Best Overall
*Best Free Mac Software 2018
*Best Freeware For MacHitFilm Express
Balancing creativity, ease of use and performance is a trade-off, but HitFilm remains an inspired software package brimming with features, and paired with a dynamic website offering an abundance of fun, funky training videos. Best for Mac Users
CNET Download.com is your best guide to find free downloads of safe, trusted, and secure Mac software, utilities, and games. CNET is the premier destination for tech product reviews, news, price. Sep 26, 2019 Wondering what to install on your Mac? Look no further than our list of the best Mac apps, including everything from excellent productivity tools to social media apps, entertainment, and security. Sep 13, 2018 Please contact me if you have any suggestions for best Mac OS apps! I haven't included any of the default apps that come with Mac OS. Laptop or your phone stolen sucks, but there is something you can do about it. Prey is a lightweight theft protection software that lets you keep an eye over them whether in town or abroad, and helps you.Apple iMovie 10.1.8
iMovie is the ultimate Mac video app for novice filmmakers, combining professional trailers and themes, abundant special effects, and an easy-to-learn interface. Best for Beginners/Social MediaVideoPad
Beginners looking for a free app to quickly edit and output a movie to YouTube or other social networks should check out VideoPad.
Unless you're editing the next Star Wars trilogy, there's no reason to spend a fortune—or anything, for that matter—on video editing software for your Mac or PC. While there are many reasonably priced video-editing suites, going for less than $100, completely free or freemium editing packages can accomplish most or all of what some of the paid software packages can do.
After testing numerous suites, our favorite free video editing software is HitFilm Express for its lavish cinematic capabilities and high-powered interface. Our favorite video editor for Mac owners, Apple's iMovie, is a no-brainer choice, because of its macOS integration, top-notch output, professional themes and trailers, and support for professional shooting and editing techniques. Best OverallHitFilm ExpressReasons to BuyPlayback options that speed up editingFlexible and intuitive export featuresMany new features derived from the $299 Pro versionReasons to AvoidSome playback options remove special effects
Hitfilm Express's high-energy style appeals to budding filmmakers who want to put a special touch on a personal event or get creative with a video blog, but it's still easy enough for the adventurous friends-and-family crowd. The one concession you have to make is that you have to give the software maker a shout out on social media in order to download the free app.
New features include animation keyframing in the editor, motion blur, enhanced preview options, a new layout panel, improved masking in composite shots, additional workspaces and new export features.
Other great features include the ability to create your own lightsaber battles, support for 4K video, as well as such features as 3D effects, 360-degree video editing and lens distortion correction from action cameras. Our one quibble is that some features, such as picture-in-picture and animated text require a $9.99 expansion pack.
As with previous versions, HitFilm wasn't the fastest at encoding videos, but that's a trade-off we're willing to make for such an expansive feature set.Editor's Note: Since our initial review, HitFilm has been updated to version 13.1; improvements include increasing the maximum supported resolution to 4K (4096 x 2160), GPU-accelerated decoding on Nvidia and Intel graphics cards, changes to the interface, and native support for Dolby AC3 audio.
Read our full HitFilm Express review.Best for Mac UsersApple iMovie 10.1.8Reasons to BuyProfessional-looking themes and trailersTheater feature shares movies to all Apple devicesReasons to AvoidLacks multicam, motion tracking and 360-degree features
iMovie is the Mac-based amateur filmmaker’s best friend, delivering themes, Hollywood-style trailers and video effects with minimalistic panache, a cinematic flair, and deep integration and optimization with the Mac OS. Recent updates tweaked the interface and added Touch Bar support for the latest MacBooks.
While you can now edit and share 4K videos, iMovie lacks features found in other free apps, such as the ability to edit 360-degree video, multicam editing and motion tracking. You also have limited control over output settings.
Because it's so deeply entwined with the macOS, iMovie was one of the fastest apps when it came to encoding video. Once that's finished, it also gives you plenty of sharing options: You can upload directly to YouTube and Vimeo, and share any video frame as an image. When you couple iMovie with iMovie Theater and iCloud, you can also view your creations on any Apple device or via Apple TV.Editor's Note: Now on version 10.1.12, you can no longer share movies to iMovie Theater; you have to save your movies to iCloud Photos to watch them on other devices including Apple TV. On a previous update, Apple has removed the ability to share videos directly to Facebook, but has added an option to export Facebook-compatible videos, which you can then manually upload.
Read our full Apple iMovie 10.1.8 review.Best for Beginners/Social MediaVideoPadReasons to BuySupports 360-degree camera editing and outputExtensive YouTube, social media and mobile-output formats and specsReasons to AvoidLacks some advanced features like multicam editing and motion tracking
This free video editor makes it a cinch to export your creations to YouTube, Facebook, Dropbox, Flickr, Google Drive and an assortment of mobile devices through a simple pull-down menu. You have to sign in to these services first. And while YouTube uploaded directly to my channel without incident, you may have to save your video to your hard drive with social media specs and then upload to the social network yourself.
Compared to HitFilm's high-energy interface, VideoPad has a simple, soothing look which makes it more approachable for novices. It works with both Macs and PCs and still lets you edit 360-degree video with the same ease as you would traditional movies, though adding text to 360-degree clips can be a bit tricky. VideoPad also lacks some of the advanced features you'll find with HitFilm, like multicam editing, high-end special effects and motion tracking, but you can purchase a number of add-ons to expand VideoPad's feature set.
Our biggest issue with VideoPad was not knowing which features were disabled in the free version versus the trial and paid versions. We found VideoPad to be a bit slower on our transcoding tests than Hitfilm, too. But that may not matter for those looking for an app that they can use to quickly and easily edit video and then upload to the social media outlet of their choice.
Read our full VideoPad review.DaVinci Resolve 15Reasons to BuyFree with no limits or watermarksExquisitely deep app for color grading, compositing and audio productionReasons to AvoidA powerful computer is needed for high-end graphics functionsNo direct export to social media
A powerful pro-level app, cross platform you’ll want to use a system with discrete graphics to get the most out of this editor.
The latest version of DaVinci incorporates Fusion, previously a stand-alone application, which brings with it four high-end video-production modules for editing, color correction, audio production, and video effects and motion graphics. This video editor is quite powerful, but has a bit of a learning curve. If its 256-page manual doesn't intimidate you, high-level enthusiasts will find a lot of tools at their disposal.
Editor's Note: DaVinci Resolve 16 is now available, and includes such new features as facial recognition, fast export to YouTube and Vimeo, and 3D audio.
Read our full DaVinci Resolve review.VSDCReasons to BuyVariety of stylish built-in effects, transitions and audio filtersConsumer-oriented and easy enough for simple video tasksIncludes a screen-capture tool for recording video and taking still images from the desktopReasons to AvoidNo popular features like 360-degree, motion tracking or multicam editingWindows only
VSDC is not bad for basic edits, but its interface has a learning curve, and it lacks some popular features.
Read our full VSDC review.ShotcutReasons to BuyFlexible interfaceLarge selection of audio and video filtersReasons to AvoidDifferent interface conventions than other video apps
Shotcut has a ton of features, but is not as intuitive to use as other programs.
Read our full Shotcut review.Why You Should Trust Us
We have been testing the leading consumer video-editing suites, both free and paid, for several years. With such knowledge, we can compare things like performance, interfaces and features, and improvements in the various suites over time.
The reviewer, Jackie Dove, is an obsessive, insomniac freelance tech writer and editor in Northern California. A wildlife advocate, cat fan, photo-app fanatic and VR/AR/3D aficionado, her specialties include cross-platform hardware and software, art, design, photography, video, and a wide range of creative and productivity apps and systems.What to Look for in a Free Video EditorBest Free Mac Software 2018
The Definition of Free: There's free and then there's freemium. Some software, like iMovie, is genuinely free. But just as some video-editing packages are sold in tiers — with more-expensive versions offering more and expanded features — a freemium video program may just be the lowest level of a paid version. Or it may be a trial version that hobbles the end product in various ways, like putting a huge watermark on your video or limiting output formats.
But there are variations on this theme. HitFilm, VideoPad, DaVinci Resolve and VSDC, for example, offer paid versions with high-end features that most consumers probably won't miss, but otherwise allow for full use of the basic program.
MORE: The Best Video Editing Software Under $100
Another hidden 'cost' is periodic or even constant in-line advertising or reminders that an upgrade is available. Our favorite program, HitFilm, never pushes an upgrade on you, but it makes you go through a social media and authorizing song and dance to download the product or switch computers. VideoPad (on the Mac) makes you verify at every launch that you are using the free version for noncommercial purposes.
Both DaVinci and VSDC mix paid features in their basic programs, but they do not explicitly mark these features as such. However, if you try to use them, you'll get an error message and an ad. We can't fault the software companies for trying to get users on board with paid versions, but just be warned that such annoyances are the hidden cost of otherwise-free video apps.
Those looking for a powerful editor with a huge variety of built-in resources and responsive technical support may be better off dropping some cash on a consumer video-editing program, like award winners Adobe Premiere Elements, CyberLink PowerDirector or Corel VideoStudio. However, first consider trying out software such as HitFilm Express 2017, VideoPad, DaVinci Resolve or VSDC, which offer all of the basics for free, and then purchasing additional features à la carte or simply upgrade as your experience and needs grow.
Basic Features: The watchword with free apps is often which one offers the best combination of technically complex software for which you would otherwise have to shell out the big bucks. All video editors should, at the very least, have some combination of familiar features like a viewer or playback window, library, timeline, and access to transitions and effects.
Tech support and documentation: One of the big distinctions between paid and free software is the level of documentation and tech support; paid software has more-explicit and -detailed documentation and guides than the free versions. That said, many software packages post instructional videos of the most popular features to YouTube, and more-complex free packages may offer extensive documentation.
Many independent vendors, who are often sole proprietors in charge of the software, make themselves available to users via social media and email to assist with problems, troubleshoot, take suggestions and criticism, and otherwise oversee the software. Programs with intuitive interfaces and tool-tip hints, and even built-in tutorials to greet new users, make free software popular.
System requirements: Many free software packages technically serve most consumer hardware systems with integrated graphics, as opposed to more-powerful discrete graphics cards. If you have a consumer machine like a MacBook or a Windows laptop with integrated graphics, make sure your machine is powerful enough to run them efficiently.
Export options: Another area where free meets inconvenience may be at the tail end of the project, when you want to export your video, only to discover that the free version will not output to your desired format. Before you start using a free package, make sure that it will save your video to the platform and resolution you need, whether your video will eventually wind up on YouTube or on a Blu-ray disc.
One of the reasons why people embrace Mac cleaning software’s is to avoid paying Apple based on the storage space taken up. Optimized storage would only be moving your junk files to iCloud and it makes the iCloud space limited especially after crossing the 5GB limit. You would have to pay for extra space that you are getting. It does not make sense to have GBs of junk data to be saved on the cloud.
The best Mac Cleaner software helps you to do this without iCloud. You do not have to spend additional money if you can locate free space in your Mac itself. Other reasons why you need to consider Mac cleaner software includes the removal of GBs application data that is not often used. These tools can help clean up temporary data and cache files just to save a lot of space.Best Freeware For Mac
Using mac cleaner software helps you to take care of all these with just a single click. You don't need to worry about cleaning files from individual directories because a Mac cleaner helps you to intoxicate your mac in every manner. Here are some of the best Mac Cleaner software.Quick Navigation1. CleanMyMac X
CleanMyMac X is very easy to use with the drag and drop feature. It is one of the best Mac cleaners and gives its users access to visual and textual information about disk usage. The interface is simple and it is easy to install. You also have the opportunity to see detailed information about a certain app by selecting it.Cleanmymac X in macOS Mojave
This will help you to understand what is taking too much space as you remove it and give your hard drive a breathing space. There are so many things you can do with it especially verifying the startup disk and structuring the files to configure parameters. You can perform cleaning and disk maintenance action by deleting caches and removing apps that they come with. It also helps to rebuild databases. CleanMyMac provides a drive that responds fast with fast startup and internet connection regardless of the version of OS that you are using. It supports all versions of Mac and if you recently performed an upgrade, it will clean up the junk from the previous OS that you were using thereby giving you a clean slate to start with. With a clean and fast Mac, you will enjoy the best experiences ever.
Furthermore, we have tested quite a number of Mac cleaning apps in order to determine the best. In the same vein, we have considered several reference points and used various criteria to determine the most effective tool that can be used to clean a Mac. CleanMyMac X came from a trusted developer and it is an “all-in-one” cleaning software for devices that run on the Mac Os. It has completed an updated transformation in the area of comprehensive cleanup, management tool, and optimization.Uninstaller and Updater
CleanMyMacX gives you the opportunity to clean your Mac device from every aspect. You can easily delete unwanted files thereby optimizing the performance of apps and maintenance of certain tasks. There are also additional features such as Software Uninstaller and Updater that helps you to deal with optimization.Malware detector
CleanMyMac X creates valuable space to store files on Mac without transferring junk files to any iCloud space that is available. The software cares for all versions of mac by offering Smart Scan that lets you perform a single scan while providing information about the condition of your Mac and helping you to make decisions thereafter. Malware remover is another additional module in CleanMyMac X that scans your Mac for various malware and instantly removes them. CleanMyMac X is thrice as fast as others are when scanning files in your system. It offers optimization that keeps your Mac snappy and performance friendly.Cleanmymac Menu
CleanMyMac X is a great addition to any Mac because it saves a lot of space and enhances MacBook performance. The beautiful interface, smart and safe cleaning options make it the best Mac cleaning software that is available. Although, CleanMyMac X is not the only option that can be considered, here are some of the tools that you can also try.
Over the years, CCleaner has been the standard in PC cleaner software. Mac users can enjoy the benefit offered by Piriform developers. It is professional, quick and easy to use because it speeds up your Mac and secures it. Even if CCleaner has a free version, there are just two basic features that are emphasized on the website. They include “faster computer” and “privacy protection”. You can also obtain services such as Real-time monitoring, Automatic Browser Cleaning and Automatic Updating at the premium level.CCleaner in macOS Mojave
“Cleaner”, “Tools” and “Option” are the 3 tabs that are available and these 3 files help you to remove junk files, unused data, unwanted files and other things that can decrease the performance of mac thereby enabling it to run smoother and faster. It also clears cookies, saves passwords and browsing history thereby making your online browsing safe and secure. CCleaner already cleared about 3000 files at a go from my system and this shows the level of effectiveness of the software.
Although CCleaner has helpful features, it lacks some things. It is not fully featured because it only has a beta version for Mac thereby leading to the absence of some features that are available in the original version. In addition, it is limited to certain browsers such as Firefox, Safari, and Chrome.
Disk Doctor helps to perform certain operations that maintain your system and optimizes its performance. It fixes possible errors and gives you the opportunity to fine-tune hidden preferences. Disk Doctor checks for errors and junk files that pile up on the system. It is a small but useful application that effectively cleans junk files from hard drive.
There is a small pretty window on the interface that tells you the capacity of your hard drive as well as the used and free space that is available. There are no check boxes or additional steps but all you need to do is to click on the scan button. Disk doctor scans six areas that include caches, language files, logs, application, trash can, mail downloads, and downloads. There are explanations for each area and the type of junks that can be found in them. You can simply choose what you wish to erase and click on “clean my disk” button.New Disk Doctor on Mac
The process of erasing is quite easy and fast and you will see a notification of the quantity of space that is freed. This is what Disk Doctor does since there are no additional features that allow you to set up specific options. The major shortcoming of disk doctor is that it only scans Mail (Apple’s mail applications) for attachment thereby neglecting various desktop e-mail clients. While other software uses a secure erase procedure, Disk Doctor uses a basic procedure that cannot permanently remove a file. It is only a basic disk cleaner app without any element of advanced features.
This is another beautiful and distinct disk space analyzer that efficiently scans the drives on your Mac. It provides a visual overview of what is eating up space on your Mac and showcases files in a pinwheel-shaped disk that helps you to locate and clean up large files.DaisyDisk
It also has a built-in Quick Look preview that shows you what you wish to get rid of. There are collection drawers that help you stage files for trashing. You only need to browse through and select things that you do not need while a single click clears them out. We like Daisy Disk’s design and its circular visualization but DaisyDisk does not warn you if you delete something that is needed for any application or your system hence, use daisy disk carefully.
Drive Genius keeps the computer running smoothly while ensuring that there is no valuable data loss. It combines data recovery, virus scanning, and cleanup process efficiently. It constantly scans for major issues before they become a problem. If you use your Mac to make money and store valuable information, you can consider Drive Genius. It offers a collection of tools that are very comprehensive but if you are a casual user of the computer, there are some basic software that can provide free data recovery.Drive Genius in new Mac
The partitioning feature in the Disk utility provides several functions such as allowing users to resize rename and reformat partitions. Drive genius provides these features and more. It also allows partitions to be directly transferred to other locations on the drive that contains free space. In addition, it automatically selects new locations that are available for maximum compaction of the disk. Users will also have the opportunity of hiding or revealing partitions in order to make them accessible or inaccessible. Drive Genius run these utilities simultaneously on different drives thereby making the process of maintenance quick and easy.
The easiest way to delete an app from your Mac is to move it to trash. This however usually leaves behind some extra files. To remove all the files associated with an app when it is uninstalled, this is the Mac cleaner to use. It clears everything ensuring that the hard drive's space is only used to store data related to apps that are actually useful.AppCleaner on macOS High Sierra
This app is very easy to use. Just drag apps you would like to uninstall and drop them in the small window of the AppCleaner. All the files associated with the app to be uninstalled are listed and you can uninstall them at once. Even widgets associated with the app to be uninstalled can be deleted. The files deleted are sent to trash and you can confirm and be sure of what you are deleting.
This is one of the best free Mac Cleaners. It gives its users visual and textual information about disk usage. It is easy to install and has a simple interface.Disk Inventory X on High Sierra
When opened Disk Inventory X will show a simple disk selector dialog box. Select the disk you want and this will expand to a large Window. On the left pane, you will see the total size of files and folders in hierarchical order. On the right side, you will see a colorful graphical presentation of the file types of color coded. You can see detailed information about a certain app by selecting it. With this, you can know what is taking too much space and you can remove it to give your hard drive some breathing space.
This comes with a clean interface with two main features. The first is the “Disk Cleaner” which scans for junk files stored in the hard drive and removes them. Any leftover files, log files and hidden cache will be detected. You can clean these up by pressing on the “View & Clean” button.AVG Cleaner for Mac
The other major feature is the Duplicate Finder. To use this click on the “scan now” button and you will be presented with all the duplicate files and you can decide to delete them. Just click on the “Clean” button. AVG Cleaner for Mac is a simple yet very powerful tool and to top it all it is free of charge.
This feature-packed utility is the best Mac cleaner. There is so much you can do with this. From verifying the startup disk to structuring the system files to configuring parameters in the Finder and other Apple applications like Dock and Safari you can do it with this app. You can even carry out disk maintenance and cleaning. You will be able to delete caches and remove apps and all they come with. Databases and indexes can be rebuilt as well.OnyX
You must be thinking that you can do all these with Terminal. Well, you can but you would have to remember complex commands. With OnyX you get to do all the above activities without having to remember a single command. However be careful not to delete files or features that are important unknowingly.
In summary, CleanMyMac X is the perfect mac maintenance tool that is available simply because it provides interactive features together with a good interface that depicts beauty and quality. If you are a power user, CleanMyMac remains your best bet when you are considering apps of this nature. In addition, over 5 million Mac users use CleanMyMac X across the globe. CleanMyMac will speed up and manage your app like never before.
