What to Use Instead of Arc in 2026
Quick answer
The best Arc alternative is Peeler, Open-source macOS colour picker that pulls palettes from anything on screen. Atlas and Echo 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
- Peeler 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
Peeler
If you want a safe place to start, start with Peeler. Open-source macOS colour picker that pulls palettes from anything on screen. It covers the fundamentals properly before reaching for anything flashy, and that focus pays off daily.
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: creators who care more about results than feature checklists.
Visit Peeler2
Atlas
Atlas has quietly become a favorite among mac app tools users. Native Mac app for scheduling meetings across time zones. The result is a tool you can open without thinking. That's 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: creators who care more about results than feature checklists.
Visit Atlas3
Echo
Next up is Echo. Menu bar app that logs every song, podcast and video played on a Mac. 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 Echo4
Shiny
Shiny has quietly become a favorite among mac app tools users. Menu bar app that reclaims memory on a Mac without a full restart. The result is a tool you can open without thinking. That's about the highest compliment you can pay software like this.
Its biggest strength is focus, it solves its core problem better than most of the alternatives. 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 Shiny5
Charm
Charm is another one worth your time. On-device autocorrect and writing help for Mac, nothing leaves the machine. 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: anyone who'd rather get started than wade through documentation.
Visit Charm6
Cooldock
Cooldock is another one worth your time. Second macOS dock combining music, weather and task widgets. It keeps the interface clean and the core workflow front and center, so you're productive almost right away.
It earns its place by being genuinely useful day to day, not just impressive in a quick demo. No tool is flawless, but the trade-offs here feel reasonable for what you get.
Best for: solo creators and small teams who value speed over endless configuration.
Visit Cooldock7
Horse Browser
Horse Browser is another one worth your time. Browser built around trails rather than tabs, made for scattered attention. The result is a tool you can open without thinking. That's about the highest compliment you can pay software like this.
It earns its place by being genuinely useful day to day, not just impressive in a quick demo. No tool is flawless, but the trade-offs here feel reasonable for what you get.
Best for: people building a lean, modern mac app tools setup from scratch.
Visit Horse Browser8
Helium
Helium is another one worth your time. Browser that blocks ads, trackers and interruptions by default. 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. 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 Helium9
Raycast
Raycast has quietly become a favorite among mac app tools users. A blazingly fast, extensible launcher for developers. Everything sits roughly where you'd expect, which makes the first session feel familiar instead of frustrating.
It plays nicely with the rest of a modern mac app tools stack, so you won't have to tear out what already works. No tool is flawless, but the trade-offs here feel reasonable for what you get.
Best for: solo creators and small teams who value speed over endless configuration.
Visit Raycast10
CleanShot X
CleanShot X is another one worth your time. The screenshot and screen-recording tool for Mac power users. 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 CleanShot X11
Fantastical
Next up is Fantastical. The award-winning calendar app for Apple devices. 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. No tool is flawless, but the trade-offs here feel reasonable for what you get.
Best for: anyone who wants a dependable default they won't have to second-guess.
Visit Fantastical12
Setapp
Next up 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 Setapp
How they compare
| # | Tool | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peeler | creators who care more about results than feature checklists |
| 2 | Atlas | creators who care more about results than feature checklists |
| 3 | Echo | both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow |
| 4 | Shiny | creators who care more about results than feature checklists |
| 5 | Charm | anyone who'd rather get started than wade through documentation |
| 6 | Cooldock | solo creators and small teams who value speed over endless configuration |
| 7 | Horse Browser | people building a lean, modern mac app tools setup from scratch |
| 8 | Helium | both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow |
| 9 | Raycast | solo creators and small teams who value speed over endless configuration |
| 10 | CleanShot X | both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow |
| 11 | Fantastical | anyone who wants a dependable default they won't have to second-guess |
| 12 | Setapp | both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow |
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, Peeler is the best all-round Arc alternative, it's the first pick above. Atlas 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 Peeler, Atlas, Echo. Free plans usually cover solo use or smaller projects. Click through to each to check current pricing, since plans change often.
Is Peeler better than Arc?+
It depends on what you need. Peeler 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 Peeler 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: Peeler 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.