6 Best Productivity Apps for Mac in 2023

The 7 Best Mac Productivity Apps of 2023

1. Connecteam — Best all-in-one productivity app for Mac

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   

   Connecteam is the best all-in-one productivity solution for Mac, offering user-friendly tools for scheduling, task management, communication, and more.

   Connecteam is ideal for Mac users, as it’s accessible from any web browser and offers apps for iOS devices. (It’s also great for those who don’t use Macs, as it has an Android app and can be used on PCs.)

   Let’s take a closer look at Connecteam’s top features.

   Task management features to keep teams on track

   Connecteam’s task management features make it simple to keep your teams and projects on track. You can create and assign tasks to employees in seconds and set common tasks to recur at regular intervals. Add due dates, notes, images, files, and descriptions to tasks to ensure your workers have all the information they need to get the job done successfully.

   Further boost your team’s productivity by breaking tasks into subtasks and receiving notifications as employees complete them. You’re also able to send reminders to employees to complete tasks and request real-time updates on their progress.

   Plus, a sleek central dashboard lets you easily view all tasks, deadlines, status updates, and assignees every step of the way. 

   Create, publish, and manage employee schedules from anywhere

   Connecteam’s drag-and-drop scheduling tool enables you to create and publish schedules hassle-free. Use handy templates or build custom schedules and assign shifts automatically based on employee preferences, availability, and qualifications. Employees can claim open shifts or request to swap shifts as needed with just one touch or click of their device. 

   Workers can check their schedules instantly and receive notifications when their schedules have been updated. Plus, you can quickly view and approve schedule change requests, see employees’ availability, and redeploy workers in seconds. 

   Ultra-accurate time clock with payroll integrations

   Connecteam’s time clock lets employees clock in and out directly in the app and records time to the second. Workers can track time by task, job, client, and location. As a manager, you have the option to set daily time limits, overtime rates, and auto-clock out. 

   The time clock is also GPS-enabled. GPS location tracking and geofencing functionalities help you make sure your team is where they need to be. Verify employees’ locations while they’re on the clock and create virtual borders around job sites to restrict clock-in and clock-out to those locations. 

   Connecteam collects time data and automatically generates digital timesheets, which can be exported to your preferred payroll system. You can also take advantage of Connecteam’s direct integrations with Gusto and QuickBooks Online for payroll.

   Collect and organize information with digital forms and checklists 

   With Connecteam’s digital forms and checklists feature, you can create fillable forms from templates or from scratch. Use forms to gather employee signatures on policy documents, for example, and set deadlines for completion. Connecteam will even notify you when workers have filled out a form. Pull up forms in an instant by using the search bar, and easily export forms into PDF or Excel files. 

   Additionally, you can create customized checklists for any process and distribute them instantly to your employees. For example, checklists for safety or open/close procedures ensure your team knows and follows important rules.

   Built-in team chat and newsfeed for improved communication

   Connecteam’s communication tools enable you and your employees to communicate securely in real-time, wherever they are. 

   The built-in chat allows teams to connect one-on-one or in group conversations. You and other users with admin status have full control over chat permissions and can delete any inappropriate content. There are options to favorite conversations, mute chats, and share audio notes, images, and other files within messages. There’s also a task-specific communication channel to keep conversations focused.

   Connecteam has a social media-style newsfeed as well. Easily share important announcements with your entire team (or just certain groups) at once, schedule posts, and track who has viewed and interacted with your updates.

   Store and share important information with cloud-based document management 

   Using Connecteam’s document management feature, you can create a digital filing cabinet for your company. All files are centrally located and accessible at any time.

   You can request documents from employees with a single touch or click, which they can upload directly from their mobile phones. Plus, you can set expiration dates on documents, and Connecteam will flag the documents when they need to be updated.

   Customized privacy settings let you dictate who has access to documents, and there’s unlimited storage you can take advantage of.

   Free for small businesses and affordable for all

   Connecteam is free for life for businesses with 10 or fewer employees. For larger businesses, pricing begins at just $29 per month for up to 30 employees. Each additional user costs only $0.50 per month. 

   Connecteam also offers a free for life plan – Get Started Now!

   Key Features

   • Cloud-based, secure document center with unlimited storage 

   • Robust task manager to keep everyone aligned on to-dos and projects

   • Employee communication and feedback features

   • Automated employee scheduling and shift swapping

   • GPS-enabled time tracking

   • Digital form and checklist features

   Pros

   • All-in-one productivity solution

   • Mobile app enables on-the-go use

   • User-friendly design

   • Notifications keep everyone in the loop

   Cons

   • Doesn’t yet offer video conferencing features

   Pricing

   Free-for-life plan availablePremium plans start at $29/month for 30 users

   14-day free trial, no credit card required

   Start your free trial
2. 

   Things — Good for calendar and task management

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android
   • Mac

   

   Things is a personal task management app that helps users manage projects, achieve goals, and plan out their days. Part of the suite of Mac productivity apps for over a decade, it was recently updated with a modern design and functionality. Things is part calendar and part task manager: It gives users the ability to keep tabs on their schedule, keep track of deadlines, and break down project work into manageable pieces.

   A major drawback is the lack of collaboration features. The ability to collaborate is one of the key features of productivity apps, but unfortunately, Things doesn’t afford users the ability to work with others or share information. 

   Learn more about Things

   Key Features

   • Calendar events and to-do lists
   • Upcoming agenda view includes tasks, deadlines, and scheduling appointments
   • Break down projects by using headings
   • Create checklists for smaller projects or task lists

   Pros

   • No subscription required (one-time cost)
   • Easy-to-use UI

   Cons

   • Relatively expensive, and different features must be purchased separately
   • No collaboration features

   Pricing

   Starts at $49.99 Trial: Yes Free Plan: No

3. 

   MindNode — Good for mind mapping and brainstorming

   Available on

   • iOS
   • Mac

   

   MindNode is a mind map management app that lets users capture their ideas and brainstorming sessions in real time. It’s available on MacOS and iOS, and can sync with iCloud and other Mac productivity apps like Apple Reminders.

   As a replacement for pen-and-paper mind mapping, MindNode offers options for brainstorming, including standard mind maps, note taking, and outlining. Features like Focus Mode enable users to see only the matter at hand.

   While MindNode is available only on Apple’s operating systems, documents can be exported in numerous formats, although design and formatting can pose a challenge. 

   Learn more about MindNode

   Key Features

   • Multiple options for brainstorming
   • Tags and categories
   • Focus Mode
   • Syncs with Apple Reminders

   Pros

   • Can export documents and send to any email account
   • Customizable

   Cons

   • When sharing or printing from the app, formatting can shift
   • Lack of multi-platform support

   Pricing

   Starts at $2.49/user/month or $19.99/user/year Trial: Yes Free Plan: Yes

4. Apple Notes

   Apple Notes — Good for taking and managing notes

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Mac

   

   Exclusive to Mac, Apple Notes is the standard note-taking app on all Mac devices and easily syncs between them. Features include note-taking, list-making, creating and organizing folders, and the ability to share information with other users. 

   For basic note taking that transfers between devices, Apple Notes is a solid option. Plus, because it’s part of the overall MacOS and iOS, there’s no additional cost for Mac and iOS users. 

   Unfortunately, this also means the convenience is limited to Mac users. Those who use both Apple products and PC or Android devices should consider another option.

   Learn more about Apple Notes

   Key Features

   • Create, save, and share notes
   • Create and organize information in folders
   • Able to attach files
   • New update allows users to create tags

   Pros

   • Standard on Apple devices and syncs between iPhone, iPad, and Mac
   • No additional cost to use

   Cons

   • Difficult to use across platforms
   • No bells and whistles

   Pricing

   Free to use Trial: No Free Plan: No

5. 

   Zappy by Zapier — Good for taking and sharing screen recordings

   Available on

   • Mac

   

   Owned by Zapier, Zappy allows users to create screen recordings and share them with colleagues. Users can designate a keyboard shortcut and use it to quickly record their screen, then draw, annotate, or add text. 

   With a paid Zapier account, Zappy users can upload recordings to the cloud (for free) and share the URL with coworkers. Zappy also connects with other productivity apps like Slack, Teams, Asana, and Google Suite. 

   Zappy is an app for Mac only, so users who switch between operating systems won’t benefit. While free to use, Zappy does require the user to have a paid Zapier account. 

   Learn more about Zappy by Zapier

   Key Features

   • Customizable keyboard shortcuts
   • Creates screenshots and screen recordings
   • Ability to add notes and drawings to screen grabs
   • Uploads screen grabs to the cloud, so users don’t have to dig through clipboard history

   Pros

   • Integrates with most major productivity and communication apps
   • Free to use for Zapier users

   Cons

   • For MacOS only
   • Requires a Zapier account

   Pricing

   Free to use for those with a Zapier account Trial: No Free Plan: No

6. 

   1Password — Good for creating, saving, and sharing passwords securely

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android
   • Windows
   • Mac

   

   1Password is a subscription-based password manager that lets users create and store secure passwords across devices. Additionally, the tool can be used to save other types of information, including personal documents and software licenses. Using an encrypted virtual “vault,” 1Password keeps track of a user’s information in one place. Information can include notes, credit card information, and personal details in addition to passwords.

   Although it’s available on most platforms and web browsers, 1Password requires users to have administrative rights on a given device in order to use its browser extension. Additionally, 1Password doesn’t allow users to change all passwords at once.

   Learn more about 1Password

   Key Features

   • Can edit passwords and information
   • Securely share passwords with family and colleagues
   • Two-factor authentication
   • Securely store important documents

   Pros

   • Syncs between devices
   • Strong security for more than just passwords

   Cons

   • No free plan beyond the 14-day trial
   • Doesn’t offer one-click updates across all passwords

   Pricing

   Starts at $2.99/month, for personal plan Trial: Yes — 14-day Free Plan: No