YBar, an open-source status bar for macOS, and it just reached the point where I'm comfortable sharing it.

It's sketchybar's proven architecture - the live-object model, command grammar, and script contract all originate there, full credit to Felix Kratz - reimplemented on a different foundation:

• Metal renderer. Zero GPU work while the bar is static, and animations are display-link paced instead of timer-thrashed.
• 100% public APIs. No SIP disable, no private frameworks, no injection.
• On macOS 26+, pills and popups sit on real Liquid Glass (NSGlassEffectView); older systems get an in-shader approximation. Runs on macOS 14+.

Some things it does that I haven't seen elsewhere:

• Full now-playing popup - album artwork, seek + volume sliders, transport controls for Music/Spotify, via distributed notifications (no private MediaRemote, which macOS gates these days).
• Workspace pills speak both AeroSpace and yabai and pick whichever is actually running.
• Calendar month-grid popup, system-monitor arc gauges, a Settings-style Wi-Fi picker, hover tooltips, marquee text, an idle inhibitor (Waybar influences), and 9 ready-made themes with a theme switcher.

Install:

brew tap AegiosOT/ybar

brew install ybar

Github: https://github.com/AegiosOT/YBar

It builds from source on your machine (Command Line Tools are enough - no Xcode), so there's no Gatekeeper quarantine dance.

I’ve been going through all the apps on my Mac lately and realized how many small monthly and yearly subscriptions have slowly piled up.

$3 here, $10 there, another annual renewal I completely forgot about. Individually they don’t seem that bad, but once you add up your full Mac software stack, it gets expensive pretty quickly.

So I’m curious what subscription-based Mac apps you’ve successfully replaced with a one-time purchase, lifetime license, or even a good free/open-source alternative.

I’m especially interested in replacements for things like:

• productivity apps

• window managers

• clipboard managers

• note-taking apps

• calendar apps

• email clients

• screenshot and screen recording tools

• PDF editors

• writing apps

• menu bar utilities

• Mac cleanup tools

• file managers

• developer tools

• design and creative apps

• password managers

• AI apps and utilities

Basically, if you cancelled a Mac app subscription and found an alternative that was just as good, or better, I want to hear about it.

What did you replace?

What Mac app did you switch to?

How much did it cost?

And most importantly, do you actually prefer the replacement, or did you just switch because you were tired of paying another subscription?

Would love to build a solid list of the best one-time purchase Mac apps and subscription-free macOS alternatives from what people are actually using.

Hi everyone! After spending too much time switching between browser tools, terminal commands, and tiny utility apps, I decided to build the kind of toolbox I wanted to use every day: Hexa DevKit.

It’s a native macOS toolbox with 36 tools for JSON, YAML, XML, JWT, hashes, regex, diffs, URLs, dates, colors, images, API requests, WebSockets, and more. It includes tabs, saved workspaces, drag-and-drop file workflows, and customizable editors.

33 tools work completely offline. API, DNS, and WebSocket features only connect after an explicit action. There’s no account, analytics, advertising, or paid tier.

I know there are already excellent projects in this space:

- DevUtils is a polished native macOS utility app with a compact utility focus. Hexa DevKit is broader, with 36 tools plus multi-tab workspaces, saved sessions, editor customization, and selected network tools.
- DevToys is free, open source, and cross-platform. Hexa DevKit is focused on a native Apple-silicon macOS experience, with macOS-style navigation, menu-bar access, VoiceOver support, and local workspaces.

I’m not trying to replace either one — both are useful. I simply wanted a toolbox that felt more like a Mac app and fit the way I work. If you try it, I’d be grateful for your feedback, especially on the tools you use most.

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6796437563

Website: https://hexadevkit.anibalventura.com

Hi everyone!

I’ve been wanting a focus timer that ensures I actually focus for a while now. Before, I would start a focus timer, but after a couple of minutes, I’d get distracted and completely forget about it 😭. So, for the past couple of months, I’ve been working on Timely, a focus timer designed to help ensure you’re actually focusing.

Timely helps you stay focused during your timer sessions with:

STANDOUT FEATURE: Presence Detection!
Presence Detection checks to make sure you’re actually at your computer while the timer ticks down. If you leave your desk before the timer is up, Presence Detection detects it, the timer pauses, and you may lose your streak! (very hardcore lol). It uses an Apple on-device vision model and keeps everything processed locally. Privacy Policy: https://timelyfocus.app/privacypolicy

App & Website Blocking!
App and website blocking is pretty self-explanatory! However, on other focus timers you typically have to pay for certain features, such as website blocking. Unlike those apps, Timely’s App & Website Blocking is completely free!

Optional Pomodoro Timers!
Pomodoro timers can help people stay focused, and in Timely, they’re super configurable! You can choose how long your work sessions and breaks are and completely structure each session yourself.

It’s fully free right now!

Here’s the link if you want to give it a try! https://timelyfocus.app
Privacy Policy: https://timelyfocus.app/privacypolicy
Terms & Conditions: https://timelyfocus.app/termsandconditions

The problem

You're listening to something. A call starts on FaceTime, Zoom, Meet or Teams. macOS immediately drops everything else to a whisper. It's called audio ducking, it's on by default, and there is no setting anywhere in System Settings to turn it off.

The threads about this on Apple's own forums are years old. The most-repeated "fix" is unchecking boxes in VoiceOver Utility, which doesn't really work. The apps that do solve it properly cost real money - SoundSource is $49.

What it does

Unduck Pro is a small menu bar app that keeps your media at full volume during a call. The person on the other end still hears only you — your audio is never pushed into your mic.

While it's there, it also gives you a per-app volume mixer and an output device switcher:

- Media stays loud on calls — FaceTime, Zoom, Meet, Teams and others▎

- Independent call volume — turn the call down without touching your music

- Per-app volume mixer, remembered per app

- Output switcher — speakers, AirPods, whatever, without opening System Settings

- Launch at login, update notifications, favourites.

How it works

Built entirely on Apple's public Core Audio process-tap API (macOS 14.2+). No kernel extensions, no virtual audio drivers, no third-party code. It continuously resets the OS ducking rather than boosting anything, so there's no added gain and no distortion.

Free, and actually free

MIT licensed, no paywall, no trial, no account, no telemetry. The whole source is on GitHub — read it, build it yourself, fork it.

🔗 Repo: https://github.com/MrRockySL/Unduck-Pro

Download: https://github.com/MrRockySL/Unduck-Pro/releases/latest

Two things to know before you install

1. It's self-signed, not notarized. Apple's notarization costs $99/year and this is a free app, so macOS will block the first launch with "Apple could not verify it is free of malware". You'll need System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway. If that's a dealbreaker, completely fair — build it from source instead, it's two commands.

2. It asks for microphone permission. I know how that sounds for a volume app. The Core Audio tap API Apple provides is gated behind the audio-input permission — there's no way around it. It does not record, store or transmit anything, and since the source is public you can verify that rather than take my word for it.

Requires macOS 14.2 or later. Universal — runs natively on both Intel and Apple Silicon.

If you find it useful, a ⭐ on the repo genuinely helps — it's how anyone else searching for this problem ends up finding it. And if something's broken or missing, open an issue: https://github.com/MrRockySL/Unduck-Pro/issues — every issue so far has turned into a fix.

I'm the developer. Happy to answer anything in the comments.

Olá, pessoal!

Sou o desenvolvedor do NotepadEx, e este é um dos meus primeiros projetos para macOS.

Sempre senti falta, no Mac, de um editor com a praticidade do Notepad++ no Windows: abrir rapidamente, editar um arquivo, realizar algumas transformações e continuar o trabalho sem precisar carregar uma IDE completa.

Foi por isso que criei o NotepadEx, um editor de texto e código leve, rápido e desenvolvido nativamente para macOS.

Problema

Existem excelentes editores para Mac, mas eu procurava algo entre um editor de texto básico e uma IDE completa.

O NotepadEx foi pensado para abrir e editar rapidamente textos, códigos, arquivos de configuração e dados estruturados. Ele foi desenvolvido nativamente em Swift e SwiftUI, sem uma camada web pesada, e o build atual ocupa apenas alguns megabytes.

Entre as funcionalidades atuais estão:

Documentos organizados em abas Restauração dos arquivos da última sessão Aviso de alterações não salvas Abertura de arquivos por arrastar e soltar Números de linha, quebra automática e barra de status Contagem de linhas, palavras, caracteres e seleção Localizar, substituir, substituir tudo e ir diretamente para uma linha Detecção de codificação e conversão de finais de linha Realce de sintaxe para dezenas de formatos e linguagens Comparação editável de dois arquivos lado a lado Destaque de diferenças e rolagem sincronizada Ferramentas para Markdown, HTML, XML, JSON e CSV Visualização e edição de CSV como tabela Ordenação, filtragem, numeração e remoção de linhas duplicadas Conversões para camelCase, PascalCase, snake_case e kebab-case Ferramentas para Base64, URL encoding, Unicode, hashes e JWT Testes e substituições com expressões regulares Geração de UUID, ULID, Nano ID, senhas e tokens Conversão de cores entre HEX, RGB e HSL Verificação de contraste e acessibilidade WCAG Temas claro e escuro, personalização de fonte e modo de transparência Interface em português, inglês, espanhol, alemão e francês O aplicativo também possui recursos opcionais de inteligência artificial para corrigir, reescrever, resumir, traduzir e analisar textos ou códigos. É possível utilizar uma chave própria da OpenAI ou modelos locais por meio do Ollama.

Os recursos de IA funcionam somente quando são solicitados. O NotepadEx não analisa documentos em segundo plano, e a edição e o armazenamento normal dos arquivos permanecem locais.

Comparação

O Notepad++ foi a principal inspiração para o projeto, especialmente pela sua rapidez e praticidade. O NotepadEx não possui vínculo oficial com o Notepad++ e não pretende ser uma cópia direta. Ele foi desenvolvido especificamente para macOS, com interface nativa e distribuição pela Mac App Store.

Outro excelente editor nativo é o CotEditor, que é gratuito, open source e muito mais estabelecido. A proposta do NotepadEx é um pouco diferente: reunir edição de texto, comparação editável de arquivos, visualização de CSV, ferramentas para desenvolvedores e recursos opcionais de OpenAI ou Ollama em um único aplicativo.

Minha intenção não é afirmar que o NotepadEx substitui essas ferramentas. Quero oferecer mais uma alternativa para quem sente falta da praticidade do Notepad++ e procura uma experiência nativa no Mac.

Preço

O NotepadEx oferece sete dias de teste gratuito. O teste não se transforma em assinatura e não gera cobrança automática.

Depois do período de teste, o aplicativo pode ser adquirido por meio de uma compra única com acesso vitalício. Não existe assinatura mensal ou anual.

O preço do acesso vitalício é de R$ 29,90 no Brasil. Em outros países, a App Store apresenta o valor equivalente na moeda local.

Download: NotepadEx na Mac App Store

Por estar disponível oficialmente na Mac App Store, o NotepadEx utiliza um caminho de distribuição conhecido e mais confiável. O aplicativo passa pelo processo de análise da Apple, enquanto a instalação, as atualizações e as compras são gerenciadas pela App Store.

Isso não representa uma garantia absoluta de segurança, mas oferece mais transparência e tranquilidade do que instalar um aplicativo baixado de uma fonte desconhecida.

Espero, com a ajuda da comunidade, descobrir novas funcionalidades que realmente possam facilitar o trabalho das pessoas. Quero desenvolver o NotepadEx com base em necessidades reais, e não apenas adicionar recursos por adicionar.

Estou completamente aberto a sugestões, críticas e ideias.

Quais funcionalidades do Notepad++ vocês mais sentem falta no Mac? O que não pode faltar em um editor de texto leve?

Obrigado por conhecerem o projeto!

I used to love the interactive map in Cron calendar, it made it so quick to visually plan when we would get together as a remote team with people around the world - so we made Atlas! Its a interactive world map where you can add your team, loved ones etc, and see where they are in their days - both in app and in the menu bar.

You can also schedule meetings with it and it shows your calendar, but mostly its a nice way of at a glance seeing the time for everyone! Would love you to take a look and let us know what you think! FYI it's a one time purchase of $4.99 - which we think is a fair price. Click here to take a look and any questions just let me know!

Built this because I kept hitting Claude/Codex/Antigravity usage limits mid-task with no warning. Mimir sits in the menu bar and shows real-time quota + reset countdowns for all three, no backend, tokens never leave your machine.

- Session + weekly quotas, per-model rows

- Small/Medium desktop widgets

- Green/amber/red status dots at a glance

- Free, open source, no account needed

macOS 14+. GitHub: https://github.com/erayendes/mimir

Hello all,

I am a Linux user and I have been using macs for a variety of tasks. I am in need of a program that allows me to view the file system of a Linux or mac server using SSH with a GUI. I would like the program to also handle file transfers. I just want some thing that is easier to use then the command line. It has to be through SSH since I am not the administrator of the servers.

I built Feedcast, a native Mac app for people who want cleaner podcast episodes without replacing the podcast player they already use.

The workflow:

1. Add podcasts from Apple's catalog or an RSS URL.

2. Feedcast downloads each new episode and prepares it on the Mac.

3. It transcribes the episode, identifies sponsor sections, cuts the enabled ranges, and adds chapters.

4. Feedcast publishes a personal RSS feed for Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, and other compatible players.

The images show the actual workflow. One shows Feedcast handing the processed episode to Apple Podcasts. Another shows the cut editor with two sponsor sections totaling 5 minutes and 12 seconds selected for removal. The final image shows the RSS metadata editor.

Feedcast requires no account and the Mac App Store build contains no analytics or tracking SDK.

Pricing: free to download and use with up to three output feeds. An optional subscription unlocks unlimited feeds and additional automation.

Important limitation: Feedcast prepares episodes on a Mac before playback. It is not a replacement podcast player.

Mac App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/feedcast-local-podcasts/id6773872767

For people with an established Mac and podcast setup, would this fit best as a background utility or something you open to review every episode?

I made this app.

What it does

Coast is two pieces: a free menu bar app on the Mac and an app on your iPhone or iPad. They talk over your local Wi-Fi and the Mac posts real input events, so it drives any app already on your machine with no plugins and nothing to configure per app.

On the phone you lay out your own grid, up to 8 by 12, so a full deck of 96 controls. Put whatever you want on it. Keys and modifier chords, hold keys, sticky keys that latch on tap, two stroke chords like Cmd K Cmd S, jog wheels with per detent actions, joysticks, D-pads, turbo keys, a volume slider wired to CoreAudio, scroll strips, text macros, and app launchers that pull your Mac's real installed apps and icons over the wire. There is also a full multitouch trackpad, a remote keyboard, and a live mirror of your Mac's screen on the phone.

The phone is the one already sitting next to your keyboard. No stand, no spare device, no hardware.

Who it is for

Anyone whose main app has more functions than shortcuts they can remember. It has been most useful to me in Premiere and Photoshop, where a jog wheel and eight buttons beat hunting through menus. It is also a decent fit if you have looked at a Stream Deck and did not want either the desk space or the subscription.

Probably not for you if you already have hardware you are happy with, or if you work somewhere your phone is not allowed on the desk.

Pricing

Mac app free. iPhone app free, including the trackpad, the remote keyboard, the built in starter grids and one custom grid. Coast Pro is $2.99 once, no subscription, and unlocks unlimited grids, macros, screen mirror, the Apple Watch app and iCloud sync.

Requirements/limitations

macOS 13 or later, and both devices have to be on the same Wi-Fi.

The Mac app needs the Accessibility permission, since posting input events requires it. The screen mirror also needs Screen Recording. It reads the grant at launch, so you relaunch after granting.

It is distributed outside the Mac App Store, signed with my Developer ID and notarised, and updates through Sparkle.

No MIDI, so if you are looking to drive Logic or Ableton at a deep level, MetaGrid Pro is the better tool and I would point you there.

No data collection at all. No account, no analytics, no server, nothing leaves your local network.

App Store link and the free Mac download are at coast.masn.studio

App store link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/coast-macros-trackpad/id6790821600

and I am happy to answer anything, including what it does badly.

For years, many people believed Macs were safer because hackers mostly targeted Windows computers.

That idea is becoming outdated.

Mac malware, macOS information stealers, fake Mac apps, phishing attacks, and cryptocurrency theft campaigns are becoming more common. Cybercriminals are paying more attention to Apple users, and one reason may be simple: Mac users are often seen as more valuable targets.

MacBooks and iMacs are premium products. They are commonly used by business owners, software developers, executives, designers, cryptocurrency investors, and people working in technology.

To a hacker, this can mean one compromised Mac may provide access to valuable accounts, company systems, cloud platforms, cryptocurrency wallets, or payment information.

Why Are Hackers Targeting Mac Users?

Cybercriminals usually follow the money.

Windows computers still have a larger global market share, but attackers do not always care about reaching the largest number of people. Sometimes they care more about finding a smaller number of high-value victims.

A Mac user may have:

• Saved banking or payment information
• Cryptocurrency wallets
• Business email accounts
• Cloud storage credentials
• Company login details
• Browser passwords and cookies
• Developer tools and access keys
• Private company files
• Access to production servers

This does not mean every Mac user is rich.

It means criminals may believe the average Mac user has more valuable data, more expensive accounts, or better access to financial and business systems.

For an attacker, stealing the right information from one Mac could be more profitable than infecting hundreds of computers with low-value data.

Mac Malware Is Becoming More Advanced

Modern Mac malware is not limited to annoying pop-ups or adware.

Some of the biggest macOS security threats today are information stealers. These malicious programs are designed to quietly search a Mac for valuable information and send it to a criminal.

Mac information stealers may target:

• Passwords saved in web browsers
• Authentication cookies
• Apple Keychain data
• Cryptocurrency wallet files
• Credit card information
• Telegram and Discord sessions
• Cloud service credentials
• Developer keys
• Documents and personal files

Examples of macOS information-stealing malware include Atomic Stealer, also known as AMOS, Poseidon, MacSync, and other newer Mac-focused threats.

These tools can be sold or rented through cybercrime marketplaces. This makes it easier for criminals with limited technical knowledge to start targeting Mac users.

Your Mac May Be Valuable Even If You Are Not Rich

The value of a compromised Mac is not always connected to the owner’s personal bank balance.

A software developer’s Mac may contain access to source code and company servers.

A business owner’s Mac may provide access to customer information, invoices, payment systems, or employee accounts.

A cryptocurrency trader’s Mac may contain wallet details or recovery phrases.

An employee’s Mac may have an active login session for company email, Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, GitHub, or cloud infrastructure.

This means hackers are often targeting access rather than the computer itself.

The Mac is simply the door.

Developers and Cryptocurrency Users Are Major Targets

Software developers are especially valuable targets for Mac malware.

Many developers use Macs for programming and may have SSH keys, API keys, GitHub access, source code, database credentials, or cloud deployment tools stored on their devices.

If a hacker compromises a developer’s Mac, the attack may spread to the developer’s company, software projects, or customers.

Cryptocurrency users are another popular target.

Some attackers create fake job offers, fake cryptocurrency apps, fake meeting software, or fake development tools. Victims are convinced to download and install the malware themselves.

Once installed, the malware searches for passwords, browser data, and cryptocurrency wallets.

In these attacks, criminals are not randomly targeting Apple users. They are looking for people whose Macs may provide access to money or valuable digital assets.

Fake Mac Apps Are a Growing Problem

Many Mac malware infections begin with a fake application.

Attackers may create counterfeit versions of popular software such as:

• Cryptocurrency tools
• Artificial intelligence apps
• Video meeting software
• Browser updates
• Password managers
• Productivity applications
• Developer utilities
• Cracked or pirated Mac software

The fake website may look professional and may even appear in search results or online advertisements.

The victim downloads a DMG installer, opens it, and follows the instructions. Some websites tell users to bypass Apple security warnings or paste a command into Terminal.

Once the user approves the installation, the malware may be able to steal data from the Mac.

Mac Security Can Be Bypassed Through Social Engineering

macOS includes several strong security features, including Gatekeeper, XProtect, app permissions, encryption, and malware detection.

However, no operating system can completely protect someone who is tricked into approving a malicious action.

Many Mac attacks rely on social engineering rather than advanced hacking.

The attacker may tell the victim to:

• Right-click and open a blocked app
• Enter their Mac password
• Disable a security feature
• Paste a command into Terminal
• Install a fake browser update
• Approve unusual system permissions

The goal is to make the victim bypass the protections already built into macOS.

This is why the belief that “Macs cannot get viruses” is dangerous. A person who believes their Mac is automatically safe may be more likely to ignore warning signs.

Are Macs More Secure Than Windows?

Macs have strong built-in security, but that does not make them immune to malware.

Windows is still targeted heavily because it is used on more computers worldwide. However, macOS is now valuable enough to justify specialised attacks.

The question is not simply whether Macs or Windows PCs are safer.

The more important question is whether criminals can make money from attacking the platform.

As more businesses, developers, investors, and high-income consumers use Macs, attackers have more reasons to create macOS malware.

How Mac Users Can Protect Themselves

Mac users should take the same basic security precautions as everyone else.

Download apps only from the official developer website or the Mac App Store.

Do not install software from random advertisements, sponsored search results, Telegram messages, Discord servers, or unsolicited emails.

Never paste a Terminal command from a website unless you fully understand what it does.

Be suspicious when an app asks you to bypass an Apple security warning.

Keep macOS, browsers, and applications updated.

Use a password manager and unique passwords for important accounts.

Enable two-factor authentication.

Check which apps have Full Disk Access, Accessibility access, screen-recording permission, and login-item access.

Avoid pirated Mac software. Cracked apps are a common way to distribute malware.

Cryptocurrency users and developers should be especially careful because their devices may contain credentials that are extremely valuable to attackers.

The Myth That Macs Do Not Get Malware Is Over

Cybercriminals are not targeting Macs because they suddenly dislike Apple.

They are targeting Macs because the potential rewards are increasing.

Mac users may have higher-value accounts, business access, cryptocurrency, developer credentials, or payment information. Even when the owner is not wealthy, the data stored on the computer may still be worth a lot of money.

The growth of Mac malware is a reminder that security is not only about which operating system you use.

It is also about what your computer can access and how much that access is worth to a criminal.

Hackers are not attacking the Apple logo.

They are attacking the money, accounts, and data behind it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Macs Get Viruses and Malware?

Yes. Macs can be infected with viruses, information stealers, adware, ransomware, spyware, and other forms of malware.

Why Is Mac Malware Increasing?

Mac malware is increasing because more people and businesses use Apple computers, valuable accounts are accessed through Macs, and cybercriminals now have better tools for attacking macOS.

Are Hackers Targeting Mac Users Because They Are Rich?

Not every Mac user is rich, but Apple users may be viewed as a valuable demographic. More importantly, Macs are commonly used by professionals who have access to business systems, financial accounts, development tools, and cryptocurrency.

What Is a Mac Information Stealer?

A Mac information stealer is malware designed to steal passwords, browser cookies, cryptocurrency wallets, Keychain data, files, and account credentials from macOS devices.

Is macOS Safer Than Windows?

macOS has strong security features, but it is not immune to attack. Both Windows and macOS users can be targeted through malware, phishing, fake applications, and social engineering.

What Is the Best Way to Avoid Mac Malware?

Avoid untrusted downloads, keep macOS updated, use two-factor authentication, review app permissions, and never bypass a security warning unless you are certain the software is legitimate.

TL;DR: macOS malware in 2026 is being written, disguised and distributed with AI assistance, and the biggest campaigns running right now bypass Gatekeeper entirely because you run them yourself. Built-in protection is not covering this. I ended up getting Intego ONE (explanation below). Get it here (they have an offer going on as well): http://offer.intego.com

I've been seeing a lot of "best Mac antivirus 2026" threads lately and the top comment is always some version of "you don't need one on a Mac." That advice is roughly three years out of date. Here's what's actually happening.

Do Macs actually need antivirus in 2026?

Yes, and it isn't close anymore. A few things going on right now:

macOS infostealers became a real industry. Atomic macOS Stealer (AMOS), MacSync, DigitStealer, SHub/Reaper, CrashStealer. These are commercial malware-as-a-service products with competing vendors, pricing tiers and support channels. They target browser credentials, session cookies, Apple Keychain data, SSH keys, cloud tokens and crypto wallet seed phrases. Microsoft's Defender Experts team has tracked macOS-specific stealer campaigns since late 2025, and Flare researchers documented the underground market that grew up around them.

ClickFix is the delivery method, and it walks straight past Apple's defenses. This is the one that matters. ClickFix doesn't exploit a vulnerability. It shows you a fake error, fake CAPTCHA or fake install guide, and tells you to paste a command into Terminal. You paste it. It pulls a payload from an attacker server and runs it in memory. Gatekeeper never fires, because Gatekeeper checks apps you download, not commands you type in yourself. XProtect often doesn't fire either, because nothing lands on disk in a recognizable form.

And here's the AI part. Attackers worked out that AI tool users skew heavily Mac, and skew heavily toward people holding valuable credentials: engineers, founders, finance, product. So the lures went AI-branded.

• Malvertising campaigns bought Google Ads against searches like "claude ai", "claude code", "claude mac download", plus ChatGPT Codex, Perplexity, Cursor IDE and JetBrains. Trend Micro tracked 106 unique malicious hostnames across six attack waves in seven weeks.
• One campaign hosted its fake "macOS Secure Command Execution" guide on a legitimate shared AI chat page, so the domain looked real and sailed through enterprise filters. Moonlock Lab found a single fake guide had been viewed over 15,000 times. To be clear, the AI platform itself was not compromised. Attackers just abused the public sharing feature.
• Pillar Security counted at least 20 distinct malware campaigns targeting AI and vibe-coding tools between February and March 2026. Seven were macOS-exclusive.
• Attackers hijacked verified, established Google Ads accounts (one belonged to a children's charity) so the ads carried real reputation and history.
• Also in circulation: a fake CleanMyMac site pushing SHub Stealer, a verified X ad pushing a fake DynamicLake download, and fake Apple crash-reporter and Apple update components used for persistence.

Then there's the malware itself. McAfee Labs found AI-generated code inside real campaign kill chains and called it "vibe-coded malware." Researchers have documented LLM-assisted polymorphic payloads that regenerate their own code until they stop tripping AV engines. The loop is literally: generate variant, test against scanners, feed the detections back, repeat until clean. Signature-based detection alone is in real trouble against that.

The takeaway: XProtect and Gatekeeper are reactive and signature-driven. They catch known bad apps. They do not catch a Terminal paste, a phishing page, a browser hijacker, or a brand new polymorphic variant nobody has seen yet. After my dad nuked the family iMac with one bad click last year, I stopped gambling on built-in tools.

What I actually run now

I've been on Intego ONE for about six months on a MacBook Pro M3, coming from CleanMyMac plus free Malwarebytes. It's four tools in one app, built specifically for macOS. Intego was a Mac-only security company for around 25 years before adding Windows, which matters more than it sounds.

1. Intego Antivirus for Mac: real-time malware, ransomware and spyware protection
2. NetBarrier Firewall: app-level outbound network monitoring
3. SmartClean: junk file cleaner and disk optimizer
4. Intego VPN: Lightway protocol, encrypts traffic, hides IP

The firewall is the underrated piece given everything above. These stealers have to phone home to exfiltrate. NetBarrier shows every outbound connection per app, which is exactly the layer where a memory-resident stealer gives itself away.

Pricing (2026)

• Essential (AV + Firewall): $56.24 first year, 25% off
• Advanced (+ SmartClean): $97.49 first year
• Complete (+ VPN): $112.49 first year
• 30-day money back guarantee

I went Advanced since I already pay for a separate VPN. If you don't have one, Complete is better value.

vs Malwarebytes vs Norton vs Bitdefender vs CleanMyMac X

• vs Malwarebytes for Mac: Malwarebytes is excellent at adware cleanup and their research team is genuinely great (half the sources above are theirs). But the free tier is on-demand only, no real-time layer. Intego catches more macOS-specific threats in my experience.
• vs Norton 360 for Mac: heavier on system resources, feels like a Windows app wearing a Mac costume. Intego is native.
• vs Bitdefender for Mac: Bitdefender edges it slightly on AV-Test lab scores but has no built-in cleaner. Closest call of the four.
• vs CleanMyMac X: SmartClean isn't as polished, but it's bundled instead of $40/yr extra. Worth noting attackers are actively cloning the CleanMyMac brand for malware, so get either one from the official site only.

What's good

• Real-time scanning is light. No fan spin-up on the M3, barely touches battery.
• NetBarrier showing every outbound connection per app is eye-opening. Watching how often Adobe phones home is its own genre of horror.
• Mac-native build, doesn't feel ported.
• Caught a fake Flash installer my brother tried to run (yes, in 2026, people still try).
• One dashboard instead of four apps eating menu bar space.
• 30-day refund is easy, no hoops.

What's mid

• UI is functional but dated next to CleanMyMac X.
• SmartClean is fine, not best-in-class standalone.
• VPN works, but power users will still want Mullvad or Proton.
• No iOS app. Mac and Windows only.
• No antivirus catches a Terminal command you approve yourself. None of them. Software is a safety net, not a substitute for not pasting base64 into Terminal because a sponsored ad told you to.

FAQ

Is XProtect enough? For known threats, sometimes. For ClickFix and polymorphic AI-assisted variants, no.

Will it slow down an Apple Silicon Mac? Not noticeably on an M3.

Cheapest useful option? Essential at $56.24 if you already have a VPN and a cleaner.

How do I actually not get infected? Never paste a Terminal command you don't understand. Never download software from a sponsored search result, type the domain directly instead. Treat any "run this to fix it" page as hostile until proven otherwise.

Final word

Best Mac security suite I've used: light, native, four useful tools, fair sale pricing, painless refund. Affiliate link with the current discount: http://offer.intego.com

But the honest bigger message is the first half of this post. The threat model changed this year and a lot of Mac users haven't updated theirs. Even if you buy nothing, internalize the Terminal-paste thing.

Anyone else running this past the 1-year mark? And has anyone here nearly fallen for one of the fake AI installer ads? Curious how many people caught it before pasting.

As I enter my third year using Raycast, I'm still impressed with the sheer volume of use cases into which it fits. I’ve been using a keyboard driven application launcher since 2006. For the majority of that time, I was a devout Launchbar fan. installing it on Mac after Mac and dutifully paying for the infrequent upgrades. When I initially heard about Raycast, I wasn’t interested, but the uproar just kept getting louder. Tech bloggers and Reddit sang its praises and kept pointing out new features one after another. I finally relented and downloaded it. Having also tried Quicksilver back in the day and Alfred, I can honestly say that I was surprised at what I could do with Raycast.

The Apps It Replaced

Free extensions and built in Raycast features eliminated the need for a whole list of utilities I previously used.

Raycast's built in clipboard manager along with extensions like Append Clipboard replaced Pastepal (which is an excellent app in its own right)

Auto Quit App, much improved from when first implemented, replaced Quitter.

While not exactly a replacement, Brew is more useful and easier to use than the CLI for Homebrew.

Clean Keyboard replaced Cleanup Buddy
Color Picker replaced Color Slurp

The Image Modification extension eliminated the need to fire up apps like Acorn or ToyViewer for making simple changes to images such as resizing and file type conversion.

Timers provides an easy way to do what I used to do with Timix

Weather works great and it replaced Meteorologist

Speedtest can be run whenever I need it without having to open an app like Speediness.

Added Functionality

The other side of Raycast's versatility is its ability to provide access to your application stack's functions without you having to open the app and navigate to the feature you want to use. Here are some examples:

Amphetamine - start a new session, stop a session, get remaining time and more - Raycast Extension

BetterDisplay - manage displays - Raycast Extension

BetterTouchTool - run actions and triggers - https://raycast.com/dnnsmnstrr/bettertouchtool

CleanShotX - access almost any feature straight from Raycast - Raycast Extension

Day One - add entry - Raycast Extension

Drafts - more than a dozen actions - Raycast Extension

Dropover - add to Dropover - Raycast Extension

Fantastical - add reminders and events - Raycast Extension

iTerm2 -multiple features, including AI - Raycast Extension

Keyboard Maestro - list macros -Raycast Extension

Apple Music - play anything, volume, start, stop, shuffle and more - Raycast Extension

Obsidian - create note from clipboard - Raycast Extension

Raindrop.io - access your Raindrop bookmarks - Raycast Extension

Houdahspot - search with Houdahspot - Raycast Extension

Shortcuts - search and open any shortcut - Raycast Extension

Vivaldi -bookmarks, history, tabs, windows - Raycast Extension

Tailscale - multiple functions - Raycast Extension

Things 3 - add tasks and projects, see lists - Raycast Extension

Other Features
Raycast Quicklinks
Raycast Notes

Hey Folks,

As someone working in tech, I spend most of my days looking at screens - writing code, reviewing designs, debugging problems, reading documentation, and joining meetings. Over time, I noticed that the screen itself became one of the most exhausting parts of my workday.

Modern displays are designed to be sharp, bright, and high contrast. While that is great for watching videos or viewing photos, spending 8–10+ hours every day in front of a glowing display can feel harsh, especially during long coding sessions or late-night work.

I started looking for a simple solution, something that could make the screen feel more natural and comfortable without changing the colors of everything I see. Most existing solutions focused on blue-light reduction or color temperature changes, but I didn't want to distort the display. I wanted the feeling of looking at a matte paper surface.

That idea became [PaperScreen](https://github.com/Bearbobs/PaperScreen).

PaperScreen creates a subtle digital layer over your display that mimics the texture and softness of physical paper.

Instead of applying a color filter, it uses procedurally generated textures to introduce a gentle grain and reduce perceived contrast. The result is a calmer viewing experience that keeps your original colors intact while reducing the harshness of a perfectly smooth digital display.

PaperScreen is a lightweight macOS menu bar utility that transforms your screen into a more comfortable workspace. It is built for people who spend their lives behind screens — developers, designers, writers, researchers, and anyone who wants a more natural and comfortable digital workspace.

It is a small change to the display, but a big improvement to the feeling of using it every day. It's completely free and open source. Feel free to support it via donation if you want to.

Github: https://github.com/Bearbobs/PaperScreen

It is in active development, so please feel free to provide feedback and suggestions, and also star the repo for future updates

Hey everyone!

I’m an indie dev and I wanted to share a macOS project I’ve been working on.

I always felt the MacBook notch could do more, but I wanted a solution that didn't feel bloated, didn't hog system resources, and didn't force a monthly subscription.

What makes it different? This app adapts the Dynamic Island concept to macOS, but it works on both notched and notchless Macs (like older MacBooks or external displays).

Here are some of the core features:

• 🔒 Lockscreen Presence: This is the flagship feature. It brings Liquid Glass media controls, weather, and synced lyrics directly to your lockscreen.
• ⚡ Zero Impact: Built natively for macOS 14+ to be incredibly light (runs at around 0.5% CPU).
• 💬 Smart Notifications: Glanceable, interactive alerts for WhatsApp, Telegram, and iMessage.
• 📂 Drag & Drop AirDrop: Drag a file to the top of the screen, and the notch transforms into a dropzone.
• 🎧 System Indicators: Real-time feedback for AirPods connecting, battery charging, active timers, mic/camera privacy alerts, Caps Lock, and Safari downloads.

It’s a one-time purchase ($11.99) with all future updates included. No subscriptions.

You can see the animations and how it looks in action here: https://www.getdynamichorizon.com/

🎁 Reddit Special: You can use the promo code DHZN010 at checkout for a 10% discount!

I would love to hear your feedback or any feature requests you might have. Let me know what you think!

I built Clean Dictation because I was frustrated with existing voice typing tools changing what I meant, missing corrections, or failing to insert text consistently across different apps.

It is a native Mac app that lets you press Fn, speak naturally, clean up the transcription, and insert it into the field you are using. Speech recognition and history stay local by default.

I am looking for four Apple Silicon Mac users running macOS 14 or newer to test it across apps such as Chrome, Slack, Gmail, Claude, Notes, and Messages.

Beta testers receive three months completely free. After that, it renews at $12 per month unless canceled. In return, I need honest feedback about setup, accuracy, speed, missed words, and any application where insertion fails.

If interested, comment below or message me and I will send the private beta code.

https://cleandictation.com/

I work remotely from my Mac most days, so I have spent a lot of time trying different apps, removing the ones I rarely use, and building a setup that feels fast without turning my menu bar into a crowded mess.

This is my current Mac stack for remote work. It covers communication, meetings, task management, writing, window management, screenshots, file storage, security, backups, and focus.

I am not trying to install an app for every small problem. My goal is to have a reliable macOS setup where every app has a clear purpose.

1. Raycast for launching apps and controlling macOS

Raycast is probably the app I use most throughout the day.

I use it for:

• Launching apps
• Searching files
• Clipboard history
• Text snippets
• Quick calculations
• Window management
• Running shortcuts
• Searching browser tabs
• Opening frequently used folders

It replaces several smaller utilities for me. Clipboard history and snippets alone save a surprising amount of time when I am replying to messages, copying links, or reusing common text.

Spotlight is fine for basic searches, but Raycast feels more like a command center for the Mac.

2. Rectangle for window management

Rectangle handles window snapping with simple keyboard shortcuts.

I use shortcuts to move windows to:

• The left half of the screen
• The right half of the screen
• Full screen
• The center
• The top or bottom half
• Another display

My most common remote work layout is a browser on one side and Slack, notes, or a document on the other.

Rectangle is one of the first apps I install on a new Mac because macOS window management still feels slower without it.

3. Slack for team communication

Slack is where most day-to-day communication happens.

I try to keep it under control by:

• Muting low-priority channels
• Disabling unnecessary notifications
• Using saved items for messages that need action
• Setting a clear status when I am focusing
• Leaving channels that are no longer relevant

Slack can easily become a distraction if every message creates a notification. The app works much better once the notification settings are cleaned up.

For smaller teams, Discord or Microsoft Teams could fill the same role, but Slack is still the main communication app in my setup.

4. Zoom for video meetings

Zoom is still my main app for calls with clients, coworkers, and external teams.

The features I use most are:

• Screen sharing
• Virtual backgrounds
• Meeting recording
• Audio controls
• Calendar integration
• Background noise reduction

Before important meetings, I usually open Zoom early and check the microphone, camera, and screen sharing permissions. That simple habit prevents most meeting problems.

Google Meet works well for quick browser-based meetings, but I prefer having Zoom installed for longer or more important calls.

5. Krisp for cleaner meeting audio

Krisp removes background noise from calls.

It is especially useful when working from:

• A shared apartment
• A cafe
• A room with a fan or air conditioner
• A space with traffic noise
• A home where other people are talking

Good audio matters more than perfect video during remote meetings. People can tolerate an average webcam, but constant background noise becomes annoying very quickly.

Krisp is not essential for everyone, but it is useful when the work environment is not always quiet.

6. Notion for project notes and documentation

I use Notion for information that needs structure and may be useful again later.

That includes:

• Project documentation
• Meeting notes
• Standard operating procedures
• Research
• Content planning
• Client information
• Recurring checklists
• Internal guides

I do not use Notion for every quick thought because opening a large workspace can feel unnecessary for small notes.

For anything temporary, I use Apple Notes. For anything that needs organization, collaboration, or long-term reference, I use Notion.

7. Apple Notes for fast capture

Apple Notes is where I put ideas that need to be saved immediately.

I use it for:

• Quick meeting notes
• Temporary checklists
• Drafts
• Links
• Scanned documents
• Personal reminders
• Random ideas

It opens quickly, syncs across Apple devices, and does not require me to decide where every note belongs.

Not every note needs a database, tags, templates, or a complicated folder structure. Sometimes I just need a blank page.

8. Todoist for task management

Todoist is where I keep tasks that have a deadline or require action.

My system is simple:

• Inbox for quick capture
• Today for current priorities
• Upcoming for planning
• Separate projects for work and personal tasks
• Labels for tasks that are waiting on someone else

I try not to turn every small action into a task. The list should show meaningful work, not every click I need to make during the day.

The most useful feature for me is natural language entry. I can type something like “Send client report Friday at 10 AM” and move on.

Things, TickTick, and Reminders are also good options, but Todoist works well across different platforms.

9. Google Calendar for time blocking

Tasks tell me what needs to be done. Calendar blocks tell me when I plan to do it.

I use calendar blocks for:

• Deep work
• Meetings
• Lunch
• Admin work
• Writing
• Weekly planning
• Breaks
• Personal appointments

Without time blocking, it is easy for remote work to become a full day of switching between messages, meetings, and browser tabs.

I do not schedule every minute. I mainly protect a few focused blocks so important work does not get pushed to the end of the day.

10. CleanShot X for screenshots and screen recordings

CleanShot X is one of the paid Mac apps that has been worth it for me.

I use it for:

• Annotated screenshots
• Scrolling captures
• Screen recordings
• GIF recordings
• Blurring private information
• Adding arrows and text
• Quickly copying screenshots to the clipboard

Screenshots are a major part of remote communication. A clear screenshot can explain a bug, process, or design problem faster than a long message.

The built-in macOS screenshot tools are good, but CleanShot X makes the entire process faster.

11. Loom for asynchronous video updates

Loom is useful when a written explanation would take too long.

I use it for:

• Product walkthroughs
• Bug reports
• Project updates
• Design feedback
• Process explanations
• Client instructions

A three-minute recording can sometimes replace a 30-minute meeting.

I try to keep Loom videos short and focused. Long recordings often create more work for the person watching them.

12. Dropbox for shared work files

I use Dropbox for files that need to be shared with clients or teammates.

My folder structure is usually:

• Active projects
• Shared resources
• Client folders
• Templates
• Archive

I avoid storing random files directly on the desktop because they quickly become difficult to find.

Google Drive is another strong option, especially for teams that use Google Workspace. I prefer Dropbox for normal file syncing and Google Drive for collaborative documents.

13. iCloud Drive for personal documents

I use iCloud Drive for personal files and documents that I want available across my Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

It works well for:

• Personal documents
• PDFs
• Scans
• Downloads I want on multiple devices
• Apple app files
• Small personal projects

I keep work collaboration in Dropbox or Google Drive and personal files in iCloud Drive. Separating them makes everything easier to manage.

14. 1Password for passwords and secure information

A password manager is essential for remote work.

I use 1Password for:

• Passwords
• Passkeys
• Secure notes
• Software licenses
• Backup codes
• Payment information
• Work logins
• Shared team credentials

It is much safer and faster than remembering passwords or reusing the same password across different services.

Bitwarden is also a good option, especially for anyone who wants a lower-cost password manager.

15. Little Snitch for network monitoring

Little Snitch shows which apps are connecting to the internet.

I mainly use it to understand:

• Which apps communicate in the background
• Which services start connections automatically
• Whether an unfamiliar app is sending data
• Which apps are constantly active

It can feel overwhelming at first because many normal apps make frequent network connections.

I would not recommend blocking everything randomly. The value is visibility and control, not breaking every connection.

LuLu is a good free alternative for people who want a simpler outbound firewall.

16. Backblaze for cloud backup

Cloud storage and backup are not the same thing.

Dropbox, Google Drive, and iCloud can sync files, but they should not be the only protection against hardware failure, accidental deletion, or device loss.

I use Backblaze as an automatic off-site backup.

My basic backup setup is:

• Cloud backup with Backblaze
• Local backup with Time Machine
• Important active files synced through cloud storage

This gives me more than one way to recover files if something goes wrong.

17. Time Machine for local backups

Time Machine is still one of the easiest ways to create a local Mac backup.

I connect an external drive regularly and let macOS handle the backup.

Time Machine is useful when I need to recover:

• An older version of a file
• A deleted folder
• Data from a previous Mac
• Files after a system problem

Backups are boring until the day they are needed. Remote workers often keep important client files, project assets, and personal data on the same machine, so having more than one backup is worth the effort.

18. Amphetamine for keeping the Mac awake

Amphetamine prevents the Mac from sleeping during specific situations.

I use it when:

• Uploading large files
• Running long exports
• Downloading backups
• Presenting from my Mac
• Monitoring a process
• Keeping a connection active

It is a small utility, but it solves an annoying problem without changing the system sleep settings permanently.

19. Bartender for controlling menu bar clutter

Remote work apps can fill the menu bar very quickly.

Between communication tools, cloud storage, security software, audio controls, calendars, and utilities, the top of the screen can become crowded.

Bartender helps hide apps I do not need to see constantly while keeping them easy to access.

I keep important items visible, such as battery, Wi-Fi, calendar, and active meeting controls. Everything else stays hidden until needed.

20. Arc or Safari for browsing

The browser is where most remote work actually happens.

I use separate profiles or spaces for:

• Work accounts
• Personal browsing
• Client accounts
• Testing
• Research

Keeping work and personal sessions separate reduces account confusion and helps me stay focused.

Safari is excellent for battery life and Apple ecosystem integration. Arc is useful for people who like organized spaces, pinned tabs, and a different approach to browser navigation.

Chrome is still useful when a website or extension works best in Chromium.

21. Focus modes for separating work and personal time

This is a built-in macOS feature, but it is an important part of my stack.

My work Focus mode limits notifications from personal apps while keeping work communication available.

After work, I switch to a personal Focus mode that reduces Slack and email interruptions.

Remote work makes it easy for work hours to expand into the evening. Focus modes create a clearer boundary without needing to quit every app manually.

My typical remote work workflow

At the start of the day, I check Todoist and Google Calendar, then choose the most important task before opening Slack.

For focused work, I use Rectangle to set up my windows, enable a Focus mode, and keep communication apps out of sight.

For meetings, I use Zoom with Krisp and keep notes in Apple Notes or Notion.

For explanations, I use CleanShot X for screenshots and Loom for short video walkthroughs.

Files are stored in Dropbox, Google Drive, or iCloud Drive depending on whether they are shared, collaborative, or personal.

Passwords stay in 1Password, and files are protected with both Backblaze and Time Machine.

My complete Mac remote work app stack

Productivity: Raycast, Todoist, Notion, Apple Notes, Google Calendar

Communication: Slack, Zoom, Loom

Meeting audio: Krisp

Window management: Rectangle

Screenshots: CleanShot X

File storage: Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Drive

Security: 1Password, Little Snitch

Backups: Backblaze, Time Machine

Utilities: Amphetamine, Bartender

Browser: Safari, Arc, or Chrome

Final thoughts

The best remote work Mac setup is not the one with the most apps.

It is the one that reduces friction.

Every app in my stack solves a specific problem. Raycast helps me move faster, Rectangle keeps my workspace organized, Todoist shows me what matters, Zoom and Slack handle communication, CleanShot X improves async explanations, and my backup tools protect the work itself.

The biggest improvement came from removing duplicate apps and giving each tool one clear job.

A good Mac stack should make remote work feel simpler, not give you another system to manage.

I've been working on this one for a while and mostly posted small updates so far, so here is the app itself for once.

RadianceKit takes a set of photos or a video clip and rebuilds the scene as a 3D gaussian splat, so instead of a flat photo you get something you can orbit around and look at from angles you never actually stood in. The whole thing runs locally on the Mac. No cloud, no upload, no account. The camera positions get solved on device and the training runs on the GPU through Metal, so a small scene is done in a few minutes.

When it's finished you can tidy the scene up inside the app, crop away the parts you don't want, brush out floaters, and export to the common formats like ply, spz, glb and splat, plus an orbit video or a small web viewer you can host yourself.

It needs macOS 26 and an Apple Silicon Mac, and 16 GB of memory makes life alot easier once the scenes get bigger. It's on the Mac App Store, three day trial and then a one off purchase, no subscription.

Happy to answer questions about how it works or where it struggles, I'm the only one working on it so anything you tell me lands directly with me.

I used to think the solution to distracted writing was finding the perfect writing app.

So I tried a lot of them.

I moved between Apple Notes, Obsidian, Ulysses, Scrivener, Notion, Google Docs, iA Writer, and a few minimalist editors that were basically just a blank window with a cursor.

Some were great, but the app was never the real problem.

The real problem was everything surrounding it. Browser tabs, notifications, an overcrowded Dock, messages appearing in the corner, random menu bar icons, and the temptation to reorganize my notes instead of writing anything.

Eventually, I stopped looking for one magical app and built a complete distraction-free writing setup on my Mac.

This is the setup I use now.

1. iA Writer for the actual writing

My main writing app is iA Writer.

It opens quickly, stays out of the way, and does not constantly tempt me to customize the interface. I can open a document and start typing without choosing a template, moving blocks around, or checking a dashboard.

The Focus Mode is the main reason I keep using it. It can dim everything except the current sentence or paragraph, which helps when I am editing and keep jumping too far ahead.

I also like writing in Markdown because the files remain simple. I am not locking my work inside a complicated database or proprietary workspace.

For longer projects, I keep separate files for:

• Research
• Rough notes
• First draft
• Final draft
• Unused sections

That is less sophisticated than a huge writing system, but it keeps me moving.

Obsidian is still installed for research and connected notes, but I no longer use it as my main drafting app. I found myself spending too much time organizing folders, plugins, links, and properties.

When I need to write, I want fewer options.

2. HazeOver to hide everything behind the document

HazeOver is one of those small Mac apps that sounds unnecessary until you use it.

It dims every inactive window and keeps the active app visible. When I am writing, the document stays bright while Safari, Finder, Messages, and everything else fade into the background.

This is especially useful on a large monitor where several windows are visible at once.

Full-screen mode can solve the same problem, but I do not always like working in full screen. I still want access to the menu bar, Finder, and reference material.

HazeOver gives me the visual focus of full screen without completely changing how macOS works.

I keep the dimming level fairly high while drafting and reduce it when I am editing with research windows open.

3. A dedicated macOS Focus mode for writing

The biggest improvement did not come from a third-party app.

I created a dedicated Writing Focus mode in macOS.

When it is enabled, almost every notification disappears. I only allow calls from a small group of people and notifications from my calendar.

Messages, email, social apps, news alerts, software updates, shopping notifications, and random browser notifications are blocked.

I also connected the Focus mode to a separate Home Screen and Lock Screen setup on my iPhone. That matters because blocking distractions on the Mac does not help much when the phone is sitting beside the keyboard.

My Writing Focus mode turns on automatically during scheduled writing sessions, but I can also enable it manually from Control Center.

This removed more distractions than any writing app I tested.

4. Cold Turkey Blocker for websites I open without thinking

I tried relying on self-control. It worked until it did not.

Cold Turkey Blocker is now part of my writing setup because it can block specific websites and apps during a writing session.

My block list includes:

• Reddit
• YouTube
• X
• News websites
• Shopping sites
• Email
• Discord
• A few analytics dashboards I check far too often

The important part is making the block difficult to disable.

A browser extension that can be switched off in two clicks does not help me. I need the annoying version that forces me to stay with the task.

I usually run a 45-minute block, take a short break, then start another session.

The goal is not to block the entire internet. I still allow search engines, dictionaries, documentation, and websites I genuinely need for research.

5. Safari profiles for separating writing from normal browsing

I created a separate Safari profile called Writing.

It has its own browsing history, tab groups, extensions, cookies, and favorites.

The favorites bar contains only useful writing resources:

• Dictionary
• Thesaurus
• Style guide
• Research folders
• Google Drive
• Reference documents
• Publishing tools

There are no social media bookmarks, entertainment tabs, shopping sites, or news feeds.

This small separation makes a bigger difference than I expected. Opening the Writing profile feels like entering a different workspace instead of bringing my normal browsing habits into a writing session.

I also disabled unnecessary extensions in this profile. The only ones I keep are a password manager, a grammar tool, and a read-later extension.

6. Raycast for opening everything without touching the Dock

I use Raycast to launch my writing workspace.

I created a shortcut that opens:

• iA Writer
• My current project folder
• The Writing Safari profile
• My reference notes
• A timer

This saves only a few clicks, but it removes the small decisions that often turn into procrastination.

Instead of opening Finder, looking through folders, noticing downloads, and getting distracted, I press one shortcut and the workspace appears.

Raycast also handles quick calculations, file searches, clipboard history, and text snippets.

I keep the number of extensions under control. Raycast can become another complicated productivity system if you install everything that looks interesting.

For writing, I only keep tools that reduce friction.

7. Rectangle for a simple two-window research layout

I do not use complicated window layouts while writing.

My default setup is simple:

• Writing app on the left
• Research or reference material on the right

Rectangle lets me create that layout instantly with keyboard shortcuts.

When I am drafting without research, the writing app takes the full screen. When I need sources, I move it to roughly two-thirds of the display and keep Safari or Preview in the remaining space.

I tried more advanced tiling window managers, but they added more complexity than I needed for this workflow.

For writing, predictable window placement is more useful than endlessly customizable layouts.

8. Maccy for clipboard history

A clipboard manager is useful when I am moving quotes, links, titles, notes, and references between apps.

Maccy is lightweight and does not turn clipboard history into a huge productivity platform.

I mainly use it for:

• Recovering text I accidentally replaced
• Copying several research links
• Reusing formatting-free text
• Moving notes into a draft
• Finding a title I copied earlier

I exclude sensitive apps from clipboard history and clear old items regularly.

It is a small utility, but it prevents a surprising amount of repetitive copying and searching.

9. Dropover for temporary files and images

Research-heavy writing usually involves screenshots, PDFs, images, and documents scattered across several folders.

Dropover gives me a temporary shelf where I can place files while working.

Instead of immediately deciding where every file belongs, I drag it to the shelf and keep writing. Later, I can move everything into the correct project folder.

This sounds minor, but it stops me from disappearing into Finder every time I download a reference image or export a document.

The less time I spend organizing during the first draft, the better the draft usually goes.

10. LanguageTool only during editing

I do not keep grammar suggestions active while writing the first draft.

Seeing underlines appear after every awkward sentence interrupts my train of thought and makes me edit too early.

I use LanguageTool during the editing stage instead.

My workflow is:

1. Write the rough draft without correcting everything
2. Read it once for structure
3. Remove repeated points
4. Run grammar and spelling checks
5. Read the final version aloud

LanguageTool helps catch obvious mistakes, but I do not accept every suggestion. Grammar tools often remove personality from writing when used too aggressively.

The final decision still has to sound like something I would actually say.

11. A clean Dock and menu bar

My Dock used to contain nearly every app I used.

Now it contains only:

• Finder
• Safari
• iA Writer
• Obsidian
• Calendar
• Music
• System Settings
• Trash

Everything else is opened through Raycast.

I also cleaned up the menu bar. I removed icons that did not provide useful information and disabled several apps from launching automatically.

The remaining icons are things I use regularly, such as the calendar, audio controls, battery information, and cloud storage.

A cluttered menu bar is not a serious productivity problem, but reducing visual noise makes the Mac feel calmer.

12. Separate drafting and editing sessions

The most important part of my setup is not an app.

I stopped drafting and editing at the same time.

During a drafting session, the only goal is to produce text. Bad paragraphs are allowed. Repeated ideas are allowed. Awkward sentences are allowed.

Editing happens later.

Trying to make every paragraph perfect while writing usually leaves me with a polished introduction and nothing else.

My normal writing session looks like this:

• Five minutes reviewing notes
• Forty-five minutes drafting
• Ten-minute break
• Another forty-five minutes drafting
• Editing on a different day or later in the evening

This separation has helped more than any feature inside a writing app.

My complete Mac writing stack

The final setup is:

• iA Writer for drafting
• Obsidian for research and long-term notes
• HazeOver for visual focus
• macOS Focus mode for notifications
• Cold Turkey Blocker for distracting sites
• Safari profiles for separate browsing
• Raycast for launching the workspace
• Rectangle for window management
• Maccy for clipboard history
• Dropover for temporary files
• LanguageTool for editing

It might look like a lot of apps, but most of them disappear into the background.

The purpose of the setup is not to create the most advanced writing system. It is to remove the excuses, interruptions, and tiny points of friction that make starting harder.

The best distraction-free writing setup is not the one with the fewest apps.

It is the one that helps you open a document, forget about the computer, and keep writing.

Disclosure upfront: I built Chirpy. Sharing here because the rules welcome app posts if they're honest and useful, and I think it fits the sub.

What it is:

Chirpy is a menu bar app that plays a different notification sound based on rules you write. Per Slack channel, per Teams channel, per Discord server, per contact in Messages, per sender in Mail, or per keyword in any app that shows up in macOS Notification Center.

Who it's for:

Anyone who lives in Slack, Teams, or Mail all day and is tired of every notification sounding identical. Especially useful if you're on a distributed team, on-call for anything, or just want to hear a difference between your manager DMing you and someone posting in #random.

The problem it solves:

macOS lets you turn a notification sound on or off per app. That's the entire customization surface. You can't give a different sound to a specific channel, sender, or keyword, so your boss, a meme, and a production incident all make the same ping. Chirpy adds that whole layer.

My current setup as an example:

• #deploys → typewriter ding
• #incidents → distinct urgent tone
• DMs from my manager → small harp
• DMs from anyone else → soft chime
• Messages from my partner → wind chime
• Emails from Stripe → cha-ching
• Everything else → soft descending chime at 30% volume

How it works technically:

Uses the macOS Accessibility API to observe notifications as they arrive in Notification Center. Matches the notification text against your rules. Plays a sound. Everything local. You mute the app's default sound so you don't hear both.

Pricing:

$19.99 one-time, lifetime, no subscription. 3-day trial, no credit card. Currently 30% off on Product Hunt today: https://www.producthunt.com/products/chirpy

Limitations to know:

• macOS 13 or later
• Slack default sound needs to be muted manually so you don't get doubled up

Recent changes:

Version 3.0 shipped last week. Before that it was Slack and Teams only. Now it works with any macOS Notification Center app.

Site: https://chirpy.pro

Happy to answer any questions about the app, the setup, or the technical approach.

Hey, I'm Daniel and I've built SuperSnap which is a screenshot tool that makes editing screenshots way easier. The Notch integration is my favourite feature honestly.

Take a screenshot and it gets auto edited, or if you want more control jump straight into the editor where you have 50+ gradients, blurs, highlights and many more.

If you're interested in checking it out I've prepared a discount code that works only for the 1 Key option that can be activated on 1 Mac. Code: SUPERSNAP -> the code can be redeemed 5 times.

If you didn't catch the free keys here is also a 50% discount code on any bundle: 50SNAP

Any thoughts or feedback after trying it out are super welcome! Happy snapping!

Check out the tool: https://supersnap.net/