Mac apps every designer should know

11 picks · Updated October 30, 2026

1. 

   Raycast

   A blazingly fast, extensible launcher for developers.

   

   1. Raycast

   Raycast replaces Spotlight with a launcher you can extend: clipboard history, window layouts, snippets, quick math, and extensions for Figma, Linear and more. The one app that changes how the whole Mac feels.

   Good for: Launching, clipboard and quick actions

   Visit RaycastDetails
2. 

   CleanShot X

   The screenshot and screen-recording tool for Mac power users.

   

   2. CleanShot X

   CleanShot X is the screenshot tool most designers end up with: scrolling capture, annotations, a floating preview, recording, and cloud links.

   Good for: Screenshots and annotations

   Visit CleanShot XDetails
3. 

   Shottr

   A tiny, fast screenshot and annotation app for Mac.

   

   3. Shottr

   Shottr is a tiny, fast screenshot app with a pixel ruler, color picker, text recognition and scrolling capture. A lighter option than CleanShot X.

   Good for: Fast screenshots with measuring tools

   Visit ShottrDetails
4. 

   Rectangle

   Move and resize windows with keyboard shortcuts, free.

   

   4. Rectangle

   Rectangle snaps windows to halves, thirds and corners with shortcuts. Free and open-source. Essential when you work with Figma next to a browser.

   Good for: Window snapping

   Visit RectangleDetails
5. 

   Sim Daltonism

   Mac app that simulates color blindness over any window in real time.

   

   5. Sim Daltonism

   Sim Daltonism shows any window as people with different types of color blindness see it, in real time. A quick accessibility check while you design.

   Good for: Checking designs for color blindness

   Visit Sim DaltonismDetails
6. 

   ImageOptim

   Free Mac app that makes images smaller without visible quality loss.

   

   6. ImageOptim

   ImageOptim shrinks PNG, JPEG and GIF files without visible loss. Drag files in before you hand off or upload. Free and open-source.

   Good for: Making images smaller before shipping

   Visit ImageOptimDetails
7. 

   RightFont

   Font management app for Mac.

   

   7. RightFont

   RightFont is a font manager for Mac that syncs with design apps and lets you activate fonts on demand. Useful once your font folder gets big.

   Good for: Managing a large font library

   Visit RightFontDetails
8. 

   Peeler

   Open-source macOS colour picker that pulls palettes from anything on screen.

   

   8. Peeler

   Peeler is an open-source color picker that pulls palettes from anything on screen. Point it at a site or an image and get the colors out.

   Good for: Grabbing palettes from the screen

   Visit PeelerDetails
9. 

   Dropover

   Make drag-and-drop on Mac easier with a shelf.

   

   9. Dropover

   Dropover gives you a floating shelf to drop files on while you move between apps. Small, but it makes dragging assets around much easier.

   Good for: Moving files between apps

   Visit DropoverDetails
10. 

    Maccy

    A lightweight, open-source clipboard manager for Mac.

    

    10. Maccy

    Maccy is a light, free clipboard manager. Press a shortcut and paste anything you copied before: hex codes, text, links.

    Good for: Clipboard history

    Visit MaccyDetails
11. 

    Gradients.cool

    Native gradient studio for Mac with 120 presets for still and animated backgrounds.

    

    11. Gradients.cool

    Gradients.cool is a native Mac app for designing still and animated gradients, with presets to start from. Handy for backgrounds and hero visuals.

    Good for: Gradient backgrounds

    Visit Gradients.coolDetails