Mac Open Web

A collection of open and indie Mac, iOS, and web apps that help promote the open web. Updated 19 September 2023

Submit any new links and issues on this project at GitHub.

RSS Readers & Discovery

Programming & Development

  • BBEdit

    by Bare Bones

    A text editor that doesn’t suck®.

  • CodeKit

    by Bryan Jones

    Dozens of modern web development tools in one easy-to-use app. Get to work without grunting, gulping, or 47 trips to Stack Overflow.

  • CotEditor

    by CotEditor Project

    A light-weight, neat, yet powerful text editor.

  • Cyberduck

    by iterate GmbH

    An open file transfer and cloud storage browser for the Mac since 2003.

  • DropDMG

    by C-Command

    Create professional disk images to deliver your app outside the Mac App Store.

  • Fork

    by Danil Pristupov

    A fast and friendly git client for Mac and Windows.

  • Forklift

    by Binary Nights

    Powerful, fast FTP client for the Mac.

  • GitFinder

    by ZigZag

    A fast and lightweight Git client for Mac with Finder integration.

  • GitUp

    by GitUp

    A powerful GUI front-end interface for your git repos.

  • Glitch

    by Glitch

    Glitch is the friendly community where everyone can discover and create the best stuff on the web.

  • iTerm

    by George Nachman

    iTerm is a powerful replacement for the default Terminal on macOS.

  • MAMP

    by MAMP GmbH

    Free, local server environment that can be installed with just a few clicks.

  • Nova

    by Panic

    Powerful and beautiful, native code editor for macOS.

  • osagitfilter

    by Doekman

    Filter to put OSA languages (AppleScript, JavaScript) into git, as if they where plain text files.

  • Postgres.app

    by Jakob Egger and Chris Pastl

    The easiest way to get started with PostgreSQL on the Mac.

  • Postico

    by Egger Apps

    A Modern PostgreSQL Client for the Mac.

  • Prompt

    by Panic

    An elegant and powerful SSH client for iOS.

  • Proxyman

    by Proxyman

    Modern. Native. Web Debugging Proxy. Capture HTTP, HTTPS, WebSocket with ease.

  • Script Debugger

    by Late Night Software

    The full power of applescript automation. Experience applescript made easy.

  • Sequel Ace

    by Sequel Ace Devs

    A MySQL/MariaDB management GUI, forked from Sequel Pro.

  • SubEthaEdit

    by Dominik Wagner & Contributors

    General purpose plain text editor for macOS. Widely known for its live collaboration feature.

  • Sublime Text & Sublime Merge

    by Sublime

    A cross-platform, highly extensible text editor + a Git client, too.

  • Table Tool

    by Sandro Peham, Andreas Aigner, and Jakob Egger

    A simple CSV editor for the Mac.

  • TextMate

    by Macromates

    Powerful and customizable text editor with support for a huge list of programming languages and developed as open source.

  • Transmit

    by Panic

    Upload, download, and manage files on tons of servers with an easy, familiar, and powerful UI.

Design

Productivity

  • Alfred

    by Running with Crayons

    Search your Mac and the web, and be more productive with custom actions to control your Mac.

  • FastScripts

    by Red Sweater

    Instant access to your scripts, by keyboard shortcut or menubar.

  • Firefox

    by Mozilla

    Open-source web browser backed by the Mozilla Foundation, fighting for the open web.

  • Hazel

    by Noodlesoft

    Automated organization for your Mac.

  • Keyboard Maestro

    by Stairways Software

    Automate applications or websites, text or images, simple or complex, on command or scheduled. You can automate virtually anything.

  • LaunchBar

    by Objective Development Software

    Start with a single keyboard shortcut to access and control every aspect of your digital life.

  • MailMate

    by Benny Kjær Nielsen

    An advanced IMAP client for the Mac, with Markdown editing, keyboard navigation, encryption, and robust search.

  • MenuBar Timer

    by Kais K.

    MenuBar Timer is your go-to timer app for macOS, conveniently accessible right from your menu bar.

  • Mimestream

    by Neil Jhaveri

    A native macOS email client for Gmail.

  • PopClip

    by Pilotmoon Software

    Perform quick actions with text snippets on the Mac. Extensible to interact with a bunch of web and native apps.

  • Postbox

    by Postbox

    Simple, powerful, and transparent email app.

  • Raycast

    by Raycast

    Launcher with a focus on integration with APIs and web services.

  • SpamSieve

    by C-Command

    Add powerful spam filtering to your Mac e-mail client. Rescue good messages caught by server filters.

Blogging

Text & Writing

  • Archimedes

    by Furnace Creek Software

    Markdown and LaTeX editor optimized for technical writing. Available for Mac and iPad.

  • Bear

    by Shiny Frog

    A beautiful, flexible writing app for crafting notes and prose.

  • Byword

    by Metaclassy

    Markdown app for writing in plain text efficiently. Available for Mac, iPhone & iPad.

  • Citationsy

    by Cenk Özbakır

    Citationsy is a reference collection and bibliography creation tool for people who value simplicity, privacy, and speed.

  • FSNotes

    by Oleksandr Hlushchenko

    Open-source robust notes manager that supports markdown. For Mac & iOS.

  • iA Writer

    by iA

    Markdown writing app that removes distractions, giving you a calm, focused writing space.

  • Mellel

    by Mellel

    A word processor specifically designed for academics, technical writers, scholars, and students.

  • MenuBar Notez

    by Kais K.

    A simple menu bar note taking app at your finger tips!

  • Notenik

    by Herb Bowie

    An open source note-taking app with sync support, user definable fields, Wiki-style note linking, and more.

  • Noteship

    by Noteship Blog

    Personal notes and knowledge base app focused on privacy and data-longevity; saves locally as simple files (HTML) and folders.

  • nvALT

    by Brett Terpstra

    A fork of the original Notational Velocity with additional features and interface modifications.

  • Scrivener

    by Literature & Latte

    A go-to app for writers of all kinds.

  • Obsidian

    by Obsdian

    Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files.

  • Tot

    by Iconfactory

    An elegant, simple way to collect and edit text on your Mac, iPhone & iPad.

  • Ulysses

    by Ulysses GmbH & Co

    A pleasant, focused writing experience with flexible exporting options.

Read Later & Bookmarking

Audio/Video

  • Audacity

    by Muse Group

    A venerable, open-source audio recording and editing app for macOS. Looks a bit old-fashioned but can do all the simple things easily.

  • Audio Hijack

    by Rogue Amoeba

    Wildly useful app to route audio from and to any device your computer knows about.

  • Davinci Resolve

    by Blackmagic Design

    A free and extensible alternative to Final Cut or Premiere that can do everything you need in a video editor.

  • PowerDirector

    by CyberLink

    An easy-to-use video editor with many presets for common edits or embellishments.

  • Ferrite Recording Studio

    by Wooji Juice

    Professional audio recording & multi-track editing for the iPhone & iPad.

  • Reaper

    by cockos inc.

    A powerful, extensible audio recording and editing app for macOS. It offers a well-conceived alternative workflow to ProTools or other professional grade tools.

  • RiversideFM

    by Riverside

    All-in-one app/site geared toward content creation for podcasts, vidcasts, etc. The iOS apps are especially easy to use.

  • Shotcut

    by Meltytech

    An open-source, cross-platform video editor with many, if not all, of the tools you'll find in the commercial products. A helpful and friendly community powers an active forum if you need help.

Podcasting