10 Best Free Mac Apps You Need in 2025 (Tried & Tested): Must-Haves for macOS Users!

Today we are going to look into some of the best free Mac apps in 2025, but they are not the regular ones which you usually see on the internet. We picked some amazing tools that are unique and you probably haven't heard about yet.

Here’s what we gonna cover

• Best Free Mac app of all time

• 10 Best Free Mac apps in 2025

• How we made this Best Free Mac app list

We'll cover everything from AI-powered knowledge assistants like Elephas to powerful file management tools, note-taking systems, and even apps that help maintain your Mac's performance. Our guide breaks down what each app does best, their standout features, and their pricing, so you can make the best choice for your specific needs.

We've tested these apps ourselves, read countless Reddit threads, and analyzed App Store reviews to bring you only the most useful mac apps that will genuinely boost your productivity.

So without any delay, let's get into it

What is the Best Free Mac App?

Elephas stands out as the Best Free Mac app, and it is a must-have knowledge assistant. With its Super Brain feature, Elephas creates a personal knowledge center right on your Mac, seamlessly gathering information from websites, documents, and other sources. 

Also, it works offline, so you don't have to worry about privacy, and you can use different AI models such as Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, Grok, etc., according to your needs.

Top 10 Best Free Mac Apps at a Glance

• Elephas - Best for knowledge workers needing an AI-powered second brain with offline capabilities and privacy protection.

• Notion - Best for visual organization and team collaboration with customizable workspaces.

• Dropover - Best for efficient drag-and-drop file management across multiple locations.

• Alfred - Best for keyboard-driven productivity and workflow automation without taking hands off the keyboard.

• ChatGPT - Best for instant AI assistance across all applications with screenshot analysis and voice conversations.

• Obsidian - Best for connected note-taking and building personal knowledge networks with complete data ownership.

• Ollama - Best for private, offline AI assistance without sending sensitive data to third-party servers.

• ImageOptim - Best for optimizing image files without quality loss while removing private metadata.

• AppCleaner - Best for completely removing unwanted applications and their associated files.

• CoconutBattery - Best for monitoring battery health across all Apple devices to maximize battery lifespan.

1. Elephas

​Elephas works as a powerful knowledge assistant for Mac users who need to handle a lot of information in their daily work. It lets you collect, organize, and quickly find all your important notes and knowledge in one place. Elephas makes it easier to manage information from different sources, so you don't have to search through multiple apps or folders.

With the Super Brain feature, Elephas creates a personal knowledge base right on your Mac. You can easily save important information from websites, documents, and other sources. Also, Elephas works with different AI models and even works offline, keeping your information private and always available when you need it.

Key Features:

• Super Brain: Builds a personal knowledge center by gathering and organizing information from various sources

• Multi-AI Model Support: Works with different AI providers including OpenAI, Claude, and Gemini for flexible interaction

• Offline Functionality: Access your knowledge and use AI features without internet connection for better privacy

• Web Search Integration: Find answers and research information directly within the app

• Notes Feature: Quickly save important text from websites and documents with simple copy-paste

• Multiple File Format Support: Works with CSV, JSON, PHP, Python and many other file formats

• Smart Write: Creates high-quality content from just a few keywords or prompts

• Personalized Tones: Adapts to your writing style based on samples you provide

• iOS Compatibility: Access key features on iPhone and iPad with AI Keyboard

Paid Plan: $8.99/month

Customer Reviews

Users love Elephas for MacBook and iPhone, praising its convenient access to AI-powered text processing and the ability to search, rewrite, and customize content professionally. One user highlighted its Super Brain feature, which helps manage personal data and websites efficiently. 

The native Mac app and custom AI models make it stand out. While some noted a learning curve and occasional UI issues, the responsive developer and frequent updates ensure continuous improvements, making Elephas a top AI writing tool.​

​2. Notion

Notion is a flexible workspace tool that helps you organize information in one place. While it starts as a simple note-taking app, it can do much more depending on how you use it. You can turn Notion into a place for managing projects, creating databases, building knowledge wikis, or even tracking personal goals - all with a clean, visually appealing interface.

The app uses a building block approach that makes it easy to create exactly what you need. You can start with a blank page or choose from thousands of templates to save time. Notion works well for both personal use and team collaboration, with options to share specific pages or create dedicated team spaces.

Key Features:

• Customizable Pages: Build anything from simple notes to complex databases using blocks that you can arrange however you want

• Multiple View Options: See your information as tables, lists, boards, calendars, or galleries depending on what works best

• Team Collaboration: Share pages with others and work together in real-time with comments and mentions

• Web Publishing: Turn any Notion page into a public website with just a few clicks

• Templates: Choose from thousands of pre-made templates to quickly set up systems for notes, projects, or tracking

• Cross-Platform Access: Use Notion on Mac, Windows, mobile devices, or through a web browser so your information is always available

Paid Plan: $10/month

Customer Reviews

A user mentioned that Notion is a helpful tool but has a steep learning curve. They found it frustrating at times due to its lack of user-friendliness but appreciated its collaborative features, like real-time notifications and note-taking. 

Another user praised Notion for its ease of use, customization, and productivity benefits, saying it feels limitless. However, they disliked its limited offline functionality. Overall, Notion is powerful but may require some time to master.

3. Dropover

Dropover makes moving files on your Mac much easier with its simple floating shelves. When you need to move multiple files between folders or apps, you don't have to juggle back and forth between windows. Just shake your cursor while dragging files, drop them on the shelf that appears, and then navigate to where you want to put them without stress or confusion.

This handy tool works with almost anything you can drag on your Mac - files, folders, images, website links, or text snippets. The app stays hidden until you need it, then appears right where you're working.

Key Features:

• Simple Activation: Just shake your cursor while dragging items to make a shelf appear

• Works with Any Content: Use with files, folders, images, website links, and text snippets

• File Management: Rename, arrange, or delete items directly from the shelf

• Instant Sharing: Send shelf contents through Mail, Messages, AirDrop or other sharing options

• Built-in Actions: Resize images, create ZIP archives, extract text, and more without opening other apps

• Cloud Integration: Upload files to various cloud services including Dropover Cloud, iCloud Drive, and Google Drive

Paid plan: 8$(One-Time Purchase)

4. Alfred

Alfred is a powerful productivity app for Mac that helps you work faster and smarter. It sits quietly in the background until you need it, then springs into action with just a keyboard shortcut. With Alfred, you can quickly find files, search the web, control your music, and automate repetitive tasks without taking your hands off the keyboard.

The latest version, Alfred 5.5, brings new interactive views that make it even more useful for daily tasks. Whether you're a casual Mac user or a power user looking to save time, Alfred's customizable features adapt to how you work.

Key Features:

• Quick Search & Launch - Find and open apps, files, and folders instantly without using your mouse

• Web Search - Search Google, Amazon, YouTube and other sites directly with custom keywords

• Clipboard History - Access your previously copied text, images, and files with a simple keyboard shortcut

• Text Expansion - Create snippets for frequently used text like email signatures or addresses

• Custom Workflows - Automate complex tasks without coding knowledge (available with Powerpack)

• System Controls - Sleep your Mac, empty trash, or adjust volume without clicking through menus

• Music Controls - Play, pause, and skip songs in Apple Music or Spotify without switching apps

Power Pack: $39 (One-Time Purchase)

Customer Reviews

Users love Alfred for its powerful automation features and quick app-launching capabilities. One user praised the Alfred Powerpack for streamlining daily tasks but found its workflow editor a bit complex. Another user highlighted how Alfred significantly speeds up their workflow, allowing them to open apps instantly. 

While some feel the customization options can be intimidating, most agree that Alfred is a great productivity tool for Mac users. Overall, users appreciate its efficiency and ease of use.

5. ChatGPT

ChatGPT brings the power of advanced AI right to your desktop, making it easy to get help with virtually any task. With a simple keyboard shortcut (Option+Space on Mac or Alt+Space on Windows), you can instantly access ChatGPT from anywhere on your computer without disrupting your workflow. It seamlessly integrates with your everyday activities, whether you're writing emails, coding, or creating content.​

The desktop app offers a more personalized experience than the web version, with the ability to chat about files on your computer, analyze screenshots, and even help with code directly in your IDE. For Plus and Team users on macOS, it can write code edits directly into your development environment.

Key Features:

• Instant Access - Open ChatGPT from any screen with a quick keyboard shortcut, eliminating the need to switch between browser tabs

• Screenshot Analysis - Take screenshots of anything on your screen and get immediate feedback or explanations from ChatGPT

• File Integration - Upload and discuss files directly with ChatGPT, making document review and analysis simpler

• Advanced Voice Mode - Have real-time voice conversations with ChatGPT for hands-free assistance while you work

• Code Assistance - Get help writing, debugging, and optimizing code with direct IDE integration (for Plus/Team users)

• Web Search - Ask ChatGPT to search the internet for up-to-date information to enhance its responses

Paid Plan: $20/month

Customer Reviews

A user was frustrated with the service, saying they paid for the pro version but received nothing in return, calling it a "rip-off" with no customer support. Another user had a positive experience, praising its speed in reading data and helping with programming but noted it struggles with reading code properly and lacks a preview feature.

6. Obsidian

Obsidian is a powerful note-taking app that helps you connect and organize your thoughts in a way that mirrors how your brain works. It stores all your notes as plain text files directly on your device, ensuring complete privacy and giving you full ownership of your data. Unlike traditional note-taking apps, Obsidian excels at creating connections between ideas, helping you build a personal knowledge network that grows more valuable over time.

With its flexible design, Obsidian adapts to your unique way of thinking rather than forcing you into a specific system. Whether you're journaling, managing projects, researching, or building a second brain, Obsidian provides the tools to capture, connect, and develop your ideas in a secure environment that works even offline.

Key Features:

• Linked Thinking - Create connections between notes with simple [[brackets]], building a personal wiki of interconnected ideas

• Knowledge Graph - Visualize the relationships between your notes with an interactive graph that reveals patterns in your thinking

• Canvas - Use the infinite canvas to visually organize ideas, create diagrams, and build concept maps for deeper understanding

• Local Storage - All notes are stored as Markdown files on your device, ensuring privacy and giving you complete ownership of your data

• Plugin Ecosystem - Customize your experience with thousands of community plugins and themes to match your workflow

• Sync & Publish - Securely access notes across devices with end-to-end encryption and easily publish your knowledge as websites (optional premium features)

Customer Reviews

A user praised the app’s design and aesthetics but found it challenging to master, suggesting a better help section for guidance. Another user loves using Obsidian daily for personal and private notes, appreciating the control over organization. 

However, they wished for more flexibility in arranging elements, similar to a Word document. While both users enjoy the tool, one struggled with its learning curve, and the other desired more freedom in formatting.

7. Ollama

Ollama brings advanced AI capabilities to your computer without sending your data to third-party servers. This open-source tool lets you run large language models (LLMs) directly on your Mac, Windows, or Linux machine, giving you complete privacy and control over your AI interactions. Ollama runs entirely offline, keeping your conversations, research, and sensitive information secure from external services.

With Ollama, you can chat with models like Llama 3.2 without worrying about subscription fees or privacy concerns. It's designed to be lightweight yet powerful, making AI accessible to everyone while respecting your data privacy. Whether you're writing, coding, or doing research, Ollama gives you AI assistance that stays private.​

Key Features:

• Complete Privacy - All processing happens on your device, ensuring your data never leaves your computer

• Multiple AI Models - Download and switch between various open-source models to suit different needs

• Terminal Integration - Use Ollama directly from your command line for quick queries and automation

• No Internet Required - Works completely offline after initial model download, perfect for travel or secure environments

• Third-Party App Support - Compatible with various frontends like Msty that provide user-friendly interfaces

• Custom Model Instructions - Personalize how models respond by providing specific instructions for different use cases

Customer Reviews

A user mentioned that Ollama is easy to deploy and manage, making running local LLMs effortless. He also recommended pairing it with OpenWebUI for the best experience. 

Meanwhile, another user shared that they have deployed Ollama in their data centers and praised McLeod’s performance. He highlighted its excellent efficiency, especially when used with fifth- and sixth-generation GPUs.

8. Imageoptim

ImageOptim is a must-have app for Mac users who work with images regularly. This free and open-source tool helps make your images load faster without losing quality. It's perfect for web designers, photographers, and anyone who needs to save space on their Mac while maintaining image quality.

With a simple drag-and-drop interface, ImageOptim makes image optimization accessible to everyone. The app works efficiently by removing unnecessary data from your image files, resulting in smaller file sizes that take up less disk space and download faster on websites and in apps.

Key Features:

• Advanced Compression - Reduces image file sizes while preserving quality, making web pages and apps load faster.

• Metadata Removal - Automatically removes private EXIF data like GPS location and camera information for better privacy when sharing images online.

• Powerful Tool Integration - Combines multiple optimization tools including MozJPEG, pngquant, Pngcrush, and others to ensure the smallest possible file size.

• Lossy Minification Option - Optional setting for even smaller file sizes if you're willing to accept slight quality changes.

• macOS Integration - Works seamlessly with Mac by supporting drag-and-drop to the Dock icon, Finder services menu, and can be launched from command line or Sketch.

Customer Reviews

A user praised the app for making image compression effortless while remaining highly configurable yet simple. They highlighted its impressive results when fine-tuned for the right balance between compression time and file size. Another user found it really good but wished for support for more file types.

9. Appcleaner

AppCleaner is an essential free tool for Mac users who want to completely remove unwanted applications from their computer. Unlike simply dragging apps to the trash, AppCleaner finds all the hidden files that applications scatter throughout your system, helping you free up valuable disk space and keep your Mac running smoothly.

With a simple drag-and-drop interface, AppCleaner makes uninstalling apps a breeze for anyone. This lightweight utility has earned outstanding reviews from users who appreciate its reliability and straightforward approach to cleaning up their Mac systems.

Key Features:

• Complete Removal - Finds and deletes all files associated with applications, including hidden system files that regular uninstallation misses.

• Simple Drag-and-Drop Interface - Just drag any application onto the AppCleaner window, and it will locate all related files for easy deletion.

• Lightweight Design - Takes up minimal space (only 4.2 MB) while delivering powerful functionality without slowing down your system.

• System App Protection - While it can search for files related to system apps, it prevents accidental removal of critical system applications.

• Compatible with Latest macOS - Works with macOS Mojave through the newest Sequoia version, with older versions available for legacy systems.

Customer Reviews

A user said this is the best app for uninstalling Mac apps with just one click. They love its clean interface, the ability to see and choose files before deletion, and how it removes the hassle of manually finding leftover files. 

However, they feel it could improve with more frequent updates and a way to view an app’s size and version number without extra clicks. Overall, they find it a highly efficient and user-friendly uninstaller.

10. Cocuntbattery

CoconutBattery is a powerful tool for Mac users who want to monitor the health and performance of their batteries. This handy app provides detailed information about your Mac, iPhone, and iPad batteries in an easy-to-understand format. With CoconutBattery, you can track your battery's health over time and take steps to maximize its lifespan.

Available since 2005, CoconutBattery has become the standard for battery monitoring on Mac devices. The free version offers essential battery health information, while the Plus version unlocks additional features for users who want more detailed insights and functionality.

Key Features:

• Real-time Battery Health Monitoring - Shows live information about your Mac, iPhone, and iPad battery quality, including current capacity compared to original design capacity.

• Cross-device Compatibility - Works with Mac computers as well as iOS devices, providing comprehensive battery information for all your Apple products.

• WiFi Support (Plus version) - Connect to your iPhone or iPad wirelessly to check battery health without needing a USB connection.

• Battery Lifetime Analyzer (Plus version) - Tracks detailed statistics about your battery usage, including temperature ranges, voltage, and total operating time.

• Customizable Notifications (Plus version) - Receive alerts when your device's battery drops below specified thresholds, helping you maintain optimal battery levels.

Plus Version: $16 (One-Time Purchase)

How We Picked the Best Free Mac Apps in 2025

We took a thorough approach to evaluate and rank the best Mac productivity apps for 2025, combining multiple information sources:

• Reddit Community Insights: We analyzed discussions across r/MacApps, r/MacOS, and r/productivity to identify which tools consistently received praise from everyday Mac users.

• App Store Reviews: We examined both ratings and detailed customer feedback, focusing on recent reviews to ensure apps continue meeting user expectations with their latest versions.

• Personal Testing: We installed and used each application in our daily workflows for several weeks, evaluating:

• Ease of setup and learning curve

• Interface design and user experience

• System resource requirements

• Practical utility for different user types

• Integration capabilities with other Mac apps

• Overall value proposition

Conclusion

After looking at all these great Mac apps, it's clear that the right choice depends on what you need to get done. Some apps help with files, others with writing or pictures, and some keep your Mac running smoothly.

Elephas stands out as a must-have for any Mac user. Its ability to gather and organize information while working offline keeps your data private. The way it works with different AI tools makes it super helpful whether you're writing, researching, or just trying to keep track of important stuff.

Think about what slows you down each day on your Mac.

Is it finding files? Writing content? Managing information? There's probably an app on our list that can help fix that problem.

According to your needs, pick the one that best suits your work.

FAQs

1. Which Mac productivity app is best for knowledge management in 2025?

Elephas stands out as the top knowledge management app for Mac in 2025, offering AI-powered organization with its Super Brain feature, offline functionality for privacy, and support for multiple AI models including OpenAI, Claude, and Gemini.

2. How do free Mac productivity apps compare to paid alternatives?

Free Mac apps like Elephas and Obsidian offer remarkable value with premium features like knowledge management and linked note-taking, while paid options like Notion ($10/month) and ChatGPT ($20/month) provide additional team collaboration tools and advanced AI capabilities.

3. What is the best Mac app for battery monitoring?

CoconutBattery is the battery monitoring tool for Mac, offering detailed health tracking across all Apple devices. The free version provides essential battery information, while the Plus version ($16 one-time purchase) adds wireless monitoring and customizable notifications.

4. Can I run AI tools on my Mac without an internet connection?

Yes, both Elephas and Ollama offer offline AI capabilities on Mac. Elephas provides a personal knowledge assistant that works without internet, while Ollama runs open-source large language models locally, ensuring complete privacy and continuous access to AI assistance.

5. Which Mac app is best for complete application removal?

AppCleaner is the most effective free tool for completely uninstalling Mac applications. It finds and removes all associated files that regular deletion misses, using a simple drag-and-drop interface while protecting critical system applications from accidental removal.