A list of free Mac apps is only useful if it says what free means. Some apps cost nothing on the Mac App Store. Some are free downloads with a paid Pro tier. Some are open projects you download from the maker's site. This guide picks free apps from the Mac Directory catalog and says, for each one, where the free claim comes from.
Prices for Mac App Store apps come from each app's catalog page, which reads the store listing. Claims about apps sold outside the store come from the maker's own site. Nothing here is a price we inferred.
What counts as free in this list?
There are three kinds of free below:
- Free on the Mac App Store. The catalog page lists the price as free. The app may still sell an upgrade inside it, which the store price does not show.
- Free download with a paid tier. The maker's site says you can download it free and names features that cost extra.
- Free download from the maker. The maker's site says the app is free to download and the catalog has no store price for it.
Read the app page before you rely on a specific feature, because the free tier is where most paid upgrades draw the line.
Which free apps tidy the menu bar?
Hidden Bar hides menu bar icons you do not need to see. It is free on the Mac App Store and lists macOS 10.12 as its minimum, the lowest of any app in this guide. Its last listed update is from June 2021.
Barbee does the same job, is also free, needs macOS 11.0, and was updated in September 2026. Pick one hider, not both.
Spaced adds separators to the menu bar so related items sit together in groups, according to its maker, Sindre Sorhus. It is free and needs macOS 26.0.
Which free apps help you focus?
One Thing puts a single task or goal in your menu bar, which its maker calls "a quiet reminder to focus on one thing at a time." It is free and needs macOS 26.0.
Menu Bar Calendar shows a monthly calendar from the menu bar. Click a date to open it in the Calendar app or Google Calendar, or right-click a day to create an event. It is free and needs macOS 26.0.
Balance combines time tracking with a Pomodoro focus timer. Its site describes it as "mindful time tracking" and offers it as a free download. On the Mac App Store it is free, sits in Productivity and needs macOS 14.0. Version 2.7 shipped in October 2026.
Which free apps manage windows?
AltTab brings Windows-style Alt-Tab to the Mac. Its site says it shows every window, not just every app, including minimized and hidden windows and windows on another Space. It is a free download. Search by window title and the alternative switcher styles belong to AltTab Pro, so this is a free download with a paid tier.
Amethyst is a tiling window manager "along the lines of xmonad", according to its site. You download it from its releases page or with Homebrew. It needs macOS 10.15 or later and Accessibility permission.
Which free apps cover media and development?
4K Video Downloader Plus downloads video and audio from YouTube and similar services. Its maker says it runs on macOS, PC and Linux and that you can download it "absolutely for free." The site also mentions an AI processing feature to enhance sound in videos; check which features the free version includes before relying on them.
DevCleaner for Xcode is free on the Mac App Store in the Developer Tools category. It needs macOS 14.0 and version 2.8.0 shipped in November 2025. If you build apps in Xcode, it is the one developer pick here; see the best Mac apps for developers for more.
How should I pick free apps without regretting it?
Free apps cost something else: disk space, permissions, and the risk that an app stops getting updates. Three checks help:
- Look at the last update. Hidden Bar's last listed update is from 2021. That is fine if it works on your Mac, but a recently updated app like Barbee is the safer bet on a new macOS release.
- Check the macOS minimum. Spaced, Menu Bar Calendar and One Thing need macOS 26.0. If you are on an older release, they will not install.
- Know which permissions you are granting. Window managers such as Amethyst need Accessibility access to move other apps' windows. Grant that only to apps you trust.
| App | Kind of free | macOS minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Hidden Bar | Free on the App Store | 10.12 |
| Barbee | Free on the App Store | 11.0 |
| Spaced | Free on the App Store | 26.0 |
| One Thing | Free on the App Store | 26.0 |
| Menu Bar Calendar | Free on the App Store | 26.0 |
| Balance | Free on the App Store and site | 14.0 |
| AltTab | Free download, Pro tier | Not listed |
| Amethyst | Free download | 10.15 |
| 4K Video Downloader Plus | Free download per its site | Not listed |
| DevCleaner for Xcode | Free on the App Store | 14.0 |
Every app in this list has a page in the catalog with its price, category and links. For the menu bar in more depth, read the best menu bar apps for Mac. If you came here looking for a free launcher, Raycast alternatives for Mac covers the free and paid options by job.
Frequently asked questions
Does free on the Mac App Store mean the whole app is free?
Not always. The catalog records the price the Mac App Store lists for the download. An app listed as free can still sell an upgrade inside the app, so read the listing if you need a specific feature.
What is a good free window switcher for Mac?
AltTab is a free download that adds a Windows-style Alt-Tab switcher. It shows every window, including minimized and hidden ones. Search by window title and alternative styles are part of AltTab Pro.
Is there a free app to clean up Xcode files?
DevCleaner for Xcode is free on the Mac App Store, in the Developer Tools category, and needs macOS 14.0 or later.
Which free apps here need the newest macOS?
Spaced, Menu Bar Calendar and One Thing each list macOS 26.0 as their minimum on the Mac App Store. Hidden Bar lists macOS 10.12, so it runs on much older Macs.
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