• Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Team
  • Featured Reviews

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

Facebook Twitter
  • Contact
  • Archive
Facebook Twitter
MacSourcesMacSources
Subscribe
  • APPS
    Email Me App
    80

    Email Me 2022 App REVIEW

    May 20, 2022
    JumpDesktop-Mac-App-May-2022-001
    88

    Jump Desktop Mac and iOS 2022 App REVIEW Connect from Anywhere

    May 18, 2022
    HazeOver-Mac-App-May-2022-001
    100

    HazeOver for Mac 2022 REVIEW Keep Focused with this Great Utility

    May 13, 2022
    AirBuddy 2.5 Device Monitor For Mac
    100

    AirBuddy 2.5 Device Monitor For Mac 2022 REVIEW

    May 11, 2022
    Sticky-Notes-Post-it-notes-Mac-App-May-2022-001
    75

    Sticky Notes Post-it notes for Mac 2022 REVIEW

    May 10, 2022
  • REVIEWS
    • Accessory
      • Cases
      • Charging
      • Docks
      • Earbuds
      • EDC
      • Headphones
      • Photography
      • Bags
      • Batteries
    • Cables
      • Computers and Tablets
      • Screen Protectors
      • Data Storage
      • Displays
      • Keyboards
      • Gaming
      • Microphones
      • Networking
      • Printers
    • Smartphone
      • Speakers
      • Smart Home
      • Health and Wellness
      • Home Goods
      • Office
      • Personal Vehicles
      • Security
      • Smart Locks
      • Wearable
  • BLOG
    Ukraine-Flag

    MacSources Stands with Ukraine

    March 1, 2022
    PC gaming

    Top Games To Play On A Mac

    February 15, 2022
    Mailbutler Founder Interview

    10 Questions Asked of Mailbutler Founder, Tobias Knobl During Honest Interview

    February 2, 2022
    Steve Jobs Laughing

    Apple Pays Tribute to Steve Jobs on the 10th Anniversary of His Death

    October 5, 2021
    Spectrum Mobile logo with a line through it

    Spectrum Mobile and Why to Look Elsewhere

    September 20, 2021
MacSourcesMacSources
Home»Featured»Apps»5 Essential Apps I Enjoy and Always Install
Apps

5 Essential Apps I Enjoy and Always Install

Nicholas CalderoneBy Nicholas CalderoneJanuary 25, 2022Updated:February 2, 20221 Comment7 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Essential Mac Apps
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Reddit

Everyone has their ‘must-have’ apps. What are yours?

There are approximately 1.96 million apps available for download from the App Store and it can be nearly impossible to sift through them all to determine which ones will be most beneficial to you. Everyone has their ‘go-to’ apps — you know, the apps you can’t live without. It’s taken me a long time and several computers to settle on my Top 5 apps.

With the brand new Apple MacBook Pro (M1 Pro/Max) released, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss five of my must-have apps on the Mac. Anytime I do a fresh install of macOS or buy a new Mac, I always find myself installing these five apps before anything else. I find these are some of the most important apps I use almost daily. Let’s go down the list.


1Password app icon

1Password

The first thing I always install on a new computer is 1Password. I know Apple’s Keychain is a great option for storing user names and passwords but alas Keychain just doesn’t have all the features I use with 1Password. I find the software license, secure notes and other features of 1Password keep me coming back to it over other password managers. I still use Keychain but I find myself always inside of 1Password. So it always ends up the first application installed on my new computer.

DOWNLOAD

FEATURES:

  • Create strong, unique passwords and memorizable pass-phrases for your online accounts
  • Fill usernames, passwords, credit card numbers and addresses into websites and supported apps
  • Access your information on all your mobile devices and computers
  • Store items in more than a dozen categories: logins, credit cards, addresses, notes, bank accounts, driver’s licenses, passports, and more
  • Create multiple vaults to keep different areas of your life separate
  • Organize your information with tags and favorites
  • Add custom fields to your items to store security questions, extra URLs, and any other information you can think of
  • Use Spotlight to search for information when you need it
  • Unlock the app quickly and securely with Face ID
  • Lock the app automatically to ensure your data is protected, even if your device is lost or stolen
  • Use 1Password as your authenticator: store two-factor authentication codes and access them quickly when it’s time to sign in
  • Get alerts when a site you use has been compromised and you need to change your passwords
  • Add all your accounts — family, team, individual — and see all your information in one place
  • Easily migrate information between accounts
  • Share passwords, documents, and more with teammates and family members

For more information, visit 1password.com.


Chronicle App Icon

Chronicle Pro

Chronicle Pro is the second app installed on my Mac as it helps me keep track of all my bills. This Mac app has been an absolute beast at keeping me organized and knowing what I am spending. I am able to use it to keep track of confirmation numbers and how much I spend with each payment. Honestly, I don’t remember what I did before I started using Chronicle.

DOWNLOAD

FEATURES:

  • Never Forget A Bill: With notifications, and upcoming bills in your menu bar and notification center, Chronicle will always keep you up-to-date.
  • See How Much Is OK To Spend: Chronicle takes into account your monthly income, your bills, and even bills you have to set aside a little for each month (such as insurance payments, annual memberships, etc), and tells you how much money you can safely spend each month.
  • Plan For Expenses: Forecast View shows you upcoming bills months in advance.
  • Know How Much To Save: Amount-To-Save feature calculates how much you need to save each month for bills that repeat less often, like an annual insurance bill or car registration.
  • Eliminate Surprises: Intelligent Estimated Amount Due feature estimates how much is due for bills that vary, like credit cards or utilities, using your payment history and the time of year.
  • Remove the Hassle From Paying & Keeping Track of Bills: Pay bills online and log them in seconds using Chronicle’s integrated browser, and keep proof of all your payments, including storing receipts.
  • Understand Your Spending: With month-by-month payment history, and annual reports, you can break down your spending by bill or by specific tags, so you can understand where your money is going.
  • Chronicle can also sync with the iOS version.

For more information, visit chronicleapp.com.


Deliveries App Icon

Deliveries

Deliveries are always the third app I install. Because I work in the field of reviewing products I am constantly receiving packages and with Deliveries, I am able to keep track of what is coming and when it will arrive. Deliveries have helped me to be able to know when packages are lost or when they have been dropped off. This is one of the apps that keep me from being in a much more stressed-out predicament.

DOWNLOAD

FEATURES

  • Keep track of all your packages
  • Summary of all shipments with count down
  • See delivery on a map
  • View the shipping company’s web page
  • Share shipments over email, iMessage, or AirDrop
  • Add estimated delivery dates to your calendar
  • Quickly check packages with the Notification Center widget
  • Supports dozens of services including UPS, FedEx, US Postal Service, DHL, TNT, Canada Post, DPD, and many more

For more information, deliveries.app.


Lightroom App Icon

Adobe Lightroom Classic

Adobe Lightroom Classic has always been my fourth installed app and that’s because not only am I a writer for this website, but I am also a professional photographer. Outside of MacSources, I use Lightroom to edit my wedding photos and portraits. Lightroom has many alternatives to edit in but it’s the catalog that keeps me with Adobe. Lightroom is a must-have for me.

DOWNLOAD

FEATURES

  • Anywhere editing
  • Smarter organization
  • Worry-free storage
  • Easy sharing
  • Learn from pros

For more information, visit adobe.com.


Amphetamine App Icon

Amphetamine

Finally, we are left with last but not least of my must-have apps — Amphetamine. This Mac app allows me to keep my laptop awake while installing apps or leaving my computer while my lightroom imports or exports photos. This is a very simple, easy-to-use utility that is completely free to use.

DOWNLOAD

FEATURES

  • Keep-awake sessions can be set for Indefinitely, while a file is downloading, or while a specific app is running
  • Keep-awake sessions choose to allow or prevent the display sleep, screen saver activation, system sleep when built-in display is closed, automated mouse cursor movement, locking of the screen
  • Users can create a trigger to automatically keep your Mac awake
    • While an external display is connected
    • While your Mac’s display is being mirrored
    • While a USB or Bluetooth device is connected
    • While a specific app is running
    • While a specific app is running and is frontmost
    • While your Mac’s battery is charging and/or when the battery is above a threshold
    • While your Mac’s power adapter is connected or disconnected
    • While your Mac has a specific IP address
    • While your Mac is on a specific Wi-Fi network
    • While your Mac is connected to Cisco AnyConnect VPN service
    • While your Mac is using a specific DNS servers
    • While headphones or another audio output is in use
    • While a specific drive or volume is mounted
    • While your Mac’s CPU is being utilized to a specific threshold
    • When your Mac has been idle for a specific threshold

Honorable Mention Apps

Here are some other apps I frequently install on a new Mac computer – they just aren’t one of the first five. So, I consider them honorable mention apps. With each of these apps, you can find something as an alternative but I have found over the years I enjoy the interface of these the best.

  • MailButler
  • Bartender
  • Photoshop
  • JPEG Mini
  • ImageOptim
  • Topaz Labs
  • AI Writer
  • QuickKey
  • iStat Menus
  • 1Blocker
  • Grammarly
  • App Cleaner
  • Twitterrific
  • PDF Expert
  • Final Cut Pro

None of the honorable mentions are in any order. These are some of the apps installed on all my brand new MacBook Pros. What Apps are a must-have for you and do you have alternative apps to the ones I have mentioned above?

apps mac app
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Avatar of Nicholas Calderone
Nicholas Calderone
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

I'm a Tech geek, Photographer, Star Wars fan, and writer for macsources.com I love technology, and what people do when creating amazing apps and products. Find me on Twitter Want to know more? Just ask. Or visit our team page

Related Posts

Email Me App
80

Email Me 2022 App REVIEW

May 20, 2022
JumpDesktop-Mac-App-May-2022-001
88

Jump Desktop Mac and iOS 2022 App REVIEW Connect from Anywhere

May 18, 2022
HazeOver-Mac-App-May-2022-001
100

HazeOver for Mac 2022 REVIEW Keep Focused with this Great Utility

May 13, 2022
View 1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Nicholas Calderone on February 4, 2022 4:51 pm

    5

    Reply

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram

Use Code for 20% Off
E-win Racing Gaming Chairs
Recent
Email Me App
8.0

Email Me 2022 App REVIEW

May 20, 2022
cyber security

Security Mac and iOS Devices Threats and How to Avoid Them

May 20, 2022
online technology

5 Best Essay Writing Apps

May 20, 2022
gaming laptop

5 Mac-Friendly Games To Enhance Your Critical Thinking Skills

May 20, 2022
SideTrak SOLO 4K Ultra HD Portable Monitor
9.5

SideTrak SOLO 4K Ultra HD Portable Monitor REVIEW

May 20, 2022
MacSources
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn
  • Home
  • Advertise
  • Team
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
© 2022 MacSources. Hosted by SiteGround.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.