Let's share our Top 20 Mac Apps lists to make the minimalists roll their eyes at us

Software
21

Sorry I missed this the other day.

I used to do it through some command line tools but Libation does it via an easy GUI. Log in (via Libation) to my Audible account and it downloads. Convert to .m4b, use the Overcast “upload” function to put the file in my account, and there you have it. All my audiobooks utilizing smart speed and voice boost.

1 Like
22

Awesome I have a M4B tool already I didnt know about the upload feature.

23

It’s the primary reason I keep coming back to overcast, frankly. Easy website access to add and remove my own uploads is a big deal.

24

Nope, we don’t require it :smile:

https://archive.ph/20250218210830/https://akylson.com/top-20-macos-apps-for-your-productivity-2aaade40f473

2 Likes
25

Now I know what I’m doing this weekend. Got a long list of “apps to try” :smirk:

26

Productivity:

  1. Alfred
  2. BetterTouchTool
  3. PopClip
  4. Hazel
  5. Quitter
  6. DropOver
  7. HazeOver
  8. Typinator
  9. Things 3

Note Taking

  1. Apple Note
  2. Obsidian
  3. GoodLinks

Utilities

  1. Little Snitch
  2. BetterDisplay
  3. Ears
  4. IINA
  5. Ice
  6. Downie

Browsing/Work:

  1. ChatGPT
  2. Gemini
  3. Perplexity

Coding

  1. IntelliJ
  2. VS Code
  3. Sublime Text
1 Like
27

I had never heard of iina and that looks quite impressive, thanks.

Ears seems like it was created for a pre-control center world where I can change audio sources in 2 clicks. Is that correct or am I missing some additional functionality?

28

best media player for macOS. Good shortcut support. Supports range of formats. Light weight. Open source.

It’s not just for menu bar indicator. But you can mute you mic at a system level. that way, no app can capture your audio. I use it a lot right after a meeting. Supports keyboard pretty well.

3 Likes
29

After already sharing Lou Plummer’s Top 20 in the original post, I also liked his new Everyday Apps list. A top 20 list is nice for seeing people’s more obscure apps, and an Everyday Apps is nice for seeing the real workhorses.

2 Likes
30

After you uploaded the audiobooks to Overcast, do you still get the Chapters?

31

No, but only because I don’t make the effort to. I think all the apps I use to do this (epubor Audible converter, AudioBook Creator, and/or Libation) support chapters, I just don’t go to the effort to mark them.

32

I don’t mean that you have to spend the time and effort to mark the audiobooks. I looked at the current audiobooks which I extracted using Libation and the extracted copy has chapters information in them already. I wonder if Overcast recognize these chapters? If Overcast supports it automatically, I would be really interested to load up some audiobooks into the iPhone and take them on the go. I am still using Audible app because it has chapters markers and I hate that it always phone home and takes time to sync/connect to the internet before it let me play a book.

33

My favorite apps:

  • Text Sniper
  • Swish
  • Karabiner Elements
  • MusicBox
  • Logic Pro
  • Emacs
  • Bear
  • Raycast (some favorite extensions):
    • Brew - to manage homebrew packages
    • Paste from Apple Books
    • Apple Music Controls
    • Coffee
    • Toggle Menubar
  • Freeform
  • Ice
  • Portal (I have a key-bound shortcut that enables a portal, hides all the other windows, puts the work app in the center at 70% size, hides the menu bar (the dock is always hidden), plays an Apple Music playlist, and turns on focus mode. Chef’s kiss.)
  • Things 3 (don’t use it now, given up on task management, reminders app for basics, just do time tracking in Timelines.)
  • OmniDiskSweeper &/ Pearcleaner
1 Like
34

Ahh, gotcha. I’ll test this out for you and report back.

35

Thanks for the links.

Here are my top 20 on the Mac:

  1. Omnifocus
  2. Calendar
  3. Superhuman
  4. Notes
  5. Keynote
  6. DevonThink
  7. Keyboard Maestro
  8. NordVPN
  9. Mindnode
  10. Perplexity
  11. Pages
  12. Numbers
  13. Microsoft Excel
  14. Microsoft Teams
  15. Photoshop
  16. WebStorm
  17. Adobe Acrobat
  18. Passwords
  19. Messages
  20. TeamViewer
3 Likes
36

In no particular order, just running across my dock.

RyuJinx
Adobe Creative Suite
1Password
AirMail
Drafts
FieryFeeds
Devonthink 3 Pro
Fantastical
Omnifocus
DayOne
Final Cut Pro
Logic Pro
Art Text 4
The Amoeba Apps
Transmit
Crossover
iMazing
Lil Snitch
Calibre
Downcast
TextExpander
Keyboard Maestro

2 Likes
37

Here are my everyday apps:

Bear
Snippety
Heptabase
Mailmate
ChatGPT
Day One
Safari
Clean Shot
Drop Over
Alfred
Pop Over
Choosy
PasteNow
DevonThink
Bartender
Trickster
Omnifocus
Scratchpad
Simplenote
1Password

2 Likes
38

I don’t think I have 20 but try to add as many as possible:

  1. Apple Notes
  2. iA Writer
  3. Safari
  4. Netnewswire
  5. Apple Music
  6. Pixelmator
1 Like
39

Top Apps based on being most recently opened:

  1. Safari
  2. Mail (running all the time)
  3. News
  4. System Settings (does this count??)
  5. Preview
  6. Quicken
  7. Pages
  8. ScanSnap Home
  9. iPhone Mirroring
  10. Calendar (this is actually open all of the time)
  11. H&R Block 2024
  12. Notes
  13. 1Password
  14. Scrivener
  15. iStat Menus (always running)
  16. Messages
  17. App Store
  18. Resilio Sync (always running)
  19. BetterSnapTool (always running)
  20. Alfred (always running)
  21. Hazel (always running)

These have all be used since the last reboot.

3 Likes
40

Can you elaborate on how you find Trickster useful? It’s one of those apps where I like the idea, it’s just hard to think of how it would actually change my workflows much.