Investing in the right tools can make all the difference when it comes to getting your best work done on theMac. Utilities are some of the bestappsa Mac user can install to elevate their experience. A utility onmacOSis a lightweight app that runs in the background to provide or improve the native user experience. Unlike most Mac apps, utilities are lightweight and run in the background to provide additional features and greater capabilities. It can be tempting never to want to spend a cent on apps, but sometimes premium features are well worth the upfront investment.
Here are 13 paidMac utilitiesto help you get the most out of your Mac and enhance your workflow.
Snap windows in place with ease
If you’re a Mac user that likes to multi-task, you’ve probably heard of Magnet. The app allows you to easily move your open apps to various on-screen locations, just like a Windows computer.
Magnetis a powerful window management tool that allows you to snap and resize windows effortlessly, and it is, by far, the most used utility on my Mac. While some window management functionality is coming tomacOS Sequoia, Magnet allows you to drag windows to your screen’s edge, snap them into place, and use keyboard shortcuts to quickly do the same. I recommend customizing Magnet’s keyboard shortcuts as soon as you download the app to suit you best.
This utility is perfect for effortlessly rearranging windows to make for more streamlined multitasking.
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2CleanShot X
Capture and annotate screenshots like a pro
CleanShot X
A powerful screenshot and screen recording tool packed with editing, annotation, and sharing features.
CleanShot Xis another one of my top-used apps. The versatile screen capture tool goes beyond Apple’s basicscreenshotapp. It offers advanced features like screen recording, scrolling capture for long web pages, and easily customizable keyboard shortcuts. I particularly like that I can copy images from my clipboard and quickly annotate them with pixelation, arrows, and numbering. This screen capture utility is easily an essential tool for professionals who need to create and share visual content quickly and efficiently.
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3TextSniper
Copy text from anywhere on your Mac
TextSniper
Quickly extract text from images, PDFs, or any screen content using this easy-to-use OCR tool.
TextSniperis a simple yet powerful utility that allows you to extract text from anywhere in macOS. When activated, TextSniper appears like a screen capture tool. Yet, instead of taking an image, it’s pulling text from the area it captures. TextSniper is great when pulling text from images, PDFs, videos, and evenmacOS, where copying it directly may not be possible.
Like CleanShot X, once installed, I recommend customizing your TextSniper keyboard shortcut to something easy for you to tap on your keyboard quickly.
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The best clipboard manager yet
A lightweight clipboard manager that lets you easily access and search your clipboard history.
There are numerous clipboard managers on the App Store, butMaccyis the one that I’ve found myself sticking with. Maccy keeps a record of your clipboard, allowing you to easily select previous clippings from either the menu bar or popup launched by a keyboard shortcut. Maccy is capable of copying text, images, and just about everything I’ve encountered, even entire keynote slides.
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Seamless Bluetooth management
Simplify and enhance the experience of connecting and managing your AirPods on macOS.
AirBuddystarted as an enhanced way to easily monitor and pair yourAirPodsto your Mac. It did this by adopting the AirPods experience on iOS and migrating it to macOS. AirBuddy 2.0 is a full Bluetooth accessory manager living in your menu bar, allowing you to view the remaining battery of connected devices and pair devices with a single click.
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Keep windows where you want them
Keep your windows organized by restoring their positions at launch.
Stayis a unique window management utility that remembers and restores app window positions and sizes across different displays. Stay essentially lets users customize window placement and then keeping the exact configuration for the next time you open the app or window. Do not worry; you’re able to reposition apps after Stay moves them into place upon launch. You can also set different positions when working at different workspaces, ensuring your windows are always where you want them.
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7Keystroke Pro
Showcase your keystrokes
Keystroke Pro
Display your keystrokes on-screen with customizable styles, perfect for presentations and tutorials.
Keystroke Prois the first of a series of presenter-focused utilities on this list. Keystroke Pro displays your keystrokes in real-time on the screen, making it easy for viewers to follow along with your actions, making it perfect for professionals who frequently give or create tutorials and demos. Within Keystroke Pro’s settings, you can adjust the position and coloring of the keys on the screen.
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8Cursor Pro
Highlight your Mac’s cursor
Cursor Pro
Enhance your cursor visibility with customizable effects, making it ideal for presentations.
Cursor Prois a partner app to Keystroke Pro with customizations that enhance the visibility of your cursor, making it easier to locate on large screens or during presentations. Plus, it allows you to magnify a specific area on your screen with a press of the control key, improving visibility and recognition during demonstrations or teaching.
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Hide your desktop clutter
Instantly hide desktop icons for a clutter-free workspace with a single click.
HiddenMeallows you to instantly hide all the clutter on your desktop with a single click. While living in your menu bar, HiddenMe is fantastic for when you’re recording a screen capture or delivering a presentation, as it hides all of your personal files, providing a nice, clean workspace.
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10HazeOver
Dim distractions on your Mac
Reduce distractions by dimming background windows, helping you focus on the active task.
If you’re looking for an app to decrease distractions and increase focus,HazeOveris an excellent choice. This utility lets you dim or completely hide windows in your background while keeping your active app in the foreground. You can adjust the dimness of the background to help create the ideal distraction-free environment.
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