On this website, I have covered a ton of paid apps, and thats because in general, paid apps tend to offer more when compared to free apps. However, that does not mean that there are no good free apps out there. In fact, there are a ton of them. Thats why it is going to be a long article as I am bringing a list of 35 best free apps you can get for your Mac right now . Some of the apps on this list are evergreen and you most probably already have them installed on your device. But some of them are entirely new. Well, at least they are new to me and thats the beauty of it. No matter, how old an app is, it is new for somebody out there. That said, no matter how avid a Mac user you are, I can bet that you will find new Mac apps in this article that you have never heard of before. So, open your Macs and get ready to download these awesome free Mac apps.
Discover the best Mac Software in Best Sellers. Find the top 100 most popular items in Amazon Software Best Sellers. Apple Mac OS X El Capitan Free VIEW . OS X El Capitan features new options for managing windows, smarter Spotlight search, app enhancements, and faster performance.
Note: Be sure to read our must-have iPhone apps article to get the best apps for your iPhone in 2020. Best Free Mac Apps You Should Install in 2020
While most of the apps in this list are free, some of them offer a paid option. That being said, when it comes to paid apps, I have only included those options that offer a generous free tier. I am using free versions of all the apps (that offer paid options) and find them suitable for most users. No app with a free trial or heavily restricted free tier has been included. 1. Audiobook Binder
While you can listen to books in MP3 format, I like the M4B format more as it supports chapters. M4B is also the native format that Apple Books support. If you want to keep your music library separate from the book library, this is the format to use. Audiobook Binder is an app that lets you convert MP3 files into M4B files. It also lets you bind multiple MP3 files into a single M4B file and converts those MP3 files into chapters . You can also add custom book cover and edit books metadata including name, author, and narrator. I have been using this app for the past year and a half to listen to public domain audiobooks and lectures and it has never failed me.
Install: Free 2. LastPass
Password management is something people ignore. Since passwords are hard to remember and most third-party password managers charge a hefty monthly subscription fee, not everyone is aboard the strong and different password train. To those users, I suggest LastPass. LastPass offers a very generous free tier that allows you to use the software on two different machines . And if you want to use it on more, you can always use its web app that works everywhere. I have been using LastPass for the past two years to manage my passwords and I never had any problem.
Its apps are installed on my primary MacBook Pro (learn MacBook Pro tips and tricks) and my iPhone. Since it supports browser plugins and iPhones automatic password fill feature, I never have to type my password or remember them. All my passwords are secure, long, and use an alpha-numeric combination. If you are still using the same password everywhere or setting weak passwords, try out LastPass. Its free for personal use and you have no excuses not to use it. Its one of the best free Mac apps that you can get.
Install: Free , $3/user/month 3. Brave
While I love Safari and use it for most of my tasks, its not perfect and I have to turn to other browsers from time to time. My biggest problem with Safari is its nescient extension library. Safari is also slow to adopt the latest web technologies. I know Apple does this to keep browsing private and secure, but sometimes it causes hindrance in my work. For a long time, I was using Chrome for this work but I hated two things about it. First, Google Chrome is a resource hog and decreases battery life, causes overheating, and several other problems. Second and more importantly, I dont like sharing my data with Google more than I already do. It was one of the reasons why I switch from Android to iOS several years back.
The solution is the Brave browser. Its a browser that is built on the same Chromium engine that Google Chrome uses, so you are getting all the features and extension support. But, since the creators focus on privacy, your data is always secure. It brings an automatic tracking blocker and even blocks most of the annoying ads . Since it blocks the most harmful scripts, you get to enjoy a faster internet. Also, in my testing, its far better than Google Chrome at handling resources. While its not as good as Safari, thats a trade-off that I am ready to make. If you are also looking for a good Chrome alternative, you should try using the Brave browser.
Install: Free 4. CopyClip
CopyClip is a Mac utility that stores everything you copy in a clipboard. Copy-and-paste is so integral to our work that we cannot even imagine a time when this feature was not available. Still, Macs clipboard is probably the most neglected feature in the macOS. Even after so decades, you still cannot hold more than one entry in your clipboard. Enter, CopyClip. Its a clipboard manager that saves entries into the clipboard. You can use a simple keyboard shortcut to easily copy any item and paste them anywhere you want. CopyClip not only saves text input but also preserves images and documents. While I use Paste for my clipboard management as it offers more features, for a free app, CopyClip works exceptionally well.
Install: Free 5. BBEdit
For a long time, it was hard to recommend a good free text editor on Mac. All the good ones were paid, and the free ones were just not up to the mark. Well, after a long hiatus, BBEdit, one of the most exemplary text editors, is back on the Mac App Store. For the past 20 years, BBEdit has been the text editor to beat and now that its back on the App Store with a freemium model, you can use it for free. Only the advanced features of BBEdit are hidden behind a paywall and 90 of regular users will not need those features.
Whether you want to write a long blog post, edit snippets of code, design website or web apps, BBEdit is the text editor to use. The best thing about BBEdit is how fast it works. It opens text files with hundreds of thousands of words in seconds and never falters. In my years of using this app, I have not lost even a single line of text. It has a powerful search that lets you locate and find keywords across files. Theres no free text editor out there that can match its prowess.
Install: Free , $49.99 6. NetNewsWire
The death of Google Reader placed a dark cloud over the future of RSS readers. But, if anything, RSS is showing a sign of resurgence in the past year or so. From the launch of acclaimed RSS reader app Reeder 4 to the rebirth of NetNewsWire, RSS readers are becoming popular again. And if you are looking to create a personal news feed, theres no better app to do it with than NetNewsWire. Built on-top of free and open source reader named Evergreen, NetNewsWire is an excellent feed reader for Mac.
The app makes it easy to subscribe to RSS feeds and brings excellent search capabilities. It also brings a beautiful design and I adore its dark mode. It also s upports online feed syncing services such as Feedbin . I still prefer Reeder 4 as it brings more features, but seeing how NetNewsWire is still young and free to use, I cannot fault it. If you are looking for a free RSS reader, you should try NetNewsWire.
Install: Free 7. DaVinci Resolve
While Macs come with a basic video editor for free (iMovie), anyone who is serious about video editing will have to go for the pro video editing apps. The problem with apps like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro is that they cost a lot. If you dont want to spend hundreds of dollars, and still want to use a full-fledged video editor, DaVinci Resolve is the best option for you. Even when I am writing this, I cannot believe that such a capable video editor is free to use.
The latest version of the software, DaVinci Resolve 16 combines professional 8K editing, color correction, visual effects, and audio post-production all in one software tool. Color correction tools of DaVinci Resolve are better than most paid video editors including FCP and Premiere Pro. From custom timeline settings to facial recognition to keyframe editing, it brings all features that you require from a professional video editor. It is one of the best free Mac software that you can install. Free Mac apps dont get better than this.
Install: Free 8. Folx
Folx is a powerful native download manager for Mac that not only works great but also looks cool. It features a true Mac-style interface and supports both direct and torrent downloads. The app also offers extensions for Safari, Chrome, Opera, and Firefox. The extensions help Folx in catching downloads and thus ensure that you are not using the crappy download manager of your browser. Folx can split downloads into multiple threads resulting in faster downloads and also support download pause and restart. The free version of the app is enough for most users. I was using it for years without any complaints. I only bought the paid version to support the developers. The extra features are nice to have but they have not drastically affected by usage.
Install: Free , $19.99 9. NightOwl
macOS Mojave introduced dark mode to our favorite desktop operating system. The dark mode on macOS Mojave is not half-cooked as it is on windows. When you turn on the dark mode on your Mac, not only it turns the system UI but also the stock apps. Not only that, apps that support automatic dark mode also adhere to the same guideline. Once you turn it on, they automatically default to dark mode.
While that's great in most situation, I wish Apple included a way to create a whitelist for apps that are not functional in dark mode. The default Mail app and the Evernote app are a few examples of an app that still work best in light mode. That's where NightOwl comes in. It's a menu bar app that allows you to create a whitelist of apps that you don't want to use in dark mode. Not only that, but it also allows you to quickly switch between dark and light mode with a simple click at its icon. You can read more about the app in our article here. The app is completely free to download and use with a voluntary donation.
Install: NightOwl 10. Unsplash Wallpapers
I want to start this article with an app which I have discovered just a couple of months back and have fallen in love. As its name suggests, Unsplash Wallpapers is a wallpaper app for Mac which gives you access to unlimited ultra-high resolution wallpapers for your Macs . One of the things that I love most about MacBooks is its display. Apple packs phenomenal displays on the Macs. Stop me if its just me, but I enjoy changing the wallpapers on a regular basis just because they look so damn beautiful on my Macs display.
Before I discovered Unsplash Wallpapers, it used to be a chore to change wallpapers. First, I had to find good wallpapers, then I had to download them, and only then I could use them. With Unsplash Wallpapers app, you can change the wallpaper just with one click . If you like a wallpaper, you can even download it. If you love wallpapers, you are going to love this free Mac app.
Install: Unsplash Wallpapers 11. The Unarchiver
This is one of the first free Mac apps that I download whenever I move on to a new Mac. The app is basically the best unarchiving app you can get for your Mac, free or otherwise . The Unarchiver cannot only unarchive common formats such as Zip, RAR (including v5), 7-zip, Tar, Gzip, and Bzip2, but it can also open formats such as StuffIt, DiskDoubler, LZH, ARJ, ARC, ISO and BIN disc images, Windows.EXE installers and more. Basically, its a one-stop solution for all your unarchiving needs.
Install: The Unarchiver 12. Amphetamine
We all know that Macs bring a long battery life and while some of it has to do with Apples excellent hardware, most of it is because of how macOS efficiently manages battery. One of the things that macOS does to preserve the battery life on your computer is to put it to sleep whenever you dont interact with your Mac for a set period of time . While this is really good, sometimes you need to keep your Mac running even if you are not interacting with it. One of the examples that come to mind is when you are downloading a large file. If your Mac falls asleep during the download, it will stop it, and depending on the software that you are using to download the file, you might have to restart the download from the beginning.
Amphetamine solves this problem by allowing users to keep their Macs awake even when they are not doing anything. The app is powerful and allows users to keep their Macs awake for how much ever long they want . Not only that, users can also set triggers to keep their Macs awake. For example, you can tell Amphetamine to not put your Mac to sleep whenever a certain app is running. Lastly, it allows you to easily access all these features as it lives right there in your Macs menu bar. Its one of the most useful apps for Macs and I love it.
Install: Amphetamine
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Gifs are all the rage today. More and more users are creating and sharing their own gifs. And if you want to be one of them then this is the tool you need. GIPHY Capture is an app that lets you capture and create gifs. Once you launch the app it will create a translucent green window with a capture button at the bottom. All you need to do is to drop the window on top of the video you want to capture and click on the capture button. Once you are done with the recording, click on the record button again to stop the recording. It is probably the easiest way to create gifs on your Mac.
Install: GIPHY Capture 14. Spectacle
Spectacle is one of the apps that I install instantly on a new Mac. Macs are good at many things but one thing that still eludes it is a good window management feature. Apple has not solved the window management problem in the latest macOS Catalina so I guess, we have to wait for one more year. In fact, the window management problem has become even worse in macOS Catalina in my opinion. If you are also fed up of Apple's native approach towards window management, you should Install Spectacle.
This is a simple menu bar app that allows you to easily resize and place windows with keyboard commands. I can easily set a window to either half of the display both vertically and horizontally, make it go full screen, snap it to the center, and more. Once you install this app, your window management workflow will become ten times faster.
Install: Spectacle 15. ImageOptim
ImageOptim is one of the most used free Mac apps on my MacBook Pro. In my line of work, I have to attach a ton of screenshots (like in this article). And before I upload any picture on my website, I pass it through ImageOptim. The app deletes all the unnecessary metadata such as GPS position and camera's serial number and compresses the image. This allows me to upload the image on the web without any privacy hazards and ensures that the file sizes are low.
The app is pretty easy to use. You just drag and drop images into its window and then click on the button at the bottom-right corner. If you share a ton of images on the web (whether on your blog or social media websites like Twitter and Facebook), it will be good for you to pass it through ImageOptim first. I have used paid image compression apps but nothing has been as good and as easy to use as ImageOptim.
Install: ImageOptim 16. Alfred 4
Alfred is an all-purpose tool for your Mac which can boost your productivity ten folds if you learn how to use it. Of course, theres a learning curve to this app, but if you invest in it, it will pay you back. Alfred allows you to quickly launch apps, use text expansion snippets, search on the Mac and web, use hotkeys and keywords, and much more . Alfred used to be a paid app, but the developers were kind enough to release the app for free. There are add-on power packs that you can buy, to use cool features like Alfred workflows. But, for most normal users, the free app itself is enough to boost their productivity.
Install: Alfred 4 17. Pocket
Pocket is a popular read it later service which allows you to save articles offline so that you can read them later . I mostly browse for articles on my Mac and whenever I find something that I would want to read, I just save it in Pocket. Pocket has an excellent Safari extension that allows me to save articles and read them later. Since Pocket syncs across devices, all my saved articles are automatically synced to my iPhone where I can read them at my will. Recently, I have also started using Pocket as a research tool. Since Pocket allows me to organize saved articles using tags, I just tag the items I am using for research so that I can find them easily later.
Install: Pocket 18. Spark
Spark is my most favorite free app on Mac. For those who dont know, Spark is an email client for Mac. I love spark because it intelligently categorizes all the emails that I receive into different categories, giving me access to the most important emails first. It also has a very robust set of features. I can easily snooze, archive, delete, and tag emails. I also love the fact that it allows me easily search for emails using natural language search. I can also search for emails based on attachments, and more. Lastly, Spark also has apps for both iOS and watchOS so no matter which device I am on, I can user Sparks to get through all my emails.
Install: Spark 19. GIMP
GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation Program is an open source photo editor for Mac which packs so many features that you wont be able to discover all of them in your lifetime. It is basically Photoshop but free . You can use GIMP to perform any kind of image manipulation that you can think of. That said, since it packs so many features, GIMP also has a pretty steep learning curve. Also, being a free an open-source project, its user interface is not very intuitive and feels archaic. Thats why I recommend GIMP only to those users who need a robust photo editing software but cannot afford to buy one.
Install: GIMP 20. DarkTable
As per the description of the app on its website, 'DarkTable is an open source photography workflow application and raw developer. A virtual light-table and darkroom for photographers. It manages your digital negatives in a database, lets you view them through a zoomable light-table, and enables you to develop raw images and enhance them'.
Basically, it is super powerful photo editing app for Mac that allows you to use pro-level photo editing features for free. You are required to learn the app as it has a steep learning curve but once you get used to it, you won't go back to even the best-paid photo editing apps on the market. This one is definitely one of the free Mac apps that you can download in 2019.
Install: DarkTable 21. Simplenote
Simplenote is one of the best designed free Mac apps you can find. As its name suggests, Simplenote is an easy note taking app which allows you to easily jot down notes. What I love about this app is that even though it is completely free, your notes are synced across devices . Apart from its online sync features, I am also a fan of its clean user interface. Simplenote is also a really good app for someone who is looking for a clean app to write long-form content. You can use tags to organize notes easily and search for them using either their title, content, or tags. I have been using this app for quite a few years and I still dont understand how its free. If you love writing, you will love Simplenote.
Install: Simplenote 22. Itsycal
Itsycal is an open source small menu bar calendar application for Mac. If you like Fantastical 2 for Mac, but hate that its priced so high, Itsycal is for you. Although Itsycal is nowhere as powerful as Fantastical 2, it brings all the basic features that you would want from a menu bar based calendar app. It shows you month view of your calendar, your upcoming events, and also allows you to create or delete events . I also love the fact that I can configure Itsycal to show not only the date but also the month and the day in the menu bar icon itself. Its a good menu bar application and a must have for anyone who schedules everything on their calendar.
Install: Itsycal 23. Audacity
Audacity is one of those free Mac apps that is even better than most of the paid apps out there. For those who dont know, Audacity is an audio editor app for your Mac (available for Windows PC too). If you are someone who deals with a ton of audio, you must have already heard about this software. If you have not, you probably dont need it. Still, its such a good app that I couldnt keep it away from the list. Just remember that if you ever need to edit an audio file to make it better, Audacity is the tool to do it.
Install: Audacity 24. Lightworks
Lightworks is a full-fledged video editing app which gives you access to all the tools that you will need to get your video editing on . To be fair, Lightworks also sell a Pro version of the app, however, the free version is powerful enough to handle most of the tasks. Whether you are a budding YouTuber or someone who just want to give an edge to their homemade videos, Lightworks is the right tool for you. What I love most about this app is that the website gives you ample tutorial videos to get you started. If by any chance you were looking for a free video editing software, look no further and download Lightworks.
Install: Lightworks 25. HiddenMe
HiddenMe is a small menu bar app which comes in very handy at times when you want to show a clean desktop without having to organize your stuff. The app lives in your menu bar and allows you to do one thing and one thing only, and thats hiding everything on your desktop . With a click of the button, everything thats on your desktop is hidden, giving you access to a clean desktop. I constantly use this app whenever I am giving a presentation or taking screenshots of my desktop for an article. This small application has saved me from embarrassing myself a number of times and it can do that for you too.
Install: HiddenMe 26. AppCleaner
Do you know that whenever you delete an app on your Mac, it leaves behind a ton of residual files which does nothing but eating up storage on your Mac? Well, its true and if you install and uninstall a ton of apps, you might have lost gigabytes of storage already. While theres another app on this list which (Onyx) which can help you recover that storage, AppCleaner is an app which makes sure that the apps you delete dont leave any residual files . Just launch the app and drag and drop the apps that you want to uninstall and it will take care of the rest. It is a must-have utility tool for any Mac user who wants to keep their Mac clean.
Install: AppCleaner 27. LiteIcon
LiteIcon is the app from the same developers who made the AppCleaner. It is a simple app which allows you to change your system icons quickly and easily . Simply drag an icon onto the one you want to change, and click the Apply Changes button. That's all you need to do. If you want your older icon back, just drag out the new icon. If you like to customize how your icons look on Mac, try out LiteIcon.
Install: LiteIcon 28. GrandPerspective
I have written about GrandPerspective a couple of times on this website and you might be familiar with it by now. For those who are new to our website, its an app which allows you to visualize storage on your Mac. Using GrandPerspective you can easily find out which files are using how much storage and find and delete the files which are not necessary. GrandPerspective is a very nice app for anyone who doesnt have any idea as to where all his/her Macs storage went.
Install: GrandPerspective 29. Manuscript
Manuscript is a free Mac writing app for students which makes writing school assignments including dissertation easier. Manuscript is a powerful writing app which allows students to complete their assignments right from the planning stage to completing it. It lets students easily insert citations, figures, tables, mathematical equations, and more . The app also allows for importation of citations from various tools including Mendeley, Zotero, Papers 3, Bookends, and EndNote. If you are a student who is looking for a good writing app, you dont have to look any farther than Manuscript.
Install: Manuscript 30. IINA
IINA is an open-source video player for your Mac which offers one of the best amalgamations of features and user interface. The app looks extremely beautiful and supports all the modern features including force touch, picture-in-picture, and even offers Touch-bar controls for the latest MacBook Pros. IINA also supports almost all the video formats that you can think of, including the ability to play even GIFs. The app also comes with theming capabilities allowing you to use either light or dark themes. I have discovered this app just a few weeks back and I am already in love with it. If you consume a ton of media on your MacBook Pro, this is the right app for you.
Install: IINA 31. OnyX
OnyX is your one-stop solution for all your Macs maintenance needs . In fact, I cannot describe the app better and more succinctly than whats written on its website. OnyX is a multifunction utility that you can use to verify the structure of the system files, to run miscellaneous maintenance and cleaning tasks, to configure parameters in the Finder, Dock, Safari, and some of Apple's applications, to delete caches, to remove certain problematic folders and files, to rebuild various databases and indexes, and more. However, do remember that it is an advanced tool and hence before you do anything, make sure that you get familiar with the app as you dont want to delete files which can corrupt your entire system.
Install: Onyx 32. SpotMenu
The last app on our list the SpotMenu app which is a nifty little menu bar application. The app basically allows you to control your iTunes and Spotify music player from the menu bar giving you access to controls such as play, pause, forward, and rewind . Its a pretty basic application, however, it does come in handy. One thing that I like about the app is that it shows the name of the song that is currently playing right on your Macs menu bar. When you click on the icon, the drop-down window which harbors all the features also showcase the album art of the song that you are playing.
Install: SpotMenu 33. White Noise Lite
White Noise Lite is an app that helps you sleep better. If you are a light sleeper who wakes up multiple times in the night without any apparent reason then this app can help you sleep better. It brings fifty different HD quality ambient environment noises to help you sleep. The app brings a beautiful cover flow design which lets you easily swipe between cards to select different tasks. Although the app markets itself as a sleep enhancer, I mostly use to provide background music when I am working as it helps me concentrate. You should download this app right now and see if it helps you sleep better or work better. Whatever the result, you will be better off with this one in your arsenal.
Install: White Noise Lite 34. Shazam
Shazam is an app that needs no introduction. The app helps you discover songs by identifying whatever song is playing in the background. I personally use Shazam more as a tool to keep the list of songs that I have discovered. Suppose I am listening to a song and YouTube and want to save it. I just click on the menu bar icon of Shazam and it identifies the song and saves it on the list. I don't have to write it down anywhere. Later I can see the list and add to my Apple Music Playlist at my convenience. Shazam is a great app for discovering and keeping track of music that you like.
Install: Shazam 35. Muzzy
You know how when you accidentally yank headphones out of your iPhone, the music suddenly stops, well, Muzzy brings that functionality to your Mac. The app also does a lot of other things like allowing users to play, pause, and change the music from its menu bar app, integrates with Last.fm, shows songs lyrics, and more. However, I dont care for any other features and I just use this app to stop music whenever I accidentally yank my headphones out. Sadly, the app only works if you are playing music through iTunes.
Install: Muzzy Best Free macOS Apps: Final Thoughts
I hope that you found some apps which are useful to you. Do let me know which of these were your favorite and which ones you discovered. Also, if you know free apps that deserve to be on the list but arent, drop their names in the comments section. Thats all I have for this article. If you liked this article, share this on your social media profiles because we need your help to get the word out. As always, drop your opinions and suggestions in the comments section down below. We love to hear from our readers and your comments are always welcome.
Modern genealogy software has tons of useful features for everyone, from the rank amateur just starting out to the seasoned professional.
But with so many choices of software out there, which one is the best for you? Read on, and well give you our top five picks. Our picks
Family Tree Builder : free desktop software by MyHeritage
RootsMagic : most popular software amongst genealogists
Legacy : best option if you want a wider range of reporting features
Family Historian : best option for beginners and for those not tech-savy
Family Tree Maker : good software but too expensive
* Prices may vary; check websites for the latest prices before ordering. We may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post which help support this site. Genealogy software basics
There are a bunch of things that you can expect any genealogical software to do:
Build a family tree
Record information on your ancestors: dates, locations, relationships, etc.
Document research sources and link them to your family tree
Maintain more than one database for multiple family trees
Print out ancestral charts and reports
Share your family tree with others in print and electronically
Store photos, audio and video recordings, and scans of your ancestors and documents
Protect your information through regular backups
Give you hints on where and how to search for more clues
Export your information to other genealogy programs
In addition, some genealogy software today will let you:
Download information directly from certain online resources
Map your ancestors through time and space
Browse online directly, without switching to a separate web browser
So if all genealogy software does all this, does it really matter which program you pick?
Yes, it does, because each program does certain things better than others. The best one for you depends on how you plan to use it.
Here are our top 5 picks for genealogy software, in no particular order because they are all best at something. Family Tree Maker 2017
Family Tree Maker, or FTM, has been around for decades, and is the best known and most widely used genealogy software.
It packs a lot of power, and is good all-around at just about everything. Pros and cons
Family Tree Maker provides all of the features that you would expect from a genealogy program, and it does most of them very well.
The latest version of Family Tree Maker added a unique feature called FamilySync, which lets you automatically synchronize up to three family trees.
This is perfect if you have relatives who are working on the same tree as you. Any information you enter gets added to their trees, and vice versa.
They have also added the ability to color code your ancestors with up to eight different colors each.
This can be used to help you keep track of your research status, easily see which children were by a first wife or second wife, or any other use you can think of.
Family Tree Maker 2017 also includes a lightweight built-in image editor so you can make simple changes to enhance any photos connected to your family tree.
The program connects easily to both the Ancestry and FamilySearch websites, allowing you to download records directly into your tree.
It also provides extensive hints on places to search for more records when you are connected to the internet.
FTM 2017 is one of very few programs that now allows you to include same-sex marriages in your family tree.
On the negative side, while Family Tree Maker 2017 does offer an improved set of charts and reports, the charts are still not as extensive as Legacy 9.
Also, the company that produced Family Tree Maker changed in 2016.
The new company, Mackiev, has made a number of changes and improvements with their 2017 version, but dont count on them to provide much support for older versions.
Family Tree Maker also tends to be the most expensive genealogy software out there, but for many people, its worth it. Compatibility
FTM is available for both Windows (7.0 or later) and Mac (10.9 or later). Online support
Because it has been around for so long and is used by so many people, Family Tree Maker has a wealth of online support in the form of tips, step by step instructions and tutorials, and even how-to videos.
Their website includes a free digital companion guide to get you started on using all of the programs features.
While all this support is great in most cases, be aware that Family Tree Maker has changed a lot over the years, so some of that support might be out of date.
Still, there are so many users out there that you can always find a forum to ask questions and get expert answers quickly. Integration
For years, Family Tree Maker has allowed you to connect with Ancestry to upload your family tree and to directly download records from Ancestry into your tree.
With the latest release, FTM now includes that capability for FamilySearch.com as well.
That means you can easily connect and share with the two largest genealogy sites out there with billions of online records available. Where to buy
Family Tree Maker is available from http://www.mackiev.com/ftm/. There is no free trial available. Legacy 9
Legacy 9, also known as Legacy Family Tree 9, is a fully featured genealogy program that is considered by many to be the best on the market today.
It has plenty going for it, and only a couple of weak areas. Pros and cons
Legacy 9 provides everything you would expect, plus a lot of neat extras that are new in the latest edition.
One powerful tool is the compare two people tool, which lets you examine two people side by side.
This is especially useful if you have two records with the same name, but youre not sure if theyre the same person.
The side by side display lets you check them out easily rather than having to keep flipping back and forth.
Legacy 9 has the most extensive (and in most cases best looking) set of charts out of any genealogy program.
This gives you all sorts of options for printing out your results.
The latest release even includes a new X-DNA chart to track your genetic inheritance.
In addition to printed reports, Legacy 9 has built-in support to turn your family tree into a webpage automatically.
It also has a built-in web browser so you can check out online sites without having to switch back and forth between windows.
The program includes color coding for easy organization of your ancestors, such as tracking children from multiple marriages, and up to nine tags that can be used however you want.
Legacy 9 even includes a secure online backup for your family trees, so you never have to worry about losing your database.
On the down side, Legacy 9 does not support same-sex marriages yet, though that is supposed to be coming.
The Legacy website is less flashy than most and a little harder to navigate at times, but still includes a help center, forums, and more. Best Mac Programs For Musicians Compatibility
Legacy 9 is only designed for Windows, though their website includes instructions for how to make it work on a Mac using an emulator. Online support
The Legacy website provides a variety of training videos and programs, and an extensive help center that includes user forums, troubleshooting advice, and even a suggestion box for you to tell them what features youd like to see added. Integration
Legacy 9 is specifically designed to work with a variety of useful (and free) websites, including FamilySearch, FindMyPast, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Find A Grave.
It can search these sites for your ancestors automatically and give you hints on where to find more information. Where to buy
Legacy 9 is available from their website here , and is available in two versions.
The Standard version is completely free, allowing you to sample most of the features of Legacy with no time limit.
If you want to access all of Legacys features, you can purchase the Deluxe version. Family Historian 6
Family Historian 6 is not nearly as well-known as Family Tree Maker or Legacy, but that doesnt mean it is any less useful when it comes to recording your findings. Pros and cons
Family Historians greatest strength is its ease of use.
If youre looking for a program that you can use right out of the box from day one, this is it.
You can get started right away without having to read a lot of manuals or watch a bunch of tutorials.
Entering information into Family Historian is simple and intuitive.
The main screen includes both an ancestry chart and a separate details box for a selected individual, letting you enter information without losing sight of the big picture.
Family Historian includes a smart trees option that lets you expand or collapse different parts of your tree as needed.
That means you can concentrate on just a small section at a time without your other branches filling up the screen.
The program also offers tools to view two family trees side by side so you can compare them before deciding if you want to merge them.
Family Historian includes a dynamic mapping tool that not only lets you see where your ancestors were, but lets you color code them, zoom in and out, view all the events that happened at a particular location, and more.
Family Historian 6 also offers powerful tools for sharing your family tree with others in print or electronically. It includes about twice as many charts as Family Tree Maker, though not as many as Legacy 9, and they are not as artistic. Best Apps For Mac
The lack of backgrounds leaves Family Historian charts looking a little dull compared to other programs.
Unfortunately, Family Historian 6 does not offer any support for DNA results at this point. Compatibility
Family Historian 6 runs on Windows (Vista, 7, 8, and 10). Online support
The Family Historian website includes quick start guides and tutorials, but has a more limited online community compared to other products, especially Family Tree Maker.
On the other hand, because it is produced by a British company, the Family Historian community might be particularly helpful for those researching family roots in the United Kingdom. Integration
The program links directly with the MyHeritage and Findmypast websites, letting you easily locate information on your ancestors and download it directly into your family tree.
However, unlike the other programs on our list, it does not include direct linking with Ancestry or FamilySearch. Where to buy
Family Historian 6 is available from Amazon here . There is also a 30-day free trial if you want to test it out before you buy. RootsMagic 7
RootsMagic is not as well-known as some of the other genealogy software, but that doesnt mean it isnt just as good. It offers all of the basics you need, plus some useful bonus features. Pros and cons
RootsMagic has some powerful features that you wont find in many programs, including the ability to have more than one database open at the same time.
That makes it a lot easier to compare databases and copy information from one to the other.
You can even drag and drop people directly from one database to the other.
One of the best things about RootsMagic is a unique feature called RootsMagic To-Go, which lets you load a portable copy of the program onto a USB drive.
That way you can take it with you and use it on any computer wherever and whenever you want.
This can make doing research on the road, at libraries, courthouses, or wherever, much easier, and lets you enter search results right away.
RootsMagic makes it simple to share your findings. Built-in tools help you create custom webpages, CDs, and DVDs, and offers plenty of print options as well.
This program is one of the few that currently allows you to include same-sex marriages in your family tree, and can manage other complex relationships as well.
Compared to other programs, RootsMagic does not have as many charts available, but it has extensive options for creating every sort of report youre ever likely to want.
On the negative side, RootsMagics interface is not as nice looking or easy to use as other programs. That can make it more frustrating for folks just starting out in genealogy. Compatibility
RootsMagic 7 works on the greatest range of operating systems of any of our picks, including every version of Windows since Windows 2000 and XP, and on Macs (10.8 and later). Online support
The RootsMagic website is more limited than most of the others. It does include some video tutorials and how-to guides, but not as much other support, and has a smaller user community. Integration
RootsMagic 7 is able to connect and download directly from such sites as Ancestry, MyHeritage and FamilySearch, giving you access to a ton of online records and databases. Where to buy
RootsMagic 7 is available from Amazon here .
RootsMagic Essentials 7 is a free version of the software which includes all of the basics you need to get started, and can be used as long as you want.
However, the free version does not include a lot of the best features, such as RootsMagic To-Go. Family Tree Heritage 9
Rounding out our top five picks, Family Tree Heritage 9 lacks a lot of the bells and whistles that the other programs have. Still, it covers all of the basics with flying colors, and has a few great features of its own. Pros and cons
Family Tree Heritage lets you connect to Ancestry, FamilySearch, and RootsWeb, giving you instant access to billions of online records.
Even better, it can help you add other sites as well, something most software doesnt allow.
That can be a great help when searching for information from other countries around the world. Best Mac Programs For Graphic Design
Like our other top five choices, Family Tree Heritage provides web hints for getting the most out of your online connections.
Family Tree Heritage has powerful tools to make it easy to merge two family trees together, saving you hours of crosschecking and identifying duplicate records.
The program makes it easy to add news sources, and a ditto tool that lets you quickly connect one source to many individuals. This can be a great time saver.
One of the best features of Family Tree Heritage is the way you process bulk changes in your family tree all at once.
If you find a mistake, like a misspelled town name, you only need to fix it in one spot, and the program can update it everywhere else for you instantly.
Other features include a research timeline that organizes what you do (and dont) know about an ancestor chronologically, color coding to help organize family branches both on your computer and in print, and the ability to add up to three custom tags to each ancestor so you can group them however you want.
Family Tree Heritage is mixed when it comes to producing charts and reports.
It is great for producing quick, easy to read reports, but it has a more limited choice of charts with generally uninteresting backgrounds.
So if you want fancy charts, its not so hot, but if you want to see your info in report format, its probably the best.
On the negative side, Family Tree Heritage is the only one of our five picks that does not include an in-app browser.
That means you have to switch back and forth between programs if you want to look up information online in most cases.
However, it does support direct searching of Ancestry and FamilySearch databases from within the program.
Family Tree Heritage 9 does not include a mapping feature, so you cant track your ancestors visually. It also does not support same-sex marriages. Compatibility
Family Tree Heritage 9 is only available for Windows. Online support
Family Tree Heritage 9 has some online tutorials, but overall offers a lot less than the other programs on our list. It has a very limited online community. Integration
The software allows direct downloads of records from Ancestry and FamilySearch.
It can often be set up to work with other websites as well. However, it does not let you directly modify your family tree on Ancestry, only through manual uploads. Where to buy
Family Tree Heritage 9 is available from http://www.familytreeheritage.biz/. There is no free trial available. So which software is for you?
Which program is best? As with so many things, that depends on you, and how you plan to use it.
Family Tree Maker 2017 is a great all-around program for most users, especially if you want to upload your tree to Ancestry.
Legacy 9 is also a great all-around program, and provides the greatest number of charts for showing off your research.
Family Historian 6 is excellent if you want ease of use. It lets you dive in right away, spending less time learning the program and more time researching your family.
RootsMagic 7 is the clear (and only) choice if you want to take your research on the road and dont have a laptop. Its also one of the more popular picks among professional genealogists.
Family Tree Heritage 9 lets you link to more online sites than any of the other programs.
If you want to work together with other family members on the same tree, Family Tree Maker 2017 is the way to go.
If youre looking to create a webpage from your findings, Legacy 9 and RootsMagic 7 are your best choices.
If you want to create amazing looking ancestral charts, Legacy 9 is your best bet.
For the most economical route, Legacy 9 and RootsMagic 7 both have free versions with no time limit, but youll miss out on some of their best features.
In the end, dont agonize too much about picking the wrong program. In most cases, all of them will do what you need especially if you are just starting out.
Worst case scenario, all these programs let you export your data as a GEDCOM file, which can be loaded into any other genealogy software.
It wont copy everything, such as photos and videos, but it will save you from starting from scratch.
So decide what your main priority is, pick the program that looks best for you, and get started searching for your family roots today!
Discover the best Mac Software in Best Sellers. Find the top 100 most popular items in Amazon Software Best Sellers. Apple Mac OS X El Capitan Free VIEW . OS X El Capitan features new options for managing windows, smarter Spotlight search, app enhancements, and faster performance.
Note: Be sure to read our must-have iPhone apps article to get the best apps for your iPhone in 2020. Best Free Mac Apps You Should Install in 2020
While most of the apps in this list are free, some of them offer a paid option. That being said, when it comes to paid apps, I have only included those options that offer a generous free tier. I am using free versions of all the apps (that offer paid options) and find them suitable for most users. No app with a free trial or heavily restricted free tier has been included. 1. Audiobook Binder
While you can listen to books in MP3 format, I like the M4B format more as it supports chapters. M4B is also the native format that Apple Books support. If you want to keep your music library separate from the book library, this is the format to use. Audiobook Binder is an app that lets you convert MP3 files into M4B files. It also lets you bind multiple MP3 files into a single M4B file and converts those MP3 files into chapters . You can also add custom book cover and edit books metadata including name, author, and narrator. I have been using this app for the past year and a half to listen to public domain audiobooks and lectures and it has never failed me.
Install: Free 2. LastPass
Password management is something people ignore. Since passwords are hard to remember and most third-party password managers charge a hefty monthly subscription fee, not everyone is aboard the strong and different password train. To those users, I suggest LastPass. LastPass offers a very generous free tier that allows you to use the software on two different machines . And if you want to use it on more, you can always use its web app that works everywhere. I have been using LastPass for the past two years to manage my passwords and I never had any problem.
Its apps are installed on my primary MacBook Pro (learn MacBook Pro tips and tricks) and my iPhone. Since it supports browser plugins and iPhones automatic password fill feature, I never have to type my password or remember them. All my passwords are secure, long, and use an alpha-numeric combination. If you are still using the same password everywhere or setting weak passwords, try out LastPass. Its free for personal use and you have no excuses not to use it. Its one of the best free Mac apps that you can get.
Install: Free , $3/user/month 3. Brave
While I love Safari and use it for most of my tasks, its not perfect and I have to turn to other browsers from time to time. My biggest problem with Safari is its nescient extension library. Safari is also slow to adopt the latest web technologies. I know Apple does this to keep browsing private and secure, but sometimes it causes hindrance in my work. For a long time, I was using Chrome for this work but I hated two things about it. First, Google Chrome is a resource hog and decreases battery life, causes overheating, and several other problems. Second and more importantly, I dont like sharing my data with Google more than I already do. It was one of the reasons why I switch from Android to iOS several years back.
The solution is the Brave browser. Its a browser that is built on the same Chromium engine that Google Chrome uses, so you are getting all the features and extension support. But, since the creators focus on privacy, your data is always secure. It brings an automatic tracking blocker and even blocks most of the annoying ads . Since it blocks the most harmful scripts, you get to enjoy a faster internet. Also, in my testing, its far better than Google Chrome at handling resources. While its not as good as Safari, thats a trade-off that I am ready to make. If you are also looking for a good Chrome alternative, you should try using the Brave browser.
Install: Free 4. CopyClip
CopyClip is a Mac utility that stores everything you copy in a clipboard. Copy-and-paste is so integral to our work that we cannot even imagine a time when this feature was not available. Still, Macs clipboard is probably the most neglected feature in the macOS. Even after so decades, you still cannot hold more than one entry in your clipboard. Enter, CopyClip. Its a clipboard manager that saves entries into the clipboard. You can use a simple keyboard shortcut to easily copy any item and paste them anywhere you want. CopyClip not only saves text input but also preserves images and documents. While I use Paste for my clipboard management as it offers more features, for a free app, CopyClip works exceptionally well.
Install: Free 5. BBEdit
For a long time, it was hard to recommend a good free text editor on Mac. All the good ones were paid, and the free ones were just not up to the mark. Well, after a long hiatus, BBEdit, one of the most exemplary text editors, is back on the Mac App Store. For the past 20 years, BBEdit has been the text editor to beat and now that its back on the App Store with a freemium model, you can use it for free. Only the advanced features of BBEdit are hidden behind a paywall and 90 of regular users will not need those features.
Whether you want to write a long blog post, edit snippets of code, design website or web apps, BBEdit is the text editor to use. The best thing about BBEdit is how fast it works. It opens text files with hundreds of thousands of words in seconds and never falters. In my years of using this app, I have not lost even a single line of text. It has a powerful search that lets you locate and find keywords across files. Theres no free text editor out there that can match its prowess.
Install: Free , $49.99 6. NetNewsWire
The death of Google Reader placed a dark cloud over the future of RSS readers. But, if anything, RSS is showing a sign of resurgence in the past year or so. From the launch of acclaimed RSS reader app Reeder 4 to the rebirth of NetNewsWire, RSS readers are becoming popular again. And if you are looking to create a personal news feed, theres no better app to do it with than NetNewsWire. Built on-top of free and open source reader named Evergreen, NetNewsWire is an excellent feed reader for Mac.
The app makes it easy to subscribe to RSS feeds and brings excellent search capabilities. It also brings a beautiful design and I adore its dark mode. It also s upports online feed syncing services such as Feedbin . I still prefer Reeder 4 as it brings more features, but seeing how NetNewsWire is still young and free to use, I cannot fault it. If you are looking for a free RSS reader, you should try NetNewsWire.
Install: Free 7. DaVinci Resolve
While Macs come with a basic video editor for free (iMovie), anyone who is serious about video editing will have to go for the pro video editing apps. The problem with apps like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro is that they cost a lot. If you dont want to spend hundreds of dollars, and still want to use a full-fledged video editor, DaVinci Resolve is the best option for you. Even when I am writing this, I cannot believe that such a capable video editor is free to use.
The latest version of the software, DaVinci Resolve 16 combines professional 8K editing, color correction, visual effects, and audio post-production all in one software tool. Color correction tools of DaVinci Resolve are better than most paid video editors including FCP and Premiere Pro. From custom timeline settings to facial recognition to keyframe editing, it brings all features that you require from a professional video editor. It is one of the best free Mac software that you can install. Free Mac apps dont get better than this.
Install: Free 8. Folx
Folx is a powerful native download manager for Mac that not only works great but also looks cool. It features a true Mac-style interface and supports both direct and torrent downloads. The app also offers extensions for Safari, Chrome, Opera, and Firefox. The extensions help Folx in catching downloads and thus ensure that you are not using the crappy download manager of your browser. Folx can split downloads into multiple threads resulting in faster downloads and also support download pause and restart. The free version of the app is enough for most users. I was using it for years without any complaints. I only bought the paid version to support the developers. The extra features are nice to have but they have not drastically affected by usage.
Install: Free , $19.99 9. NightOwl
macOS Mojave introduced dark mode to our favorite desktop operating system. The dark mode on macOS Mojave is not half-cooked as it is on windows. When you turn on the dark mode on your Mac, not only it turns the system UI but also the stock apps. Not only that, apps that support automatic dark mode also adhere to the same guideline. Once you turn it on, they automatically default to dark mode.
While that's great in most situation, I wish Apple included a way to create a whitelist for apps that are not functional in dark mode. The default Mail app and the Evernote app are a few examples of an app that still work best in light mode. That's where NightOwl comes in. It's a menu bar app that allows you to create a whitelist of apps that you don't want to use in dark mode. Not only that, but it also allows you to quickly switch between dark and light mode with a simple click at its icon. You can read more about the app in our article here. The app is completely free to download and use with a voluntary donation.
Install: NightOwl 10. Unsplash Wallpapers
I want to start this article with an app which I have discovered just a couple of months back and have fallen in love. As its name suggests, Unsplash Wallpapers is a wallpaper app for Mac which gives you access to unlimited ultra-high resolution wallpapers for your Macs . One of the things that I love most about MacBooks is its display. Apple packs phenomenal displays on the Macs. Stop me if its just me, but I enjoy changing the wallpapers on a regular basis just because they look so damn beautiful on my Macs display.
Before I discovered Unsplash Wallpapers, it used to be a chore to change wallpapers. First, I had to find good wallpapers, then I had to download them, and only then I could use them. With Unsplash Wallpapers app, you can change the wallpaper just with one click . If you like a wallpaper, you can even download it. If you love wallpapers, you are going to love this free Mac app.
Install: Unsplash Wallpapers 11. The Unarchiver
This is one of the first free Mac apps that I download whenever I move on to a new Mac. The app is basically the best unarchiving app you can get for your Mac, free or otherwise . The Unarchiver cannot only unarchive common formats such as Zip, RAR (including v5), 7-zip, Tar, Gzip, and Bzip2, but it can also open formats such as StuffIt, DiskDoubler, LZH, ARJ, ARC, ISO and BIN disc images, Windows.EXE installers and more. Basically, its a one-stop solution for all your unarchiving needs.
Install: The Unarchiver 12. Amphetamine
We all know that Macs bring a long battery life and while some of it has to do with Apples excellent hardware, most of it is because of how macOS efficiently manages battery. One of the things that macOS does to preserve the battery life on your computer is to put it to sleep whenever you dont interact with your Mac for a set period of time . While this is really good, sometimes you need to keep your Mac running even if you are not interacting with it. One of the examples that come to mind is when you are downloading a large file. If your Mac falls asleep during the download, it will stop it, and depending on the software that you are using to download the file, you might have to restart the download from the beginning.
Amphetamine solves this problem by allowing users to keep their Macs awake even when they are not doing anything. The app is powerful and allows users to keep their Macs awake for how much ever long they want . Not only that, users can also set triggers to keep their Macs awake. For example, you can tell Amphetamine to not put your Mac to sleep whenever a certain app is running. Lastly, it allows you to easily access all these features as it lives right there in your Macs menu bar. Its one of the most useful apps for Macs and I love it.
Install: Amphetamine
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Gifs are all the rage today. More and more users are creating and sharing their own gifs. And if you want to be one of them then this is the tool you need. GIPHY Capture is an app that lets you capture and create gifs. Once you launch the app it will create a translucent green window with a capture button at the bottom. All you need to do is to drop the window on top of the video you want to capture and click on the capture button. Once you are done with the recording, click on the record button again to stop the recording. It is probably the easiest way to create gifs on your Mac.
Install: GIPHY Capture 14. Spectacle
Spectacle is one of the apps that I install instantly on a new Mac. Macs are good at many things but one thing that still eludes it is a good window management feature. Apple has not solved the window management problem in the latest macOS Catalina so I guess, we have to wait for one more year. In fact, the window management problem has become even worse in macOS Catalina in my opinion. If you are also fed up of Apple's native approach towards window management, you should Install Spectacle.
This is a simple menu bar app that allows you to easily resize and place windows with keyboard commands. I can easily set a window to either half of the display both vertically and horizontally, make it go full screen, snap it to the center, and more. Once you install this app, your window management workflow will become ten times faster.
Install: Spectacle 15. ImageOptim
ImageOptim is one of the most used free Mac apps on my MacBook Pro. In my line of work, I have to attach a ton of screenshots (like in this article). And before I upload any picture on my website, I pass it through ImageOptim. The app deletes all the unnecessary metadata such as GPS position and camera's serial number and compresses the image. This allows me to upload the image on the web without any privacy hazards and ensures that the file sizes are low.
The app is pretty easy to use. You just drag and drop images into its window and then click on the button at the bottom-right corner. If you share a ton of images on the web (whether on your blog or social media websites like Twitter and Facebook), it will be good for you to pass it through ImageOptim first. I have used paid image compression apps but nothing has been as good and as easy to use as ImageOptim.
Install: ImageOptim 16. Alfred 4
Alfred is an all-purpose tool for your Mac which can boost your productivity ten folds if you learn how to use it. Of course, theres a learning curve to this app, but if you invest in it, it will pay you back. Alfred allows you to quickly launch apps, use text expansion snippets, search on the Mac and web, use hotkeys and keywords, and much more . Alfred used to be a paid app, but the developers were kind enough to release the app for free. There are add-on power packs that you can buy, to use cool features like Alfred workflows. But, for most normal users, the free app itself is enough to boost their productivity.
Install: Alfred 4 17. Pocket
Pocket is a popular read it later service which allows you to save articles offline so that you can read them later . I mostly browse for articles on my Mac and whenever I find something that I would want to read, I just save it in Pocket. Pocket has an excellent Safari extension that allows me to save articles and read them later. Since Pocket syncs across devices, all my saved articles are automatically synced to my iPhone where I can read them at my will. Recently, I have also started using Pocket as a research tool. Since Pocket allows me to organize saved articles using tags, I just tag the items I am using for research so that I can find them easily later.
Install: Pocket 18. Spark
Spark is my most favorite free app on Mac. For those who dont know, Spark is an email client for Mac. I love spark because it intelligently categorizes all the emails that I receive into different categories, giving me access to the most important emails first. It also has a very robust set of features. I can easily snooze, archive, delete, and tag emails. I also love the fact that it allows me easily search for emails using natural language search. I can also search for emails based on attachments, and more. Lastly, Spark also has apps for both iOS and watchOS so no matter which device I am on, I can user Sparks to get through all my emails.
Install: Spark 19. GIMP
GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation Program is an open source photo editor for Mac which packs so many features that you wont be able to discover all of them in your lifetime. It is basically Photoshop but free . You can use GIMP to perform any kind of image manipulation that you can think of. That said, since it packs so many features, GIMP also has a pretty steep learning curve. Also, being a free an open-source project, its user interface is not very intuitive and feels archaic. Thats why I recommend GIMP only to those users who need a robust photo editing software but cannot afford to buy one.
Install: GIMP 20. DarkTable
As per the description of the app on its website, 'DarkTable is an open source photography workflow application and raw developer. A virtual light-table and darkroom for photographers. It manages your digital negatives in a database, lets you view them through a zoomable light-table, and enables you to develop raw images and enhance them'.
Basically, it is super powerful photo editing app for Mac that allows you to use pro-level photo editing features for free. You are required to learn the app as it has a steep learning curve but once you get used to it, you won't go back to even the best-paid photo editing apps on the market. This one is definitely one of the free Mac apps that you can download in 2019.
Install: DarkTable 21. Simplenote
Simplenote is one of the best designed free Mac apps you can find. As its name suggests, Simplenote is an easy note taking app which allows you to easily jot down notes. What I love about this app is that even though it is completely free, your notes are synced across devices . Apart from its online sync features, I am also a fan of its clean user interface. Simplenote is also a really good app for someone who is looking for a clean app to write long-form content. You can use tags to organize notes easily and search for them using either their title, content, or tags. I have been using this app for quite a few years and I still dont understand how its free. If you love writing, you will love Simplenote.
Install: Simplenote 22. Itsycal
Itsycal is an open source small menu bar calendar application for Mac. If you like Fantastical 2 for Mac, but hate that its priced so high, Itsycal is for you. Although Itsycal is nowhere as powerful as Fantastical 2, it brings all the basic features that you would want from a menu bar based calendar app. It shows you month view of your calendar, your upcoming events, and also allows you to create or delete events . I also love the fact that I can configure Itsycal to show not only the date but also the month and the day in the menu bar icon itself. Its a good menu bar application and a must have for anyone who schedules everything on their calendar.
Install: Itsycal 23. Audacity
Audacity is one of those free Mac apps that is even better than most of the paid apps out there. For those who dont know, Audacity is an audio editor app for your Mac (available for Windows PC too). If you are someone who deals with a ton of audio, you must have already heard about this software. If you have not, you probably dont need it. Still, its such a good app that I couldnt keep it away from the list. Just remember that if you ever need to edit an audio file to make it better, Audacity is the tool to do it.
Install: Audacity 24. Lightworks
Lightworks is a full-fledged video editing app which gives you access to all the tools that you will need to get your video editing on . To be fair, Lightworks also sell a Pro version of the app, however, the free version is powerful enough to handle most of the tasks. Whether you are a budding YouTuber or someone who just want to give an edge to their homemade videos, Lightworks is the right tool for you. What I love most about this app is that the website gives you ample tutorial videos to get you started. If by any chance you were looking for a free video editing software, look no further and download Lightworks.
Install: Lightworks 25. HiddenMe
HiddenMe is a small menu bar app which comes in very handy at times when you want to show a clean desktop without having to organize your stuff. The app lives in your menu bar and allows you to do one thing and one thing only, and thats hiding everything on your desktop . With a click of the button, everything thats on your desktop is hidden, giving you access to a clean desktop. I constantly use this app whenever I am giving a presentation or taking screenshots of my desktop for an article. This small application has saved me from embarrassing myself a number of times and it can do that for you too.
Install: HiddenMe 26. AppCleaner
Do you know that whenever you delete an app on your Mac, it leaves behind a ton of residual files which does nothing but eating up storage on your Mac? Well, its true and if you install and uninstall a ton of apps, you might have lost gigabytes of storage already. While theres another app on this list which (Onyx) which can help you recover that storage, AppCleaner is an app which makes sure that the apps you delete dont leave any residual files . Just launch the app and drag and drop the apps that you want to uninstall and it will take care of the rest. It is a must-have utility tool for any Mac user who wants to keep their Mac clean.
Install: AppCleaner 27. LiteIcon
LiteIcon is the app from the same developers who made the AppCleaner. It is a simple app which allows you to change your system icons quickly and easily . Simply drag an icon onto the one you want to change, and click the Apply Changes button. That's all you need to do. If you want your older icon back, just drag out the new icon. If you like to customize how your icons look on Mac, try out LiteIcon.
Install: LiteIcon 28. GrandPerspective
I have written about GrandPerspective a couple of times on this website and you might be familiar with it by now. For those who are new to our website, its an app which allows you to visualize storage on your Mac. Using GrandPerspective you can easily find out which files are using how much storage and find and delete the files which are not necessary. GrandPerspective is a very nice app for anyone who doesnt have any idea as to where all his/her Macs storage went.
Install: GrandPerspective 29. Manuscript
Manuscript is a free Mac writing app for students which makes writing school assignments including dissertation easier. Manuscript is a powerful writing app which allows students to complete their assignments right from the planning stage to completing it. It lets students easily insert citations, figures, tables, mathematical equations, and more . The app also allows for importation of citations from various tools including Mendeley, Zotero, Papers 3, Bookends, and EndNote. If you are a student who is looking for a good writing app, you dont have to look any farther than Manuscript.
Install: Manuscript 30. IINA
IINA is an open-source video player for your Mac which offers one of the best amalgamations of features and user interface. The app looks extremely beautiful and supports all the modern features including force touch, picture-in-picture, and even offers Touch-bar controls for the latest MacBook Pros. IINA also supports almost all the video formats that you can think of, including the ability to play even GIFs. The app also comes with theming capabilities allowing you to use either light or dark themes. I have discovered this app just a few weeks back and I am already in love with it. If you consume a ton of media on your MacBook Pro, this is the right app for you.
Install: IINA 31. OnyX
OnyX is your one-stop solution for all your Macs maintenance needs . In fact, I cannot describe the app better and more succinctly than whats written on its website. OnyX is a multifunction utility that you can use to verify the structure of the system files, to run miscellaneous maintenance and cleaning tasks, to configure parameters in the Finder, Dock, Safari, and some of Apple's applications, to delete caches, to remove certain problematic folders and files, to rebuild various databases and indexes, and more. However, do remember that it is an advanced tool and hence before you do anything, make sure that you get familiar with the app as you dont want to delete files which can corrupt your entire system.
Install: Onyx 32. SpotMenu
The last app on our list the SpotMenu app which is a nifty little menu bar application. The app basically allows you to control your iTunes and Spotify music player from the menu bar giving you access to controls such as play, pause, forward, and rewind . Its a pretty basic application, however, it does come in handy. One thing that I like about the app is that it shows the name of the song that is currently playing right on your Macs menu bar. When you click on the icon, the drop-down window which harbors all the features also showcase the album art of the song that you are playing.
Install: SpotMenu 33. White Noise Lite
White Noise Lite is an app that helps you sleep better. If you are a light sleeper who wakes up multiple times in the night without any apparent reason then this app can help you sleep better. It brings fifty different HD quality ambient environment noises to help you sleep. The app brings a beautiful cover flow design which lets you easily swipe between cards to select different tasks. Although the app markets itself as a sleep enhancer, I mostly use to provide background music when I am working as it helps me concentrate. You should download this app right now and see if it helps you sleep better or work better. Whatever the result, you will be better off with this one in your arsenal.
Install: White Noise Lite 34. Shazam
Shazam is an app that needs no introduction. The app helps you discover songs by identifying whatever song is playing in the background. I personally use Shazam more as a tool to keep the list of songs that I have discovered. Suppose I am listening to a song and YouTube and want to save it. I just click on the menu bar icon of Shazam and it identifies the song and saves it on the list. I don't have to write it down anywhere. Later I can see the list and add to my Apple Music Playlist at my convenience. Shazam is a great app for discovering and keeping track of music that you like.
Install: Shazam 35. Muzzy
You know how when you accidentally yank headphones out of your iPhone, the music suddenly stops, well, Muzzy brings that functionality to your Mac. The app also does a lot of other things like allowing users to play, pause, and change the music from its menu bar app, integrates with Last.fm, shows songs lyrics, and more. However, I dont care for any other features and I just use this app to stop music whenever I accidentally yank my headphones out. Sadly, the app only works if you are playing music through iTunes.
Install: Muzzy Best Free macOS Apps: Final Thoughts
I hope that you found some apps which are useful to you. Do let me know which of these were your favorite and which ones you discovered. Also, if you know free apps that deserve to be on the list but arent, drop their names in the comments section. Thats all I have for this article. If you liked this article, share this on your social media profiles because we need your help to get the word out. As always, drop your opinions and suggestions in the comments section down below. We love to hear from our readers and your comments are always welcome.
Modern genealogy software has tons of useful features for everyone, from the rank amateur just starting out to the seasoned professional.
But with so many choices of software out there, which one is the best for you? Read on, and well give you our top five picks. Our picks
Family Tree Builder : free desktop software by MyHeritage
RootsMagic : most popular software amongst genealogists
Legacy : best option if you want a wider range of reporting features
Family Historian : best option for beginners and for those not tech-savy
Family Tree Maker : good software but too expensive
* Prices may vary; check websites for the latest prices before ordering. We may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post which help support this site. Genealogy software basics
There are a bunch of things that you can expect any genealogical software to do:
Build a family tree
Record information on your ancestors: dates, locations, relationships, etc.
Document research sources and link them to your family tree
Maintain more than one database for multiple family trees
Print out ancestral charts and reports
Share your family tree with others in print and electronically
Store photos, audio and video recordings, and scans of your ancestors and documents
Protect your information through regular backups
Give you hints on where and how to search for more clues
Export your information to other genealogy programs
In addition, some genealogy software today will let you:
Download information directly from certain online resources
Map your ancestors through time and space
Browse online directly, without switching to a separate web browser
So if all genealogy software does all this, does it really matter which program you pick?
Yes, it does, because each program does certain things better than others. The best one for you depends on how you plan to use it.
Here are our top 5 picks for genealogy software, in no particular order because they are all best at something. Family Tree Maker 2017
Family Tree Maker, or FTM, has been around for decades, and is the best known and most widely used genealogy software.
It packs a lot of power, and is good all-around at just about everything. Pros and cons
Family Tree Maker provides all of the features that you would expect from a genealogy program, and it does most of them very well.
The latest version of Family Tree Maker added a unique feature called FamilySync, which lets you automatically synchronize up to three family trees.
This is perfect if you have relatives who are working on the same tree as you. Any information you enter gets added to their trees, and vice versa.
They have also added the ability to color code your ancestors with up to eight different colors each.
This can be used to help you keep track of your research status, easily see which children were by a first wife or second wife, or any other use you can think of.
Family Tree Maker 2017 also includes a lightweight built-in image editor so you can make simple changes to enhance any photos connected to your family tree.
The program connects easily to both the Ancestry and FamilySearch websites, allowing you to download records directly into your tree.
It also provides extensive hints on places to search for more records when you are connected to the internet.
FTM 2017 is one of very few programs that now allows you to include same-sex marriages in your family tree.
On the negative side, while Family Tree Maker 2017 does offer an improved set of charts and reports, the charts are still not as extensive as Legacy 9.
Also, the company that produced Family Tree Maker changed in 2016.
The new company, Mackiev, has made a number of changes and improvements with their 2017 version, but dont count on them to provide much support for older versions.
Family Tree Maker also tends to be the most expensive genealogy software out there, but for many people, its worth it. Compatibility
FTM is available for both Windows (7.0 or later) and Mac (10.9 or later). Online support
Because it has been around for so long and is used by so many people, Family Tree Maker has a wealth of online support in the form of tips, step by step instructions and tutorials, and even how-to videos.
Their website includes a free digital companion guide to get you started on using all of the programs features.
While all this support is great in most cases, be aware that Family Tree Maker has changed a lot over the years, so some of that support might be out of date.
Still, there are so many users out there that you can always find a forum to ask questions and get expert answers quickly. Integration
For years, Family Tree Maker has allowed you to connect with Ancestry to upload your family tree and to directly download records from Ancestry into your tree.
With the latest release, FTM now includes that capability for FamilySearch.com as well.
That means you can easily connect and share with the two largest genealogy sites out there with billions of online records available. Where to buy
Family Tree Maker is available from http://www.mackiev.com/ftm/. There is no free trial available. Legacy 9
Legacy 9, also known as Legacy Family Tree 9, is a fully featured genealogy program that is considered by many to be the best on the market today.
It has plenty going for it, and only a couple of weak areas. Pros and cons
Legacy 9 provides everything you would expect, plus a lot of neat extras that are new in the latest edition.
One powerful tool is the compare two people tool, which lets you examine two people side by side.
This is especially useful if you have two records with the same name, but youre not sure if theyre the same person.
The side by side display lets you check them out easily rather than having to keep flipping back and forth.
Legacy 9 has the most extensive (and in most cases best looking) set of charts out of any genealogy program.
This gives you all sorts of options for printing out your results.
The latest release even includes a new X-DNA chart to track your genetic inheritance.
In addition to printed reports, Legacy 9 has built-in support to turn your family tree into a webpage automatically.
It also has a built-in web browser so you can check out online sites without having to switch back and forth between windows.
The program includes color coding for easy organization of your ancestors, such as tracking children from multiple marriages, and up to nine tags that can be used however you want.
Legacy 9 even includes a secure online backup for your family trees, so you never have to worry about losing your database.
On the down side, Legacy 9 does not support same-sex marriages yet, though that is supposed to be coming.
The Legacy website is less flashy than most and a little harder to navigate at times, but still includes a help center, forums, and more. Best Mac Programs For Musicians Compatibility
Legacy 9 is only designed for Windows, though their website includes instructions for how to make it work on a Mac using an emulator. Online support
The Legacy website provides a variety of training videos and programs, and an extensive help center that includes user forums, troubleshooting advice, and even a suggestion box for you to tell them what features youd like to see added. Integration
Legacy 9 is specifically designed to work with a variety of useful (and free) websites, including FamilySearch, FindMyPast, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Find A Grave.
It can search these sites for your ancestors automatically and give you hints on where to find more information. Where to buy
Legacy 9 is available from their website here , and is available in two versions.
The Standard version is completely free, allowing you to sample most of the features of Legacy with no time limit.
If you want to access all of Legacys features, you can purchase the Deluxe version. Family Historian 6
Family Historian 6 is not nearly as well-known as Family Tree Maker or Legacy, but that doesnt mean it is any less useful when it comes to recording your findings. Pros and cons
Family Historians greatest strength is its ease of use.
If youre looking for a program that you can use right out of the box from day one, this is it.
You can get started right away without having to read a lot of manuals or watch a bunch of tutorials.
Entering information into Family Historian is simple and intuitive.
The main screen includes both an ancestry chart and a separate details box for a selected individual, letting you enter information without losing sight of the big picture.
Family Historian includes a smart trees option that lets you expand or collapse different parts of your tree as needed.
That means you can concentrate on just a small section at a time without your other branches filling up the screen.
The program also offers tools to view two family trees side by side so you can compare them before deciding if you want to merge them.
Family Historian includes a dynamic mapping tool that not only lets you see where your ancestors were, but lets you color code them, zoom in and out, view all the events that happened at a particular location, and more.
Family Historian 6 also offers powerful tools for sharing your family tree with others in print or electronically. It includes about twice as many charts as Family Tree Maker, though not as many as Legacy 9, and they are not as artistic. Best Apps For Mac
The lack of backgrounds leaves Family Historian charts looking a little dull compared to other programs.
Unfortunately, Family Historian 6 does not offer any support for DNA results at this point. Compatibility
Family Historian 6 runs on Windows (Vista, 7, 8, and 10). Online support
The Family Historian website includes quick start guides and tutorials, but has a more limited online community compared to other products, especially Family Tree Maker.
On the other hand, because it is produced by a British company, the Family Historian community might be particularly helpful for those researching family roots in the United Kingdom. Integration
The program links directly with the MyHeritage and Findmypast websites, letting you easily locate information on your ancestors and download it directly into your family tree.
However, unlike the other programs on our list, it does not include direct linking with Ancestry or FamilySearch. Where to buy
Family Historian 6 is available from Amazon here . There is also a 30-day free trial if you want to test it out before you buy. RootsMagic 7
RootsMagic is not as well-known as some of the other genealogy software, but that doesnt mean it isnt just as good. It offers all of the basics you need, plus some useful bonus features. Pros and cons
RootsMagic has some powerful features that you wont find in many programs, including the ability to have more than one database open at the same time.
That makes it a lot easier to compare databases and copy information from one to the other.
You can even drag and drop people directly from one database to the other.
One of the best things about RootsMagic is a unique feature called RootsMagic To-Go, which lets you load a portable copy of the program onto a USB drive.
That way you can take it with you and use it on any computer wherever and whenever you want.
This can make doing research on the road, at libraries, courthouses, or wherever, much easier, and lets you enter search results right away.
RootsMagic makes it simple to share your findings. Built-in tools help you create custom webpages, CDs, and DVDs, and offers plenty of print options as well.
This program is one of the few that currently allows you to include same-sex marriages in your family tree, and can manage other complex relationships as well.
Compared to other programs, RootsMagic does not have as many charts available, but it has extensive options for creating every sort of report youre ever likely to want.
On the negative side, RootsMagics interface is not as nice looking or easy to use as other programs. That can make it more frustrating for folks just starting out in genealogy. Compatibility
RootsMagic 7 works on the greatest range of operating systems of any of our picks, including every version of Windows since Windows 2000 and XP, and on Macs (10.8 and later). Online support
The RootsMagic website is more limited than most of the others. It does include some video tutorials and how-to guides, but not as much other support, and has a smaller user community. Integration
RootsMagic 7 is able to connect and download directly from such sites as Ancestry, MyHeritage and FamilySearch, giving you access to a ton of online records and databases. Where to buy
RootsMagic 7 is available from Amazon here .
RootsMagic Essentials 7 is a free version of the software which includes all of the basics you need to get started, and can be used as long as you want.
However, the free version does not include a lot of the best features, such as RootsMagic To-Go. Family Tree Heritage 9
Rounding out our top five picks, Family Tree Heritage 9 lacks a lot of the bells and whistles that the other programs have. Still, it covers all of the basics with flying colors, and has a few great features of its own. Pros and cons
Family Tree Heritage lets you connect to Ancestry, FamilySearch, and RootsWeb, giving you instant access to billions of online records.
Even better, it can help you add other sites as well, something most software doesnt allow.
That can be a great help when searching for information from other countries around the world. Best Mac Programs For Graphic Design
Like our other top five choices, Family Tree Heritage provides web hints for getting the most out of your online connections.
Family Tree Heritage has powerful tools to make it easy to merge two family trees together, saving you hours of crosschecking and identifying duplicate records.
The program makes it easy to add news sources, and a ditto tool that lets you quickly connect one source to many individuals. This can be a great time saver.
One of the best features of Family Tree Heritage is the way you process bulk changes in your family tree all at once.
If you find a mistake, like a misspelled town name, you only need to fix it in one spot, and the program can update it everywhere else for you instantly.
Other features include a research timeline that organizes what you do (and dont) know about an ancestor chronologically, color coding to help organize family branches both on your computer and in print, and the ability to add up to three custom tags to each ancestor so you can group them however you want.
Family Tree Heritage is mixed when it comes to producing charts and reports.
It is great for producing quick, easy to read reports, but it has a more limited choice of charts with generally uninteresting backgrounds.
So if you want fancy charts, its not so hot, but if you want to see your info in report format, its probably the best.
On the negative side, Family Tree Heritage is the only one of our five picks that does not include an in-app browser.
That means you have to switch back and forth between programs if you want to look up information online in most cases.
However, it does support direct searching of Ancestry and FamilySearch databases from within the program.
Family Tree Heritage 9 does not include a mapping feature, so you cant track your ancestors visually. It also does not support same-sex marriages. Compatibility
Family Tree Heritage 9 is only available for Windows. Online support
Family Tree Heritage 9 has some online tutorials, but overall offers a lot less than the other programs on our list. It has a very limited online community. Integration
The software allows direct downloads of records from Ancestry and FamilySearch.
It can often be set up to work with other websites as well. However, it does not let you directly modify your family tree on Ancestry, only through manual uploads. Where to buy
Family Tree Heritage 9 is available from http://www.familytreeheritage.biz/. There is no free trial available. So which software is for you?
Which program is best? As with so many things, that depends on you, and how you plan to use it.
Family Tree Maker 2017 is a great all-around program for most users, especially if you want to upload your tree to Ancestry.
Legacy 9 is also a great all-around program, and provides the greatest number of charts for showing off your research.
Family Historian 6 is excellent if you want ease of use. It lets you dive in right away, spending less time learning the program and more time researching your family.
RootsMagic 7 is the clear (and only) choice if you want to take your research on the road and dont have a laptop. Its also one of the more popular picks among professional genealogists.
Family Tree Heritage 9 lets you link to more online sites than any of the other programs.
If you want to work together with other family members on the same tree, Family Tree Maker 2017 is the way to go.
If youre looking to create a webpage from your findings, Legacy 9 and RootsMagic 7 are your best choices.
If you want to create amazing looking ancestral charts, Legacy 9 is your best bet.
For the most economical route, Legacy 9 and RootsMagic 7 both have free versions with no time limit, but youll miss out on some of their best features.
In the end, dont agonize too much about picking the wrong program. In most cases, all of them will do what you need especially if you are just starting out.
Worst case scenario, all these programs let you export your data as a GEDCOM file, which can be loaded into any other genealogy software.
It wont copy everything, such as photos and videos, but it will save you from starting from scratch.
So decide what your main priority is, pick the program that looks best for you, and get started searching for your family roots today!