Mac apps without a subscription: buy once, keep forever

Plenty of excellent Mac apps are still a one-time purchase. Things 3 for tasks, Pixelmator Pro for images, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for video and music, Magnet for windows, and small utilities like Dato, Lungo, Keka and Klack all cost a fixed price with no monthly fee.

How we picked: each app here is sold as a one-time purchase according to its listing in our catalog, and is actively updated. Prices are Mac App Store or developer prices in US dollars and can change, so check before you buy.

Productivity

Things 3: $49.99

Things 3 is a task manager with a clean design and a fast Quick Entry window you can open from any app. Today, Upcoming and Someday views keep the list manageable, and projects can have headings and checklists. Updates have been free since Things 3 launched in 2017. The iPhone and iPad versions are separate purchases.

Magnet: $4.99

Magnet snaps windows to halves, thirds and quarters by dragging to an edge or with a shortcut. It works across multiple displays.

Unclutter: $19.99

Unclutter is a pull-down drawer at the top of the screen with quick notes, a file shelf and clipboard history.

Creative work

Pixelmator Pro: $49.99

Pixelmator Pro is a full image editor with nondestructive layers, vector shapes and text, and machine-learning tools such as Super Resolution and Denoise. Apple acquired Pixelmator and now also includes the app in its Creator Studio subscription, but the one-time Mac App Store purchase is still listed.

Final Cut Pro: $299.99

Final Cut Pro is Apple's professional video editor, with the Magnetic Timeline, fast exports on Apple silicon, and HDR and colour grading. Owners of the one-time version have received updates without paying again for many years.

Logic Pro: $199.99

Logic Pro is a complete music production studio with Live Loops, Session Players, Spatial Audio mixing and thousands of included sounds. Like Final Cut Pro, it is a one-time purchase on the Mac App Store, and also part of Apple's Creator Studio subscription.

Small utilities

• Dato, $18: a menu bar calendar with time zones and one-click meeting joins.
• Lungo, $4: keeps your Mac awake with one click.
• Klack, $4.99: mechanical keyboard sounds as you type.
• Keka, $6.49 on the Mac App Store: creates and extracts ZIP, 7z and other archives. It is also free from the developer's website.

Free, so no subscription either

Some of the best Mac apps cost nothing at all: Rectangle, Ice, Hidden Bar, Amphetamine and Tot. See our list of the best free Mac apps.

Pay once, but plan for upgrades

A one-time price does not always mean you will never pay again. Some developers sell a new major version as a separate purchase, and some offer the app both ways, with a subscription that bundles sync or extra features. Apple's own pro apps are an example: the one-time versions are still sold, and the same apps are also available in Apple's Creator Studio subscription.

When you compare costs, look at how often the app has charged for upgrades in the past. An app at $49.99 that has had free updates for many years costs less over time than a cheaper app that charges for every major version.

Why some apps moved to subscriptions

Subscriptions pay for ongoing work: sync servers, AI features that cost money per request, and regular updates for each new macOS release. Apps with a sync service, like Bear, Day One or Ulysses, mostly charge monthly or yearly for that reason.

One-time apps tend to be either self-contained (no server to run), or from developers who charge for major upgrades instead. Before buying, it helps to know which model an app follows:

1. Free updates forever, as Things 3 and Apple's pro apps have done so far.
2. Paid major upgrades, where version 4 is a new purchase.
3. One-time purchase with an optional subscription for sync or AI.

Apps that are free and stay free

Not paying at all is the simplest way to avoid a subscription. Many of the free apps above are open source, which also means they cannot easily be turned into a paid product without someone forking the last free version. Rectangle, Ice and Hidden Bar are good examples.

How to find more

Our pay-once collection lists every app tagged as a one-time purchase, and each category has a "no subscription" view, such as productivity apps without a subscription and menu bar apps without a subscription.

FAQ

Are there good Mac apps without a subscription?

Yes. Things 3, Pixelmator Pro, Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Magnet, Dato and Keka are all one-time purchases, and free apps like Rectangle and Amphetamine have no subscription at all.

Do one-time purchase apps get updates?

Most do. Things 3, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro have had free updates for years. Some developers charge for major new versions, so check the app's history.

Is Final Cut Pro still a one-time purchase?

Yes, it is still sold for $299.99 on the Mac App Store. Apple also offers it as part of the Creator Studio subscription.

Can a one-time purchase app switch to a subscription later?

Yes, and some have. Usually the version you bought keeps working, but new features go to subscribers. Checking the developer's past releases is the best guide.

Why is Keka paid on the App Store but free online?

The developer offers both. The App Store version supports development and updates through the store; the website version is free.