What are the top Mac apps every power user needs in 2025?

You don’t need dozens of apps, just the right ones. Whether you’re a creator, developer, or productivity junky, these carefully chosen tools streamline workflows, boost creativity, and keep your Mac organized.

Many are available through Setapp, giving you a full suite for the price of one. I’ll show you the must-have Mac apps in 2025 you should try right now.

Top Mac apps every power user should try in 2025

As a power user in 2025, you should run with apps that shave minutes off repetitive tasks, free up your mental space, and support your workflow with productivity guardrails. 

These apps check all the boxes.

Hookmark: Link up documents, web pages, emails, and app pages  

Had enough with hunting on Finder and browser tabs each time to pick up on research or pending downloads? Hookmark gathers your resources at your feet, with on-demand access in just a few clicks.

Power users can embed:

• Research sources
• Drafts
• Media files
• Custom shortcuts 

All into one easy-going control booth. You can create dedicated resource networks for any line of activity. 

Available on Setapp? Yes.

One Switch: A convenient, unintrusive system-wide control panel 

Stop digging through your System Settings and app menus every time you want to tweak settings. One Switch can access macOS features fast, and its  all-inclusive dashboard lets you:

• Switch Bluetooth
• Switch audio inputs
• Hide desktop icons
• Keep your Mac awake

Available on Setapp? Yes.

TypingMind: Localized ChatGPT-like AI

TypingMind brings a local ChatGPT-like interface to your Mac. You can build repeatable AI processes with features like:

• Custom prompts
• History 
• Offline storage
• Plus more

Available on Setapp? Yes.

Craft: A sleek, multipurpose note-taker

Craft’s beautiful design and fluid organization create an environment that nurtures ideation. Users can create visually appealing reports and polished write-ups. The speed and aesthetics make it pleasurable to organize thoughts in writing.

Craft can:

• Nest pages, sections, and links to structure notes
• Embed images, videos, PDFs, and more
• Keep your notes up to date across Mac, iPhone, and iPad

Available on Setapp? Yes.

Lungo: Handy power settings to prevent sleep mode disruptions 

Long renders, uploads, and downloads can cause your Mac to go to sleep before the process finishes, interrupting your work. Lungo prevents this by keeping your system awake for a set time. 

It runs quietly in the background, using minimal resources, so you can start a long task without worrying about interruptions. You set the duration, and Lungo ensures your Mac stays active until the task is complete.

Lungo lets you:

• Keep your Mac awake for a custom duration
• Run silently in the background
• Quickly start or stop the timer from the menu bar

Available on Setapp? Yes.

Session: An accountability buddy for deep work hours

Session combines time management features like time-blocking and focus tracking in one beautiful, lightweight outfit. 

Session can:

• Plan focused work sessions and breaks
• Monitor your concentration
• Review past work blocks to identify patterns

Available on Setapp? Yes.

Timing: A simple time tracker with eye-opening reports

Timing works silently in the background, watching intently as you use apps, files, and websites. By the end of the day, it produces thoughtful reports that reflect on current productivity limits, with customized advice on how to improve your results.

The Timing’s features:

• Records time spent in apps, documents, and websites
• Visualizes where your time goes.
• Sets targets and gets reminders

Available on Setapp? Yes.

CleanMyMac: For maintaining a lean, lightning-fast system

CleanMyMac is the maintenance app every power Mac user should have. You can use it to identify and remove unnecessary junk files, manage large batches of documents and media, optimize system performance, and protect your Mac from malware or other threats.

Use it to:

• Remove caches, logs, and leftover app data
• Quickly locate and organize or delete bulky files
• Improve system responsiveness
• Keep your Mac safe from malicious software

Available on Setapp? Yes.

Bartender: Hide, rearrange, or group desktop icons

Bartender helps you tame menu bar clutter and desktop distractions so you can focus on what matters. It gives you control over which icons are visible, lets you group and rearrange them, and keeps your workspace clean during deep work sessions. 

 

The result: a calmer, more organized interface that enhances productivity.

With Bartender, you can:

• Keep rarely used menu bar items out of sight
• Organize icons in a way that fits your workflow
• Access hidden icons instantly 

Available on Setapp? Yes.

iStat Menus: Track your system’s health right from your desktop

iStat Menus gives you real-time insights into your Mac’s performance, right from the menu bar. You can keep an eye on CPU and memory usage, temperature, battery health, network activity, and more, so you can spot potential issues before they affect your workflow.

The app lets you:

• Track CPU, GPU, memory, disk usage, and temperatures in real time
• Monitor network activity, Wi-Fi performance, and battery health
• Get notifications when system metrics exceed safe or desired levels

Available on Setapp? Yes.

How do these apps work together to power your Mac workflow?

Each app boosts productivity on its own, but together, the impact is exponential. Bartender keeps your menu bar tidy, so iStat Menus’ system stats are easy to spot.

Think in terms of a toolkit. These are truly apps every Mac user should install to reduce friction, stay focused, and get more done.

Why is it so hard to find the right Mac apps in 2025?         

Finding great Mac apps feels impossible:

• The App Store favors marketing over real usefulness
• Review sites are biased or fake
• Testing apps yourself wastes hours. 

Power users, like me, need tools that actually work, integrate smoothly, and don’t hog resources. Apps you can actually plug in and benefit from immediately.

What makes an app great for power users?

The best apps combine performance, customization, and seamless integration to keep the power user workflow smooth.

Here’s an overview of features based on recommended Mac utilities.

High performance

Power-user apps launch fast, respond instantly, and run quietly without draining the CPU or battery. Tools like CleanShot X and iStat Menus deliver instant results without slowing your system, making them essential Mac productivity tools in 2025.

Deep customization

Great apps adapt to you. Supercharge, for example, lets you automate almost anything on your Mac with an easy learning curve.

Smooth integration

No app lives in isolation. Power users hop between email, cloud storage, media suites, and project organizers. The right apps play nicely together, reducing friction in your workflow.

Lightweight and distraction-free UI

Power users don’t need constant notifications or flashy interfaces. Lightweight, minimal apps with smart syncing and customizable flows keep you focused on work, not the tool.

Can I get most of these apps in one place? (Hint: Yes)

Assembling a power-user toolkit can get messy; juggling trials, subscriptions, and half-used apps is exhausting. Setapp solves this by bundling 250+ premium Mac, iOS, and web tools, letting you access top Mac apps for power users with a single subscription.

Benefits include:

• Everything you need in one place
• Try apps freely with no hidden costs or security worries
• Instant access to full features and updates

If you’re a power user who needs a reliable app bundle, you can try Setapp for 7 days for free before committing. All apps, including their premium versions, are available during the trial period.