Why Less Is More on macOS
macOS Tahoe 26 arrives with a fresh Liquid Glass aesthetic and a headline-grabbing Spotlight overhaul, yet power users still hit friction when they work all day on a Mac. Apple’s new beta lets you assign quick keys and shows richer categories, but it cannot run custom scripts, chain multiple actions, or tap the thriving plug-in ecosystem that many teams rely on – at least not yet.
After four years managing projects, shipping software and writing content from a MacBook, I’ve refined a lean set of utilities that remove that friction. Each pick is lightweight, privacy-respectful and either free or well worth the price. I install them on every fresh macOS setup and recommend them to founders, indie hackers and creatives who need to move fast.
Why This List Matters
- Real-world use: Every app below runs daily on my personal MacBook Pro M4PRO.
- Minimal impact: Nothing hogs CPU or spams notifications.
- Time saved: Each tool replaces multiple clicks with a single shortcut.
- Privacy first: No background analytics beyond what the Mac already sends.
If an Apple update ever delivers the same value, I am the first to uninstall the extra app. Until then, here is what earns a place in my minimalist stack.
1. Launch & Search Faster with Raycast
Raycast is everything we wanted Spotlight to be in 2025 – lightning quick search, clipboard history, window management, AI commands and hundreds of community plug-ins. Apple’s Tahoe beta narrows the gap, but Raycast still wins with script commands, Jira and GitHub integrations and a polished API.
Why I use it
- ⌘ Space pops in 100 ms and accepts math, JSON formatting and shell commands.
- The Extensions Store lets me push new Git branches or create Linear tickets without leaving the keyboard.
- Global shortcuts replace half a dozen separate utilities.
Pro tip: Create a “Focus” quicklink that opens your writing app, toggles Do Not Disturb and hides Slack in one keystroke.
2. Capture Anything Instantly with CleanShot X
CleanShot X replaces macOS’s slow screenshot HUD. It grabs scrolling pages, records GIFs and even blurs sensitive data on-the-fly. A recent update added one-keystroke cloud uploads and a smoother scrolling capture algorithm.
Why I use it
- Dragging the capture frame feels instant, unlike the native overlay.
- Keyboard-driven annotations mean no detour to Preview.
- Cloud links auto-copy, perfect for async documentation.
Workflow tip: Map Shift ⌘ 4 to CleanShot and retire the default tool entirely.
3. Tame the Menu Bar with Bartender 5
Bartender lets you hide, reorder and trigger menu bar items. Its fifth major release still leads despite new entrants like Ice.
Why I use it
- Keeps notch-area icons organised on my 14-inch display.
- Shows hidden items only on hover or shortcut, freeing focus.
- Rules reveal battery or VPN icons only when they change state.
4. Turn the Notch into Workspace with NotchNook
NotchNook uses the MacBook notch as a drop target for files, live widgets and quick actions. Dragging assets up saves screen real estate and beats juggling finder windows.
Why I use it
- Acts like Dropover for rapid file staging.
- The live timer/spotify widget sits neatly beside the webcam instead of blocking code.
5. Keep Awake on Demand with Amphetamine
Amphetamine is a free, ad-free keep-awake utility. A single click prevents your Mac or its display from sleeping during long uploads or presentations.
Why I use it
- More granular than macOS’s “Never Sleep” – you can bind to a specific Wi-Fi SSID or app.
- No hidden upsells or telemetry.
6. Protect Battery Health with AlDente Pro
AlDente Pro caps charging at, say, 80 percent to slow lithium-ion wear and extends cycle life.
Why I use it
- A scheduler raises the limit to 100 percent before travel days, then retreats.
- Discharge mode lets the Mac run on battery even while plugged in, ideal for long sessions.
7. Share Files Locally with LocalSend
LocalSend is an open-source AirDrop alternative that works across macOS, Windows, Linux and mobile without a server.
Why I use it
- Perfect for client workshops where AirDrop is blocked.
- Transfers stay on the local network, so no cloud privacy worries.
8. Clipboard Superpowers: Clop + CopyClip
- Clop optimises copied images so pasting into email is instant and lightweight.
- CopyClip keeps a clean, searchable text history in the menu bar.
I pair them: Clop handles media, CopyClip handles text. Raycast also grabs clipboard history, but dedicated tools keep things modular.
9. Uninstall Cleanly with AppCleaner
AppCleaner drags an entire app and its scatter-shot support files to Trash in one step.
Why I use it
- Avoids the cruft that slows Spotlight and Time Machine.
- Free and tiny – under 10 MB on disk.
10. Open Every Archive with The Unarchiver
The Unarchiver supports far more formats than macOS’s built-in extractor – RAR, 7-zip, ISO and obscure retro archives. Latest version 4.3.9 dropped in March 2025.
11. Grab Any Video with Downie
Downie downloads 4K video from thousands of sites and can extract audio only, handy for offline study.
12. Setapp Gems – One Subscription, 260 Apps
If you juggle multiple paid tools, Setapp bundles over 260 high-quality apps for $9.99 per month, including gems like CleanShot X and Downie.
Cost check: buying just CleanShot X and Downie outright exceeds the annual Setapp fee, so I usually point mentees to the seven-day trial first.
Implementation Tips
- Start small: Install two or three apps that solve today’s pain point, then add others as habits form.
- Sync settings: Raycast, AlDente and Downie all export configs. Store them in iCloud Drive for one-click restore.
- Automate: Use Raycast scripts to toggle Amphetamine and AlDente profiles when you plug into power.
- Audit quarterly: If a native macOS update closes a gap, remove the extra utility.
Conclusion
Apple continues to blur the line between stock macOS and power-user workflows, but today these thirteen utilities still save me hours each week and keep my Mac running lean. Give them a spin, share your own favourites in the comments, and let me know if Tahoe’s final release changes the calculus.
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