Best Free Apps for Mac — Official Download Links
If you use a Mac and don’t want to pay for every app, you’re in luck. The list below includes free apps for writing, design, coding, streaming, and note-taking. Every link goes to the official website so you get the latest, safe version—no sketchy download sites.
1. Notion — Notes, Docs & Wikis
Notion works on Mac as a desktop app or in the browser. Use it for class notes, project boards, and personal wikis. The free plan is enough for most people. You can create pages, databases, and kanban boards in one place.
2. LibreOffice — Free Office Suite
LibreOffice gives you Writer (documents), Calc (spreadsheets), and Impress (presentations) for free. It runs natively on Mac and opens Microsoft Office files. No subscription, no account required—just download and install.
Download LibreOffice for Mac →
3. OBS Studio — Streaming & Screen Recording
OBS Studio is the standard free app for recording your screen or streaming to Twitch, YouTube, and similar platforms. The Mac version has the same features as Windows. Great for tutorials, lectures, or content creation.
4. VS Code — Code Editor
Visual Studio Code is Microsoft’s free code editor. It’s fast, supports many languages, and has a huge extension library. Even if you’re not a developer, it’s useful for editing text, markdown, or config files. The Mac build is a native app.
5. Canva — Design & Presentations
Canva works in the browser and has a Mac app. Use it for presentations, social graphics, and simple documents. The free tier includes plenty of templates. Handy for students and anyone who needs quick, good-looking visuals.
6. GIMP — Image Editing
GIMP is a free, open-source image editor for Mac (and Windows, Linux). It supports layers, filters, and many file formats. If you need something like Photoshop without the cost, GIMP is a solid choice.
All of these are widely used and safe. For more options, see our downloads page and our best free apps for Windows guide—many of the same apps work on both.