I’ve been using MacOS for over ten years. If an app is good, I’ll recommend it — And if it’s bad, I’ll call it out.
Here are six apps I’m actively using right now. (Prices may change over time!)
1) Alcove — A Clean Notch
What it does: Turns the MacBook notch area into a useful space (widgets / quick info) without feeling gimmicky.
Why I recommend it: It gives the notch a purpose and reduces tiny distractions by putting glanceable info where your eyes already go.
Price: $14.99
Website: https://tryalcove.com/
2) LaunchOS — Make MacOS 26 Launcher Great Again
What it does: A quick launcher for apps, files, and actions, so you can keep your hands on the keyboard.
Why I recommend it: As everyone knows, macOS 26 removed the iconic Launcher app and replaced it with an APP app that’s extremely hard to use, sluggish, and takes over 10 seconds to index every time before you can use it. It feels like a half-finished product. LaunchOS perfectly addresses most of the problems with the new official Launcher — It’s smoother, more efficient, and a lifesaver for users on the latest MacOS.
Price: $11.99
Website: https://launchosapp.com/
3) CleanShot X — All In One
What it does: Screenshot + screen recording toolkit with annotations, scrolling capture, quick edits, and more.
Why I recommend it: If you take screenshots often (work, studying), this becomes one of those ‘how did I live without this?’ apps.
Price: $29
Website: https://cleanshot.com/
4) CleanMyMac X — Best System Cleanup
What it does: Helps manage storage, remove junk, uninstall apps cleanly, and run basic maintenance tasks.
Why I recommend it: I like having one place to do ‘housekeeping’ instead of manually digging through folders and leftovers.
Price: $196
Website: https://cleanmymac.com/
5) BuhoBarX — A Cleaner Menu Bar
What it does: Helps you organize and hide menu bar icons so your top bar stays clean, readable, and distraction-free.
Why I recommend it: It feels lightweight and ‘just works’ — no lag, no weird glitches, and it keeps everything tidy without getting in the way.
Better or Worse: I tried Bartender 6, and the optimization was painful. After switching to BuhoBar, everything felt smooth again — like waking up from a bad dream.
Price: $10
Website: https://www.drbuho.com/buhobarx
6) RunCat — Tiny Pet, Real Value
What it does: A small running cat in your menu bar that reacts to CPU usage.
Why I recommend it: It’s a fun, low-effort way to ‘feel’ when your Mac is working hard — and it makes monitoring less boring.
Price: Free
Website: https://kyome.io/runcat/
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