macOS apps I use as an internet generalist

• December 25, 2025 at 23:54 IST
• macos
• tool

As an internet generalist, I use very limited apps on my Macbook Air M2, and here's the entire list of apps that are installed. I will list everything, but add links only to the uncommon ones.

Not to mention, most of these apps are completely free to use.

1. VS Code: Mostly for taking plaintext notes, and writing posts for deepakness.com
2. Cursor: IDE for coding, use less these days
3. Antigravity: Google's IDE for coding, use a lot these days
4. Google Chrome: The browser
5. Helium browser: Mostly use this browser, best alternative for the Brave browser
6. Brave browser: Used this as the main browser for years, feels very cluttered now, but still have this installed
7. Handy.computer: The best offline speech-to-text app, uses local LLMs
8. Caffeine: Menubar app to prevent your computer from sleeping
9. AlDente: Prevent your device from charging over certain percentage
10. Shottr: The best screenshotting tool, have also bought the license for this (unlocks some extra features)
11. Cryptomator: For encrypting some folders with password
12. DB Browser for SQLite: Sometimes use SQLite for simple local projects, so the app helps a lot
13. Docker: Rarely use it, but using it for locally running a Screaming Frog alternative tool called SEOnaut
14. Ice: For hiding too many menu bar items under a small dot
15. Localsend: For sending files from my Macbook to Google Pixel 7, and vice versa
16. LM Studio: For running some local LLMs, sometimes
17. Ollama: Again for running local LLMs, but occasionally
18. Maccy: The ultimate clipboard manager, haven't used any other, but love it
19. NetNewsWire: The best RSS feed reader for my device
20. OnlyOffice: The best office suite, free, and compatible with MS Office
21. Obsidian: Used to use it a lot, now not a lot (mostly use VS Code itslef for taking notes)
22. Screen Studio: For recording myself and my computer screen when explaining something, all my YouTube videos are recorded using this app
23. Signal: For communicating with just one friend who uses Signal
24. Telegram: For communicating with my colleagues, especially with Bikash
25. Transmission: The simplest torrent client, that I only need sometimes
26. VLC: The best video or rather the best media player
27. Dropbox: Sometimes use it for saving things that I don't ever want deleted
28. WhatsApp: Rarely use it, for communicating with a few people

That's it.

And hopefully I will keep updating this list in the future.

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