Vidi: A native macOS video player built around Liquid Glass design

https://redd.it/1tlil81
@macappsbackup

I developed a mini visual calendar for recurring payments and subscriptions with smart App Store import
https://redd.it/1tlorlr
@macappsbackup

I developed a mini visual calendar for recurring payments and subscriptions with smart App Store import
https://redd.it/1tlrekf
@macappsbackup

Anyone tried PureMac?

PureMac is a free and open source alternative to CleanMyMac. It helped me find a few expendable GBs, but I'm wondering what other people have experienced.

https://redd.it/1tlu5l0
@macappsbackup

macOS Tahoe Gatekeeper blocking everything - cleaner fix than disabling it globally?

macOS Tahoe tightened Gatekeeper compared to Sequoia and stuff that ran fine before now gets blocked even after right-click Open. Turning it off system-wide feels like overkill.

Is there a per-app workaround that doesn't involve running spctl in terminal every single time? Asking for a mix of apps - some developer tools, some audio stuff, all from outside the App Store.

https://redd.it/1tlvdos
@macappsbackup

[macOS] Canto v0.8.0 — meet Canto Chat: a private chat home with vault + web grounding

https://redd.it/1tlzwuy
@macappsbackup

A Free Tool to Create Apple Shortcuts with Natural Language and a Roundup of the Best Shortcut Enhancement Apps

https://preview.redd.it/jjzgd8mjyz2h1.jpg?width=1187&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=724bec191f6110cfc0940be839ca238ccb2d60bf



It's been a couple of years since I wrote a roundup of free and low cost apps that enhance Apple Shortcuts, so I'm going to update it to the 2026 edition.

# Free Plugin to Create Shortcuts with Natural Language

I like using Apple shortcuts when it makes sense for my workflow, but configuring some of the advanced features breaks my brain. I can muddle through simple loops and variables, but it's not easy for me and I don't set any speed records. That's why I was pretty happy this week to see Fredrico Vittici release [Shortcuts Playground](https://www.macstories.net/shortcuts-playground), a FOSS plugin for the big two coding assistants that allows you to describe what you want to happen in natural language to start a process that produces a genuine Apple shortcut you can adopt or share with others. It's absolutely free.

# Best Stand Alone App for Triggers - Shortery

Most of the powerful and well know Mac automation apps like Keyboard Maestro, Hazel and Better Touch Tool can trigger shortcuts through hotkeys and system events, but not everyone wants to invest the time to learn those apps. Thankfully, [Shortery](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/shortery/id1594183810?mt=12) exists. At $29.99, it's not the low cost option it once was, but it is pretty easy to use. Apple also added some automation triggers to macOS after resisting for a long time.

* **macOS Shortcuts covers the basics**
* Apps
* Files and folders
* Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth
* Displays
* Focus
* Time
* Wake/sleep
* **Shortery adds the extras**
* Audio
* Camera
* Clamshell
* Calendar
* Keyboard hotkeys
* Login/logout
* LAN
* Power details
* Screen lock/unlock
* Sunrise/sunset
* More granular device triggers

# Best Deep System Control: Shortcutie

For $10, you can get [Shortcutie](https://sindresorhus.com/shortcutie) by Sindre Sorhus. It provides 70+ system-level operations Apple won't allow through ordinary channels. Examples include changing your default browser without confirmation dialogs, clearing all notifications with one action and quitting every running application all at once.The app scrapes active browser tabs, runs JavaScript directly and it can grab selected text from whatever window you're in.

# Best for Extra Shortcut Actions: Toolbox and Actions

Sindre Sorhus has an older and free Shortcut enhancement app called Actions that has 170 Shortcut actions encompassing every Apple platform. [You can see a partial list here.](https://sindresorhus.com/actions)

Another app that's been around for a while but is still insanely useful is [Toolbox Pro](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/toolbox-pro-for-shortcuts/id1476205977).It's still getting regular updates and new features for anyone who's paid the $5.99 lifetime unlock cost. It considerably deepens the functionality of several areas:

* Date and time
* Dictionaries
* Contacts
* Files
* Media
* Reminders
* System tasks
* Text

# Best for Persistent Data: Data Jar

Shortcuts efficiently passes data while running but struggles with memory retention. [Data Jar](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/data-jar/id1453273600) (donationware) addresses this by storing structured data that shortcuts can read and update later, making it ideal for workflows that require tracking state over time. Data Jar is what can make a shortcut feel like an app.

Useful for:

* Settings
* Preferences
* Counters
* Lists
* Saved variables
* Workflow state

# Best for Notes Centric Workflows: Actions for Obsidian

[Actions for Obsidian](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/actions-for-obsidian/id1659667937) \- Adds missing functionality to Shortcuts that allow you to do things like import content from the web, import from your calendars and contacts, integrate health data with notes and more.

# Other Useful Shortcuts Enhancers

* [BarCuts: A macOS Shortcuts

Launcher](https://actions.work/barcuts/) \- a menu bar app that shows you shortcuts available in your current app without cluttering things up
* [Menu Box](https://menubox.app/) \- Universal app to create custom shortcut menus

# Useful Shortcuts Sites

* [Routine Hub](https://routinehub.co/)
* [Matthew Cassinelli](https://matthewcassinelli.com/)
* [Shortcuts Gallery](https://shortcutsgallery.com/)
* [MacStories Shortcuts Archive](https://www.macstories.net/shortcuts/)

https://redd.it/1tlzjjz
@macappsbackup

Default Dock Customisation

Give your Dock new functionality



As promised, this is the second part of the dock review obsession. This time, the focus is fully on apps that replace or enhance the default Mac dock while still working alongside it, meaning the original dock does not need to be hidden or disabled.

The first four apps mentioned stand out. If you plan on keeping the standard Mac dock, these are the apps genuinely worth looking at.

In typical software fashion, good ideas get copied quickly. But after testing many alternatives, there are clear leaders. Those are the apps I focused on here. The alternatives are listed below with short descriptions, including free options where available.

There are already some excellent dock customisation apps available, but two features still seem strangely missing. The first is proper customisation of Apple’s own system icons. Iconchamp once had a workaround for this, but it no longer works under Mac Tahoe.

The second is the ability to hide an app’s dock icon completely. Older versions of macOS handled this far better, but many modern apps now force their icons onto the dock with no option to remove them.

After far too many terminal commands, plist edits, and strange experiments, I still have not found a proper solution. So if you know of one, please send me a message.

DOCKFLOW: Yearly €9.99, no demo but 30-day money-back guarantee
Crossed my path about a year ago, and at first, I genuinely didn’t understand what it was supposed to do. Dynamically swapping the Mac dock sounded more ambitious than practical, especially given how limited and stubborn the default dock is.

Then I installed it, used it properly, and completely bought into the concept. After mentioning or reviewing it close to 22 times, I can honestly say I’m a big fan.

This is one of those apps that feels like functionality Apple should have built into macOS from the start. In simple terms, DocFlow lets you change your dock depending on what you’re doing: a minimal setup at home, and with a single shortcut, a completely different dock at work with the apps and folders you actually need.

The app has become popular enough that a wave of copycats followed, but once you use DocFlow properly, it’s obvious this isn’t just a basic utility thrown together overnight.

If all you want is bare functionality with no shortcuts or customisation, there are free alternatives, and some even cost more than DocFlow. But if the idea interests you, try DocFlow itself first. I suspect you’ll understand the appeal almost immediately.

PARALL: Once off Purchase fee of $9.99 on Mac Store,
When the developer of Parall first reached out to ask my opinion on animated dock icons, not animated docks, but actual animated icons themselves, I honestly thought the idea sounded great but probably unrealistic. Especially when he also mentioned custom icon replacement and the ability to run multiple instances of the same app simultaneously. Knowing the limitations of the Mac dock, I did not think this would be easy to achieve.

Imagine my surprise when I received an early demo version shortly afterwards. Even with a few teething problems at the time, it was already doing something genuinely different that the Mac dock had never really seen before.

Several updates later, and the app has become incredibly stable, easy to install, and surprisingly fun to use. Once you have icons swinging side to side, spinning, bouncing, or reacting dynamically, you quickly realise how much personality it adds to the desktop experience. The app also allows you to customise the icons and install multiple instances of the same app, which is genuinely useful in certain workflows.

It is unfortunate, however, that at this stage Apple’s own default icons, for the most part,

cannot be animated or customised through the app.A lovely app from a developer who has been around for a long time and who clearly understands dock customisation. Definitely worth installing and testing.

DOCKPOPS: Free version available or a purchase of $9.99
Once again, this is an app I did not initially install with much excitement, but now genuinely cannot imagine my dock without it. The concept is simple. DockPops creates a single dock icon which, when hovered over or clicked, expands into a customizable collection of apps, folders, or shortcuts of your choice.

So if, like me, you have a slight browser obsession or keep testing new agentic apps, this becomes incredibly useful. Instead of cluttering the dock with endless icons, you keep one clean icon that opens into everything you need instantly.

For somebody who likes quick access without visual chaos, DockPops solves a problem I did not fully realise I had. It has become one of those apps that quietly earns a permanent place on my Mac.

DOCKDOOR: Free
DockDoor is a free and open-source macOS app that adds proper live window previews directly to the dock. Hover over an app icon, and you immediately see all open windows for that app, allowing you to switch, manage, or close them quickly without breaking workflow.

It also adds a Windows-style Option + Tab switcher with live previews, which surprisingly feels excellent on macOS once you get used to it. Fast, responsive, and very lightweight. The fact that it is free makes it even more impressive. The functionality is excellent, and it brings genuinely useful customisation to the standard Mac dock.

That said, it is worth mentioning that DockDoor Pro is now available in pre-release directly from the developer’s website. It moves further away from the default dock experience, but the level of customisation already looks very promising and absolutely worth testing.

AND THEN THERE ARE MANY MORE:

𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐎𝐂𝐊: Another Dock gives you a second dock - elegant, efficient, and intuitive - without disrupting your current setup.

𝐃𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐘: Dockey makes changing some of the more advanced Dock preferences as easy as clicking a button

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐃𝐎𝐂𝐊: IntelliDock hides the Dock when it’s overlapped by a window. Absolutely love the functionality that this app brings to the dock.

𝐃𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊 𝐏𝐑𝐎: DockLock is the first-ever app that prevents your Mac Dock from jumping between screens without system modifications. The upcoming DockLock Pro (website version) allows placing the Dock on any edge of any screen - including vertical configurations and centre displays.

𝐃𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖: DockView is a utility that adds a preview of the selected application's windows to the macOS Dock. You just need to hover over the mouse icon, and thumbnails of all its windows will appear. 

𝐃𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄: Dockside is a powerful & customisable file shelf ever built for Mac, designed to keep your essentials close in a way that feels simple, flexible, and out of the way. It can live beside your Dock or independently on any edge of your screen, making the most of unused space with remarkable customizability.

𝐃𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐗: Network Speed / Download / Upload CPU / Memory / Battery / Uptime Date / Week / World Time Dock Memo / Multi-Menubar Custom Dock Themes Custom GIFs Animations Stickers and more with one app.

𝐃𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐘: Dockitty is a tiny pixel cat that lives in your macos Dock. It’s a digital pet that brings cute animations. Right-click the Dock icon to trigger fun animations. When Dockitty is walking around your screen, you can even drag and drop them.
BALL: It’s a little ball that lives in your dock. You can drag it and it’ll bounce around the screen. You can also swipe on it with two fingers. It comes in red. You can flick it, bounce it, try to make it hit the corner
𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐒: Decorate your Dock and menu bar with festive lights that sparkle and react to your mouse

DOCKO: Even more animals in your dock

DOCKPILOT: For an explanation of what the app does, please scroll back to the top of the page and see my post on Dockpops
DOCKNESTS: Another version of the Docpop app featured above.
DOCKFOLDER:And a very nice, promising version of Docs Pop Above.

DOCKANCHOR is a simple macOS utility that prevents the Dock from moving between multiple monitors, providing users with a more stable and distraction-free work environment. It can lock the Dock to a specific screen, especially for users with multiple monitors. real-time status monitoring.

DOCKHUNTS \- share your dock

MODOKI: It's Dockify’s concept, but not necessarily with similar functionality.
DOCKIFY: We have another version of DocFlow that came out after DocFlow was released, with certain functionality

DOCKSYNC lets you automatically sync your Mac Dock across multiple Macs via iCloud. No account, no tracking, no third-party servers. License covers up to 5 Macs.

DOCKLABELS: Add app names as persistent text labels to the Dock.

HIDOCK is an app that lets you set different Dock settings for different display configurations

WEATHER DOCKS: Adding weather to the dock seems to be a very popular obsession, and countless apps are available. Most menu bar weather apps also support dock weather apps, and Forecast Bar not only seems to be the most popular app but also recently had a massive upgrade with some really nice added functionality.

CLOCK DOCKS: Once again, the number of clock apps for the dock is endless. I did not even venture down that aisle. A basic search on Google or a visit to the App Store will give you countless options.

OTHER MAC STORE APPS
IDOCK-DOCK: Window Preview Show application window
CONVERTDOCK: Desk Fast Unit Conversion Dock
ULTRADOCKAPP: Customize Your Workspace

https://redd.it/1tm5lka
@macappsbackup

5 months after launch, I added a lot to OnText, a keyboard-first PopClip alternative for macOS

https://reddit.com/link/1tld8ne/video/wi8ocr5e9v2h1/player

Hi r/macapps,

I posted OnText here once in December. Since then, I added several features I originally wanted the app to have, plus a lot of improvements from using it every day.

Disclosure: I built OnText.

# Problem:

I use selected text constantly, but copying it, switching to another app, pasting it into a chat window, then copying the result back breaks my flow.

OnText is built around a hotkey-first selected-text workflow: select text, press your hotkey, run an action, and keep working in the app you are already using.

The biggest update since my first post is Inline AI. You can now select text in any Mac app, press the OnText hotkey, summarize, rewrite, or ask a custom prompt, then copy the result or replace the original selection in place.

Recent additions include:

\- Inline AI

\- ChatGPT OAuth sign-in

\- ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Ollama provider support

\- attachments for images, PDFs, and text documents, depending on the provider

\- prompt presets and conversation history

\- better selected-text sync

\- improved Markdown rendering for AI responses

\- many smaller UI and reliability improvements

# Comparison:

The closest comparison is PopClip. PopClip is great if you want a mouse-first panel that appears automatically after selecting text.

OnText is aimed more at people who prefer a deliberate keyboard-first workflow: select text, press a hotkey, then choose the action intentionally.

OnText also supports custom actions through URLs, shell scripts, AppleScript, macOS Shortcuts, placeholders, regex/context rules, and Inline AI workflows.

# Pricing:

OnText has a free tier.

Pro includes a 7-day trial and is $6.99 lifetime.

Official website, download, docs, and support: https://gityeop.github.io/OnText/

# Links

Developer: Sang Yeop Lim https://github.com/gityeop

Contact: ontext.help@gmail.com

Privacy Policy: https://gityeop.github.io/OnText/privacy

Terms of Service: https://gityeop.github.io/OnText/terms

https://redd.it/1tld8ne
@macappsbackup

How are you supposed to assign Cmd+Tab in 1Piece? Pressing Cmd+Tab just toggles the native app switcher. Recording works fine with AltTab and DockDoor tho lol
https://redd.it/1tmd7lx
@macappsbackup

I sold my medical textbooks for these apps.

Back in 2015 I made a decision that honestly felt pretty reckless at the time. I sold all my medical textbooks and decided to go completely digital.

Most people around me thought I’d eventually go back to physical books and handwritten notes. I never did.

What started as simply “going paperless” slowly evolved over the years into a full personal knowledge management system and my second brain.

The system isn’t perfect, and I’m genuinely curious about how I can improve it further by removing apps that essentially serve the same purpose. I’d also love to know if there are any free alternatives to the apps I’ve listed, or any comparable options that offer a lifetime purchase option instead of a subscription.

Here are the links to all the apps I listed (I am not affiliated with any of them):

DEVONthink  |  Bear |  Obsidian  |  Mymind  |  Raindrop.io  |  Drafts  |  Antinote  |  Spokenly  | CleanShot X  |  OwIOCR  |  Readwise  |  Reader  |  Kindle  |  Audible  |  Things 3  |  Hazel  | Hookmark  |  Raycast Beta  |  Paste  |  Typinator  |  Cotypist  |  Microsoft 365  |  PDF Expert  | Zotero  |  Eagle  |  Downie  |  Permute  |  Superhuman  |  Wavebox

My favorite apps

https://redd.it/1tmdtlm
@macappsbackup

Is First Apple notarization for a mac App taking unusually long for anyone else right now?

I submitted my macOS app for notarization more than 24 hours ago and still haven’t gotten a response back from Apple.

People say it usually it finishes pretty quickly, so I’m wondering:

Is there currently a delay on Apple’s side?

Has anyone experienced notarization taking this long recently?

Should I cancel and resubmit, or just wait it out?

Would appreciate hearing if others are seeing the same issue.

https://redd.it/1tmfn25
@macappsbackup

Cotypist alternative. Need beta testers.

Hi all,

As the title says, I am working on a Cotypist alternative that is a one-off payment for lifetime access. As an old heavy user of Cotypist I have tried to make a much better version of it without the subscription model.

\\- it will support both Intel & M chips.
\\- it is 100% local. All local models with option of providing your own API keys. Can set up a local only mode, a hybrid mode or full cloud mode. (The same models that Cotypist charges for!!!!!)
\\- nothing leaves your device
\\- local dictionary and memory - can be customised per app too. - can be reviewed deleted and modified.
\\- adapts around how you write
\\- midline completion
\\- full autocorrect
\\- emoji suggestions
\\- clipboard awareness
\\- screen-aware suggestions
\\- super low memory usage
\\- and more that I am working on.

\\- windows support will come later

I’d love to find some beta testers who will get the product for heavy discounted price upon launch that could stress test it and help provide feedback for the tool. It would help if you use or have used Cotypist or a similar tool in the past, but not important.

I’m thinking about a one off payment of launch price of $17 then going upto $25 one off payment. Unlimited future updates. No such thing as v1 and v2 bs.

Please comment below and will DM a few by mid next week when the beta will be ready.

https://redd.it/1tmigsk
@macappsbackup

Just switched to Mac for uni - App Store prices are insane, what sources do people use?

Just switched from Windows to Mac for university and the App Store pricing is a genuine shock. Design and productivity apps cost more than textbooks.

Specifically need something Photoshop-level for graphic design coursework and a decent DAW. What sources are people using for creative tools that don't require a $50/month subscription or $300 upfront? Student budget is very real.



https://redd.it/1tmk3i8
@macappsbackup

What apps from Setapp do you think are worth standalone purchase?

Looking to move away from Setapp and subscriptions. What apps do you think are worth standalone purchases?

https://redd.it/1tmn04u
@macappsbackup

FolderDock -"FolderDock – iOS folders, righting your Dock!
https://redd.it/1tms3km
@macappsbackup

VaultBar – A simple way to encrypt files locally on macOS
https://redd.it/1tmslnt
@macappsbackup

The CleanMyMac App Identified the Following Malware in the WooTechy iCrowbar App / Is it part of How Does the App Work for File Password Break? Should I Uninstall?

HackTool.PasswordCracker Malware



https://redd.it/1tms8ve
@macappsbackup