Best MacOS Apps / Software
Discover the 10 Best Free Software for Your Mac: Must-Have Applications
LibreOffice is a powerful office suite that offers clean interface and feature-rich tools that strives to deliver the creative productivity to you. 📝 It includes several applications that make it the most versatile Free and Open Source office suite on the market: Writer (word processing), Calc (spreadsheets), Impress (presentations), Draw (vector graphics and flowcharts), Base (databases), and Math (formula editing).
🥳 Pros
- Offers a wide range of application tools delivering solid performance.
- Brilliant for those who require a comprehensive office suite but at zero-cost.
🥺 Cons
- It might take some time to get used to the interface if you’re shifting from other office suites.
- Some files with complex formatting might not open correctly.
If you’re looking for a media player that can play all kinds of multimedia files as well as DVDs, audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols, then VLC Media Player is a solution. 🎬 Developed by VideoLAN, VLC is available for all operating system platforms: desktop, mobile, server, and TVs. And it’s free – no spyware, no ads and no user tracking.
🥳 Pros
- Supports a wide variety of video and audio file formats.
- There are no ads, spying or secret third-party trackers.
🥺 Cons
- Lacks an intuitive interface. You may take time to explore and understand the features.
- Advanced features could be challenging for beginners to explore.
GIMP, an abbreviation of GNU Image Manipulation Program, is a free image editor. 🖼 It offers sophisticated tools for producing icons, graphic design elements, and art for user interface components and mockups.
🥳 Pros
- Provides a fully-loaded, pro-level editing tool.
- It’s open-source and hence, it gets updated by either its original developers or its coding community.
🥺 Cons
- It has a steep learning curve which might be overwhelming for beginners.
- The interface lacks modern intuitiveness.
HandBrake is a video converter program intended to both rip and convert video files to work on a number of supported devices. 🎥 The features of this converter are easy enough to understand.
🥳 Pros
- Simple, easy-to-use interface.
- Supports a number of media formats and comes with preset configurations for various devices.
🥺 Cons
- Advanced functionality can be complex for new users.
- The interface might seem visually unappealing to some.
Mozilla Firefox is a popular web browser that offers an organized, energy-efficient interface. 🌐 It comes with several built-in privacy and security features.
🥳 Pros
- Offers tab-browsing coupled with advanced privacy options.
- Includes a built-in PDF viewer and tons of free addons to customize your browser experience.
🥺 Cons
- Firefox consumes more CPU resources compared to other web browsers which shortens battery life.
- Some websites do not work properly in Firefox as they are designed mainly for Chrome.
Need a file archiver with high compression ratio? Go for 7-Zip. 🗃 It is free, it supports a multitude of file formats, and it works with both Windows and Mac.
🥳 Pros
- Provides a high compression ratio which is perfect for heavy files.
- Supports a wide array of file formats.
🥺 Cons
- The interface is not user-friendly and looks outdated.
- The speed of compression and decompression could be slow depending upon the size of the files.
Looking for a free audio editor and recorder? Audacity is a go-to software for music production. 🎵 With a wide range of features, it offers a lot – from recording live audio, through mixing sounds into stereo or even surround, to editing WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP2, MP3 or Ogg Vorbis sound files.
🥳 Pros
- It’s a great tool for both beginners for its easy-to-understand UI and professionals for its vast array of features.
- It supports multiple audio file formats.
🥺 Cons
- It can be prone to crashing and there isn’t a ‘recovery’ feature for unsaved work.
- Takes time to process larger files.
CPUBalance is a free real-time CPU optimization software. 🧮 This system optimizing software is small and lightweight compared to many other software, taking up less space on your hard drive.
🥳 Pros
- It is highly efficient in optimizing computer resources.
- Simple and easy-to-use interface.
🥺 Cons
- Sometimes, it can be overzealous in limiting CPU resources for certain tasks.
- May not make a noticeable difference if you have a modern multi-core processor.
PeaZip, a free file and archive manager, offers an unified portable GUI that, unlike most of its competitors, opens a wide array of formats. 📖 It’s a reliable solution to compress and decompress any kind of file and to create self-extracting archives.
🥳 Pros
- Supports a variety of file compressing formats.
- It is available in portable mode that doesn’t need installation, saving space.
🥺 Cons
- The interface could seem intimidating for beginners.
- Modifying archives is a complex process, as it requires intermediate steps.
Inkscape is an open-source vector graphic editor similar to Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Freehand, or Xara X. 🖋 It supports scalable vector graphics formats for stretchable, vectored visuals.
🥳 Pros
- Complete toolkit with transparency, gradients, node editing, pattern fills, PNG export, and more.
- Active development community which delivers regular updates.
🥺 Cons
- It may take some time getting used to the workflow.
- Certain tools within the software don’t match the quality of other high-end programs.
🏁🏁 Conclusion 🏁🏁
There you have it, a list of the top 10 free software for your Mac. For your different needs and requirements, these applications will surely prove handy. Remember, a software is rendered the best not solely based on the number of features it provides; it’s more about the right balance between the basic vital features you need and a simplistic and user-friendly interface. 💻 So, make sure you choose the right tool that aligns best with your requirements.
FAQ
Is the software listed in the article really free?
Yes, all the software listed in the article is free. Some of them offer optional premium versions with additional features.
Where can I download the software?
You can find the download links in the article. They can be downloaded from the official websites or the Mac App Store.
Is the software safe to download?
All the software listed in the article is from trusted sources and safe to download. However, make sure to download from the links provided in the article to avoid any scam or malware.
Can I use the software on other platforms?
Most of the software listed is compatible with other platforms as well. You can check the software’s website for more information.
What kind of software is included in the article?
The article includes a variety of software including productivity apps, photo editing tools, browsers, communication apps and much more.
Will the software slow down my Mac?
All of the software listed is lightweight and should not significantly impact the performance of your Mac.
Do I need to create an account to use the software?
Some software might require you to create an account, but most of them can be used without any account creation.
Is there any trial period for the free software?
Since the software is free, there is no trial period. You can use them indefinitely without any limitations.
Are there any in-app purchases in the software listed?
Some apps might have in-app purchases for additional features, but all the basic functionalities are available for free.
Can the software be used offline?
Most of the apps can be used offline, but some may require an internet connection for certain features.
Does the software receive regular updates?
Yes, all the software listed in the article receive regular updates to fix bugs and add features.
Is customer support available for these softwares?
Most software companies offer some form of customer support, often through their website or a built-in support feature in the app.
Are the softwares ad-free?
Most of the free softwares listed are ad-free. Some may contain ads, but they are non-intrusive.
Does the software require a powerful Mac to run?
The software listed in the article is designed to run on standard Mac hardware and does not require a powerful Mac to run.
Can I use the software for commercial purposes?
Each software has its own terms of use. Some are free for personal and commercial use, while others might require you to purchase a commercial license.
How does the software rank in terms of user-friendliness?
All the software listed in the article is rated highly in terms of user-friendliness. They are easy to install and navigate.
Are these softwares compatible with the latest version of macOS?
Yes, all the software listed is compatible with the latest version of macOS.
Will there be any watermarks on my work when using the free software?
Most of the free software listed does not add any watermarks. However, some might do so especially in the case of video or photo editing tools.
What languages are supported by these softwares?
The language support varies for each software. However, most of them support multiple languages including English.
Are these softwares open source?
Some of the software listed in the article is open source. You can refer to the individual software’s website for more information.