Apps to install on a new Mac: our first-day list

If you only install a handful of apps on a new Mac, make it these: a password manager, a window manager, a clipboard history tool, a launcher, and a way to tidy the menu bar. Everything else can wait until you know how you use the machine.

How we picked: we set up several Macs from scratch and wrote down which apps we reached for in the first day, and which ones we kept a month later. Prices are the ones listed on each app's page in our catalog.

Before you install anything

Run Software Update first, then sign in to iCloud and turn on FileVault if Setup Assistant did not already do it. FileVault encrypts the startup disk, and on Apple silicon it costs you nothing noticeable in speed.

It is also worth deciding now whether you want to migrate from your old Mac. Migration Assistant copies apps and settings, which is quick, but it also copies years of clutter. A clean install plus a short list like this one usually feels better after a week.

Passwords first

Bitwarden is our default suggestion. It is open source, audited, and free for individuals, with passkey support and end-to-end encryption. Install it before anything else, because every other app on this list will ask you to sign in.

If you already live in Apple's ecosystem, the built-in Passwords app works well too. The case for Bitwarden is that it also runs on Windows, Android and Linux, so you are not locked in.

Windows that stay where you put them

macOS has had basic tiling since Sequoia: drag a window to the edge of the screen, or use the Window menu. It covers halves and quarters. If you want thirds, more shortcuts, or snapping on older macOS versions, add one of these:

• Rectangle is free and open source, and moves windows with keyboard shortcuts.
• Magnet costs $4.99 on the Mac App Store and leans on drag-to-edge snap areas, with custom shortcuts as well.

Pick one. Running both leads to shortcut clashes. Our window management comparison goes deeper.

A clipboard that remembers

The Mac clipboard holds one item. A clipboard manager keeps everything you copy and lets you search it later. Paste is the polished option, with pinboards for snippets and iCloud sync, sold as a subscription. If you install Raycast (next section), you already get a clipboard history built in, which is enough for many people.

A launcher

Raycast replaces Spotlight for launching apps, and adds clipboard history, snippets, window commands and a store of extensions. The core app is free; AI features and some extras are part of Raycast Pro. Set its hotkey to Command-Space (after freeing that shortcut in System Settings) and you will rarely open Finder to launch anything again.

A calmer menu bar

A new Mac collects menu bar icons quickly. Ice and Hidden Bar are both free and open source and hide the icons you rarely click. On a MacBook with a notch this matters more, because icons that do not fit simply vanish behind it. Our guide on hiding menu bar icons covers the built-in settings too.

Archives and the odd file format

macOS opens ZIP files, but not 7z or RAR. Keka handles those, can create encrypted archives, and is open source. It is a free download from its website, or a paid Mac App Store version that supports the developer.

Plan and write

This part depends on how you work, so treat these as starting points:

1. Things 3 for tasks. It is a one-time $49.99 purchase on the Mac, with separate iPhone and iPad apps.
2. Drafts for quick capture. It opens to a blank page, so you type first and decide where the text goes later.
3. Bear for notes, if you like Markdown and tags more than folders.

Keep it awake when you need to

Long downloads and presentations are when a Mac decides to sleep. Amphetamine is free with no ads, and keeps the Mac awake for a set time, while an app runs, or until a download finishes. More options are in our guide to keeping your Mac awake.

What we skip on day one

We no longer install a cleaner on a new Mac. A fresh system has nothing to clean, and macOS manages its own caches. A tool like CleanMyMac is more useful a year in, when you want to find large old files or see what is filling the disk.

We also hold off on antivirus apps. Gatekeeper, XProtect and notarization cover the common threats for most people, and a careful download habit does the rest.

A sensible order

1. Software Update, iCloud, FileVault.
2. Bitwarden.
3. Raycast.
4. Rectangle or Magnet.
5. Ice or Hidden Bar.
6. Keka.
7. Your task and notes apps.

Browse more in free Mac apps and productivity apps when you are ready for the second round.

FAQ

Should I use Migration Assistant or set up a new Mac from scratch?

Migration Assistant is faster and keeps everything. A clean setup takes an afternoon but leaves out old apps, login items and preferences you no longer need. If your old Mac felt slow or messy, start clean and copy only your files.

Do I need antivirus software on a new Mac?

Most people do not. macOS checks downloaded apps with Gatekeeper and notarization and scans for known malware with XProtect. Install apps from the Mac App Store or the developer's own site, and keep macOS up to date.

Are free Mac apps safe to install?

Free apps from known developers are generally safe, and open-source ones like Rectangle, Ice and Bitwarden let anyone inspect the code. Avoid "free" downloads from mirror sites that repackage apps.

Which of these apps are free?

Bitwarden (for individuals), Rectangle, Ice, Hidden Bar and Amphetamine are free. Raycast and Drafts have free tiers. Keka is free from its website. Magnet and Things are one-time purchases, and Paste is a subscription.