The Best Productivity Apps For Mac
Serene is a great productivity app for mac which can help you get your attention fully focused for a single job for a day. When you use Serene it will prompt you to create a single goal for the day and then, later on, divide your goal to some logical sessions throughout the entire day. One of the best productivity apps is the aptly named Todoist, a multi-platform planner app that keeps things efficient with a clean, gimmick-free approach to interface and task management.
When it comes to productivity apps, there's certainly the big players like Trello, Asana, Evernote, and more that have transformed the way we work. In this post, we'll talk about some of the smaller, lesser-known Mac apps that can help improve specific aspects of your work for increased productivity.
- Numi
- Noisli
- Calendly
- Aware
- Alfred
- PopClip
- SizeUp
- Focus
Continue reading to learn more about these productivity apps including how they boost productivity, what features are included, and how much they cost.
Numi
Calculate anything with numbers.
How does Numi increase productivity?
Numi is a one-stop converter application. Want to know how many milliliters are in a gallon? Euros to dollars? Pounds to kilograms? When it comes to calculating numbers, Numi does it all. With Numi, you can avoid opening Google and other distractions by simply choosing the application when you need to make a calculation.
Numi Features
- Calculate currency, temperature, area, length, volume and time.
- Calculate math functions like sin, cos, exponent, and more.
- Calculate percentages (Example: what is 15% of $70?)
Is Numi Mobile Friendly?
This app is not for use on Apple mobile devices.
Cost of Numi
Numi is currently free to download with a paid license on the horizon.
Noisli
Customize your background noise.
How does Noisli increase productivity?
Mix and match sounds to occupy the background of your work environment. Do you work best during a thunderstorm? In a coffee shop? Both? Create your perfect sound environment and maximize your productivity. Use the Timer feature for productive sessions that take advantage of other productivity techniques like Pomodoro.
Noisli Features
- Break down the sounds of your day with timed productivity sessions
- Save and share your favorite sound combos
- Minimalist text editor function for writing in a distraction-free environment
Is Noisli Mobile Friendly?
There's anofficial Noisli app for iPhone, iPod, and iPad. It's great for creating a productive space while working remotely, on the go, or for help going to sleep.
Cost of Noisli
The desktop version and all of its features are completely free. There's a small one-time fee for the mobile app.
Calendly
Schedule meetings without the back-and-forth.
How does Calendly increase productivity?
Calendly lets you set your availability, share your calendar, and have others book a time that's convenient for them. Coordinate schedules simply and efficiently without wasting time on back-and-forth emails.
Calendly Features
- Integrates with Google, Outlook, Office 365 or iCloud calendar
- Meeting confirmation and reminder emails
- Schedule meetings with multiple team members at once
- Set daily limits on available meeting time
- Time zone detection
Is Calendly Mobile Friendly?
This app is not for use on mobile Apple devices. Calendly is actively researching a solution for an iOS Mac app.
Cost of Calendly
The basic plan for Calendly is free. Other features, such as metrics and reporting, are accessible with Premium for $8 a month and Pro for $12 a month. There is also an option to try all features free for 14 days.
Aware
Track and monitor computer usage.
How does Aware increase productivity?
Aware is a very minimalist app with no reminders, alarms, notifications, or blinking lights. Aware is a menubar app that simply tracks your Mac usage so you can better understand the time you spend online.
You can monitor your computer usage to make sure you are putting in enough productive hours, and to make sure you aren't overextending yourself.
Aware Features
- Monitor computer usage to ensure you're putting in enough productive hours
- Monitor computer usage to ensure you're not overworking yourself
Is Aware Mobile Friendly?
This app is not for use on mobile Apple devices.
Cost of Aware
Aware is free to download from the app store.
Alfred
Boost your efficiency with hotkeys, keywords, text expansion and more.
How does Alfred increase productivity?
Never repeat a dull computer operation again. Alfred is your personal online butler. With Alfred, you can customize the functionality of your Mac for workflows at the tip of your fingers. Happy Alfred users say they can't imagine working without it.
Alfred Features
- Build your own private workflows
- Import pre-made workflows from a community of creators
- Save clipboard history
- Create default search keywords
- Perform quick math calculations
- Check spelling and/or definitions
Is Alfred Mobile Friendly?
Alfred has a companion mobile app for iPhone and iPad called Alfred Remote. The application boosts frequently used actions on your mobile device.
Cost of Alfred
The latest version of Alfred is free to download. Expand your use with purchasable Powerpacks that let you enjoy workflows and themes. Alfred Remote, the mobile app version of Alfred is available for purchase from the app store for $4.99.
PopClip
Reach hundreds of extensions in one-click.
How does PopClip increase productivity?
PopClip appears when you highlight any text, giving you access to hundreds of extensions with one-click. Think of it as the ultimate right click of your mouse. Access a long list of extensions from the usual suspects like copy, cut, and paste, as well as other handy tools like search, spelling, dictionary, and text transformations.
PopClip Features
- Pick and choose the extensions you use most
- Integrates with note-taking apps, like Stickies, Evernote, and Apple Notes
- Integrates with To-Do list apps, like Todoist, Wunderlist, and Todo
- Post text directly to a Slack channel
Is PopClip Mobile Friendly?
This app is not for use on mobile Apple devices.
Cost of PopClip
PopClip has a free trial option and can be purchased for $9.99.
SizeUp
Manage your windows.
How does SizeUp increase productivity?
SizeUp is designed for Mac users who use several different windows or monitors at once. It allows you to resize and reposition your windows with ease to clean up and optimize the use of your screen.
SizeUp Features
- Global keyboard shortcuts
- Reserve space at the edges of your screen with customizable margins
- Avoid shadows and overlap by adding space between windows
- Compatible with AppleScript for custom actions
Is SizeUp Mobile Friendly?
This app is not for use on mobile Apple devices.
Cost of SizeUp
Access unlimited features in a free trial, or purchase SizeUp for $12.99 with a 60-day money back guarantee.
Focus
Block distracting websites.
How does Focus increase productivity?
It can take your brain 23 minutes or more to get back to the task after a distraction. Focus blocks distracting websites so you're not interrupted by a Facebook notification inviting you to play Candy Crush. Block any website or application that can cause a distraction to establish productive bursts of work.
💡 Learn more in How to Not Get Distracted When You're Working Online
Focus Features
- Automatic or customizable inspirational quotes to help you get back on task
- Setup and enforce daily, weekly, or weekend schedules
- A built-in Pomodoro timer to break up your work
- Track your progress with productivity statistics
Is Focus Mobile Friendly?
The latest version is only available for Mac but there are iOS (iPhone & iPad) and Android applications in the works.
Cost of Focus
Download a free trial complete with all Focus features or purchase starting at $19 (one-time cost).
We may be a little biased about this last one, but that's because Focus was built with a passion for productive work. Focus aims to improve people's lives by inspiring focus, creativity, and productivity. Thanks for supporting indie development. 💗
With so many amazing apps out there, it's important to make sure you don't overload yourself. At some point, your productivity will decline. Test the apps you think could work to boost your productivity and then ditch any that don't.
We'd love to hear from you too. What do you think the best productivity apps are and why do you love them?
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The world is obsessed with productivity. We all want to know how to get things done more quickly and with less effort; improve our time management skills; and lead more productive, fulfilling lives. The eight productivity apps listed in this blog post will help you achieve those goals.
We've pulled from our personal experiences and conducted detailed, in-depth research to compile the best productivity apps for 2020. An investment in just a few of these tools is sure to make you more efficient. So without further ado, let's dive in!
How We Define 'Productivity Apps'
For the purposes of this blog post, a productivity app is any piece of software that makes your job easier and allows you to get more work done in less time. Some of the applications listed below aren't 'productivity apps' in the traditional sense of the phrase. But each is worth having and will save you hours of precious time when used consistently.
After reading through our list, we encourage you to sit down and think about which areas of your life you'd like to become more productive in for 2020. Then get the app (or apps) that will help you get there.
The Productivity Apps You Need In 2020
Each of the following 10 productivity apps will make you more efficient in some way.
Before we start, we should note that, while our list is numbered, the placement of apps doesn't represent their level of importance. Meaning the first app isn't better than the last. The numbers simply make it easier to track through this post. Ready?
1. Lucidchart
Lucidchart's features improve your productivity by offering high-quality visual creation with simple keyboard shortcuts or a quick click of the mouse.
To use the tool, simply create a custom document or choose from multiple templates to get you started. Then start making your visuals easily with hundreds of shapes, colors, and the option to add layers.
But Lucidchart is more than just a personal productivity tool. It can also be used to keep your entire team on track. Collaborate within the software by simply tagging team members. The seamless communication allows for work to get done faster.
Lucidchart is free for basic functionality, $7.95 a month for individuals, and $9 a month (per user) for a team account with premium features. You can also contact Lucidchart for an Enterprise-level quote.
2. Calendar
Looking to save more time, be more productive, and achieve better focus? Look no further than Calendar, the smart tool that you need to add to your stack.
This artificial intelligence-led productivity app is always learning for you and will save you time and effort as you plan out your day, week, month, and even year. The best part? The more you use it, the more valuable it becomes.
With Calendar, you can allow anyone to choose a time and book a meeting with you, directly inside the app. And you'll never have to worry about overbookings, as Calendar will automatically protect you from any meetings being scheduled at the same time.
Calendar, featured in CNN, Inc, Forbes, and Entrepreneur, will also let you dive deep into the analytics of your calendar to discover ways to maximize your productivity and save more time.
It's easy to get started, just go straight to Calendar.com and follow the sign up prompts. You can get started for FREE or get access to more features via a monthly subscription plan.
3. CloudApp
Next, we have CloudApp, a highly intuitive visual communication tool that can save your team up to 56 hours a week! The only difficulty is deciding how you're going to use all that extra time.
Whether you happen to be communicating with a colleague, a customer, or a client; CloudApp's screenshot, webcam recording, GIF creation, and image annotation features will help you get your point across faster. Don't bother writing lengthy, complex emails, simply show people what you mean.
3 million users, including industry titans like Uber, Facebook, and Adobe can't be wrong. CloudApp is an incredible productivity app that you need in your business software suite. Fortunately, it's incredibly affordable.
The free forever plan will get you started. For additional features, subscribe to an upgraded plan for just $9+ a month.
4. HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM was built from the ground up to be ready for the modern world. Intuitive and automatic where other systems are complicated and manual, HubSpot CRM takes care of all the little details - logging emails, recording calls, and managing your data - freeing up valuable selling time in the process. It regularly ranks as one of the best CRM software products for small businesses.
Here are the reasons HubSpot CRM is the top choice for small businesses:
- Manage your pipeline and never let a deal slip through the cracks.
- Find and focus on closing the warmest leads.
- Use our proven email templates or create your own.
HubSpot CRM is 100% free forever and comes natively integrated with other free features that essential for small businesses: email marketing (up to 2000 emails/month), meetings scheduler, forms, email tracking, live chat, chatbot builder, reporting dashboard, contacts and pipeline management.
Clients: Wistia, Atlassian, InVision, VMWare
Price: 100% Free Forever
5. Slack
You've heard of Slack. The unicorn company, currently valued at over 20 billion dollars, is one of the fastest growing of all time. Major corporations like Target, Oracle, and AirBnB use the app on a regular basis because it's an incredible productivity booster.
If you've never used the tool before, it's a communication app that makes collaboration a breeze. Email is great for many things, but it can be cumbersome when conversing with colleagues. It's too easy for messages to get lost, or buried beneath a mountain of other emails.
With Slack, all of your office communications are neatly organized and searchable. Different channels can be created for different projects, departments, and clients; and team members can jump in and out of conversations as needed. Meaning they won't get notifications about conversations they're no longer involved in.
But Slack is more than just an email alternative. You can also share documents, video chat, and send GIFs inside the application. To really boost productivity, integrate your other tools like Google Drive, Dropbox, SalesForce, and CloudApp. Plans range from $0 to $12.50 a month, per user.
6. Trello
Trello is a project management app that makes managing projects less stressful; enjoyable, even. How is that possible? It all starts with the platform's Kanban philosophy. Trello is highly visual, which makes it very intuitive.
Users can break big projects down into smaller chunks by creating 'cards' for every task. Cards can be arranged into different columns, which represent different phases of a project. As tasks get completed, cards are easily transferred from one column to the next.
Here's how this process might look in a real-life scenario:
Jen is tasked with managing her company's blog. To keep track of all the articles written and submitted by different writers, she creates a Trello board with four columns: 'Blog Ideas', 'Writing', 'Editing', and 'Published'.
As each blog idea is worked on, it makes its way from the 'Blog Ideas' column, all the way to the 'Published' column when the article has been finished and posted. Make sense?
Trello is free to use, though they do offer premium plans with additional features starting at $9.99 a month.
7. Hootsuite
Social media is a business game changer. Companies have never had such easy access to their customers as they do now. It's an amazing opportunity, but it comes at a cost: crafting social posts and responding to comments takes a lot of time.
Fortunately, there are apps out there that make posting social media content much less time-intensive.
Hootsuite is a social media management app that allows you to update your company's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn pages from the same screen — without having to log into each individual platform. You can also reply to comments inside the tool, too.
But the real reason why Hootsuite makes our best productivity apps for 2020 list is because of its scheduling feature. Log in once, schedule every post you plan to make for the next week, month, three months (Hootsuite allows you to schedule hundreds of messages at a time), and then just monitor your accounts as the software automatically posts content at the time you specified. How cool is that?
Hootsuite plans start at $29 a month after a free 30 day trial.
8. Toggl
Toggl is the simple, intuitive time tracker that you and your team will actually use. It isn't limited by device and works on your computer, tablet and phone; so no matter where or what you're working on, your hours are being tracked. Oh, and you'll never forget to turn this productivity app on because it sends you friendly reminders to do so.
When you've completed a task, take a look at the detailed report. Toggl crunches the numbers and shows you how your time was spent. You just have to analyze its findings and adjust the way you work in the future to be more productive.
If you're a freelancer, a tool like this is mandatory. How else will you accurately bill clients? But even those who are employed on a salary basis will find Toggl useful. After all, to become more productive, it helps to first know how you're really spending your time.
Toggl is free to use, though premium features start at $9 a month per user.
9. LastPass
We'll say it, passwords are incredibly frustrating. Having to remember a different combination of letters, numbers, and symbols just to log into each digital tool you use for work is a nightmare. And the truth is, passwords actually don't do much to improve security.
Enter LastPass, a password management tool that makes it easy to generate, remember, and even share detailed and secure passwords. Here's how it works:
- Download the LastPass browser extension to your computer.
- Create your LastPass account and create a long, detailed master password.
- Add sites and unique passwords to your personal LastPass password manager vault.
- Now, when you go to any of the sites that have been added to your personal LastPass vault, LastPass will automatically fill in the details for you.
If you want to boost digital security and productivity, you need LastPass, which can be used for free with basic functionality. Paid plans with additional features start at $4 a user.
10. HelloSign
Before electronic signature software, signing documents was a pain..
First, you'd have to scan your specific contract into the computer and email it to your recipient. Once received, the signee would then need to print the document out, sign it, scan it back into their computer, and, finally, email it back to you. That's just too many steps!
HelloSign takes the hassle out of signing contracts by enabling you to sign them electronically. And don't worry, every document signed through HelloSign is legally binding.
As an added bonus, your signed contracts are organized inside the secure HelloSign system, meaning you don't need to waste time or space storing physical documents. Simply create the agreement, send it out for the necessary signatures, and file it away for future reference.
HelloSign is free for limited use and upgraded plans start at $13 a month.
It should be noted that only the user creating and sending documents is charged this monthly fee. Those receiving contracts are not required to pay anything in order to sign them. In fact, they don't even need to create their own account.
11. Zapier
Last, but not least, we have Zapier, which allows its users to create integrations and automations between apps that normally wouldn't communicate with each other. For example, a new email received in Gmail can be programmed to automatically download all included attachments to a Dropbox folder and alert you via Slack.
The best part is, all of these integrations and automations can be built with just a few clicks of your mouse; no coding required. Just select your business software of choice (this productivity app works with over 1,500 other tools, so your favorites are bound to be included) and start building customized workflows.
You'll save hours every week and become much more productive when you let Zapier handle monotonous tasks like data entry for you. After a 14 day free trial, plans cost $20 a month and beyond, depending on the features you want.
Discover the Best Productivity Apps for You
If you want to become more productive in 2020 (and who doesn't) the ten apps listed in this blog post will help. We encourage you to investigate each of them yourself, sign up for the free trials, and see if they can assist you in getting more done in less time.
For your convenience, the productivity apps mentioned in this article are listed below. Here's to your most productive year yet!
Learn how CloudApp will make you more productive