Macs are already power-packed out of the box. But now and then, you stumble upon tools that take things from “That’s great” to “How did I live without this?!”. As a Mac user who spends much time tinkering, clicking, and creating, I’ve narrowed my favourites to just three here. I wouldn’t trade the ones for anything (well, maybe for some good coffee).
Here are my top 3 Mac tools in 2024 — the absolute game-changers.
1. CleanShot X — Screenshots, but Better
We all take screenshots, and some of us obsess over making them perfect. Enter CleanShot X, the superhero of screenshot tools.
It’s like the built-in screenshot tool on steroids. Annotate, blur sensitive data or capture full-page scrolls — CleanShot X does it all. And guess what? You don’t need to jump between apps. Need a quick recording for your team or a snazzy GIF for Twitter? It handles that too.
I’m not saying it’ll make you look like a productivity wizard… but you will feel like one.
2. Pika — Because Colors Matter
Colors are tricky. You see a perfect shade in an image or website, but how do you grab it? Boom, Pika.
Pika is the tool every designer, developer, or color nerd didn’t know they needed. It’s a lightweight color picker that grabs colors from anywhere on your screen. The best part? It gives you the Hex, RGB, and even the contrast ratio for accessibility.
3. Raycast — Spotlight on Steroids
If you’re still using Mac’s Spotlight search, you’re missing out.
Raycast isn’t just a launcher. It’s the launcher. Think of it as the Swiss Army knife of productivity tools. You can open apps, search files, run scripts, and even control your smart lights — all from your keyboard.
But wait, there’s more. Raycast has extensions for everything. Check your calendar, do quick calculations, or control Spotify without lifting your fingers off the keyboard. It’s snappy, sleek, and addictively useful.
It’s Spotlight, but cooler. Faster. Smarter. Enough said.
Conclusion
These tools have genuinely changed how I work. I spend less time clicking, searching, and muttering “Why isn’t this easier?”. Whether you’re a creative, a developer, or someone who just loves their MacBook (we’re all in this together), give these tools a shot.
Who knows? Maybe CleanShot X will save your next presentation, Pika will perfect your design, or Raycast will turn you into a keyboard ninja.