In a previous article where I talked about the 5 best cheap Mac apps under $10, it seems that many of you wanted to know if these apps had any free alternatives. The straight answer is yes, but it is a little bit more complicated than that. As a rule of thumb, you should know that for every paid Mac app, there is a corresponding free app out there. You just have to search for it.
That said, the free apps do have their own limitations. Mostly the limitations have to do with the user interface of the app. The paid apps generally have a more modern and easy to navigate user interface than their free counterparts. The paid apps also bring more features which make the apps more productive. I guess what I am trying to say is that in most cases, you essentially get what you paid for. That’s not to say that there are no good free apps out there. On the contrary, there are a ton of awesome free apps, and if you want to see a lit of them, do let me know in the comments section below.
However, this article is not about the best free Mac apps, it’s about the best-paid macOS apps and their free alternatives. Before we get into the article, one thing I would like to mention is that I have taken a little bit of liberty with the concept of free apps, which you will understand as we get into the article. So, if you don’t think that the paid apps deserve the price that they are asking for, here are the 7 best paid Mac apps and their free alternatives:
SharewareOnSale is one of the most famous free full version software download sites. The high daily visiting and engaging rate attracts a lot of software providers share their apps in this site every day, so you may find desired paid apps for Android, Windows, or Mac devices available for free here. CrossOver 21.0 – Run Windows apps on your Intel Mac (1498) MacPilot 13.0 – Enable over 1,200 hidden features in OS X and other apps (1179) SketchUp Pro 2021.1.2 21.1.331 – Create 3D design concepts with Google Earth integration (950). Following is a handpicked list of Top Screen Capture Apps for Mac, with their popular features and website links. The list contains both open source (free) and commercial (paid) software. Best Free Screen Recording Software for MAC: Top Picks.
7 Best Paid macOS Apps and Their Free Alternatives
Since there are going to be a lot of apps on this list, I am not going to go in-depth for each one of them. Rest assured all the apps that I mention in this list has been thoroughly tested by me. Also, if you like to see an in-depth review of any of the apps mentioned in this list, do let me know by writing in the comments section below. I will make sure to fulfill as many of your requests as I can.
1. Best Password Manager App for Mac: 1Password
It’s 2018 and if you are not using a password manager today, I am sorry to tell you the truth, but you are a fool (unless you have a Sheldon like memory which allows you to create and remember strong and random passwords). If you take your account safety seriously, you should be using a password manager. A password manager not only allows you to create random and secure passwords but it also makes them easily accessible. All you need to do is remember one master password. As long as you remember that you can use your password anywhere, be it on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad.
1Password according to me is one of the best password managers you can get for yourself. All your data is encrypted using end-to-end AES-256 encryption and PBKDF2 key derivation, which is a technical way to say, that there is no way in hell anyone can get into your account if they don’t know your master password. The service syncs all your password across devices and supports all the major platforms including macOS, iPhone, iPad, Android, and Windows. So, no matter which device you are using, you are covered.
Install:1Password - Free trial ($3.99/month - paid annually - individual plan / $4.99/month - paid annually - family plan up to 5 members)
1Password Free Alternative - LastPass
One of the biggest restrictions that come with using the free version of any password manager software is that the free version doesn’t allow you to sync your password across devices. This is where LastPass wins as the free version of the software allows you to sync your passwords across devices. Remember that I told you that I am going to take a little liberty when it comes to what free app means, that declaration applies here. Although LastPass does have a premium subscription model, it’s free version is enough to fulfill all your individual needs. In fact, I myself use the free version of LastPass and has never felt a need to upgrade to the paid version.
That’s not to say that the paid version doesn’t come with extra features. The paid version brings features like desktop application logins, desktop fingerprint identification, two-factor authentication, and 1GB of encrypted file storage. That said, none of those features are necessary. All the necessary features like password creation, auto-fill and auto-login in browsers, password sync across devices, form filling, secure notes, and more are present in the free version. That’s why I consider, LastPass to be the best free password manager you can use today.
Install: LastPass - Free ($2/month - paid annually - individual plan / $4/month - paid annually - family plan up to 5 members)
2. Best Menu Bar Manager for Mac: Bartender 3
One of my favorite features of Mac is its Menu Bar and the apps that it can hold. The Menu Bar not only provides us with a quick way to access important information and give us app specific contextual menus, it also allows us to use Menu Bar apps which are quite nifty applications. However, if you are as obsessed with apps as I am, you will soon find that your Menu Bar has become too crowded and unorganized.
That’s where Bartender comes in as it allows you to organize your menu bar apps, by hiding them, rearranging them, or moving them to the Bartender Items. But that’s not all, Bartender also allows you to quickly search for Menu Bar apps and use keyboard shortcuts to access them. Bartender is a must-have application for anyone who is looking to manage their Menu Bar items.
Install: Bartender 3 - Free trial for 4 weeks - $15
Bartender3 Free Alternative: Vanilla
I will be the first one to come out and say that Vanilla is nowhere as powerful as the Bartender app. That said, The app is free and allows you to hide your Menu Bar apps elegantly. When you install the app, you will see a small arrow icon which you can click on to either expand or hide the Menu Bar icons.
Although the app is free forever, it does have a Pro option which adds extra features like keyboard shortcuts and automatic icons hiding. However, if you are not ready to pay, the free version will just serve you right as the app never ever nags you for upgrading.
Install:Vanilla - Free/$3.99
Free Paid Mac Apps
3. Best Storage Manager for Your Mac: DaisyDisk
DaisyDisk is one of my most favorite macOS apps and considering how much it helps me, I am more than happy to pay for the service. I have already talked about the app in great detail in the best Mac apps under $10 article, which you can read if you want to. The short version is that the app helps you scan your Mac’s internal storage as well as any other storage devices that are either physically connected to your device or are on your server and helps you find and delete unwanted items to free up storage on your device. DaisyDisk is a prime example of an app which is really useful but that’s not why you are buying it. You are buying it for its extremely beautiful user interface which makes using this app a delight.
Install:DaisyDisk - $9.99
DaisyDisk Free Alternative: GrandPerspective
GrandPerspective is the best app for anyone who is looking for an alternative to DaisyDisk. The basic premise of the app is the same as DaisyDisk, that is, it scans your Mac to give you a graphical representation of the disk usage. You can choose to either scan your entire Mac or individual folders. Once you run the scan, the app will show all your files and folders represented by solid colored squares.
The bigger the file size, the bigger is the square. Thus you can easily find out which files and folders take up the most space. The app is free to download from its official website but cost $1.99 on the Mac App Store. But whichever app you download, you are essentially getting the same thing. The paid version is just your way of supporting the developers.
Install: GrandPerspective - (Free from Sourforge / $1.99 from Mac App Store)
4. Best Writing App For Mac: Ulysses
Ulysses has garnered a lot of hate after the service decided to go the subscription route, but the thing is, whether you love it or hate it, there is no denying the fact that it’s the best writing app for Mac. In fact, all the article that you see on this website have been researched, drafted, and written on Ulysses. The best part about Ulysses is that it is an extremely powerful and productive writing tool which packs enough features that can handle any writing project irrespective of its size or complexity, and yet it still manages to maintain a simple and distraction-free UI so you can get the work done. I have already published an article detailing all the features of the app which you can go through if you want to make yourself familiar with the app.
Install:Ulysses ($4.99/month or $39.99/year - special student pricing available)
Ulysses Free Alternative: Typora / Elephant / Focus Writer
Probably the hardest thing when drafting this article was finding a worthy free alternative for Ulysses, and sadly even after scouring the whole internet, I could not find an app which can replace Ulysses alone. Don’t get me wrong, Typora is a fairly worthy app, however, it’s only free till it’s in beta.
Focus Writer is free but it neither bring the handy markdown editing feature nor the exceptional organizational feature of Ulysses.
Elephant is an open-source alternative to Evernote which also has a built-in markdown editor.
In the end, I still think that iA Writer ($9.99) is the best Ulysses alternative but you can surely check these apps to see if they can help you in replacing Ulysses or not. If you are already using a Ulysses alternative which you think is better than anything mentioned on this list, do help us out by dropping its name in the comments section below.
Install:Typora / Elephant / FocusWriter
5. Best Photo Editing App For Mac: Affinity Photo
I have used a ton of photo editing apps on Mac, however, I have always come back to Affinity Photo. The biggest reason why I prefer Affinity Photo is not just because it packs more features that you will ever need and is regularly updated, it’s because Affinity provides a plethora of resources to help you master the software. I also love the fact that unlike most of the good photo editors out there which uses subscription-based pricing, Affinity photo charges a onetime fee.
One more reason to go for Affinity Photo is its iPad app. Affinity Photo’s iPad app is the most robust photo editing app that you can use on your iPad, period. If you are ready to pay the price, Affinity Photo will provide you with one of the most versatile and extensive suite of tools you will find in any photo editing software.
Install:Affinity Photo - $49.99
Affinity Photo Free Alternative: Fotor / Gimp
Fotor is probably the best free alternative to Affinity Photo which makes this one the best free photo editing app for Mac. The biggest benefit of using Fotor is the way it handles its interface. All the important tools are available right within your reach and you don’t have to dig through various sub-menus to find them. That said, Fotor is not truly free as it offers in-app purchases.
If you are looking for a truly free alternative to Affinity Photo, Gimp is what you should be looking at. Gimp is an open source photo editing tool for Mac. Being an open-source app, it brings all the advantages and disadvantages that come with the domain. What I mean by that Gimp has all the photo editing tools and features that you will find in any pro photo editing tool, however, it also comes with a steep learning curve and you will have to invest a considerable amount of time in learning it.
Install:Fotor / Gimp
6. Best Productivity App for Mac: Alfred
If you have ever searched for productivity apps for Mac, I can bet that Alfred was at the top of most of the results. Alfred is such a powerful tool that I will need to dedicate a series of articles if I want to really explain its power. The app not only helps you to quickly find files, apps, and more on your Mac, it also allows you to search the web, execute system level commands, create and execute workflows, assign hotkeys, control your music, automate your workflow, and much more. The possibilities are endless here. With its latest update, Alfred has taken the route of the freemium model where all its basic functions are free but pro functions are hidden behind a paywall, which you will need to buy if you are serious about using Alfred.
Install:Free / ￡19
Alfred Free Alternative: Quicksilver / Flashlight
QuickSilver is an open-source alternative for Alfred. Almost everything that you can do with Alfred, you can do with Quicksilver for free. However, as it is with any open-source application, Quicksilver also comes with a steep learning curve and doesn't have a great UI. That said, if you are ready to invest your time, you will be thoroughly rewarded.
Quicksilver will turn you into a Mac ninja, making you a far more productive than your average Mac user. However, if for some reason you are yet not ready to give up on Spotlight and still want all of Alfred’s power, you might want to check out Flashlight. Flashlight is not an app in itself but a collection of plugins which enhances the features of Spotlight bringing it closer to the likes of Alfred and Quicksilver.
Install:Quicksilver / Flashlight
7. Best Task Management App for Mac: OmniFocus
I understand that everybody has their own system for managing tasks, and there can be no one task management app which is best for everyone. However upon trying multiple apps, I have found that OmniFocus is one of the best if not the best task management app for Mac. OmniFocus uses the “Getting Things Done” principle to help you, well, get things done. I love how OmniFocus not only allows me to create individual tasks, it also allows me to create projects, folders, attach contextual menus, defer tasks, and more. OmniFocus also comes with apps for iPhone,iPad, and Apple Watch, so no matter which Apple device you are using, OmniFocus is always there for you.
Install:OmniFocus - $39.99
OmniFocus Free Alternative: Wunderlist / Todoist / Reminders
While I searched high and low for a free task management for Mac, every app that I found which was worth getting on the list followed a freemium model. Of all those apps, I found Todoist and Wunderlist to be the best of the bunch. I personally prefer Wunderlist more than Todoist, however, Todoist has certain advantages over Wunderlist and most of those advantages have to do with various automation tools which greatly cuts down the time you spent on the app itself and more on the tasks in hand.
However, if you don’t want a freemium app and need something truly free, I think the built-in Reminders apps that come with macOS and iOS is your best hope. The Reminders is not only for creating one-time reminders rather you can also create lists which can act as your projects. The app also allows you to set due dates and share reminders with someone which is a much-needed feature if you work in a collaborative environment. However, the biggest thing that goes in favor of reminders app is the fact that it is deeply integrated with Siri so you can use Apple’s voice assistant to easily create tasks without having to open the app itself.
Install:Todoist / Wunderlist
Paid Mac Apps and Free Alternatives: Final Thoughts
Since I took this topic on, I realized that while some of the paid Mac apps have worthy alternatives, most of the best paid apps offer features and user interface which cannot be replicated by any free app. Maybe that’s why it’s better to pay for the apps that you are going to use on a daily basis rather looking for their free alternative.
That said, not all of us are lucky enough to afford all the paid Mac apps. Hence, what I feel the best thing to do is to buy the apps which are essential for your workflow (you can look at cheaper alternatives which are much easier to find than free ones) while use the free ones for those which are not that important and will not hamper your productivity in a big way.
Q: Any recommended sites where I can download paid apps for free? Not the kind of cracked or pirated software as I don’t want to be troubled by any virus or intellectual property issue.
Downloading paid apps from illegal sources not only stop the software developers from providing better service, but also put users at the risks of privacy leaking and virus attack. If you want to avoid the risks and still download paid apps free, please look through this article to discover the best free full version software download sites where you can access free paid software or discounted apps in a legal way.
Warning again:
Pirated software could put the user’s IP address and identity at risk of being involved in the infringement of copyrights. Moreover, through the pirated file, malware and viruses could be delivered into users’ computer or smartphone, which will put the personal information and files in the danger of cybercrime.
Many people have been scared when ransomware was prevailing years ago. Actually, those kinds of threats are still existing today. In case you lose some important documents or photos due to cybercrime, just remember to download Jihosoft File Recovery Software to recover files deleted by virus.
These are the reasons why it is not suggested to download the paid software from the torrent sites for free. Most importantly, what if you can get the paid software for free without being involved in the malicious scenario of torrent sites? In this article, you will know up to the 12 best free full version software download sites. You will get access to most paid software from here easily and legally.
Top 1. SharewareOnSale
SharewareOnSale is one of the most famous free full version software download sites. The high daily visiting and engaging rate attracts a lot of software providers share their apps in this site every day, so you may find desired paid apps for Android, Windows, or Mac devices available for free here.
Up to the software provider, SharewareOnSale not only offers users the full version of all kinds of software for free, but also provides the maximum discount on some apps. Its paid programs available for free can be accessed using both Mac and Windows PC.
The free full version apps are usually in several main categories: VPN, Cloud Storage and Online Services; Antivirus, Security and Privacy; Photography & Graphic Design; System utilities & Productivity; Apps & Games for Android. You may also find more surprise in Giveaway & Freebies section. English is supported on this site.
Top 2. Giveaway of the
Giveaway of the Day is another old-brand website for downloading full version apps for free in addition to SharewareOnSale. This site is featured with a calendar which archives the offers in previous days. However, the paid apps are usually free for 24 hours or so.
Giveaway of the Day is not as vast as the top 1 option in category, but it is still a good platform to get paid software for free. The offered version is not for trial but the full version with license. Moreover, there are brief review and user comments on the giveaway page of each software so that you could evaluate before downloading despite of it is free.
Windows, Game, Android and iPhone are four main sectors of this sites, so it covers most users of digital devices. Besides, this free full version app website supports up to 12 languages.
Best App For Mac
Top 3. Giveaway Radar
According to Giveaway Radar, the free apps listed on this site are mainly hand-picked, which can ensure the quality but also limit the number, so you may not find the desired apps every time. However, there is a rule for all giveaways here that no barrier is allowed to stop any user getting an official license but the time, which means you don’t need to comment, share or like for a free app.
Presently, you can find all the software giveaway in 2019. This site actually covers and collects all the giveaway sites and make that software available for users all at one place. Basically, it acts as a library of all the giveaway sites and displays the links to the user along with the description. The minimalist website helps users to bookmark and get a quick view of all the options. All the long-term and short-term giveaways are categorized to make the search simple.
Top 4. Giveaway Club
Giveaway Club is a website known for providing free PC software and games. However, technical support is not provided along with the free software. The given licenses are usually available for one or two days and must be activated within limited date, so users need to give close attention in order to download free. full version apps from this site.
There are some limitations of the software downloaded from this website. You need to check the installation date for the activation of the license of the software. The downloaded software can be used for a limited period only. This website offers software and games for both Windows PC and Mac which can be checked by looking at the categories names as Windows, Games, and Mac. You will get all your software and Games news satisfied here for free.
Top 5. TopWareSale
TopWareSale is another popular website for providing software giveaways for free and other software at a discounted rate. There is no trial version offered from this website. This website offers much top-rated software with a maximum discount which makes it a hub for software purchase and download. The programs are compatible with both Windows PC and Mac.
The software which can be downloaded from this site covers all categories like media, design, business, education, antivirus, office, writing, and many more. You can find the software giveaways available for fee daily along with the software at nominal prices.
Top 6. Tickcoupon Giveaway
Tickcoupon is a comprehensive platform for buying software at a minimal rate and get free software giveaways. It has a very simple and clear website which has different sections containing different types of software which make the user easy to find out their desired software. You can find options like Security, Utilities, Audio/Video/photo, Backup & Recovery, Servers and development to check out all the software giveaways.
Mac App Store Download Location
The giveaways offered by this site are available for Windows, Mac and for mobile phones as well. Apart from free software giveaways, you can use the coupon codes provided on the website to apply discounts on the desired software. You can also get to know about popular software deals and other promo coupons from this website.
Top 7. Techno360
Techno360 is another website for getting the full version of the software to be downloaded for free. The software available on this website is compatible with both Mac and Windows PC. This website does not give a short-term license to the user. In general, a single-user licence of software can be obtained which is valid for a year. It is good for the user who wants to get a new and updated version of software from time to time.
Top 8. Download.hr
Download.hr is both software and giveaway site which offers both free and paid programs. You can buy the paid software or game at a nominal rate by applying the discount provides by the website. These software and games can be downloaded to be used on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. You can get the best giveaways or offers by taking part in the discussion forums on the website.
Top 9. TechTipLib
Techtiplib not only provides the full version of the software for free but also offers the free software giveaways which are valid up to a month. However, you need to like and follow the TechTipLib pages on social media to get access to this website.
Apart from free software, you can also read about Windows, technological tools, Apple, iPhone, MS Office, Freeware, SEO, WordPress, iPad, e-books and many more on this website. It is a source for both software and knowledge about trending gadgets and systems.
Top 10. Most I Want
Most I Want is a proper free. software download website which has a good database of paid software. It contains almost all categories of software which includes Utilities, video and image software, security software, games and many more.
Apart from these, you can also get a free license to software giveaways from this website. It has a wonderful interface with simple and interactive tabs. The user can also access its Google custom search for getting the solution to their queries.
Top 11. Malware Tips
As the name suggests, Malware Tips is actually for the content regarding reviews, technology, malware, virus and other phishing websites, but it has also emerged as a platform where you can get free software and giveaways. You can use this website to resolve your problems regarding giveaways and other technical issues.
Top 12. Giveaways Networks
Giveaways Networks is an easy-use website providing exclusive giveaway software and discounts. With Giveaways Networks, you don’t need to use the cracked software any more, as this site offers daily free licensed software, apps published by developers from all over the world, encouraging discounts, and paid Udemy courses for free. What’s more, the giveaways are categorized, Smart app for android on Play Store, and more.
Bottom Line
Obviously, not all the free full version software sites are safe to browse. So, make sure to confirm the hosting site and other description before making a move. Overall, these websites are very beneficial for getting free software and its giveaways for a particular period. In this way, you can get access to the desired software legally. You can join giveaways forums and other software forums to check promo and discounts. Also, you can acquire more knowledge about software and other applications which will help you to select the best for you.
Kindly share your favorite websites for downloads paid apps for free in the comment.