The best Mac apps to improve your productivity in 2022

Collection of the apps I use on a daily basis to improve my productivity.

Bjorn Amherd
3 min readOct 4, 2022
Illustration via Storyset.

Let’s admit it — it can get pretty messy on your Mac after a while. Here are the tools I use to declutter my computer, hide distracting stuff, and optimise my workflows.

Quitter

Quitter is a Mac app that automatically hides or quits apps after periods of inactivity. You decide if the nominated app is minimised or completely quits after the time you set.

Quitter settings.

Download Quitter for free on marco.org

HazeOver

This app dims distractions by fading the windows in your background, and you can focus only on the window you're currently looking at. Fade duration and strength can be adjusted in HazeOver very easily.

HazeOver settings.

More info about HazeOver here (download via Mac app store)

Moom

With Moom, you can easily move and zoom windows to half screen, quarter screen, or fill the screen. You can also set custom sizes and locations, and save layouts of opened windows for one-click positioning.

Moom in action.

More information about Moom (download via Mac app store; Free Trial)

Spark

I use Spark as an alternative email client to Outlook. It can handle multiple email and calendar accounts and is very minimal. Spark helps you to focus on what’s important and ignite your productivity with fewer distractions, better organization and greater control.

Spark email clients.

More information about Spark (free version available)

Alfred

Alfred is an application launcher and productivity application for Mac, and my alternative to Spotlight. The app comes with great shortcuts out of the box, but you can add your own very easily. The free version is sufficient, but you can buy a ‘Powerpack’ to extend and customise Alfred even more.

Alfred in action (via alfredapp.com)

More information about Alfred (free version is perfectly sufficient)

Caffeine

This one is an oldie and has been around since 2010. Caffeine is a free utility that prevents your Mac from displaying the screen saver and going to sleep — hence the name. Perfect for presentations where you want to avoid getting locked out.

More info and download for Caffeine (free)

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Bjorn Amherd
Bjorn Amherd

Written by Bjorn Amherd

Product design lead for the dealership experience at carsales. 20+ years experience. Worked for REA, Myer, HESTA, Bunnings, Optus, Fisher & Paykel in the past..

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