Which Mac Apps Do I Use?

macmost.com/e-... I'm often asked which Mac apps I use. I create tutorials, build apps, develop websites and use my Macs for all the same things most Mac users do. Here are the more than 40 apps I use every week to get my work done.
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[@jbinkly]

Gary, you are without a doubt the best resource for Mac users. To say you provide a wealth of helpful, invaluable guidance would be an understatement..Thank you.

[@erickborling1302]

AND you're a nice guy in a sea of villains.

[@loisskiathitis8926]

If I were to grade myself on using a Mac I would be in first grade. I’ve not heard of several of these APPS. Very informative video, thank you, Gary! 👍🏻

[@nicebluejay]

i think i might be in 2nd grade lol

[@loisskiathitis8926]

@@nicebluejay well good for you. You know a little more than I do. 😂

[@mikeniccum7512]

I think Gary has software that is able to read my mind. Just yesterday I was watching one of his videos and was wondering which apps he used. Thanks Gary

[@RamMohammadJosephKaur]

Same!!!

[@markproulx1472]

The search function in Photos is immensely helpful.

[@2triangles]

Thanks for another great video. As always, everything is logical and practical and well-explained. 👍🏼

[@TheICUChannel]

One of the finest and calmest video channel on KZbin .. many many thanks . Is there someway to directly connect with u .

[@macmost]

Thanks. You can ask questions at macmost.com/ask

[@BenjaminDenverstone]

This past year I went from mainly using my HP laptop with Windows to my 2017 MacBook Air and 2021 M1 iMac. I’ve used macOS before however it has been a while. (White plastic MacBooks anyone?) I also prefer my iPhone and iPad Pro. I love the Mac apps myself and I agree that Reminders can use some work.

[@cjc363636]

Thanks for the info, Gary. I'd like to add that Private Internet Access is the (so far) only VPN I've seen on the Mac that allows for split-tunneling. So if you want to keep some apps 'always' VPN, but others "never" VPN, give PIA a try.

[@meeluanistyn1644]

Given the busy work schedule you have, I’m slightly surprised you don’t use a task manager such as Things 3 or Todoist. Maybe you can get along with Reminders and Notes?

[@macmost]

It helps that I don't really have to collaborate with others. I just keep lists of things in Reminders, like ideas for future video topics and such. And I'm pretty organized to begin with, being just old enough to have had to get my act together before task manager software even existed.

[@lnrdbl]

Wow, a LOT of apps. I maybe use 1/4 of that. Nice.

[@moondog_radio]

I like your approach to which apps to use. I default to Apple apps unless there is a super good reason not to. For the most part, they all work "well enough" to keep me from looking at alternatives. And Reminders seems to be the red-headed stepchild. Particularly their web-based version... stinks pretty bad.

Great video with useful information, as usual, Gary. Thank you very much.

[@hamandshortwaveradioirelan4773]

Thanks for the brilliant channel Gary, I recently subscribed and have found each and every one of the dozens of videos that I have watched so far really useful. Best wishes Amory

[@jefskott99]

Gary, you are the best. Thanks for the list and why you use each app. Cheers!

[@mariovh]

Thanks for all the info that I actually never knew being a apple user for years , keep up the great work Gary

[@sconvolto71]

Thank you very much Gary ❤️

[@MarsorryIckuatuna]

I use the Pro (lifetime) version of AdGuard, stops ads and tracking in Safari and in other apps. I can’t consider not using this app. First thing I put back after setting up a new maching.

[@thomaskember4628]

Gary you said in previous video that you should use only apps from the App Store but some of the apps you mention don't appear to come from there. How can we know they are safe?

[@HerewardDundasTaylor]

Great video thanks. The problem is finding an app that will allow you to record the screen as well as the screen audio, by this I mean the audio from the picture content, NOT the audio from the microphone input.

[@macmost]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pF6odIuklpabn7s

[@ditchcomfort]

I also use BBEdit and it only gets better and better. I almost never open any other text/code editor anymore… Apple Terminal have been swapped out for iTerm2, but depends if you need all the extra features and functionality… I never use Apple Photos on my Mac, only for my iPhone (mostly). And it isn’t nearly as powerful as Lightroom, just saying. Although I use Photo Mechanic Plus, Adobe Bridge, and Photoshop for my professional photography. But all in all, most Apple apps have become very good. 1password lost my interest when going down the Electron route.

[@utah62]

Thanks for sharing. Interesting to hear that you do not use Safari to login into Google. Was not aware that once you logged in it can track you despite Safari’s safety features. So better to use bother browser for that? On my iPhone I use the DuckDuckGo browser.

[@macmost]

Safari can only do so much to stop trackers if you are actually logged into the thing that is tracking you.

[@haveagoharry4999]

Swift overview, no waffling on unnecessarily. Great work :)

[@modestbukowski]

Now we need a video of what music Gary is into! What's his favorite artists and playlists.

[@macmost]

You'd probably be surprised. I love music. Lot of different genres.

[@DeeEllEff]

@@macmost Me, too. I like to say there are only two different kinds of music: good and bad.

[@markveldhuis8713]

Hi Gary. Just wondering why you use Authy, while 1Password had 2FA capabilities built in? That’s what I use and it works very well.

[@macmost]

Because... because... wait, it can do that? ... (trying it) ... yes it can! Thanks Mark!

[@markveldhuis8713]

@@macmost You’re welcome, Gary! 😄

[@philippfolkerts6120]

@@macmost For additional security, you might also want to give false answers to your security questions for any given website🔒Ideally, have 1Password generate a random/memorable string of characters, because finding out where you went to high school or what city you were born in (those standard "security" questions) probably isn't too difficult to find out these days.

[@RebeccaHargate]

I would use Safari on my Mac if the vertical tabs would be more like the Firefox add on Tree-Style tabs. I I don’t like the grouped setup.

[@BoomerBlogging]

Gary - two questions: (1) is there a video out there depicting what HW you actually have in use? (2) to actually film KZbin content could you get as good of quality by filming on an iPhone 10R and editing the file onto iMovie. I mean your Vlogs are mainly in office headshots with computer explanations as opposed to things like travel Vlogs and other motion-related content. I guess what I am really asking is why do I see many KZbinrs using Final Cut Pro or ScreenFlow?

[@macmost]

I talk about it a lot, but I'm always updating my equipment. What did you want to know? ScreenFlow is definitely superiors to iMovie (or FCP) for what I do because I can record my screen, camera and mic at the same time and they going into tracks. I can record all at once and then edit those tracks.

[@BoomerBlogging]

@@macmost - I think you answered my question. I am not a KZbinr and for friends and family videos and communications I think my Mac comes with all I will need (switched from 30 yrs of Windows 12 mos ago). Just not use to not having to purchase extra apps to do basic functions

[@maikaimakena9424]

Can you please do a making videos for KZbin on your channel. I would love to learn from you

[@theoversouls]

I really wish I could delete the Music app somehow. I never use it and it starts up randomly a couple of times a day. I'm on Catalina and nothing I've tried has worked so far. Love your channel!

[@brianfitzgerald6833]

+1 Drives me nuts. Would love to know what triggers it into life on my Mac Mini, which sits in a corner with no input most of the time, but pops open the music app every day for no apparent reason.

[@deanmelendez8224]

I just got to see this video about "Which Mac Apps Do I Use?" and I was interested in the Twilio Authy, but it no longer seems to be in the Apple Mac Apps Store. Yet, it is in the Apple iOS Apps Store is there a reason for that?

[@macmost]

Yes, this video is getting old. I don't use that anymore. Two-factor codes are now built into Passwords in System Settings and Safari, and in other password managers as well. No need for an app like that anymore.

[@DennisMathias]

You're great. So, it's now 2022 June. Have any of your apps changed? Is it time for a refresh? Still using the same stuff? Any new hot ones?

[@macmost]

Pretty much the same. I use cotEditor a lot over BBEdit now though.

[@carlosprovyrivera8522]

Thx Gary - great overview! I guess the only question I would have is do you use any kind of teleprompter app? And if so, which one.

[@macmost]

Nope. I usually have an outline and some notes, but then I just talk like you, the viewer, were right there and I was telling you about things.

[@JaimeHuffman]

@@macmost that’s one thing that makes your videos so great. Real world knowledge and talking in a way that the every day user can understand while still having a depth of knowledge that most of us may never reach. Thank you

[@carlosprovyrivera8522]

@@macmost Well done!!! 👏🏽

[@RamMohammadJosephKaur]

@@JaimeHuffman I agree!

[@alaaadel3133]

Thank you very much for all the lessons you give us. I learned a lot from you. I will follow you from Iraq if you know it

[@Kadu_flyer]

I've been using KZbin in Safari open on Desktop 2 with private browsing believing this would prevent Google knowing what I'm doing on Safari on Desktop 1. Am I correct in this? You've got me wondering as you say you use Chrome for KZbin!

[@sensui20]

Awesome video Gary! Thx for your help!

[@philippemarie]

Gary you are the best !

[@desertpatient]

Thank you. It would be nice if the mail app had a receipt request to know others received my important mail....

[@macmost]

That would have to rely on the receiver's email app and their email server to send back the receipt. Unless all email providers and client apps agreed on a standard system, it would never be able to be reliably implements. And even then, people will just turn it off for privacy.

[@javtimestwo]

This was fun to watch About 18 months ago I decided to learn more about my MacBook Air and found Gary's videos. Gary's videos convinced me to begin using Safari, Mac Mail, Notes, Calendar, Reminders & Messages(I also use that to send messages instead of on my phone-typing is easier) Gary-when using my MacBook Air, I use iMessage often but I notice that SMS messages are not successful. I might be wrong but if a contact does not have an iPhone the message is, "green". I can receive those messages via iMessage but I cannot reply. Any suggestion how to correct this?

[@erickborling1302]

I have trouble with iOS mail app when composing large e-mails. Edit window is too small, and selecting text to copy or move around is awful buggy. Jabbing the iPad display to no effect.

[@david57989]

This was very helpful. Thank you!

[@chrisbrady7936]

Great video as usual Gary!

[@FanVidder72]

Hi, can you do a video about how to use Automator? Can you explain about how to create your own actions ... I had a look at it, but I still can't quite get my head around it. Thanks for some great tips.

[@macmost]

I have many videos on how to use Automator. Search my channel. I also have an online course: courses.macmost.com

[@michaelhill6453]

Excellent video, thank you so much. Very useful.

[@Pixels_and_Points]

Gary, thanks for sharing! Mind if I ask what resolution you record videos at? Sometimes, it would be helpful for me to record training videos (WordPress) for clients. Thank again!!

[@macmost]

I usually do 2560x1440 and then export as 1920x1080. The reason is that at 3840x1920 the menus, buttons and other items appear too small in a KZbin window for people to see what I'm doing.

[@Burps___]

Gary, I used to have Apple Music but now have KZbin Premium, which has YT Music (everything on KZbin, a much deeper catalogue) and YT No Ads. ($11.99/month if sign up thru Google; $15.99/month if sign up through Apple store). Just an idea. Thanks for your videos.

[@javtimestwo]

Apple Music is only $9.99 but if Verizon is your carrier they will pay your monthly subscription. Not sure if any music service is the best but Apple Music is at or near the very top in terms of volume and features. Apple Music has improved so much in the last year and I'm sure Spotify had a lot to do with that.

[@mik0190]

Which is the best/easiest video editor to accustom to for moderate to complex video editing. Kindly advise, i am a beginner @macmost

[@isitwitha]

DITTO to the compliments paid you by Jay Binkly and Eric Borling!

[@jdarribasplatac]

Thank you Gary! i was wondering... Are you familiar with the Amphetamine app? Do you recommend it? Thanks!

[@doctor_feel_good_rx7467]

Gary, my MacBook Air Syx with my MacBook Pro and iPhone. I do not want this. In particular iphone to the laptops messenger. I want them to be separate entities. could you please advise me how to make my devices separate entities? thanks

[@macmost]

Do you mean Messages? (Messenger is Facebook). If you mean Messages, not Messenger, then there are a lot of factors. Your iPhone would accept messages from its phone number (SMS) and also iMessage (Apple). Your Mac can do both too. But settings on each let you determine that. Not sure what you want though so it is hard to advise.

[@PeaceHumorMusic]

Is there a doc or page that lists all the apps you speak of here? I tried to try and write them all down while watching?

[@stacyhackney6100]

Thank you

[@sleepyreader666]

Awesome video- great resource.

[@rudyatgmail7839]

I use keychain to keep passwords, credit card info, etc. How do keychain and safari passwords interact? Would it make sense to clean safari passwords out of keychain?

[@macmost]

Safari Passwords are stored IN the Keychain. The Keychain can have other things too (especially if you are a developer).

[@OdinsOdyssey5252]

How do you use Twilio Authy on Mac? I get only the Iphone / Ipad App.

[@macmost]

authy.com/download/ But note that I no longer use it. First 1Password replaced it for me since you can use 2-factor codes in there. But now I just do them using Apple's build-in password manager which added that function in Monterey.

[@aneshc3]

Very exciting. Do you make Swift tutorials?

[@macmost]

No, there are plenty of them available (courses and such). It doesn't really fit with MacMost.

[@mikeniccum7512]

Great idea using Chrome for google only. I was wondering why you didn’t mention Mac’s Keychain Access for passwords?

[@macmost]

That's not really an app. It is part of Safari and macOS. I do use it though.

[@reallifelegend4781]

Speaking of the music app, can you do a video on how to use it and the books app for audiobooks on both the Mac and the iPhone for each?

[@macmost]

Did you have a specific question? "How to use it" is kinda broad.

[@reallifelegend4781]

@@macmost It's complicated now. I can never figure out how to get into different views. I like a list. But it takes me to a box with one song, and I can't figure out how to navigate it.

[@macmost]

@@reallifelegend4781 Just make sure you are looking at Artists, Albums or Songs in the left sidebar, under "Library."

[@Ponderous1]

Great video Gary!

[@alan.macrae]

Gary, off topic but I'm looking for a video on how to export text from a Pages table to a CSV or import it into Numbers.

[@macmost]

Just select the table, copy it, go to Numbers, paste it. If you have a table selected in Numbers, the data pastes into it. But if you have no table selected, the while table from Pages pastes in. Then you can export from Numbers as a csv.

[@alan.macrae]

@@macmost Thank you so much! Will try it in the morning.

[@JaimeHuffman]

Gary, Thank you for overview. Great information. Could you do an intro to Final Cut Pro and Motion? Thanks again! Have a great day.

[@macmost]

I have a course called Final Cut Pro Quick Start For Beginners. courses.macmost.com/courses/finalcutpro/ But not sure if I will address Motion too much as I'm not sure enough people will be interested.

[@Insertnotrealname]

Are there any good alternatives to Photoshop? I HATE subscription-only software.

[@macmost]

Yes. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHjKc5ake6ihfM0

[@richvanatte3947]

Neat, you hit on great stuff!

[@michaelsun1449]

Quality videos man! Straight helpful content. Minimal BS.

[@erickborling1302]

The dictionary has a thesaurus which, if it's as good as it was as a dashboard item a decade ago, should be superb.

[@prakashs2072]

Please hlep to install windows application in mac latest version

[@gordonmrtn]

What search engine do you use in safari? Thanks

[@andirivarola]

One day I'ld like to see a comparison between using MAIL for Mac and other email online software. What are the things you can do on MAIL that one couldn't do on, let's say, Gmail or Yahoo mail. Thank you for all your videos, they are excellent.

[@javtimestwo]

I am a novice on this subject but I still wanted to reply. I used to use Yahoo mail exclusively on my Mac. I would use Chrome as my browser and always had the tab open for Yahoo mail. Gary convinced me that Mac mail can do all the things I was doing before but better. Since learning from Gary my Mac mail is now connected to several emails and I can easily switch between them all depending on my purpose. WONDERFUL!

[@andirivarola]

@@javtimestwo Thank you.

[@butchgo8930]

It will be me 2023 resolution to maintain my new M2 MacBook Air free of bloat and 3rd party apps. And confine my everyday computing tasks using the device built-in apps.

[@SuzanneLight]

I really like your channel because in trying my best to learn Apple. No classes at Apple Store because of covid. But how much memory did you have on your computer with all of those apps????? I was not informed very well and I only have 256 and how I regret that!

[@macmost]

256? Do you mean storage? 256 is pretty low. It doesn't really matter too much about the apps, as they take up a fixed amount of space. It is your data (photos, videos, documents, etc) that usually take up most of it.

[@SuzanneLight]

@@macmost yes only 256 GB of memory on my $3000 MacBook Pro and I have a YT channel. I back up to an external drive (only a year old) and it crashed last week. I am devastated. I heard it's really expensive to retrieve the data. I'm so bummed that memory cannot be added.

[@macmost]

@@SuzanneLight Yes, 256GB (storage, not memory) was the wrong advice there. Definitely look into a fact Thunderbolt SSD to use for video work, and an HDD big enough to back up both your internal and that external drive.

[@SuzanneLight]

@@macmost thank you so much Gary for your responses. I know you're extremely busy. Would you know anyone to recommend for data retrieval?

[@macmost]

@@SuzanneLight Sorry, no, I don't know anyone that does that.

[@yoyoututububee]

Thank you !

[@FanVidder72]

Can I just clarify, is the Mac Message app the same as texting with a mobile phone?

[@macmost]

Similar. With iMessage it is the same. For text messages you'd need an iPhone and you'd have to set it up to forward messages through the iPhone since your Mac has no mobile service connection for SMS messages.

[@FanVidder72]

@@macmost Thanks. I don't have an iPhone, just an Android phone. I don't text that often, as I find the keyboard to fiddly, but having the messages app makes things a lot easier. Thanks.

[@macmost]

@@FanVidder72 You wouldn't be able to forward your SMS messages from Android to your Mac.

[@IRVremy]

Gary have you ever checked out SKedit that's what I use when creating sites Marked 2 is really good too. Thank you so much for your amazing videos, you are a true Apple power user.

[@macmost]

No, I don't use either of those.

[@ypu3ap]

I am new at Mac. What app shoul i use to watch movies on my external drive? I used VLC on Windows. What is on Mac? Thanks.

[@macmost]

You can just use QuickTime Player. But if you like VLC, you can use that too.

[@RickFidelisReed]

Great reminder of some Apps I use and need to learn mO-Better. 😉

[@michaelschultz9407]

Witch printer works best with Mac os??

[@macmost]

"Best" is subjective. Printers have different features and what is best for one person won't be best for another. You have to think about what you want, and your budget, and compare models.

[@alexandrospappas4038]

nice content Gary

[@PromotingTheBeat]

Would be interesting if you use Safari Extensions and which ones? ( I[m using Honey & Shut Up ) as of now.

[@macmost]

Glad you asked that as I went to mention it, but I don't use ANY. Well, technically 1Password, but that comes as part of the app. That's it. No extensions needed.

[@showboat4869]

Gary how did you manage to get both 1Password and Safari to both save a new website login details ? Does it do it in one go or involve going in twice to save ?

[@philippfolkerts6120]

When you sign in to a website, you should get the Safari pop-up as well as the 1Password pop-up. Just confirm them both (or hit Enter twice). Hope that helps✌🏻

[@showboat4869]

@@philippfolkerts6120 thanks Phillip

[@maikaimakena9424]

Great video.

[@marybethscriven5853]

I want to start using my iPad for marking voice over scripts. What is the free site for doing this or is there one? Doesn’t annotation have a cost? Thank you

[@macmost]

Free site? Not sure what you are asking here. Like a site to learn how to do it? Are you looking for just a way to write scripts?

[@marybethscriven5853]

@@macmost no just the best tool to mark scripts for voice over so I do not have to print them out. Thanks.

[@macmost]

@@marybethscriven5853 I don't know what they use in that industry, but you could try the markup tools in Preview to see if that does what you want. I'd ask some other VoiceOver pros to see what they like.

[@abdulnajem7989]

Good evening! how can I use spotter Extension in Mac. take care

[@macmost]

"Spotter" extension? I don't know what you are referring to.

[@abdulnajem7989]

@@macmost spotlight extension

[@calicops951]

Can't seem to find Authy. Did they discontinue it?

[@macmost]

I think it isn't in the app store at the moment. But it is at their website. Just search for it on the web.

[@smartwerker]

GIMP and Inkscape

[@JCatl3y]

What apps have you made?

[@macmost]

No Mac apps. But I do have a variety of iOS/iPadOS games: clevermedia.com

[@raymondmaher1388]

I've found an awful lot of my photos over the years have gone missing..?

[@zoulhhh]

Photos is a pain. When you share, photos get resized without any notification. When you copy and paste, photos get even converted silently. Select a raw image and paste it into finder: You get a jpeg. What a mess! If you create a "Shared album", other users gets shrinked images. As a photographer, imagine you share an album with your model so she or he gets the images too. They'll get just a cheap copy, never the original image. All that happens without any notice. I hate Apples Photo-App. On Mac, on iPad, wherever. If you want your images to be messed up with, use Photos. When organize photos in albums, you can't even see which photo is in an album already when you browse "all photos".

[@ajaytz]

You said iMessage and sms through Mac. How is SMS possible?

[@macmost]

support.apple.com/guide/messages/get-sms-texts-from-iphone-on-your-mac-icht8a28bb9a/mac

[@DsinghMundae]

I am unable to find twilio authy

[@macmost]

No need for that anymore. macOS System/Safari password manager does it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/baWoY3Smg66Xnq8

[@stavros808]

What can I do with command terminal?

[@macmost]

It is a command-line interface to using your Mac. There is a lot you can do. But not many people use it at all. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r53cfXSOq9ujqLc

[@stavros808]

@@macmost thanks for your response! I want to use it for Python

[@macmost]

@@stavros808 Well, you certainly can do that.

[@LookNook2020]

👍🏻

[@abhay21849]

Sir, please make video on Apple Ecosystem, as you are specialist in Apple.

[@shaikbaized6660]

Hi, I bought a new macbook m1. New user actually. That's why I don't understand about pock. Can I get your email or something. I need to solve this problem.

[@macmost]

Pock? You can ask me questions at macmost.com/ask

[@shaikbaized6660]

Can I get your email please?

[@macmost]

@@shaikbaized6660 Use macmost.com/ask to ask questions.

[@skepticsr_us]

If you don't use Scrivener, you're probably working too hard:-)

[@arghyachakraborty]

First view! First like! First comment! ❤

[@ccifuentes]

Gary, why don’t you better say ‘90%: I use the apps that macOS includes’, you’d have saved several minutes…

[@donegal79]

you lose credibility when you say you use pages, keynote etc etc. That's not just fanboi, that's just stuoid.