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Best Free Software for Mac OS
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Best Free Software for Mac OS - Page Index
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How To Use This List
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This is a multi-page article. To quickly find what you want, either:
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Introduction
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One of the largest shortfallings, however, is that enhanced functionality comes at a cost. Many software solutions for OS X are paid options that allow certain functionalities. The goal of this group is to break down that barrier and provide a large database of free software for OS X to enhance your Mac experience. Ranging from comic book readers to programming editors, chess to media centers, our team has taken the time to review and recommend the best free software for Mac OS. |
With the advent of "iDevices", OS X has arguably become one of the fastest growing user bases in the last decade. Not only for graphic design and audio/video editors anymore, OS X, with its simplistic design, has caught the appeal of many more common users who want a system that just works.|
What's New
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Items added or updated most recently: |
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Summary
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This list of Best Free Software for Mac OS now includes 150 applications in 89 categories. To read brief descriptions of the applications, click a page number or a category icon below.
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Page 2. Home and Office
Page 3. Image Tools
Page 4. Multimedia
Page 5. Disk and File Tools
Page 6. Desktop and System
Page 7. Security and Privacy
Page 8. Internet and eMail
Page 9. Programming
Page 10. Games|
Related Links
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Editor
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This software category is in need of an editor. If you would like to give something back to the freeware community by taking it over, check out this page for more details. You can then contact us from that page or by clicking here |
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Tags
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best, top, free, software, applications, freeware, Mac OS, apple, OS X, multi, cross, platform, list, listing |
- Article type:
- Cleanup & Tuning,
- PC Freeware,
- Review,
- Desktop & GUI,
- User contributed lists,
- Disk & File Utilities,
- Home & Office,
- Educational,
- Games and Diversions,
- Image View and Edit,
- Internet, Email & Messaging,
- Multimedia (CD, DVD, Video, Audio),
- MAC Freeware,
- Networking & File Transfer,
- Programming & Engineering,
- Reference & Cataloging,
- Security,
- System and Performance Info,
- System Utilities,
- Articles,
- Software list
- Login or register to post comments
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Comments
MPlayerX provides you a super easy way to enjoy your favorite multimedia collection, without losing any functionalities:
http://mplayerx.org/
Is Carbon Copy Cloner free? It looks like it's croakware
http://help.bombich.com/kb/overview/carbon-copy-cloners-transition-to-a-...
CCC is no longer donationware. In order to grow our support and development team, we have made the transition to a commercial product. This will allow us to to continue offering frequent updates to our software, including new features. This will also enable our stellar customer support to remain that way. Transitioning from donationware to a commercial offering underscores our commitment to deliver the best Mac OS X cloning and backup utility on the market.
Thank you Reid. Carbon Copy Cloner is now removed from the list. MC - Site Manager.
Quicksilver leaves beta:
http://qsapp.com/
Vecte is a very simple app, designed as a replacment for the OS X application switcher.
Features:
- Faster. Vecte is far faster then the OS X switcher. Don't wait for the window to disappear before switching apps...
- No setup. Simply open the Vecte app, and hit Command-Tab.
- Simple. Vecte is very simple and out of the way. Don't worry about a thing.
- No system resources. Vecte is exceptionally light weight, and will not effect your battery life.
http://teaksoftware.com/app/vecte/
I Just found out about this Mac utility app called Magician. It has many functions-various cleaning utils,duplicate finder,memory optimization,left and right fan speed adjustment,app uninstaller, and more.
I was impressed by what this program can do, definitely worth giving it a look to compare it to CLeanMyMac and others...
http://www.magicansoft.com/magican.html
Hi JTAlsman,
I've added Magician to the list. Thank you for brining it to light!
Alec
So far so good, a year after I got my iMac...its the best PC system I ever laid my hands on. Forget Windows, this is the best.
I am new to Apple and just got the Imac 27". It has 1tb. With my Windows PC's and smaller hard drives, I always partitioned my hard drive to maybe 3 or 4 drives. With this new computer, should I do it with the mac? What is recommended or suggested? I have had this for a few weeks now and I really like it and I been with Windows since Windows 98, lol What's your thought?
Thanks
Harry
Hi Harry,
Sorry no one could respond to you sooner. It depends on why you want to partition your drive.
If you're doing it to backup your data, it's a good idea, but I recommend getting an external drive for backups rather than partitioning; data loss is generally caused by hard drive failures, in which case the best way to recover data is to access it from an operational backup. With an external drive you can easily and constantly backup your data using Mac OS X's Time Machine.
Perhaps your partitioning your drive to use services like Boot Camp or operate multiple OS's, then partitioning your drive is easy to do and is more reliable than running OS's off of an external drive.
Why did you partition your drives on your PC?
Well the answer is...it's up to you. You don't have to do that but personally the way I setup my Mac is one partition for my OS and programs and one for all my data but I know a lot of people who just use one big partition for everything and they do just fine. It really all depends on how you work. Truly dividing your "Programs" and "Data" does take a little bit more work especially if you use iPhoto and iTunes but it sure does make it easy to reinstall everything if you ever have an issue. I'm not sure you would need more than 2 thought but if you prefer to have 3 or 4 go for it. If you need any pointers on partitioning with the Mac just let me know.
Cheers,
Matt
Some time ago I had a program in which a psychiatrist in character offered to listen to my bitching and he would come back with question and answers. Any one know of a program like this one???? or close????
Jimmy
There is an easter egg hidden for that in Mac OS X. You can do it with the Terminal App which is under Applications - Utilities.
Open the Terminal.
Type emacs
Type ESC - X together
Type Doctor and hit enter
Check that one out and see if it's close to what you used before.
Cheers,
Matt
Hello,
I tried the "Best Free CD Recovery Utility for Mac OS - PhotoRec" and found it way to complicated to use.
I am sure it works great but unless it has a nice graphical user interface it is not suitable for the average punter like myself.
I will try and find a data recovery program for Mac that is similar to Recuva which I use on my Windows PC's.
Seriously with Photorec you can't use the mouse for a start and what you get is something that looks like the command prompt in Windows. It then shows various partitions / directories which looks confusing. It then asks where you want to save the recovered files but trying to make sense of all that is even harder :-)
I am a reasonably experienced computer user but this program is just too difficult for me.
And no, I am not associated with any competitor etc.
Will post back once I've found something more usable.
Cheers,
Paul
Hey Paul. While this might be a bit delayed I just took over the list and I'm looking around to find a good, easy to use graphical data recovery program that is unlimited.
Matt
I remember coming across Disk Drill a while back. It has reviewed well, but the free version scans only (no recovery). I'll see if I have something more useful stashed away. I *thought* I did find a working freeware tool - hopefully I didn't put it in a "safe place".
Hello,
Ok, I found a couple of free versions of data recovery software.
The first, Minitool Mac Data Recovery is very intuitive and found all the deleted files I needed. Unfortunately for the free version, you are limited to recovering only 1Gb of data.
The second will recover an unlimited number of files and was also easy to use however EaseUS MacPhoto Recovery Free (as the name suggests) only recovers a limited number of file types specifically bmp/jpg/png/tif/mp3 and if you want to recover more types then you have to purchase the paid version.
I'll keep trying to find an unlimited version that has a nice graphical and easy to understand interface.
Cheers,
Paul
Thanks Paul, your efforts on behalf of the Mac community are appreciated.:) Whether you are successful or not, maybe you'd consider writing up one of the mac comparative reviews for us? If so, please register and send me a contact.
Hi Midnight Cowboy and thank you.
I'm actually not a Mac person but have Windows 7 which I can dual boot with Ubuntu.
The Mac in question is my sisters G4 which fortunately has the OSX Leopard operating system which means that Minitool and EasUS will work.
Using a combination of both free tools I was able to find all her missing photos plus 1Gb of deleted documents including cv etc.
At the risk of being flamed, I'd rather limit my exposure to Mac at this time :-)
Hopefully there are some Mac Gurus out there who can assist more.
Regards,
Paul
No problem - thanks for responding. :)
I too am a dual boot fan, using Windows mainly for testing. My main desktop is dual booted with 7 and Korora 17 (KDE) and my laptop with 7 and the excellent Voyager Linux 12.04. I also have a very shaky old desktop which refuses to run most things including all version of Windows, :D, but Bodhi Linux functions on it perfectly.
HashTab is not free in the AppStore. It costs $0.99.
HashTab 2.0 is still available for download from Softpedia or MacUpdate for free, but version 2.1 is not free.