The 25 best Setapp apps for Mac in 2025

Users often describe Setapp as the "Netflix of Mac apps," which is a pretty great way to put it.  250+ really high-quality Mac, iOS, and web apps.  And the best part? You can access every single one of them through just one subscription. 

In this article, I want to walk you through the 25 best Setapp apps you can get your hands on as a Mac user in 2025. 

Let’s get right into it.

Best productivity apps on Setapp

When we start talking about giving your workflow a serious boost, there are very few platforms out there that can even come close to the power that Setapp gives you. Let me share some of the standout productivity apps from the Setapp collection that I not only recommend but also personally use myself.

Ulysses: A minimalist, distraction-free writing app for Mac

Ulysses is, without a doubt, one of the most elegant and completely distraction-free writing tools that you can find for macOS.  It was designed from the ground up with writers at the forefront of the mind.  

What Ulysses does: 

• Strips away all of the unnecessary clutter (all the buttons and menus you don't need.
• Presents you with a clean, minimalist interface.
• Lets you focus on one thing only: your words. 

Getting Ulysses outside of Setapp can be a bit costly. That fact alone makes it a fantastic value to include as part of your subscription.

Craft: Powerful Notion alternative for structured docs and team collaboration

I've personally used Craft quite extensively, and here's my take: while Notion is fantastic for general-purpose notes and for creating databases, Craft really excels when it comes to creating structured documents and collaborating with a team.

What Craft does:

• Lets you create beautifully structured documents with nested pages and rich media.
• Enables real-time collaboration with built-in comments and sharing tools.

There's one thing about Craft that I truly appreciate, and that’s its built-in version control.  It will automatically save all the changes you make, and it lets you roll back to a previous version of your document if you ever need to. 

Want to know more? Read this Craft vs. Notion guide.

NotePlan: Flexible markdown note-taking app

For those of you who might prefer a more traditional approach to taking notes, and especially if you're a fan of methods like time-blocking or GTD-style task management, then NotePlan is an app you absolutely must have.  

What NotePlan does:

• Combines note-taking that's based on markdown with full calendar integration.
• Allows you to visually plan out your entire day.
• Keeps a perfect track of all your tasks and deadlines.

I just love how incredibly flexible NotePlan is. It’s really the ideal tool for people who are looking for a note-taking solution that is lightweight but still very powerful, and one that doesn't come with a steep learning curve.

BetterTouchTool: Customized Mac gestures and everyday tasks automation

BetterTouchTool is hands-down one of my personal go-to apps for customizing all of the gestures on macOS and for automating tasks that I have to do over and over again.  It doesn't matter if you're a designer, a developer, or just a power user who wants more control.  This app gives you the power to really tailor your Mac experience so that it fits your specific workflow perfectly.

What BetterTouchTool does:

• Links to common activities I do every day to fast actions (launching certain applications, toggling between my open windows, and lowering the screen brightness).
• Customizes trackpad, mouse, and keyboard shortcuts to fit your exact workflow.
• Creates advanced automations and triggers for repetitive tasks, saving time and clicks.

Especially if you spend a lot of time working on your Mac, this is a really valuable tool, and I believe it's worth every penny.

Focus: Mac app for blocking distractions and improving concentration

During your work hours, do you sometimes have trouble concentrating? If you're nodding your head yes, then Focus is the app designed just for you. Over the years, I've used many different productivity tools, but I can honestly say that none of them have kept me on task quite like Focus does.

What Focus does:

• Lets you block distracting websites, other programs, and even alerts. 
• Configures custom focus sessions with particular lengths.
• Runs progress reports on your level of output. 

When I am in a serious work session and must resist the lure of social media or the distraction of emails, I find it to be particularly helpful.

Best utility and maintenance apps on Setapp

You know, one of the most underrated, yet absolutely essential, parts of owning a Mac is the task of keeping it clean, well-organized, and running at its peak performance. This is an area where Setapp truly shines.  It offers some of the very best utility and maintenance apps out there, and I’ve personally used these to keep my own Mac in perfect, top shape.

CleanMyMac: Comprehensive Mac maintenance and optimization tool

Have you ever found yourself struggling to free up disk space on your Mac?  Or maybe you've tried to manage the items that launch at startup, or you've wanted to clean up your system without taking the risk of losing important data.  If any of that sounds familiar, then CleanMyMac is the app for you.  This is easily one of the most popular and powerful maintenance tools that you can get for macOS. 

What CleanMyMac does:

• Frees up disk space by removing system junk, temporary files, and unused cache.
• Cleans up cloud storage with the new Cloud Cleanup feature.
• Manages launch items to speed up startup and improve performance.
• Uninstalls apps completely, removing all hidden files and leftovers.
• Protects your Mac from malware, adware, and other security threats.

For anyone out there who wants to maintain the performance of their Mac without having to learn and type a bunch of Terminal commands, this app is an absolute must-have.

iStat Menus: Real-time Mac performance monitoring tool

As someone who spends a great deal of my day on my Mac, I'm the kind of person who always wants to know exactly what is going on under the hood.  I want to see the performance in real-time.  And that is precisely why iStat Menus has become one of my all-time favorite tools.

What iStat Menus does:

• Adds real-time monitoring widgets directly into your menu bar at the top of the screen.
• Shows you everything from your current CPU and RAM usage to your disk activity, your network speed, and even the temperature levels of your internal components.  

It is an incredibly useful tool for power users, developers, and creative professionals who often run applications that use up a lot of system resources.

Unclutter: Mac app for organizing notes, files, and clipboard history

Most of us have some amount of clutter on our desktops.  It's almost unavoidable. Unclutter is the digital decluttering tool that I always turn to when things on my own desktop start to get a little bit messy.  

What Unclutter does:

• Gives you a special, dedicated space where you can store your quick notes.
• Has drop zones for your files.
• Keeps a history of your clipboard.

And all of this is accessible right from your menu bar.

ForkLift: Dual-pane file manager with server and cloud support

While the built-in Finder app is great for most basic file management, it often starts to fall short when you find yourself working with servers, with cloud storage, or with really complex file structures.  And that is exactly where an app like ForkLift comes into the picture.  As a dual-pane file manager that has built-in support for SFTP, it is an absolute game-changer for developers, for designers, and really for anyone who has to deal with remote servers or needs advanced ways to organize their files.

What ForkLift does:

• Syncs local projects with staging environments.
• Transfers files between different devices.
• Batch-renames and converts files.

Best creativity and media apps on Setapp

It doesn't matter if you're a professional photographer, a video editor, a graphic designer, or maybe just someone who genuinely enjoys creating content in your spare time.  Setapp offers a whole suite of powerful applications that are designed to make the process of media creation much easier and far more efficient.

Luminar Neo: AI-powered photo editor with full creative control

Luminar Neo is, without doubt, one of the most useful tools you'll come across in Setapp when we start talking about the realm of photo editing. It's very different from typical editing programs, which usually mean manual adjustment of every single little setting. 

What Luminar Neo does:

• Utilizes AI to automatically improve your images, but it does this while still giving you full and complete control over the final result.
• Provides advanced editing tools for adjusting color, light, and composition with precision.
• Offers creative filters and templates that speed up workflows, giving professional-quality results.

I have used Luminar Neo extensively myself, for both casual photography and for professional work, and I can tell you that the results it produces are consistently outstanding.

Downie: Mac app for downloading videos from hundreds of websites

I'm sure we've all been there.  There are times when I'll come across a great YouTube tutorial, or an important presentation on Vimeo, or maybe even just a clip from Netflix that I really want to save locally so I can watch it when I'm offline.

That is the exact moment when Downie becomes an invaluable tool. This simple little app allows you to download videos from hundreds of different websites with just a few clicks of your mouse.

What Downie does:

• Saves videos in multiple formats and 4K resolutions.
• Lets you download videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, and over 1,200 other websites.
• Organizes downloaded files for easy access and management on your Mac.

Permute: Versatile file converter for video, audio, and images

We all occasionally need to change the format of a video file. That’s the perfect time for Permute to step in. This is a great tool that lets you swiftly convert video, music, and even image files. It does this by using a variety of presets that fit particular devices and platforms. 

What Permute does:

• Converts video, audio, and image files quickly and efficiently.
• Offers device- and platform-specific presets for easy formatting.
• Supports batch processing.

Particularly when I'm getting videos ready to send to clients or when I'm adjusting media for web distribution, I often use Permute.

Sip: Color picker and palette manager

For designers and developers, we all know that color is absolutely everything. Sip is a really simple but very helpful tool that lets you pick, arrange, and share all of your colors totally effortlessly. Whether you're building a mobile app's user interface, creating branding materials, or creating a website, it doesn't matter. 

What Sip does:

• Lets you pick colors from anywhere on your screen with precision.
• Organizes and manages color palettes for projects.
• Shares colors and palettes with teammates or across devices.
• Integrates with design tools and workflows.

Sip provides the accurate control you want over every color palette.

Best workflow and time management Apps

Time. It is one of the most valuable resources that any of us has. That is exactly why I personally rely on Setapp’s fantastic collection of workflow and time management applications.  They help me stay focused, they keep me productive, and they make sure I stay on track with my goals.

Timing: Automatic time-tracking app for freelancers, consultants, and teams

If you happen to be a freelancer, or a consultant, or if you're part of a team that has to bill your clients by the hour, then Timing is an absolutely indispensable tool.  It's very different from manual time tracking apps that make you remember to click a button to start and stop a timer.  Instead, Timing works automatically to track the time that you spend on every single project, document, or task.

What Timing does:

• Automatically tracks time spent on projects, documents, and tasks without manual input.
• Provides detailed reports and analytics to understand productivity and bill clients accurately.
• Categorizes work by project, client, or task.
• Helps identify time sinks and optimize workflows.

I have been using it for years now, and I can tell you it has saved me countless hours of having to do manual logging and trying to guess where my time went.

Nitro PDF Pro: Versatile PDF editing and management tool

Nitro PDF Pro is my go-to for handling PDFs. I edit, sign, and annotate documents all the time, and it’s super intuitive. I love how I can fill out forms or mark up contracts without printing anything. It’s like having a digital pen that works perfectly. I also convert scans into editable text, which saves me from retyping stuff. Sharing signed PDFs with clients is a breeze, too. 

What Nitro PDF Pro does:

• Converts scanned documents into editable text for easy updates and reuse.
• Fills out forms and manages contracts efficiently.
• Shares PDFs with clients or teammates.

It feels like it takes the stress out of paperwork, and I get things done faster without the usual PDF headaches.

Session: Minimalist Pomodoro timer for focused work

For those times when I need to do some deep work, I turn to Session. This is a minimalist timer app based on the Pomodoro technique. It will block distracting apps and websites during your focus periods. It’s inspired by the classic Pomodoro technique, where you work for a solid 25 minutes and then take a short 5-minute break.

What Session does:

• Blocks distracting apps and websites during focus sessions to minimize interruptions.
• Provides a simple, clean interface with no complicated settings or dashboards.
• Helps improve productivity and sustain concentration over longer work periods.

What I really love about Session is just how simple it is.  There are no complicated settings to figure out or dashboards to navigate.  All you get is a clean and simple interface that tells you exactly when you should be working and when it's time for you to rest.

Best security, cloud, and backup apps

In the digital world, we all live in today, things like security and protecting our data are more important than they have ever been. Below are the best Setapp apps that are designed to help you safeguard all of your information and allow you to stay productive with complete peace of mind.

ClearVPN: Smart, secure, and location-optimized online protection

As someone who travels quite frequently and works remotely from different locations, I have come to rely on ClearVPN to keep my internet connection both secure and private.  

What ClearVPN does:

• Encrypts all of your internet traffic.
• Hides your IP address.
• Allows you to bypass regional restrictions you find on many streaming services.

But what really sets ClearVPN apart from the other VPNs is its Optimal location feature. This feature automatically connects you to the server that is both the fastest and the most secure, based on your current location.

Dropshare: Secure file-sharing app with personal cloud storage

Whenever I find myself needing to quickly share some files with my colleagues, or with my clients, or even just with friends, Dropshare is my absolute go-to solution.  

What Dropshare does:

• Uploads files to your own personal cloud storage.
• Generates secure, shareable links.
• Links can be set to expire after a certain period of time.

I use Dropshare for pretty much everything, from sending design mockups to a client to sharing PDF reports with my team.  It is incredibly fast and very reliable.

Bonus apps worth mentioning in 2025

You know, Setapp is just packed with so many fantastic apps that it was honestly really hard to narrow this list down to just 25 best Setapp apps.  But I have to share a few more with you that didn't fit neatly into one of the previous categories but are still absolutely worth mentioning because of the unique value they bring to the table.

Swish: Mac window management tool with gesture-based controls

If you're a serious multitasker, Swish is a fantastic window management tool you'll love. It lets you control the layout of your screen using simple gestures on your trackpad.

What Swish does:

• Enables smooth switching between full-screen and split-screen apps.
• Enhances productivity for power users who manage multiple apps and windows simultaneously.

I use it all the time to snap my windows into a specific place, resize them really quickly, and switch between my full-screen apps without ever disrupting my workflow.

Paste: Powerful clipboard manager for Mac

I honestly can't even tell you how many times I have completely forgotten what the last thing I copied was, or at least, that used to happen until I started using Paste.  This is a really powerful clipboard manager that keeps a running history of absolutely everything you copy.  That includes text, images, and even snippets of code. 

What Paste does:

• Keeps a searchable history of everything you copy, including text, images, and code snippets.
• Allows quick access and re-use of past clipboard items without overwriting the current copy.
• Supports organizing copied items into pinboards for easy reference.
• Syncs clipboard history across devices.

It doesn't matter if I'm coding, writing, or just copying and pasting links all day.  It speeds up my workflow in a dramatic way.  It is definitely one of those "why didn't I discover this sooner?" kinds of apps.

MindNode Classic: Elegant mind mapping tool for visual thinkers

Whenever I have the need to brainstorm some new ideas, plan out a new project, or just visualize the connections between different concepts, MindNode Classic is the go-to tool that I always open. 

What MindNode Classic does:

• Lets you create these beautiful diagrams with the simple ease of dragging and dropping.
• Supports collaboration, so you can share your mind maps with other people in real time.  

If you're a visual thinker, or if you just love the idea of diagramming your thoughts, then MindNode Classic is an app you absolutely have to try.

Bartender: Smart organizer for a clutter-free Mac menu bar

I love using Bartender to keep my Mac’s menu bar neat. It’s like tidying up a cluttered desk. 

What Bartender does:

• Hides apps I don’t need right now, like those pesky cloud sync icons, and only shows them when I want
• Saves from distractions while working.
• Lets you set up hotkeys to quickly access stuff.
• Changes layouts when I plug in my external monitor.

It feels seamless, like it knows my workflow. Honestly, it’s a small app, but it makes my screen feel calmer and my day a bit smoother.

PDF Search: Lightning-fast keyword search across all your PDF documents

PDF Search is a game-changer for me when I’m digging through documents. I have tons of PDFs — work reports, study notes — and this app finds exactly what I need fast. I just type a keyword, and it scans everything, even scanned files. It’s like having a super-smart librarian. 

What PDF Search does:

• Searches through all your PDFs instantly, including scanned documents with OCR.
• Highlights keywords and shows context previews so you can spot the right section fast.
• Lets you organize and filter results to pinpoint exactly what you need.

I don’t waste time opening random files anymore. The previews are handy too; I see the context right away. It saves me so much hassle, especially when deadlines are tight, and I feel more organized without even trying.

Pro tip: Searching PDFs is fine, but we also need to print them all the time. Check out our guide on how to print a document on Mac.

Novabench: Quick and easy benchmarking for your Mac’s performance

I use Novabench to check how my Mac is holding up. It’s like a health check-up for my computer. I run tests on my CPU, GPU, and RAM, and it gives me clear scores. I love comparing my results with other users online—it’s satisfying to see where my system stands. It helped me figure out I needed more RAM for video editing. The stress test is cool too; it makes sure everything’s stable. It’s simple to use, and I feel smarter about my tech without being a geek.

What Novabench does:

• Runs CPU, GPU, RAM, and disk speed tests to measure overall system performance.
• Provides clear benchmark scores and lets you compare results online with other users.
• Includes stress tests to check system stability under heavy load.

Soulver: Smart notepad calculator for everyday math

 Soulver is like my personal math buddy. I use it for quick calculations, like budgeting or splitting bills with friends. It’s not just a calculator; I can type out problems in plain English, and it figures it out. I love how it keeps my calculations in a notebook, so I can go back and check my work. 

What Soulver does:

• Lets you type calculations in natural language for quick, intuitive results.
• Keeps a running notebook of all your calculations for easy reference.
• Handles currency conversions, percentages, and unit calculations.

It’s great for planning trips or tracking expenses. It feels like chatting with a friend who’s great at numbers, and it makes math less scary and way more fun for me.

How did I choose these apps?

As someone who has been a Mac user for a very long time and a genuine software enthusiast, I can tell you I’ve tried more apps over the years than I can even count.  Through all that trial and error, I’ve managed to develop a pretty strong sense of what it is that makes an app genuinely useful and, more importantly, worth recommending to other people. 

Here’s how I picked the apps:

• The very first, and I would say the most important, criterion I used was the app's popularity among actual users.
• Next up, I took a hard look at the retail value of these best Setapp apps.
• Another factor I considered was the app's utility and relevance to the kinds of workflows people will have in 2025.
• And lastly, I made absolutely sure to include a diverse mix of different app categories.

With all of those criteria guiding my choices, I’ve put together a list of the 25 best Setapp apps that I genuinely believe every single Mac user should be thinking about in 2025.

If you're concerned about security, here’s a detailed overview of Setapp's security features.

Cost savings: Why Setapp is a better deal in 2025

Many of these individual apps would cost you hundreds of dollars if you were to go and buy them one by one. Setapp, on the other hand, gives you access to all of those apps (and so many more!) for just an affordable monthly fee + tax. That is not only a massive amount of cost savings, but it's also a huge boost in convenience. 

Instead of having to manage a whole bunch of different subscriptions, keep track of updates, and deal with all the licenses, you get everything you need in one single, simple package.

And you have to remember, it includes over 250 best Setapp apps for Mac, iOS, and web in its collection.  So the value you get doesn't just stop with the ones that I've listed here.

Try the best Setapp apps today

If you are a Mac user, there is really no better time than right now to go and explore the best Setapp apps and see for yourself how they can completely transform your workflow.

I have been using Setapp myself for years now, and I can say with full confidence that it is one of the single best investments I have ever made as a Mac user. So, why not just give it a try?  Setapp actually offers a 7-day free trial, so you can take all of these best Setapp apps, like CleanMyMac, Ulysses, ClearVPN, and Luminar Neo for a test drive and see for yourself which ones are going to work the best for you.  I think that once you've had a chance to experience the value that it offers firsthand, you're going to agree with me — Setapp is a total game-changer for Mac users in 2025 and for the years beyond.

And if you want apps for iOS, check out our guide on the best iOS apps.