Free & Freemium Apps contains reviewed listings whose published pricing field records free access or a permanent free tier with optional paid functionality.
12 apps included
Verified-field rule
Why are these apps in Free & Freemium Apps?
Membership is computed from free or freemium pricing types. A temporary trial alone does not place a paid app in this collection. The rule currently resolves to 12 members.
Useful for
Use this collection to find a no-cost starting point, then compare whether the free boundary covers the actual Mac workflow you need.
Not evidence of
Free access does not mean every feature, service, update, storage allowance, or platform edition is included, and it is not a privacy or quality endorsement.
Check the underlying review
Read the pricing and caution fields, inspect what is included in the reviewed workflow, and confirm current plan limits through the linked official sources.
Included Apps
Bear
Writing
Bear is a Mac note editor for people who prefer a writing surface that stays close to plain text while still offering the structure needed for a personal notebook. Its core model is a single stream of notes organized with tags, including nested tags, rather than folders, projects, or a database builder. Markdown formatting, tables, to-dos, wiki links, backlinks, and a table of contents make it practical for connected research notes as well as short drafts. The free tier keeps local access, document scanning, several export formats, and a small set of themes; Bear Pro adds iCloud sync, more export formats, more themes and icons, encryption for individual notes, and text search inside PDFs and images. That makes the paid tier worth considering if the same library must follow you between Apple devices or if your archive needs richer output. Bear is intentionally Mac and Apple-platform focused, not a team workspace. Before moving important material into it, test the tag-first organization and confirm whether the Pro subscription, iCloud requirement for sync, and export formats fit the way you need to retrieve or share notes later.
Free tier with optional Bear Pro subscriptionApple SiliconIntel
Craft is a document and note workspace for people who want to write, arrange ideas, and share finished material without moving every project into a separate task board or database. On the Mac app, documents sit inside spaces and folders, while a document view can expose its headings as a table of contents in the sidebar. That makes it useful for a working set of notes that needs both a writing surface and a navigable structure. Craft also supports styling, media, links, tasks, calendar context, collections, sharing, and publishing, so an individual can begin with a straightforward document and add more structure only where it helps. The current free plan has a 1,500-block limit and 1 GB of storage; Plus removes content limits and adds more storage, history, and assistant capacity. That plan split matters for people who expect Craft to become a long-running reference library. Craft is available on Mac but is not Mac-only: the developer also documents iOS, Windows, and web use. Buyers should therefore try its cross-device workflow and sharing model before treating it as an offline-only notebook or a replacement for a dedicated team project-management system.
Free plan with paid Plus, Family, and Team subscriptionsApple SiliconIntel
Alfred is a keyboard-first Mac launcher that can search applications, files, web searches, and selected system features from one command window. The free core is useful when you mainly want quicker app launches and file lookup without committing to a complicated automation setup. Its Powerpack is the paid layer: it adds workflow creation, clipboard history, snippets, richer search controls, themes, and other advanced tools that turn a launcher into a personal command surface. Workflows are a particularly good fit for repeatable local actions because they can connect hotkeys, keywords, actions, and script-driven results without requiring a custom Mac app. The trade-off is that the richer setup rewards deliberate configuration. Clipboard history can contain material that was copied from elsewhere, and a workflow that calls scripts, contacts, files, or online services should be inspected before use. The current official Alfred 5 page lists a free download, a 64-bit build for Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, and macOS 10.14 or later. If Powerpack features are central to your work, confirm the current license type and upgrade terms on the vendor's shop before buying rather than treating the free launcher as the whole product.
Free core app; Powerpack £34 Single License or £59 Mega SupporterApple SiliconIntel
Raycast is a keyboard-first command surface for Mac users who want to launch apps, find files, run built-in utilities, and reach smaller workflow tools without opening a chain of separate windows. Its root search can bring together commands, snippets, quicklinks, clipboard history, window management, and extensions in one interface. The free tier includes the core feature set and access to the public Extensions Store, while Pro adds account-backed features such as Raycast AI, Cloud Sync, custom themes, and expanded history and notes. That split matters: the paid plan includes AI, and its subscription renews unless cancelled. Raycast also offers limited free AI messages and supports compatible bring-your-own API keys or local Ollama models, but those choices are not a substitute for checking the current plan and provider terms. The current official quickstart documents the V2 beta for macOS Tahoe and Apple silicon, so people on older Macs or different hardware should confirm the appropriate current download before changing their daily launcher. It is best for users willing to learn a hotkey and assemble a personal command set; a lightweight single-purpose app may be clearer for someone who only needs one utility.
Free plan with paid Pro, Teams, and Enterprise plansApple SiliconFree plan with paid Pro, Teams, and Enterprise plans
Rectangle is a focused Mac utility for putting windows into repeatable positions with keyboard shortcuts, snap areas, and optional drag-based actions. Rather than asking users to manage another workspace, it works on the windows already open: a shortcut can move a window to a half, third, corner, or another chosen size and position. The free Rectangle app is open source, supports macOS 10.15 or later on Intel and Apple Silicon, and is distributed through the developer's download and repository channels. Its settings can import or export shortcut and preference data as JSON, which is useful when standardizing a personal setup across Macs. Rectangle Pro is a separate paid product with a 10-day trial, custom size and position shortcuts, and additional gesture-oriented controls; it should not be assumed to be part of the free app. Window-management tools need Accessibility access to act on other app windows, so users should understand and approve that system permission. Rectangle is a good fit for people who repeatedly tile two or three working windows and want predictable shortcuts. It is less useful for someone who prefers macOS's built-in tiling or who cannot grant a window utility the required accessibility permission.
Free and open source; Rectangle Pro is a separate paid productApple SiliconIntel
Facet is a visual launcher for Mac users who miss browsing applications in a Launchpad-style grid instead of beginning every launch with a text search. The permanent Free edition includes a full-screen app grid, keyboard search, folders, ordering, a global shortcut, and Launchpad layout import. Those tools can make a large installed-app collection easier to scan without rebuilding a menu-bar utility or a general command palette. Facet Pro is an optional one-time $14.99 upgrade with a 14-day trial that does not require a card or convert into a subscription; it adds a compact floating panel, appearance controls, hot corners, hidden apps, aliases, and Dock or menu-bar icon customization. Quartz says the app runs locally without telemetry or ad tracking, a useful boundary for a launcher that can see installed apps. The current release notes require macOS 14 or later, and inspection of the official Facet 1.0.15 DMG found an arm64-only executable, so Intel Mac owners should not assume the current direct release will run. Facet is best when visual browsing and folders are part of the habit; a search-first launcher may be a smaller fit for people who rarely want the full grid.
Free tier with US $14.99 one-time Pro purchaseApple SiliconFree tier with US $14.99 one-time Pro purchase
Tuck is a compact Mac menu-bar manager for people who can no longer fit their everyday status items into the visible bar. Its main action can hide a group of icons, then reveal them again when they are needed. Per-icon controls let an item remain visible, remain hidden, or follow the main toggle, while auto-hide and hover can keep a temporary reveal from staying open. On a notched MacBook, Shelf Mode can place hidden items in a panel below the menu bar instead of forcing a wider visible row. The permanent Free edition covers the core organization workflow; Tuck Pro is a $14.99 one-time purchase with no subscription and lifetime updates. The current stable release is Tuck 1.0.32, listed for macOS 14 through 26 and distributed as a Developer ID-signed, Apple-notarized DMG. Inspection of that official build found both Intel and Apple-silicon executable slices. Menu-bar utilities necessarily interact with a crowded part of macOS, so users should test their essential status items and any needed system permissions before relying on a hide rule. Tuck is a good fit for reducing visual clutter, not for replacing the menu-bar controls users need to see continuously.
Free tier with US $14.99 one-time Pro purchaseApple SiliconIntel
Ice is a menu-bar manager for Mac users whose status items have grown beyond a single visible row. Instead of leaving every icon in the system bar, it can hide selected items and reveal them in a separate Ice Bar below the menu bar. The project also exposes a drag-and-drop layout view, a search tool for locating an item, and appearance or spacing controls for shaping how the bar is presented. That makes it useful when a laptop notch, several background utilities, or a crowded collection of status icons makes common controls hard to find. Ice is distributed from its official GitHub releases and is licensed under GPL-3.0, so there is no vendor checkout price to compare. The current official repository says it supports macOS 14 and later because it relies on system APIs introduced in that release; older Macs are therefore outside its stated support boundary. The latest official release selected by the repository was inspected as a universal x86_64 and arm64 app bundle. Ice remains in active development, and its roadmap explicitly lists some features as unfinished, so users should test its layout and visibility behavior with their own essential menu-bar utilities before relying on it as a permanent organizer.
Fantastical is a calendar application for people who need to see several schedules in one Mac workspace without manually switching among accounts. Its free tier provides a basic calendar that works with existing calendars, while the current Flexibits Premium plans add the vendor's advanced features, including Fantastical Scheduling and priority support. The product page frames the app around a unified view for work and personal calendars, and the current pricing material identifies integrations with iCloud, Google, Exchange, and supported CalDAV services for invitations and availability. That can suit someone who moves between personal, company, and shared calendars, but the value of the paid tier depends on whether the premium scheduling or collaboration features are part of their routine. Fantastical is available through the Mac App Store and a direct Flexibits download. Apple lists the current Mac version as requiring macOS 12.4 or later, while local inspection of the current official Flexibits 4.1.18 ZIP found both x86_64 and arm64 executable slices. Premium is a subscription rather than a one-time Mac license, so compare the current monthly and annual terms, free-tier limits, and account or provider requirements before treating it as a replacement for the built-in Calendar app.
Free tier with paid Individual, Family, and Team subscriptionsApple SiliconIntel
TablePlus is a native database client for Mac users who want a single desktop workspace for connecting to several database systems without moving among vendor-specific tools. The developer describes support for MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Microsoft SQL Server, Redis, MongoDB, and other listed engines; the practical value is a consistent place to inspect schemas, browse rows, and run queries across those connections. Its macOS build is described as native and supports both Intel and Apple-silicon Macs running macOS 10.13 or later. The direct license is a perpetual purchase rather than a subscription, with Basic, Standard, and Team options that differ in device or seat coverage. A trial is available, but the pricing page documents limits on opened tabs, windows, and advanced filters. After the included year of updates, the installed version continues to work, while access to later versions requires renewal. That makes it a considered fit for developers, support engineers, and database administrators who regularly compare local and remote data sources, but it is not a replacement for understanding a target database's privileges, connection settings, or change-review process. Check the current plan terms and test a real connection before buying for a shared or production-facing workflow.
Free limited Basic use with paid perpetual Standard and Team licensesApple SiliconIntel
OrbStack is a macOS tool for running Docker containers and Linux machines from a native desktop app and command line. It is designed as a Docker Desktop alternative, but it also exposes machine, networking, file-sharing, and SSH workflows that make local Linux work feel closer to the Mac. Under the hood, OrbStack documents a lightweight Linux virtual machine with a shared kernel; Docker runs alongside Linux machines in that environment. The vendor also documents Rosetta-based x86 emulation on Apple Silicon, VirtioFS-based sharing, and custom services written in Swift, Go, Rust, and C. Current downloads are separate for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs and require macOS 14 or later. OrbStack is free for personal, non-commercial use, while business and commercial use belongs on its paid Pro plan, currently listed as $8 per user per month when billed annually. It fits developers who need containers, local services, or a few reproducible Linux machines without leaving macOS. It can change Docker contexts, install command-line links, and optionally migrate Docker Desktop data, so treat setup as infrastructure work rather than a casual utility install. Isolated machines have different integration behavior, and the vendor explicitly cautions that shared-kernel machines are not a full-VM boundary for actively malicious code.
Free for personal non-commercial use; Pro US $8 per user monthly when billed annuallyApple SiliconIntel
Superwhisper is a macOS voice-to-text app for turning spoken input into text in the application you are already using. Its official Mac page describes a menu-bar tool that starts from a shortcut or push-to-talk control, then types the result at the cursor without requiring an app-specific extension. Alongside live dictation, it can transcribe audio files and apply an optional second language-model step for formatting or transformation. The current download page requires macOS 13.3 or later. Superwhisper's documentation distinguishes local and cloud choices: a local voice model can keep transcription on the Mac, while cloud transcription or AI post-processing sends audio or text through the selected service. That makes model selection a material privacy and connectivity decision, not a background implementation detail. The official Pro documentation lists a free tier plus paid plans and says a Pro license covers its supported Mac, Windows, and iOS devices. Initial setup also asks the user to configure a microphone and required system permissions for dictation. It is best suited to people who regularly draft messages, notes, or technical text by voice, but it is worth testing the selected model, microphone input, and data path before dictating sensitive material or relying on cloud-assisted formatting.
Free tier with monthly, annual, and lifetime Pro plansApple SiliconIntel
