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# 10 BEST Mac Apps for Productivity
- URL: https://www.jeffsu.org/10-best-mac-apps-for-productivity/
- Published: 2022-09-20T12:05:46.000Z
- Updated: 2022-09-20T12:05:46.000Z
- Author: Jeff
- Tags: Productivity, Apple, Tools

## Apps you need in your life:

- [Dropzone 4](https://aptonic.com/?ref=jeffsu.org)
- [AltTab](https://alt-tab-macos.netlify.app/?ref=jeffsu.org)
- [Monitor Control](https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl?ref=jeffsu.org)
- [Moom](https://manytricks.com/moom/?ref=jeffsu.org)
- [Numi](https://numi.app/?ref=jeffsu.org)
- [CheatSheet](https://www.mediaatelier.com/CheatSheet/?ref=jeffsu.org)
- [AppCleaner](https://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/?ref=jeffsu.org)
- [Cleanshot X](https://cleanshot.com/?affiliate%5Fid=529753203&ref=jeffsu.org)
- [Alfred](https://www.alfredapp.com/?ref=jeffsu.org)
- [Logi Options](https://www.logitech.com/en-us/software/options.html?ref=jeffsu.org)

## Watch it in action

## Dropzone 4

[Dropzone 4](https://aptonic.com/?ref=jeffsu.org) is a great tool for **managing files**. You can drag individual files and combine them into a single package to drop into a messaging app or application. It allows you to combine files with different formats—pdf, png image file, and audio .wave file.

If you want to remove files from the drop bar:

- Hold OPT and click the “x” to close

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/85/db858a9d-1c4f-4993-8042-faa87b9bb3c1/content/images/2022/09/image-21.png)

## AltTab

[AltTab](https://alt-tab-macos.netlify.app/?ref=jeffsu.org) is helpful if you want to **select a specific window** within your application.

Here are my preferences:

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/85/db858a9d-1c4f-4993-8042-faa87b9bb3c1/content/images/2022/09/image-22.png)

Appearance preferences

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/85/db858a9d-1c4f-4993-8042-faa87b9bb3c1/content/images/2022/09/image-23.png)

Shortcut 1 Control Preferences

Under the “Controls” tab, Shortcut 1:

- OPT+TAB lets you toggle among the windows across both of your screens

For Shortcut 2:

- OPT+TILDA only shows windows for the active app

## Monitor Control

[Monitor Control](https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl?ref=jeffsu.org) lets you **adjust the brightness of multiple monitors** from a single dropdown menu. You can even easily control the brightness of your TV monitor if you connect it with your MacBook.

💡

**Pro Tip:** If you have multiple monitors, hold CMD+CTRL to adjust brightness on the keyboard and change the brightness of all your monitors at once.

## Moom

[Moom](https://manytricks.com/moom/?ref=jeffsu.org) allows you to **snap windows to different positions** on your displays. You also have the option to quickly move windows between displays. There is a one-time cost for Moom, but a free alternative is [Rectangle](https://rectangleapp.com/?ref=jeffsu.org).

💡

**Pro Tip:** Define window sizes using at least 6 by 6 cells to give you more flexibility when defining the positions of different windows.

## Numi

[Numi](https://numi.app/?ref=jeffsu.org) is a super convenient **calculator for unit conversion**. This may come in handy when you’re budgeting or working with different people across the world!

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/85/db858a9d-1c4f-4993-8042-faa87b9bb3c1/content/images/2022/09/image-24.png)

## CheatSheet

[CheatSheet](https://www.mediaatelier.com/CheatSheet/?ref=jeffsu.org) allows you to **find hotkeys and shortcuts** for your active app. A “cheatsheet” appears if you hold down CMD for a period of time, then you can either press the hotkey or simply click the intended action.

💡

**Pro Tip:** Access the settings gear on the bottom right—I personally have the delay set to the 4th tick

## AppCleaner

With [AppCleaner](https://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/?ref=jeffsu.org), you can **uninstall Mac apps** and also remove folders and files created by the app. If you’re low on storage, this might do the trick.

💡

**Pro Tip:** If you keep the AppCleaner in the dock, simply drag apps from the launchpad into the app icon to remove it.

## Cleanshot X.

[Cleanshot X](https://cleanshot.com/?affiliate%5Fid=529753203&ref=jeffsu.org) is basically like a normal **screenshot tool**, but better. Some pretty cool features include a blur effect or highlighting specific parts of the screenshot. You can take a screenshot of a window perfectly with rounded edges and a transparent background.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/85/db858a9d-1c4f-4993-8042-faa87b9bb3c1/content/images/2022/09/CleanShot-2022-09-20-at-19.56.21.gif)

After you’re done with the edits, you can share to airdrop, make a copy to your clipboard, or upload to the cloud so you can [hyperlink](https://screenshot.jeffsu.org/3miHpV?ref=jeffsu.org) (see what I did there 😉) the screenshot in an email.

FYI, this is paid BUT I have a quick and free solution for you:

1. Go to Keyboard preferences > Shortcuts > Screenshots
2. Double click the keyboard shortcut for “Copy picture of selected area to clipboard”
3. Replace the shortcut with SHIFT+CMD+S

Now, when you take a screenshot, the image won’t be saved to your desktop and gets copied to your clipboard so you can paste it immediately!

## Alfred

*(you can check out my [Alfred Tutorial video](https://youtu.be/FXV-zwkRMxo?ref=jeffsu.org) as well)*

[Alfred](https://www.alfredapp.com/?ref=jeffsu.org) **replaces spotlight search**—I have my reasons. After installing Alfred:

- Go to Keyboard preferences > Shortcuts > Spotlight
- Uncheck “Show Spotlight search”, because you will be using CMD+SPACE for Alfred

Some basic features—you can press space to open a file or folder you know the name of, define words, search google/amazon/youtube directly, and run system commands such as empty trash. This is all available in the free version!

The paid version has a feature called clipboard history that allows you to copy and paste a lot and easily locate a paragraph or sentence you copied a few minutes or an hour ago and paste it where you need to.

Free alternative: [Maccy](https://github.com/p0deje/Maccy?ref=jeffsu.org)

It basically does the same thing as the clipboard history feature when you press CMD+SHIFT+C.

## Logi Options

This one’s for all you logitech users out there. [Logi Options](https://www.logitech.com/en-us/software/options.html?ref=jeffsu.org) allows me to **map buttons on my mouse** to show desktop and mission control. You can also change other features like smooth scrolling or keyboard shortcuts.

## For more cool Mac tricks

Learn these 10 Mac tips that will leave you wondering why you haven’t come across [this post](https://www.jeffsu.org/10-mac-tips-that-feel-illegal-to-know/) sooner.