Good video editing software can help you showcase your products from every angle by producing professional promos for platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or anywhere else you share brand videos. There are a number of easy-to-use free video editing programs that can help you stand out from your competition.

There's something exciting about buying a new piece of software, unwrapping the packaging and slipping the disc into your Mac ready to install your new goodies. And, of course, the new Mac App Store has made the process of obtaining new software by a digital download just a few simple mouse clicks.Whichever method you prefer, the biggest drawback is the money you have to hand over. Forking out for your goods is a necessary evil, and the price of things is usually a good indicator of its quality. But the good news is it's not always that way, especially when it comes to Mac software.As we will show you, there are many apps available for free that have all the polish and advanced features you would expect from a premium paid-for version, but without the nasty price tag. There are apps that will clean up your hard drive or organise your day-to-day activities.

Some even work on your iPhone and iPad, too.We've presented the best ones below – they're all really fantastic and, best of all, they're all free.A number of these applications, while still great as a free version, also have more fully featured pro versions. So if you really enjoy one, you can consider spending the extra money. discover the best you can get to keep your Mac secure onlineBest free Mac media tools1. Boxee OnlineTV channels put a lot of their content online for free, but you usually have to go to their websites to find out what's available. Not with.This app lets you browse through episodes of shows from sources such as YouTube, among many others. It also pulls in media from your Mac. The interface can be controlled via the keyboard, an Apple remote or the free Boxee app available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.It's a doddle to navigate, enabling you to quickly find sports, movies, music or photos to enjoy on your computer.

For entertainment on your Mac, Boxee is hard to beat.2. VuzeBitTorrent clients have received a bad rap over the years for enabling users to download copyrighted material for free. Vuze is no different in this respect.

That said, downloading via BitTorrent is not illegal and, should you be accessing legal material, you're fine.Even better than that, will act as a media player for most formats and even convert files for playback on your devices, including iPads and games consoles. You can even stream video from Vuze via Wi-Fi to compatible devices such as the Xbox 360, making it more of an ideal media viewing solution than a nuisance to society.3. Flip4MacThere's been little love lost between Apple and Microsoft over the years, and the same extends to their media formats.

The dreaded.WMV (Windows Media Video) file is the scourge of the Mac OS X operating system and will not run natively in QuickTime.Fortunately, the free software will eradicate this headache and, once installed, lets you forget about formats and enjoy the video you are after. The WMV player also allows for Windows Media files to play back in Safari as well to help you enjoy a more complete browsing experience. A must-have install to alleviate format folly.4.

HandBrakeThose looking to bring their movie collection into the modern world should certainly consider for all their ripping needs. This simple app can grab a movie from DVD and encode it into a variety of formats for playback on your Mac, iPhone or iPad.Those with the new Apple TV will also be able to create compatible files from their movie discs and add them to iTunes without having to fiddle around with DVD players and tons of cases. The app can even retain the chapter selection features and subtitles of your original disc.While ripping a DVD to your Mac can take some time (and please respect copyright) if handled right, the outcome makes accessing your entertainment a great deal easier. The latest version of HandBrake introduces a live preview feature that allows you to check the quality of your rip before committing to hours of encoding too. You can also use HandBrake to convert video files into different formats.5. Spotifycame from out of nowhere and took the music lovers of Europe by storm. This is streaming music done right.

This service is free to those who can handle an advert every three songs or so. It offers a catalogue of more than 10 million songs of all genres, which stream instantly through the Spotify app.It can also link to your iTunes library so all of your favourite tracks are in one place. You can log in from multiple Macs using your Spotify account, create playlists, share music with friends and more.One of our favourite features is the innovative collaborative playlist, where your friends can add tracks over the internet for you to listen to.

If you wish, you can pay to upgrade Spotify to a premium account, at which point you become ad-free.And for £9.99 per month you can even have the same service on your iPhone with music stored for offline playback.6. VLCis one of those apps you can turn to if QuickTime and other media-playing apps won't work with a media format you want to use. Initially, you might wonder why you'll ever need this app, but if you ever stray beyond the bounds of the iTunes Store and download video from another online source, you're more than likely to encounter a problem – that is, it's not playing properly in iTunes or QuickTime.Converting the video with HandBrake is always an option, but, to be honest, using VLC is simply quicker. The app can handle DVD playback as well as more obscure formats that crop up from time to time.Files that are missing pieces or broken can still be played in VLC to the best of its ability and it provides a wealth of codecs to help your Mac handle all kinds of media file formats.VLC is an application that every Mac user should have installed for when their media won't behave.Social apps for Mac7. AddressBookSyncThe Address Book app on your Mac is great for organising contacts and syncing them to your iPhone. However, the problem is with so many contacts held, continually adding information and profile pictures can become a time-consuming task.is an ingenious tool that connects to your Facebook account to pull in your friends' birthday info as well as images from their accounts into your Mac's Address Book.

This is particularly handy for iPhone users with images appearing on screen when a contact is calling.8. AdiumThe chances are you have an account for more than one instant messaging client. With so many available from iChat to Windows Messenger through Google Chat and Yahoo!

It's not surprising.So, do you leave all of these clients open and consuming memory or do you find an all-in-one solution? If you want the latter, is your app.Compatible with more IM clients than you probably knew existed, Adium combines all your accounts into one easy-to-use solution so you can keep in touch with all your contacts regardless of the service they are using.9.

TwitterThis is the official. It was launched at the same time as the new Mac App Store, and quickly became the most popular download there. To get it you'll need to have the Mac App Store installed (which means you'll need to be running OS X 10.6 and have installed the latest system updates).Unlike other Twitter clients, Twitter offers a very OS X-friendly environment without skimping on the features you need to enjoy your 140-character fix.A particularly great feature is that you can view all tweets in a conversation simply by double-clicking on the main tweet. You can also search for trending topics and use multiple accounts within the same app.Composing a new tweet is now made far easier with the Compose window that floats outside the interface, ready for you to type your thoughts.

If you want to add an image to your tweet simply drag and drop it into the new tweet window.You can select which image hosting service you use from the Preferences pane, and also which URL-shortening service the Twitter app will use. You can also get the official Twitter app for iPad and iPhone to complete your Twitter experience wherever you are in the world.10. Skypeisn't a new service but the way it has developed over the years keeps it incredibly useful.

The premise is simple, with an internet connection and a copy of the free software installed, you can talk to anyone on Skype via audio or video chat. And you can even swap files, create conference calls or simply chat via instant messaging.For an additional fee, you can add voicemail to your account and even call mobiles and landlines if you wish.Handy utilities11. EvernoteWhatever you're doing in life there are things you need to remember, be they pictures, notes, websites or sounds. Provides a place to store your ideas, plans and reminders.Using cloud-based storage, the Mac app syncs with your iPhone and iPad, as well as any other computer to keep your notes close to hand whenever you need them. Unique search features allow you to dig out anything you've stored and it can even recognise handwritten docs.This app not only organises your notes, photos, screenshots and more, but you can add custom tags to make things easier to search.12. R-nameHave you ever had a bunch of files in a folder and then discovered you need to rename each one? For a renaming task that comprises more than ten files or more it can become a very dull and repetitive task.And that's where comes in.

It's a simple, free app that allows files and folders to be dropped in and renamed in any way you require. Ideal for photos or television series, this app will save a great deal of time.13. BurnWhile it's easy to burn a CD or DVD from within Mac OS X, brings simplicity, as well as advanced options to the task. For example, it allows you to set which file system your disc will use so Windows owners can access files.It can create audio CDs and MP3 discs, and caters for DVD, VideoCD and DivX discs.

An Inspector tool allows you to change settings on your disc such as file permissions, dates and the icon.14. Carbon Copy ClonerEveryone talks about backing up their computer files, but how many of us are committed to doing it properly?makes it easy to back up your system but to move it to another Mac or larger hard drive without having to reinstall the OS. It even offers incremental backups, which only updates files that have changed since you last ran the software.Considering this is a free application, it's an absolute powerhouse for any Mac user who wants security for their system and flexibility for their hardware.

If you’ve heard the phrase, “Once you go Mac, you never go back,” you know it holds true. Macs offer amazing features, apps, and top-notch programs supplied by Apple. However, there are loads more apps that can change the way you use your Mac each day.Whether you just bought your first Mac or you’re a dedicated Apple customer, here are the best Mac apps for 2020 that you just can’t live without. InterfaceThink of Alfred as Spotlight with a dash of Siri. It’s an application launcher, but it can do a lot more than just that.

With Alfred, you can quickly perform calculations, execute web searches, and find word definitions, among many other functions.It fills the gap between Siri and your Spotlight search by allowing you to automate tasks and perform advanced functions that, frankly, Siri should be able to handle without voice input. Version 4 improves the workflow creator, introduces rich text snippets, and more.Always a favorite, Amphetamine keeps your computer from going into sleep mode, starting the screensaver, or performing the auto-dim function.

It’s ideal for watching streams, videos, or any other activity in which you don’t touch the keyboard or mouse for an extended period.Note that Amphetamine no longer works with older versions of MacOS before Yosemite.Bartender 3 is an app made for when you’re utilizing too many apps. Put simply, it lets you choose which apps appear in the menu bar and rearrange their position to your liking. It’s a subtle tool that’s specifically designed with organization in mind, and as such, it lets you better systematize various aspects of your interface.You can also search for specific items, or move them into the optional Bartender Bar if you’re in dire need of additional space. The latest version added support for MacOS Catalina, an interface that leverages the new operating system, and the ability to navigate via your keyboard. You can choose a 4-week free trial before purchasing.Once installed, Dropzone 3 feels like an integral part of MacOS. This bare-bones app functions as a shortcut tool, meaning you can use it to quickly copy and move files, launch apps, and share content through popular services such as Facebook and Flickr.You can also upload files via FTP and Amazon S3, or shorten URLs using the newly-added Goo.gl shortener. It’s all housed within a tiny icon that sits in the menu bar.Chrome’s rich feature set, extensive ecosystem and blazing speed make it a great browser for your Mac.

Chrome is for Mac, one that also features the ability to automatically sync all your information — bookmarks, open tabs, recent searches, etc. — across multiple computers and mobile devices. That, combined with its robust customization and instant search capabilities, makes it worthwhile.As popular as Chrome is, however, it’s one of the weakest for user privacy protections, so consider that before installing.It’s not always easy to view multiple windows side by side, but Magnet gives you tons of options. The app is made for the multitasker inside all of us, and thus presents a quick way to arrange your desktop. With Magnet, you can drag and snap windows to the edges and corners of your screen, which will then lock into place. It’s a terrific tool, complete with predefined keyboard shortcuts if you want to copy content from one app to another.Unclutter is a basic piece of software that suits its name. The app is accessible with a quick swipe from the top of your screen, and, better yet, functions as a convenient place for storing quick notes, recent files, and clipboard information.Recent updates also allow for a light or dark theme (although MacOS Catalina now has a native dark mode), and include an option for dragging cards on top of other desktop windows.

Files and notes even automatically sync across your devices via Dropbox, a suitable addition that adds to the app’s lasting appeal.ProductivityTired of shelling out money each month for Adobe Photoshop but want an app that’s just as good? Affinity Photo from Serif could be just what you need. It’s a photo-editing app that’s won numerous awards from Apple (including app of the year), so you know it’s something special.Unlike Photoshop, you just pay a one-off fee of $50 and it’s yours for life. But this isn’t some cheap, hobbled software — it’s a deep, full-featured app that can stand toe-to-toe with Adobe’s image-editing behemoth. It has sister apps for graphic design and desktop publishing too, both of which are superb alternatives to Adobe’s wares.Journals are an age-old tradition — just ask Benjamin Franklin. That said, the aptly titled Day One serves as a digital companion for those looking to capture life’s little moments.

Aside from text, the app also incorporates photos, reminders, and tags, the latter of which help tremendously with staying organized. The best part? Password protection keeps potential prying eyes at bay.Day One is free to use, but for unlimited journals and photos — not to mention all future updates — you’ll want to consider the premium subscription ($35 a year).Evernote is the undisputed king of, and for good reason. It’s simple, organized intuitively, and syncs with just about any web-based service you can imagine. And since it’s one of the most popular apps in existence, there’s a veritable boatload of browser extensions and add-ons available for it as well.Evernote offers a free version that provides a slew of basic functionality, up to 60MB of uploads a month, and syncing for two machines, but if you’re a heavy user, you’ll want to opt for the premium version ($7.99 per month).Fantastical 2 is the only calendar app you’ll ever need, so long as you’re willing to shell out for it. The price grants you access to a powerful set of tools, however, as well as a full-screen calendar window that’s as beautiful as it is practical.The true hallmark of Fantastical 2 is in the way you create reminders; just type in that you have “Dinner with Alexa on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.” and watch the app schedule it with a reminder.Here’s another image editor, but this one is free. It has everything you need to replace Adobe’s monthly Photoshop subscription: Layer control, shadow effects, vector-based paths, filters, exposure, and so much more.

It even offers similar auto functions to enhance colors, equalize, and correct white balance on the fly. It’s simply one of the best Photoshop alternatives to date.GIMP is an open-source project, initially developed by two Berkeley students, that. It works alongside other open-source Adobe alternatives to create an open-source suite: (InDesign) and (Illustrator).Apple redesigned its Reminders app in MacOS Catalina., and while it’s a definite improvement over its lackluster predecessor, it still feels only halfway there. Instead, Apple should take some pointers from GoodTask — it’s the best reminders app out there, bar none.If you just need to quickly create entries, GoodTask gets out of your way and lets you do that. But it comes alive when you start to use its power features.

You can make smart lists based on specified criteria, add new reminders using text snippets that GoodTask intuitively understands, and everything from the calendar view to almost every function can be tweaked to your liking.Hazel is an organization app with a great twist: You create your own rules for how the app recognizes, sorts, and moves all your files or downloads. This allows for incredibly flexible file management, whether you want to sort out a particular type of file, apply names and tags automatically, or apply other strict rule sets to every file, folder, and download on your computer.It’s an excellent work app, great for home finances, and generally usable in all kinds of scenarios. However, it may take some time to set up all the rules you want for file management, so Hazel’s more friendly for hands-on organizers. It costs $32, though you can get a family five-pack for $49.Having to is a fact of life, and PDF Expert makes that task a little easier.

Not only does the minimalist software allow you to fill out forms and merge PDFs, but it also grants you a host of tools for editing, annotating, and signing files on the fly. Moreover, it’s compatible with Apple’s Continuity and Handoff features, so you can swap devices while in the middle of a document without fear of losing your work.Mac users have access to a vast selection of excellent photo-editing apps, but even against its many competitors, Pixelmator stands out as one of the best. It boasts a massive list of powerful features and is currently one of the fastest apps in the entire photo-editing space.As the name might imply, Pocket is a tool that lets you “pocket” articles, videos, and web pages for later viewing. It essentially consolidates all the content in a simple, easy-to-use interface that’s also accessible offline.The app is perfect for sharing your favorite stuff among friends or for stowing interesting articles you may encounter on your evening commute, which you can then pull up on the big screen with their accompanying text, pictures, and links when you get home. Pocket is free to use, but if you want enhanced search capabilities and an ad-free experience, then you’ll want to take advantage of the premium subscription ($5 per month or $45 per year).Google Reader may be dead and gone, but a proper RSS reader is still a must. Thankfully, Reeder 3 is one of the best around. The desktop application sports a gorgeous finish that perfectly compliments MacOS’s semi-transparent panes, along with shared extensions, a private browsing mode, and support for most RSS services (Feedly, Feedbin, Fever, etc.).

Themes, gesture controls, and a host of customization options also come as standard.Apple’s Mail app is fine, but we wouldn’t go much beyond that. Spark is great, however, and shows what’s possible in an email app.

Its stated aim is to let you “Take control of your inbox”, and it achieves this in several clever and thoughtful ways.Important emails from people you know are automatically floated to the top, ensuring they don’t get bogged down in a sea of newsletters and spam. You’ll only get notified about mail from your contacts, helping you cut out distractions, while its excellent collaborative tools are great for teamwork. Best of all, it’s free.Things 3 is a brilliant MacOS to-do list and task management app. Thanks to a full redesign, Things is more useful than ever, connecting to your tasks and Calendar in a seamless interface. You can add descriptions, checklists, upcoming tasks, evening-only tasks, automated reminders, and a lot of other unique task features. If you want to invest in a high-end task management app for Mac, Things is worth the price.

However, there is a free trial available if you don’t want to pay right away.Don’t let Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Wunderlist fool you — it’s still a phenomenal tool for MacOS, even without the premium feature set. The sleek app helps with creating to-do lists, each of which comes with customized due dates, reminders, and everything else you need to stay on schedule.The software also allows for collaborative lists, syncs your content across devices, and features the ability to save web pages and other content for later viewing (much like Pocket).Entertainment and socialYes, DVD ripping is still a thing in the age of digital distribution. That said, HandBrake shines when it comes to converting media files and encoding videos, especially when you factor in how quick and effortless the open-source software makes the process.The well-known app also comes with a plethora of video-editing tools designed for splicing, adjusting framerate, and adding subtitles, among a laundry list of other useful actions that come second to its optimization presets.Honestly, who still shops in brick-and-mortar stores anymore? Parcel is aimed at the online shopping aficionado, rendering it ideal for anyone who’s constantly expecting a package at their doorstep.The tracking app works with more than 250 services — including mainstays such as UPS, USPS, and FedEx — allowing you to see where your packages are at a glance with little more than a tracking number. Push notifications and Spotlight integration are just an added plus.Slack is an all-purpose messaging client that has recently taken office productivity and discussion to an entirely new level.The service’s attractive desktop app features all the tools available in the browser-based version of Slack — i.e., private channels, Giphy integration, and themes — along with better control over notifications and increased support for multiple teams.Apple Music isn’t for everyone. Fortunately, Spotify’s official desktop app represents the perfect alternative for those looking to branch out beyond the Apple ecosystem.

It gives you access to the entire Spotify catalog much like its mobile counterpart, letting you search and listen to nearly any track, artist, or album free of charge.You can also use it to build custom playlists or capitalize on personal recommendations that span jazz, hip hop, rock, and everything in between.Solid BitTorrent clients are few and far between, but Transmission ranks among the best. The lightweight app excels when it comes to download speed, and blends seamlessly with MacOS. It’s not the most robust client, but it’s easily the best choice for MacOS on account of its reliability and no-nonsense approach to torrent downloads.It’s fast, lightweight, and makes life a little easier by simply getting out of your way. Transmission did have a security breach in 2016 so make sure you only download the most recent version (2.94 or above) directly from the Transmission Project.Tweetbot 3 is for the power user who’d rather skip the official Twitter app for Mac in favor of something more capable.Like the last-gen version of the software, the newest iteration presents you with multiple columns and windows, along with tools to mute users, hashtags, and specific keywords.

It also supports third-party apps such as Bitly and Paper, and showcases a streamlined interface that pairs perfectly with the latest MacOS look.The VLC media player is better than Quicktime in nearly every facet that matters, most notably speed and file compatibility.The open-source software supports pretty much every media file you can muster, from AAC to Theora, while offering speedy video conversion, extensive subtitle support, and a host of video filters that let you crop, de-lace, and customize playback. The intuitive interface isn’t half bad, either.Security and storageHate trying to remember every single password for every account you have? 1Password is a fantastic password manager that secures them in a fully encrypted vault, which you then access via a master password. For teams, 1Password charges $3 per month when billed annually, while the 1Password Families plan covers five individuals for $5 per month when billed annually. There’s a plan for teams, too, costing $4 per month per user.Carbon Copy Cloner is a backup app that’s super simple to use.

It’s the type of app we hope you never have to use, but when disaster strikes, you’ll be glad you’ve got it.One of its best features is the ability to create bootable backups of your startup disk. That means if your main drive fails and you can’t power on your Mac, you can boot from your backup and get on with your work. It’s a real lifesaver.You can also back up your files and data to an external hard drive or another Mac, then restore everything with a few clicks. Simcopter for mac.

After your first big backup, it’ll only back up files that have been updated, saving you space.There are several, and Dropbox is one that makes syncing files quick and painless. The desktop app works much like the software’s web and mobile counterparts, giving you access to your files and folders while offering you the ability to upload photos, videos, and various documents directly from your desktop.You’ll receive 2GB of free storage just for signing up, but you can earn more by you inviting friends or connecting to Dropbox through the usual social media channels.Chances are that you know the merits of Google Drive. However, you might not be aware that you can work on your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations offline when you can’t access the internet.Google’s desktop app gives you quick access to all your files and folders much like the software’s mobile counterpart, providing you with a dedicated folder where you can sync up to 15GB worth of content — assuming you haven’t paid for extra storage.

Google Drive can back up your entire drive if desired.Little Snitch 4 is a permissions blocker that lets you control all of your incoming and outgoing connections. If you’ve got an app that you don’t want connecting to the internet, the software can block it on your behalf. You can set it to block a single instance, until you quit a particular app, or forever. It’s great for control freaks like us who prefer to know everything our Mac is doing.If you consistently shift between MacOS and Windows, moving files between the two can be a pain. That’s where OneDrive comes into play, as the service is integrated into Windows and the default cloud service for the platform.

With OneDrive installed on your Mac, you can synchronize files between the two with ease, allowing you to open images, documents, and more on either device without any additional effort on your part.If you already subscribe to Microsoft 365, you get up to 6TB of OneDrive storage (or 1TB per user). That means you don’t need to pay for Apple’s iCloud if you need more than the free 5GB.The native apps in MacOS can’t do it all, especially when you’re dealing with compressed or archived files. Thankfully, the Unarchiver can handle nearly any format you can throw at it, whether you’re working with RAR files or older formats such as StuffIt, ARC, or Tar.The software also doesn’t require you to open a separate app, so you can access your files with a simple click in Finder.Editors' Recommendations.