12 Best Arc Alternatives in 2026
Quick answer
The best Arc alternative is Setapp — 240+ powerful Mac and iOS apps for one subscription. Rectangle and Alfred are also strong options, depending on what you're missing in Arc. Below we rank all 12 Arc alternatives and explain what sets each apart.
Key takeaways
- Setapp is the best all-round Arc alternative for most people.
- Switch for a real reason — price, a missing feature, or workflow fit — not just for the sake of change.
- Several alternatives here have free plans, so you can try before you commit.
- The best Arc alternative is whichever one fixes what made you look elsewhere.
Arc is a genuinely good mac app tool — but it isn't the right fit for everyone. Maybe it's the pricing, a feature you need that's missing, the learning curve, or you just want to see what else is out there.
Whatever your reason for looking, you have options. We track hundreds of mac app tools on DesignBookmark, and below are the 12 best Arc alternatives in 2026 — each a capable replacement rather than a pale imitation.
Every pick comes with an honest note on what it does well and who it's for, plus a quick comparison table so you can find your match fast.
Why look for a Arc alternative?
Most people switch from Arc for one of three reasons: price, a specific feature it's missing, or simply a workflow that fits them better.
There's nothing wrong with Arc — it's popular for good reason. But "popular" doesn't mean "perfect for you." A cheaper plan, a simpler interface, a particular integration, or a different pricing model can each be reason enough to look elsewhere.
The good news is that the mac app tools space is competitive, so strong alternatives exist for almost every need. The list below covers the best of them — whether you want something more powerful, more affordable, or just different.
At a glance
The 12 best picks
1
Setapp
Topping our list is Setapp. 240+ powerful Mac and iOS apps for one subscription. Everything sits roughly where you'd expect, which makes the first session feel familiar instead of frustrating.
The team behind it ships steadily, so it keeps getting better rather than standing still. Give it a real project rather than a five-minute test — that's when its strengths actually show.
Best for: both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow.
Visit Setapp2
Rectangle
Rectangle is another one worth your time. Move and resize windows with keyboard shortcuts, free. It keeps the interface clean and the core workflow front and center, so you're productive almost right away.
Where it really shines is reliability: it does what it promises, release after release. Like any tool, it rewards a little time spent learning it, after which it mostly gets out of your way.
Best for: people building a lean, modern mac app tools setup from scratch.
Visit Rectangle3
Alfred
Alfred is another one worth your time. A productivity app and launcher to boost your Mac. It keeps the interface clean and the core workflow front and center, so you're productive almost right away.
The team behind it ships steadily, so it keeps getting better rather than standing still. It won't be the perfect fit for everyone, but if its approach clicks with you, it's hard to give up.
Best for: both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow.
Visit Alfred4
Bartender
That brings us to Bartender. Organize and declutter your Mac menu bar. The result is a tool you can open without thinking — about the highest compliment you can pay software like this.
What pushes it up our list is how thoughtfully it's built — the small details add up fast. Give it a real project rather than a five-minute test — that's when its strengths actually show.
Best for: both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow.
Visit Bartender5
Shottr
Don't overlook Shottr. A tiny, fast screenshot and annotation app for Mac. The result is a tool you can open without thinking — about the highest compliment you can pay software like this.
It plays nicely with the rest of a modern mac app tools stack, so you won't have to tear out what already works. Like any tool, it rewards a little time spent learning it, after which it mostly gets out of your way.
Best for: solo creators and small teams who value speed over endless configuration.
Visit Shottr6
CleanMyMac
CleanMyMac has quietly become a favorite among mac app tools users. Clean, optimize and protect your Mac in one app. It covers the fundamentals properly before reaching for anything flashy, and that focus pays off daily.
What pushes it up our list is how thoughtfully it's built — the small details add up fast. Give it a real project rather than a five-minute test — that's when its strengths actually show.
Best for: creators who care more about results than feature checklists.
Visit CleanMyMac7
TablePlus
TablePlus is another one worth your time. A modern, native database GUI for Mac and beyond. The result is a tool you can open without thinking — about the highest compliment you can pay software like this.
The team behind it ships steadily, so it keeps getting better rather than standing still. It won't be the perfect fit for everyone, but if its approach clicks with you, it's hard to give up.
Best for: both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow.
Visit TablePlus8
Xnapper
Xnapper has quietly become a favorite among mac app tools users. Take beautiful screenshots instantly, with auto-balance. The result is a tool you can open without thinking — about the highest compliment you can pay software like this.
The team behind it ships steadily, so it keeps getting better rather than standing still. It won't be the perfect fit for everyone, but if its approach clicks with you, it's hard to give up.
Best for: anyone who'd rather get started than wade through documentation.
Visit Xnapper9
Paste
Paste is another one worth your time. A clipboard manager that keeps everything you copy. It keeps the interface clean and the core workflow front and center, so you're productive almost right away.
The team behind it ships steadily, so it keeps getting better rather than standing still. Give it a real project rather than a five-minute test — that's when its strengths actually show.
Best for: creators who care more about results than feature checklists.
Visit Paste10
Maccy
Maccy is another one worth your time. A lightweight, open-source clipboard manager for Mac. It keeps the interface clean and the core workflow front and center, so you're productive almost right away.
Its biggest strength is focus — it solves its core problem better than most of the alternatives. It won't be the perfect fit for everyone, but if its approach clicks with you, it's hard to give up.
Best for: both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow.
Visit Maccy11
BetterDisplay
BetterDisplay has quietly become a favorite among mac app tools users. Flexible display management and scaling for Mac. In practice, that means less time wrestling with setup and more time doing the work that matters.
What pushes it up our list is how thoughtfully it's built — the small details add up fast. It won't be the perfect fit for everyone, but if its approach clicks with you, it's hard to give up.
Best for: creators who care more about results than feature checklists.
Visit BetterDisplay12
Dropover
Don't overlook Dropover. Make drag-and-drop on Mac easier with a shelf. Everything sits roughly where you'd expect, which makes the first session feel familiar instead of frustrating.
It earns its place by being genuinely useful day to day, not just impressive in a quick demo. Like any tool, it rewards a little time spent learning it, after which it mostly gets out of your way.
Best for: solo creators and small teams who value speed over endless configuration.
Visit Dropover
How they compare
| # | Tool | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Setapp | both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow |
| 2 | Rectangle | people building a lean, modern mac app tools setup from scratch |
| 3 | Alfred | both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow |
| 4 | Bartender | both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow |
| 5 | Shottr | solo creators and small teams who value speed over endless configuration |
| 6 | CleanMyMac | creators who care more about results than feature checklists |
| 7 | TablePlus | both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow |
| 8 | Xnapper | anyone who'd rather get started than wade through documentation |
| 9 | Paste | creators who care more about results than feature checklists |
| 10 | Maccy | both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow |
| 11 | BetterDisplay | creators who care more about results than feature checklists |
| 12 | Dropover | solo creators and small teams who value speed over endless configuration |
How to choose
It fits how you already work
The best mac app tools slot into your existing routine instead of forcing a new one. Look for sensible defaults, integrations with the apps you already use, and a workflow that feels obvious within the first few minutes.
Honest, predictable pricing
Free trials are nice, but check what happens after. A clear free tier or a fair flat price beats a cheap plan that locks the features you actually need behind a much higher one. Always click through to confirm current pricing — plans change often.
It's actively maintained
A tool is only as good as the team behind it. Recent updates, a responsive changelog, and an active community are strong signals that a tool will still be around — and still improving — a year from now.
It does one thing really well
Be wary of tools that try to do everything. The picks that last tend to be focused: they solve a specific problem better than anything else, and they play nicely with the rest of your stack.
How we picked
Every tool in this guide is part of the curated DesignBookmark directory, where we track hundreds of mac app tools and keep only the ones genuinely worth recommending. We prioritize tools that are useful day to day, actively maintained, and trusted by the design and developer community — not just whatever launched most recently. Rankings favor the strongest all-rounders first, and we refresh this guide as new tools appear and others change.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Arc alternative?+
For most people, Setapp is the best all-round Arc alternative — it's the first pick above. Rectangle is also excellent and may suit you better depending on your needs. The right choice comes down to why you're leaving Arc in the first place.
Is there a free Arc alternative?+
Yes — several alternatives on this list offer a free plan or free tier, including tools like Setapp, Rectangle, Alfred. Free plans usually cover solo use or smaller projects. Click through to each to check current pricing, since plans change often.
Is Setapp better than Arc?+
It depends on what you need. Setapp is a popular switch from Arc and stands out on its own merits, but Arc still has real strengths. The best way to decide is to try Setapp on a real project and see if it fits how you work.
Why do people switch from Arc?+
Usually for one of three reasons: pricing, a missing feature, or a workflow that suits them better. The alternatives above each address at least one of those — so start with whichever matches your reason for looking.
How was this list of Arc alternatives chosen?+
Every alternative here is part of the curated DesignBookmark directory, drawn from the same category as Arc and ranked with the strongest all-rounders first. We favor tools that are useful day to day and actively maintained, and we refresh the list as the space changes.
The bottom line
The bottom line: Setapp is the Arc alternative we'd try first — it's the most well-rounded option here. But the best alternative is the one that fixes whatever made you look beyond Arc. Skim the 12 picks above, try one or two, and switch with confidence.