The Unarchiver: The ZIP utility your Mac deserves
• Amphetamine: Prevent your Mac from sleeping
• IINA: A sleek VLC alternative

Raycast

I have previously written extensively about Raycast and how it’s among my most-used Mac apps. As a quick refresher, Raycast functions as a Spotlight replacement for Mac that can integrate with other apps and services. So, I can directly do a Google Search from Raycast, search through my Google Drive, toggle my Mac’s system settings, control Apple Music and more.

Raycast can act as more than just an app launcher. It can handle window management, quick note-taking, clipboard history, text translation, script execution, and much more. Plus, it can seamlessly integrate with almost all popular apps and services you can think of, like Slack, 1Password, etc.

What’s even more impressive is that despite packing so much functionality, the core Raycast features remain free to use. Until and unless you want the AI features, the free version will serve you just fine.

It’s amazing how much functionality Raycast’s free version packs. And if you like, you can always upgrade to Raycast AI for $8 per month to enjoy AI integration. But the majority of users will find Raycast’s free version good enough for their needs.

Download: Raycast

AltTab

As the name suggests, AltTab brings the familiar Windows Alt + Tab functionality to your Mac. It replicates Windows-style window switching by showing a live preview of all open windows, including multiple windows from the same app. While macOS offers app switching through the Cmd + Tab shortcut, it does not preview individual windows or display multiple instances of the same app. AltTab fills that gap, making multitasking on Mac far more efficient.

Plus, this free Mac app supports mouse and keyboard navigation, custom shortcuts and window filtering. You can set a shortcut to only show open windows from the current app, use the arrow keys to cycle between different windows and even sort apps by recently used.

By default, AltTab on Mac uses the Option + Tab key for window switching on Mac. But just like other parts of the app, you can customize and change this shortcut as per your liking. Given the functionality AltTab packs, it’s remarkable that it’s free to download and use.

Download: AltTab

Maccy: A free Mac app for a better clipboard experience

While Raycast comes with a built-in clipboard manager, I prefer using Maccy for handling my copy-paste and clipboard needs. It’s lightweight, fast and works as intended.

Maccy packs almost all the features you can ask for in a clipboard manager: search, ability to pin items, support for keyboard shortcuts, alias support, Shortcuts integration and more. Since the app uses open-source code, you can rest assured that your copied data stays private.

If you download Maccy directly from the App Store, you’ll have to purchase it by paying $9.99. But you can get the app for free directly from the developer’s website without any loss in functionality. Check out our guide on how to use Maccy to get the most out of this free clipboard manager.

Download: Maccy

Ice, a free Mac app that brings order to the menu bar

As the number of apps I install and use on my Mac increases, so does the clutter on the menu bar. Thankfully, Ice takes care of the mess, allowing me to hide unwanted menu bar items easily. The best part? The hidden items are quickly accessible with a click or hover. Plus, Ice even allows for menu bar customization, such as adding a gradient, a border, or dividing it into two sections.

Ice delivers a surprising amount of functionality, all without charging a dime.

Download: Ice

Command X

I switched to Macs more than a decade ago. While I don’t miss Windows, I do miss a few small features, like the ability to cut and paste files using the Ctrl + X / Ctrl + V shortcut. Thankfully, free Mac app Command X brings the same functionality to Apple computers. Once installed and set up, you can cut and paste files on your Mac using the Cmd + X and Cmd + V shortcuts.

Download: Command X

Stats

I like to keep an overview of my Mac’s CPU and RAM usage, running temperatures, and other information. iStats Menus is a popular Mac app that places key system resource stats right in your menu bar. While iStat Menus comes at a cost, free Mac app called Stats gives you similar functionality — without the price tag.

Yes, Stats lacks the polish of iStat Menus. But if you only care about functionality, Stats will get the job done. It will display your Mac’s CPU, RAM, disk and network usage on the menu bar for easy monitoring. You can even customize what metrics to show and how they appear, giving you just the right amount of control without the complexity or cost.

Download: Stats

DockDoor

macOS does not show a preview of open app windows when you hover the mouse over an app’s dock icon. DockDoor is a simple, open-source and free app that adds this functionality. While macOS offers Mission Control and App Exposé, a quick hover preview from the dock often feels faster and more convenient.

Download: DockDoor

Loop

Free Mac app Loop brings an innovative solution to enhance macOS’ limited window management features. It uses a radial menu interface to let you move, resize and arrange windows quickly. Instead of fumbling with multiple key combos or dragging windows manually, Loop gives you a visual, mouse-friendly way to snap windows to predefined positions or custom layouts.

You can even tuck windows at the screen edge. These tucked windows remain partially visible and can be brought back instantly when needed. This way, you keep your desktop clean while still having quick access to important app windows.

Download: Loop

App Cleaner

Unlike Windows, macOS does not offer an uninstall functionality for removing apps. Instead, you can directly move the app to the trash to remove it. The problem is that this still leaves behind some app residue. A free Mac app called AppCleaner solves this problem by cleanly uninstalling unwanted apps from your computer, including their cache and other associated files.

Download: AppCleaner

The Unarchiver

You can’t really use a Mac without first installing The Unarchiver. While macOS offers built-in support for unzipping basic archive formats, The Unarchiver goes several steps further. It can extract a wide range of compressed file types, including Zip, RAR (even multi-part), 7-Zip, Tar, Gzip, Bzip2, etc., easily.

What truly sets this free Mac app apart is its ability to handle obscure and legacy formats like LZH, ARJ, StuffIt, and even disk image files such as ISO and BIN. The app is lightweight, free, and integrates seamlessly with Finder. Just double-click on any supported archive, and The Unarchiver will quietly do the job in the background, placing the extracted files right where you want them.

Download: The Unarchiver

Amphetamine: A free app that keeps your Mac from sleeping

Need to keep your Mac awake while downloading large files or running long tasks? Amphetamine makes it effortless. It sits in your Mac’s menu bar, letting you prevent sleep with just a click. You can keep your Mac awake indefinitely or set a timer or conditions like app usage or file downloads.

Amphetamine stands out for its support for advanced triggers. So, you can keep your Mac awake only when specific peripherals are connected or when connected to a particular network.

Download: Amphetamine

IINA

Free Mac app IINA is an open-source media player that supports a wide range of video and audio file formats. While VLC is the go-to for many, IINA stands out with its sleek, modern interface built specifically for macOS. It supports native features like picture-in-picture, Touch Bar controls, dark mode, and gesture-based playback.

Download: IINA

Other free Mac apps?

Know any other amazing free Mac apps? Drop your favorites in the comments below!