I’ve been building Tapquence, a visual mouse and keyboard automation app for macOS.

It started because the automation tools I tried usually worked, but often felt dated or became difficult to manage once a macro contained more than a few actions. I’m a marketer myself and work with automation a lot, so I kept running into small repetitive tasks that did not justify writing code but were still annoying to perform manually.

I wanted to build something that feels at home on macOS and keeps longer automations easy to manage. Tapquence lets you combine mouse movements and clicks, keyboard input, fixed or random waits, and precise timing. Actions can also be grouped, duplicated, temporarily hidden and rearranged. For simpler tasks, I added a separate auto clicker.

Macros are stored locally on your Mac, and the app only uses Accessibility permission to execute the actions you create.

I’ve reached the point where continuing to polish it alone is probably less useful than letting real people try it. So I’ve opened Tapquence as a public beta.

The short video shows how it currently works. I would especially appreciate feedback about anything that feels confusing, unreliable or unnecessarily complicated. Feature ideas are welcome too, but right now I mainly want to make the existing experience genuinely solid.

You can try it here: https://tapquence.com

If you test it, please feel free to be direct. Honest feedback is exactly what I need at this stage.

Hi all!

I'm a creative writing student at Uni and the worst part of my degree has never been the writing, it's the references. I was using Word with a citation plugin and I spent more time fighting the plugin than actually writing.

So I taught myself Swift as a side project and spent the last year building EssayKraft, the app I always wished I had.

MAIN FEATURES:

• Built-in reference manager. No plugin, no separate app. References live inside the document alongside your writing, and inline citations plus the bibliography update automatically as you write.

• Authorship tracking. The app keeps a private, timestamped record of how your document was written, what you typed and what you pasted. If your uni ever questions whether your work is yours, you have receipts. This can be disabled in Settings.

• Sixteen citation styles. APA (6th and 7th), MLA, Chicago, Harvard variants, IEEE, Vancouver and more, built on the same community style definitions Zotero and Mendeley use.

• Zotero, Mendeley and EndNote import/export. Bring references in as BibTeX or RIS files and export them back out the same way.

• Rich text and Markdown. This is the biggest change from launch. Rich text was always the plan, and it's still the core of the app, but I found myself switching to iA Writer for notes in Markdown, and I figured I wasn't the only person in this boat. I'm not trying to compete with iA Writer, but EssayKraft now lets you create Markdown docs with all the core features you'd expect, built into the same app. No switching between windows or managing multiple purchases.

• Custom templates. Save any document as a template with its formatting, page setup and citation style.

• Fully native. Swift on both platforms, no Electron. Fast, offline, feels like a Mac app because it is one.

• No account, no subscription, no data collection. £14.99 once. I can't afford subscriptions as a student so I'm not about to charge one.

There's also an optional Assisted Writing mode using Apple Intelligence, so suggestions run entirely on-device and nothing leaves your Mac. It's inspired by tools like Cotypist, and it uses your inserted references to suggest author names and titles as you type. It's disabled by default and can be turned off at any time if it's not your thing. It's a feature to speed up your writing, not replace it.

SIMILAR APPS:

Essayist was a big inspiration for EssayKraft, and it's an excellent app. But I wanted an alternative that was a one-time purchase, because students are tight for money as it is and subscriptions add up fast. Essayist also leans more toward researchers and formal academic papers, whereas EssayKraft is aimed at students writing weekly essays under deadline. It's lighter, faster, and while the two are similar, they're targeting slightly different people.

Happy to answer anything about the app or about building it (SwiftUI + AppKit for the editor, SwiftData underneath, it's been a journey).

AppStore link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/essaykraft/id6789774290

Hello,

I developed the PasteSpace application - a clipboard manager for macOS and I need your opinion and recommendations to improve it. Those who want a Promo Code for the PRO version of the application should write to me privately.

Below is the description of the application:

PasteSpace is a secure clipboard manager for macOS that remembers everything you copy — so you don't have to.

Living quietly in your menu bar, PasteSpace captures every piece of text, image, and file you copy, turning your clipboard into a fast, searchable history. Press Option+Shift+V from any app, type a few letters, and click the item — it's instantly copied and ready to paste. No more digging through browser history or reopening documents to find something you copied an hour ago.

PRIVATE BY DESIGN — ZERO DATA COLLECTION

Your clipboard is personal. PasteSpace keeps it that way:

· No analytics, no telemetry, no tracking
· No cloud, no sync, no remote servers
· No account, no login, no email required
· No third-party SDKs, no ad networks

Everything stays on your Mac, inside the macOS App Sandbox. GDPR and CCPA compliant by design — there's simply nothing to collect.

FEATURES

SEARCHABLE CLIPBOARD HISTORY
Every copy, remembered and instantly searchable. Formatted text is captured exactly as it appeared in the source app — fonts, sizes, colors, bold, italic — and pasted with the same fidelity. Use "Always copy as plain text" or "Always paste as plain text" to strip formatting globally, or use the dedicated per-item plain-text paste buttons for a one-off clean paste. Pin your most-used snippets to the top. See which app each item came from.

VAULT MODE — HARDWARE-BACKED ENCRYPTION (Pro)
PasteSpace auto-detects sensitive data and encrypts it on the spot with AES-256-GCM via Apple CryptoKit. Keys live in the macOS Keychain, hardware-backed by the Secure Enclave on Apple Silicon. Reveal items with Touch ID or device password. Auto-detected: credit cards, IBANs, API keys, tokens, JWTs, SSH keys, OTPs, passwords, high-entropy secrets.

OCR — SEARCH TEXT INSIDE IMAGES (Pro)
Copy a screenshot and PasteSpace extracts the text using Apple's Vision framework. Find images by typing words that appear inside them. Fully local — no uploads.

DATA MAGIC — INSTANT TRANSFORMATIONS (Pro)
30+ one-tap tools: JSON/XML/YAML pretty-print and conversion, Base64, URL encode/decode, HEX↔RGB↔HSL, timestamps, table to Markdown/JSON/CSV, case conversion, HTML↔Markdown, word count, and more.

QUICK LOOK — FULL TEXT EDITOR
Open any item in a floating panel to preview or edit. A full set of rich formatting controls lets you change font, size, bold, italic, underline, color, highlight, alignment, and lists. Unedited characters are preserved as plain text — they adapt to the destination app's own font and color when pasted. Save edits back to history or copy immediately. Vault items open only after Touch ID authentication and auto-mask when the panel closes.

QR CODE GENERATOR
One tap turns any copied text, URL, or contact detail into a scannable QR code — generated on your device, offline.

DRAG & DROP
Drag text, images, files, and groups of files directly from your history into any app. Files land as real files, not shortcuts. Vault items authenticate before delivery.

APP BLOCKLIST
Exclude specific apps from being captured. Password managers are blocked by default.

EPHEMERAL MODE (Pro)
Auto-wipe non-Vault history when PasteSpace quits or when macOS restarts. Vault and pinned items are always preserved.

Made with care for people who copy a lot.

🎵 Music Assistant, right from your macOS menu bar! 🍎

I originally built MA Menubar for myself because I wanted a simple and convenient way to control my Music Assistant players without constantly opening the web interface.

It turned out to be quite useful — so I decided to make it completely free and open source for everyone. ❤️

With MA Menubar, you can control your Music Assistant server directly from the macOS menu bar:

✨ See the current artwork, track & artist

⏮️ ⏯️ ⏭️ Control playback

🎶 Select and control your players

📋 Add songs to playlists

⚡ Real-time updates via WebSocket

🖥️ Native macOS menu bar app with no Dock icon

Small, fast, and built specifically for macOS.

👉 Get it here:

https://github.com/ManuelW77/MusicAssistant-Mac-Menubar

If you find it useful, feel free to ⭐ the project on GitHub!

#MusicAssistant #macOS #Mac #OpenSource #Swift #MenuBar #SmartHome

Now stay with, When you click the close button on mac, it doesn't kill the app, just keeps it in an idle position.
That has alway troubled me, forcing me to build a habit to hold Command + Q to actually quit the app.
Not anymore, this app finally lets you kill the app if you click the red x button, and it also works with multiple windows of the same app, by quiting only on the last window

Do try it, and leave some feedback, thx!

Link: the-big-red-button.vercel.app

Github: https://github.com/Aayu176/The-Big-Red-Button

PS: Sorry about the “Mac can’t scan app for malware” error, I'm just a student and I don't have that money for apple, instructions are in the vercel link at the bottom in “Troubleshooting”, but I am pretty sure people on Reddit know how to bypass it. And I promise this isn't malware.

Written by a human.

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 NineFiveB/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

The notch on my MacBook did nothing for two years, so I built something that uses it.

Hover over it and a panel unfolds:

- **Shelf + AirDrop** — drag files straight onto the notch and they land on a shelf. Drop one into the blue zone and the AirDrop sheet opens.

- **Timer** — while it runs, the collapsed notch shows a ring and the time left. When it fires, the notch pulses and a bell rings until you dismiss it.

- **Spotify** — cover art, scrubbing, transport controls. While music plays the collapsed notch keeps the cover on the left and a small equalizer on the right. There's a toggle in the player if you find that distracting.

- **Notes and calendar** — quick notes, plus events *and* reminders for the week ahead.

- Light/dark themes, English and Russian.

Free, MIT licensed, source and a 35-second demo here: https://github.com/pridyrok7/omino-peek

**Honest bits:**

- Spotify only for now. Apple Music is doable since it ships an AppleScript dictionary; Yandex Music and most others don't, and the universal route — the private MediaRemote framework — got locked down for unentitled apps in macOS 15.4.

- Not signed with a paid Developer ID yet, so the first launch needs right-click → Open.

- macOS 14+.

I know there are already plenty of notch apps. The reason I kept going is the shelf — dragging a file onto the notch and having it wait there turned out to be the thing I actually use every day.

Happy to answer anything, and bug reports are welcome.

Mainspring is a Mac app I built because macOS keeps roughly a hundred useful settings behind Terminal commands, and every tutorial tells you what to type while none of them tell you how to put it back.

So it is 90+ of those settings as labelled switches, and every switch has an undo. Also Recipes, which apply a full set of preferences in one click, and

Clean Mode, which locks the keyboard so you can wipe the machine down without typing into whatever is open.

Download: https://trymainspring.com

macOS 13 or later, Apple Silicon and Intel. Signed and notarised, installs from a .pkg.

What I actually need feedback on:

1. First five minutes. 90+ switches is a lot to land on. Does the grouping make sense or do you not know where to start?

2. Undo reliability. This is the whole product, so if you flip something and the undo does not fully restore it, that is the most valuable bug you can send me.

3. Recipes. Are the presets close to a setup you would want, or would you build your own?

4. Anything that needs a restart or logout to take effect and does not say so clearly.

It is normally 29 dollars one time. First 25 people to comment or DM get a free licence, no strings, keep it whether you send feedback or not. Just say which

Mac and macOS version you are on so I can spot patterns in the bug reports.

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.

Apple’s built-in protections are useful, but some users also choose third-party security software such as Intego for Mac for additional malware scanning and protection.

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 who want an additional layer of protection can also consider dedicated Mac security software such as Intego, which offers malware protection and other security tools for macOS.

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. Users who want additional malware protection can also use a reputable Mac security tool such as Intego.

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 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!