9 apps to try to unlock the full potential of your new Mac

by James · December 25, 2022

Did you unwrap a new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro for Christmas? When you unbox your shiny new Mac and set it up, you may be wondering which apps you should install first. Although Apple includes some great apps built into macOS, several third-party options are worth checking out. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best Mac apps to help you get the most out of your new computer, along with some helpful tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your new Mac.

Table of Contents

Pixelmator Pro

Pixelmator Pro is a powerful image editing app for Mac that offers a wide range of features and tools for creating and editing professional-quality images. Whether you’re a professional designer or a casual photographer looking to spruce up your photos, Pixelmator has something to offer.

In addition to basic editing tools like cropping, resizing, and color adjustments, Pixelmator also includes advanced features like layers, masks, and blending modes. This makes it easy to create complex compositions and fine-tune your images to achieve professional-quality results.

If you want an image editor without paying Abode a monthly subscription, I highly recommend Pixelmator Pro.

1Password

If you’re like most people, you probably have a lot of passwords to remember. Between online shopping accounts, social media logins and financial information, it can be difficult to keep track of everything. 1Password is a password manager that helps you store, organize and secure all your login information in one place. With 1Password, you only need to remember one master password, and the app takes care of the rest. It even works with Touch ID and Face ID (on iOS).

1Password is an app I don’t want to be without; I’ve personally used it since some of the earliest OS X versions. Beyond just password management, there are many features that 1Password supports that make it something worth paying for (versus Safari’s free features). They include support for secure notes with attachments, personal information such as social security numbers, app license information, credit card information, passport information, and more. I also use it for all my two factor authentication code storage as well. There are some other great password managers to check out, including Bitwarden, Dashlane, and LastPass.

TextExpander

TextExpander is a productivity tool that helps you save time by letting you create and use short abbreviations to expand longer pieces of text. For example, you can create an abbreviation like “addr” that expands to your home address, saving you a lot of time when typing frequently used phrases or answers. It can also prevent you from making spelling mistakes as well. If you use your Mac for work, it’s a must.

Fantastic

Fantastical is the best calendar app for Mac, combining a variety of features to help you manage your schedule and stay on top of your tasks. One of the standout features of Fantastical is its natural language input. You can create events and appointments simply by typing them in plain English. For example, you can write “meet Bradley at 15.00 on Tuesday”, then Fantastical will make the arrangement for you. This makes it easy to add events and appointments quickly and easily.

In addition to the natural language, Fantastical also includes a number of other practical features that help you stay organized. The app includes a variety of customizable views to help you see your schedule at a glance, and it can even display your schedule from the Mac menu bar for quick access.

Spike

Although Apple sent some nice improvements to its Mail app in 2022, I think there are better options out there, and one of them is Spike. One of the standout features of Spike is its chat-style interface, making your email look like iMessage or WhatsApp. The app displays your emails as a series of threads – similar to a messaging app – making it easier to see the context and content of your conversations at a glance.

CleanMyMac X

CleanMyMac X is a system optimization tool that helps you keep your Mac running smoothly and efficiently. The app includes a variety of features that help you free up space, improve performance, and keep your Mac running. One of the standout features of CleanMyMac X is its ability to find and remove unnecessary files from your Mac. The app contains a variety of tools that help you find and delete large files, old applications and other types of clutter that take up space. If you only have 256 GB of storage space, it is important to clean up large and unnecessary files.

In addition to cleaning up your Mac, CleanMyMac X also includes a number of tools to help you optimize your system. The app can help you identify and fix issues that can cause your Mac to run slowly, and it can help you optimize startup items and login items to improve performance.

SetApp

If you’re a Mac user looking for a way to discover and access a wide variety of high-quality apps without purchasing them individually, SetApp is definitely worth a try.

SetApp is a subscription service that gives you access to a curated selection of over 200 Mac apps. With SetApp you can discover new apps, try out new tools and find the perfect app for your needs, all in one place.

Crisp

If you’re a Mac user looking for a way to reduce background noise during online meetings and conversations, Krisp is definitely worth a try. Krisp is a noise canceling app that uses artificial intelligence to reduce background noise in real time. The app works by analyzing the sound input from your microphone and filtering out unwanted sounds, such as traffic, construction, pets, children or other types of background noise.

If you work from home, I can’t recommend this app enough. It runs in the menu bar and you point the app’s microphone and speaker at Krisp and then configure which devices you want Krisp to use.

When I first discovered the app, I was working while construction crews were re-roofing my house and no one could hear the banging above me. It was magical. The free version offers 60 minutes per day, and you can upgrade from there if you need more time. It works great with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, etc.

Clean Shot X

If you regularly take screenshots to send over UI fixes, debug explanations, etc. – you need to download CleanShot X. It’s hands down the best screenshot tool on the Mac; it’s so simple yet so powerful. It can record video, create GIFs, add annotations, erase sensitive material and much more. I can’t think of a single thing about the app that I would change. I use it several times every day and it is 100% worth every penny.

Packaging

While you’re enjoying your new Mac, check out some of the best apps to get more out of your Mac. If you have any questions about the apps I mentioned above, feel free to ask below in the comments.

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