{"id":1987,"date":"2018-03-04T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-03-04T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/?p=1987"},"modified":"2024-12-31T02:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-12-31T00:00:00","slug":"productivity-apps-mac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/apps-tools\/productivity-apps-mac\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Best Productivity Apps for Mac in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you\u2019re having trouble overcoming distractions and staying productive while working on your Mac \u2014 the right productivity apps may be all you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on the type, apps can help you:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep track of your and your team\u2019s work time,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Speed up communication,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Block distracting websites, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To discover the perfect tools, I examined many of the best productivity apps for Mac and settled on the 9 that improved my workflow and productivity the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s go through each.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/9-Best-Productivity-Apps-for-Mac-in-2025-cover.jpg\" alt=\"9 Best Productivity Apps for Mac in 2025 - cover\" class=\"wp-image-29215\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/9-Best-Productivity-Apps-for-Mac-in-2025-cover.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/9-Best-Productivity-Apps-for-Mac-in-2025-cover-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/9-Best-Productivity-Apps-for-Mac-in-2025-cover-1110x555.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/9-Best-Productivity-Apps-for-Mac-in-2025-cover-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/9-Best-Productivity-Apps-for-Mac-in-2025-cover-18x9.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f0faff\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5c430e3af789a59ad881a6001925c424\" style=\"color:#0c1013\"><strong>WHY TRUST US?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8f5aeff3e8f21adb3a112105a556e19b\" style=\"color:#263238\">The apps we talk about are selected, tested, and written about by human reviewers who follow strict review and editorial guidelines. We pick solutions that are practical, purposeful, and can offer real value for the specific use case or business context we\u2019re covering \u2014 while also being justified in their pricing. Our methodology is transparent, clear, and available to everyone:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7f5f4bccd56f4d6606a10d2709890b37\" style=\"color:#0287c5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/our-software-review-methodology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about our review methodology here \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"1-clockify-by-cake-com-best-productivity-app-for-tracking-team-time-and-labor-costs\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#1: <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Clockify<\/a> by CAKE.com \u2014 best productivity app for tracking team time and labor costs<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"594\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify.jpg\" alt=\"Clockify\" class=\"wp-image-28825\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-606x300.jpg 606w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-1110x549.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-768x380.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-18x9.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Clockify by <a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CAKE.com<\/a> is the best <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/productivity-tracker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free productivity app<\/a> because it helps you stay focused, productive, and efficient at work. Not only does it allow you to organize your workday, but it also leaves a trail of when you worked and how much. Later, you can analyze this data to learn how to increase your productivity even more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.clockify.me\/en\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Track hours with Clockify<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-does-clockify-work\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does Clockify work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Clockify lets you choose how you want to track time. For example, you can start the <strong>timer<\/strong> to automatically track hours while working on tasks or use <strong>manual mode<\/strong> to manually log time.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"425\" height=\"418\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-new-manual-time-entry.png\" alt=\"Clockify - new manual time entry\" class=\"wp-image-28826\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-new-manual-time-entry.png 425w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-new-manual-time-entry-305x300.png 305w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-new-manual-time-entry-12x12.png 12w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 425px) 100vw, 425px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adding a new time entry manually in the Clockify Mac app<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Clockify for Mac lets you track the time you spend on your activities directly from your desktop. What\u2019s more, you can associate your time entries with projects, tasks, tags, and billability status \u2014 for easier management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As someone who likes implementing the <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/productivity\/pomodoro-technique\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pomodoro technique<\/a> when working, I find the <strong>Pomodoro timer<\/strong> to be the highlight of Clockify. Here\u2019s how it works:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Start the timer when you begin working on a task,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After 25 minutes, you get a notification reminding you to take a mini-break from work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"477\" height=\"306\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-Pomodoro-timer-settings.png\" alt=\"Clockify - Pomodoro timer settings\" class=\"wp-image-28827\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-Pomodoro-timer-settings.png 477w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-Pomodoro-timer-settings-468x300.png 468w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-Pomodoro-timer-settings-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 477px) 100vw, 477px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Setting up the Pomodoro timer in Clockify<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Of course, your work intervals don\u2019t have to be 25 minutes long. The app allows you to change the work session time and break time to your liking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For me, the advantage of Clockify\u2019s Pomodoro timer over others I tried is that, apart from notifying you when your work session starts\/finishes, Clockify saves all the time you track. This way, you get a precise log of all the hours you worked and <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/help\/track-time-and-expenses\/breaks-web\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">breaks<\/a> you took.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"463\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-Pomodoro-timer-on-Mac.jpg\" alt=\"Clockify - Pomodoro timer on Mac\" class=\"wp-image-28828\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-Pomodoro-timer-on-Mac.jpg 463w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-Pomodoro-timer-on-Mac-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-Pomodoro-timer-on-Mac-9x12.jpg 9w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 463px) 100vw, 463px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Using the Pomodoro timer in Clockify<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Another handy feature in Clockify\u2019s Mac app is the <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/help\/track-time-and-expenses\/auto-tracker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">auto tracker<\/a>. When the auto tracker is on, Clockify keeps a log of all the apps you\u2019re using and for how long. I found this feature to be great for improving productivity, as I can clearly see how I\u2019m spending my work hours or if I waste too much time on specific apps.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"clockifys-pros\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clockify\u2019s pros<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what makes Clockify the best productivity Mac app:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Free plan with unlimited time tracking for 5 users, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Detailed time tracking reports to analyze productivity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"clockifys-cons\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clockify\u2019s cons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, let\u2019s look at a few cons of using Clockify:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Free trial is only 7 days long, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tracking breaks isn\u2019t available in the Free plan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-clockify-by-cake-com\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Clockify by CAKE.com?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In September 2024, Clockify\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/updates\/auto-tracker-grouping\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">auto tracker received an update<\/a>. The update includes a group view of all the app activities the auto tracker tracked. In other words, the tracker groups all the hours spent on the same app together so you can see exactly how long you used each app while working on your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Type of plan and availability<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Clockify by CAKE.com pricing and platforms<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free plan<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Free trial<\/td><td>Yes, 7-day free trial with the PRO plan<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cheapest paid plan&nbsp;<\/td><td>$3.99\/user\/month if billed annually<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Availability<\/td><td>Mac, iOS, Web, Android, Windows, Linux<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best fit for<\/strong>: Small to medium-sized teams who want to track their work hours and labor costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.clockify.me\/en\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Track productivity with Clockify<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"2-pumble-by-cake-com-best-for-business-communication\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#2: <a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pumble<\/a> by CAKE.com \u2014 best for business communication<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1033\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-on-Mac.jpg\" alt=\"Pumble on Mac\" class=\"wp-image-28829\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-on-Mac.jpg 1033w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-on-Mac-517x300.jpg 517w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-on-Mac-768x446.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-on-Mac-18x10.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1033px) 100vw, 1033px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Pumble is a free business communication app that you can use to collaborate with your team members instantly via chat, audio call, or video call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-does-pumble-work\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does Pumble work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Pumble allows you to make private and public channels, reply to messages directly in threads, send attachments, links, and GIFs \u2014 and do much more to better connect with your team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In my experience using the app, Pumble is convenient for quickly sharing files, searching for documents or messages to find the necessary information, and keeping track of all files within the app.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1009\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-Files.jpg\" alt=\"Pumble - Files\" class=\"wp-image-28830\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-Files.jpg 1009w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-Files-505x300.jpg 505w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-Files-768x457.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-Files-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1009px) 100vw, 1009px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Files tab in Pumble<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Thanks to its <strong>guest access<\/strong> option, you can also collaborate with people outside your company. You can choose to add them to a single channel or multiple channels, like below.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"746\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-adding-guests.jpg\" alt=\"Pumble - adding guests\" class=\"wp-image-28831\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-adding-guests.jpg 746w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-adding-guests-373x300.jpg 373w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-adding-guests-15x12.jpg 15w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 746px) 100vw, 746px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adding guests to channels in Pumble<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Pumble is best for business communication because it\u2019s packed with powerful messaging features and a stunning design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you need to get your employees on the same page or keep all project-critical information in a single place, simply click the <strong>+ sign<\/strong> and add the name and description of the channel you want to create. Pumble allows you to set the channel to private or keep it public so anyone can join.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1019\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-creating-a-channel-on-Mac.jpg\" alt=\"Pumble - creating a channel on Mac\" class=\"wp-image-28832\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-creating-a-channel-on-Mac.jpg 1019w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-creating-a-channel-on-Mac-510x300.jpg 510w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-creating-a-channel-on-Mac-768x452.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-creating-a-channel-on-Mac-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1019px) 100vw, 1019px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Creating a private channel in Pumble<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Unlike many other business chat apps, Pumble allows an <strong>unlimited number of users<\/strong> \u2014 which is especially useful for larger <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/business\/remote-business-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remote teams<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On a different note, when you want to quickly notify members of a channel about an important announcement, you can just type in \u201c@channel\u201d \u2014 and everyone gets a notification instantly. That way, you don\u2019t waste time notifying every team member individually but rather inform them all at once in just 2 clicks.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1002\" height=\"369\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-tagging-all-channel-members.jpg\" alt=\"Pumble - tagging all channel members\" class=\"wp-image-28833\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-tagging-all-channel-members.jpg 1002w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-tagging-all-channel-members-730x269.jpg 730w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-tagging-all-channel-members-768x283.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pumble-tagging-all-channel-members-18x7.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1002px) 100vw, 1002px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tagging all team members in a Pumble channel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Another Pumble feature that I like to use to be more productive is the option to pin messages for future reference. This allows me to quickly find crucial information instead of browsing through weeks or months-old messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, this piece of productivity software for Mac is incredibly intuitive and easy to use. Unlike some other apps, Pumble has boosted my productivity by saving the time I spend on team communication \u2014 it almost replaced lengthy email back-and-forth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"pumbles-pros\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pumble\u2019s pros<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the top 2 pros of using the app:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It allows you to import all your messages and data from other chat apps in minutes, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It offers unlimited chat history for free.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"pumbles-cons\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pumble\u2019s cons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cons of using Pumble include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Guest access isn\u2019t available in the Free plan, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Video calls have limited visual background effects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-pumble-by-cake-com\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Pumble by CAKE.com?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In September 2024, Pumble introduced the <a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/updates\/pumble-q3-2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Calendly integration<\/a>. This allows you to manage all your meetings in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Type of plan and availability<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Pumble by CAKE.com pricing and platforms<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free plan<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Free trial<\/td><td>Yes, 14-day free trial with the Enterprise plan<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cheapest paid plan&nbsp;<\/td><td>$2.49\/user\/month if billed annually<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Availability<\/td><td>Mac, iOS, Web, Android, Windows, Linux&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best fit for<\/strong>: Teams of all sizes, including freelancers and enterprise-level teams, who want to enjoy seamless collaboration via video calls and messaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"3-plaky-by-cake-com-best-for-project-and-task-management\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#3: <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plaky<\/a> by CAKE.com \u2014 best for project and task management<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"527\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky.jpg\" alt=\"Plaky\" class=\"wp-image-28834\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-683x300.jpg 683w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-1110x487.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-768x337.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-18x8.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Plaky is a free project and task management app that helps you stay productive when working on your Mac. With Plaky, you can easily <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/learn\/resources\/manage-projects-in-clockify\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">manage projects<\/a>, as it gives you a clear overview of all projects and tasks, who is responsible for each, and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-does-plaky-work\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does Plaky work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As opposed to some other project management tools, Plaky lets you add an unlimited number of users and an <strong>unlimited number of projects<\/strong> for free. With this app, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manage<\/strong> all your projects and tasks in a single place,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Create<\/strong> custom fields, such as for deadlines, project status, labels, assignees, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Track<\/strong> the progress of your assignments, filtering them by priority, due date, and status.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1086\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-Kanban-view.jpg\" alt=\"Plaky - Kanban view\" class=\"wp-image-28835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-Kanban-view.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-Kanban-view-543x300.jpg 543w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-Kanban-view-768x424.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-Kanban-view-18x10.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plaky board (Kanban view)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>My favorite part about using the app is that I can switch between different <strong>board views<\/strong>, including Kanban, Table, and Gantt.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"481\" height=\"382\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-creating-a-new-view.png\" alt=\"Plaky - creating a new view\" class=\"wp-image-28836\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-creating-a-new-view.png 481w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-creating-a-new-view-378x300.png 378w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-creating-a-new-view-15x12.png 15w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 481px) 100vw, 481px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Choosing views in Plaky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>I also find <strong>templates<\/strong> to be very useful, as you don\u2019t have to create everything from scratch. Rather, you can choose a template that matches your workflow and then adapt it however you like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, when you want to add a new field to your existing templates, you can select from a rich offering, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Text<\/strong> \u2014 to add simple notes,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rich text<\/strong> \u2014 to have rich formatting options, like bold, italics, and emojis,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Link<\/strong> \u2014 to add links that point to other websites (or other Plaky cards),<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Numbers<\/strong> \u2014 to add budget details or just numerals, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Status<\/strong> \u2014 to indicate project or task progress, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-adding-a-new-field.jpg\" alt=\"Plaky - adding a new field\" class=\"wp-image-28837\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-adding-a-new-field.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-adding-a-new-field-540x300.jpg 540w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-adding-a-new-field-1110x617.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-adding-a-new-field-768x427.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Plaky-adding-a-new-field-18x10.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adding a new field in Plaky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>As you can see, Plaky is a powerful productivity app for Mac that allows you to customize your tasks to the fullest extent \u2014 no matter your industry or workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"plakys-pros\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plaky\u2019s pros&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After using Plaky for a while, I concluded that the app had the following advantages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lets you add comments and tag team members on cards, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allows you to divide your tasks into more digestible steps with the Subitems option.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"plakys-cons\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plaky\u2019s cons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, here are the top disadvantages of using Plaky:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lacks integrations with other apps, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Doesn\u2019t offer a desktop app.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-plaky-by-cake-com\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Plaky by CAKE.com?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As of August 2024, Plaky allows you to <a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/updates\/plaky-q3-2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reply and react to comments<\/a>. Reactions are an effective way to indicate that you saw your team member\u2019s comment without having to spend time typing a message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Type of plan and availability<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Plaky by CAKE.com pricing and platforms<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free plan<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Free trial<\/td><td>Yes, 14-day free trial<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cheapest paid plan&nbsp;<\/td><td>$3.99\/user\/month if billed annually<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Availability<\/td><td>Web, iOS, Android<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best fit for<\/strong>: Individuals and teams who want to complete more tasks in less time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p>\ud83d\udca1 <strong>CLOCKIFY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn how to track and manage more than 1 project in this blog post:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/tracking-time\/managing-and-tracking-multiple-projects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Manage Multiple Projects With Time-Tested Strategies<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"4-freedom-best-for-blocking-distracting-websites-and-apps\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#4: <a href=\"https:\/\/freedom.to\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Freedom<\/a> \u2014 best for blocking distracting websites and apps<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Freedom.jpg\" alt=\"Freedom\" class=\"wp-image-28838\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Freedom.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Freedom-730x244.jpg 730w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Freedom-1110x371.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Freedom-768x257.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Freedom-18x6.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you often get distracted while working on your Mac, you can use Freedom \u2014 one of the best Mac apps for productivity that allows you to block websites and apps that hinder your focus.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-does-freedom-work\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does Freedom work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Freedom is a focus app that allows you to block time-consuming digital systems that distract you from your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can use Freedom to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Block websites<\/strong> \u2014 you can block domains, specific URLs, or even the entire Internet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Schedule blocks<\/strong> \u2014 if you know you\u2019ll be having a busy day at work, you can schedule specific apps and websites to be blocked at a set time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Listen to sounds<\/strong> \u2014 you can supercharge your productivity by listening to sounds from the Focus Sounds section in the app.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When creating my blocklist, I mostly relied on the list of common filters the app provides. However, you can also add custom websites you want to avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"627\" height=\"538\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Freedom-blocklist.png\" alt=\"Freedom - blocklist\" class=\"wp-image-28839\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Freedom-blocklist.png 627w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Freedom-blocklist-350x300.png 350w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Freedom-blocklist-14x12.png 14w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Blocklist in Freedom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Once you have a complete blocklist, you can start a session or schedule it for later. While the session is on, you won\u2019t be able to access blocked sites and apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While testing out the app, I was especially impressed with the Locked Mode feature. This feature separates Freedom from other focus apps I used in the past, as it doesn\u2019t allow you to simply unblock the distracting app or website if you get tempted when you\u2019re supposed to be working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When this mode is on, the app prevents you from changing your blocklist and removing devices during an active session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p>\ud83d\udca1<strong> CLOCKIFY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find out how to be more productive at work with effective tips in our blog post:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/productivity\/stay-focused-at-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Stay Focused at Work: 20 Effective Tips &amp; Tricks&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"freedoms-pros\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Freedom\u2019s pros&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s start with the most notable advantages of using Freedom:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Presents a list of common websites and apps that you can quickly block, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Has an End Locked Session option allowing you to end a session in Locked Mode in case of an emergency (this option can only be used once a week, and you can permanently disable it in settings).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"freedoms-cons\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Freedom\u2019s cons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Freedom comes with the following disadvantages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clunky user interface, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expensive Lifetime plan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-freedom\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Freedom?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In October 2024, Freedom released the <a href=\"https:\/\/support.freedom.to\/en\/articles\/7020249-freedom-for-mac-release-notes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2.23 version<\/a> for Mac. This update brought a few changes, including a <strong>new helper installation structure<\/strong>. Additionally, a bug that prevented website exceptions from being properly updated was fixed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Type of plan and availability<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Freedom pricing and platforms<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free plan<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Free trial<\/td><td>Yes, 7-day free trial<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cheapest paid plan&nbsp;<\/td><td>$3.33\/user\/month if billed annually<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Availability<\/td><td>Mac, iOS, Android, Windows<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best fit for<\/strong>: Anyone who wants to get rid of digital distractions, block websites and apps, and become more productive at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"5-craft-best-for-brainstorming-and-taking-notes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#5: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.craft.do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Craft<\/a> \u2014 best for brainstorming and taking notes<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"593\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Craft.jpg\" alt=\"Craft\" class=\"wp-image-28840\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Craft.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Craft-607x300.jpg 607w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Craft-1110x549.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Craft-768x380.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Craft-18x9.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Craft is a productivity app for Mac that allows you to store work-related documents and notes \u2014 and share them with team members. It also boasts features that can help you organize your day, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/to-do-list-templates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">to-do lists<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-does-craft-work\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does Craft work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Craft won\u2019t only improve your effectiveness but also save you precious time at work. I mostly used this app to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Organize<\/strong> my work day with to-do lists,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>View<\/strong> my tasks and notes in a calendar, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Customize<\/strong> and share my documents.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>What I like about Craft is that not only can I store all my documents in one place, but I make use of dozens of useful built-in templates. Instead of starting from scratch, with Craft, you can quickly take all kinds of notes, from meeting minutes to brainstorming ideas \u2014 there are templates for everything!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1074\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Craft-Meeting-notes-template.jpg\" alt=\"Craft - Meeting notes template\" class=\"wp-image-28841\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Craft-Meeting-notes-template.jpg 1074w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Craft-Meeting-notes-template-537x300.jpg 537w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Craft-Meeting-notes-template-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Craft-Meeting-notes-template-18x10.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1074px) 100vw, 1074px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Meeting notes template in Craft<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>On top of that, you can <strong>customize templates<\/strong> by inserting any type of file, like images, videos, GIFs, and more, to document any imaginable work-related process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With this Mac productivity app, you can easily create guides to reuse for any purpose, like onboarding newcomers \u2014 saving you time in the long run.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"crafts-pros\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Craft\u2019s pros&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Craft is a straightforward app that comes with quite a few pros, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Offers the Education Plan, which is free for students and educators, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allows you to integrate your Craft account with an external calendar app (like Outlook or Google Calendar).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"crafts-cons\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Craft\u2019s cons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As for Craft\u2019s cons, I find the following to be the most prominent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>History gets deleted after 7 to 180 days (depending on the plan), and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The free plan offers only 1GB of storage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-craft\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Craft?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In December 2024, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.craft.do\/whats-new\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">version 3.0.2 of Craft<\/a> was launched. This update gave Mac and iOS users a couple of new features, most notably the <strong>Task widgets<\/strong> and <strong>Apple\u2019s Writing Tools<\/strong> support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Type of plan and availability<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Craft pricing and platforms<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free plan<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Free trial<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cheapest paid plan&nbsp;<\/td><td>$8 for a single user if billed annually<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Availability<\/td><td>Mac, iOS, Web, Android, Windows<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best fit for<\/strong>: HR teams who want to create guides and other documentation for onboarding and training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"6-instapaper-best-for-organizing-your-research\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#6: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instapaper.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instapaper<\/a> \u2014 best for organizing your research<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1008\" height=\"462\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper.jpg\" alt=\"Instapaper\" class=\"wp-image-28842\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper.jpg 1008w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-655x300.jpg 655w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-768x352.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-18x8.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1008px) 100vw, 1008px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Instapaper is a productivity app available for Mac that allows you to save web content, such as blog posts, news articles, research papers, and videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-does-instapaper-work\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does Instapaper work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Instapaper enables you to <strong>store web articles and videos<\/strong> in one place. As someone who keep too many tabs open while working, I found this app quite handy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing I did when testing Instapaper was add a few articles using the <strong>Add a Link<\/strong> option. All the web content you add is located on the Home page.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-adding-a-link.jpg\" alt=\"Instapaper - adding a link\" class=\"wp-image-28843\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-adding-a-link.jpg 970w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-adding-a-link-485x300.jpg 485w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-adding-a-link-768x475.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-adding-a-link-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 970px) 100vw, 970px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adding a link in Instapaper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>You can keep your web content organized by using the folder structure or by quickly adding important articles to <strong>Liked<\/strong> \u2014 and archiving the ones you don\u2019t need at that moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you open an article you added, it\u2019ll give you a quick summary and highlights. I was pleasantly surprised by the accuracy and conciseness of the summaries.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1164\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-summary-and-highlights.jpg\" alt=\"Instapaper - summary and highlights\" class=\"wp-image-28844\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-summary-and-highlights.jpg 1164w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-summary-and-highlights-582x300.jpg 582w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-summary-and-highlights-1110x572.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-summary-and-highlights-768x396.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-summary-and-highlights-18x9.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1164px) 100vw, 1164px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Summary and highlights in Instapaper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>As someone who reads many articles, I was also impressed with the option to highlight crucial parts. Everything you highlight is kept in the <strong>Notes<\/strong> section.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"782\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-notes.jpg\" alt=\"Instapaper - notes\" class=\"wp-image-28845\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-notes.jpg 782w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-notes-391x300.jpg 391w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-notes-768x589.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Instapaper-notes-16x12.jpg 16w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 782px) 100vw, 782px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Notes in Instapaper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you and your team do a lot of research, Instapaper can vastly <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/productivity\/increase-productivity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">improve your productivity<\/a>. Instead of getting lost in an array of open tabs, you can store all the articles, videos, and notes in one place, and share them with each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"instapapers-pros\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Instapaper\u2019s pros<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The advantages of using Instapaper include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It allows you to keep your articles organized with folders and tags, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It offers digestible summaries of articles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"instapapers-cons\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Instapaper\u2019s cons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are a few Instapaper\u2019s disadvantages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The order of notes can\u2019t be changed (they are ordered from newest to oldest by default), and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The highlights it generates are too short.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-instapaper\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Instapaper?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In October 2024, Instapaper introduced the option to <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.instapaper.com\/post\/765771980408569856\/tags\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">add tags<\/a> to organize articles. This feature makes it easier to find articles, as you can categorize them. Each article can have multiple tags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Type of plan and availability<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Instapaper pricing and platforms<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free plan<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Free trial<\/td><td>Yes, 1 month of Premium<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cheapest paid plan&nbsp;<\/td><td>$4.99\/month for a single user if billed annually<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Availability<\/td><td>Mac, iOS, Web, Android, Windows, Kindle<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best fit for: <\/strong>Teams whose responsibilities include doing lots of research on the web.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"7-fantastical-best-for-organizing-calendar-events\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#7: <a href=\"https:\/\/flexibits.com\/fantastical\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fantastical<\/a> \u2014 best for organizing calendar events<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"968\" height=\"584\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Fantastical.jpg\" alt=\"Fantastical\" class=\"wp-image-28846\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Fantastical.jpg 968w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Fantastical-497x300.jpg 497w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Fantastical-768x463.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Fantastical-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 968px) 100vw, 968px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Fantastical is a popular calendar app that offers powerful integration features and allows users to get a handle on their busy workload. Fantastical also gives you the opportunity to add attachments and notes to each event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-does-fantastical-work\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does Fantastical work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>By using Fantastical\u2019s basic features, I made use of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Calendar view options for days, weeks, months, quarters, and years,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Natural language processing when creating new events,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ability to add colors to events, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integration with other calendar apps, such as Outlook and Google Calendar.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Fantastical is best for organizing calendar events because it offers a slick user interface. The feature I think helped me increase my productivity is text parsing, a fancy way of saying that I can insert prompts like \u201cMeeting every Wednesday at 12 pm,\u201d and it will auto-populate the calendar in a few seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the example below, I typed, \u201cDance class every Monday and Thursday at 7 pm.<em>\u201d<\/em> Here\u2019s how it automatically filled my calendar:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"972\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Fantastical-text-parsing.jpg\" alt=\"Fantastical - text parsing\" class=\"wp-image-28847\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Fantastical-text-parsing.jpg 972w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Fantastical-text-parsing-494x300.jpg 494w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Fantastical-text-parsing-768x466.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Fantastical-text-parsing-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 972px) 100vw, 972px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Text parsing in Fantastical<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>This way, you can easily add any work-related event or leisure activity. When it comes to increasing productivity at work, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Set<\/strong> regular reminders,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Schedule<\/strong> team meetings, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Allocate<\/strong> time for budget reviews.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Another thing I enjoyed doing in Fantastical was trying out their view options. For instance, I mostly liked using the Week view because it perfectly fits my business schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With its speed and useful features, Fantastical can save you plenty of time every day, allowing you to focus on what matters \u2014 not on the minutiae.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"fantasticals-pros\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fantastical\u2019s pros&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s explore a few pros of using the app:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Integrates well within the macOS environment, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Has offline access to calendar events.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"fantasticals-cons\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fantastical\u2019s cons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Fantastical also has a few prominent restrictions. So, here are a few cons of using Fantastical:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Comes with a hefty subscription model, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Doesn\u2019t allow you to connect with more than 1 calendar at a time on the free plan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-fantastical\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Fantastical?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In December 2024, Fantastical added a few new features, including the option to copy an attendee email and include guests when signing up for a Fantastical RSVP invitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Type of plan and availability<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Fantastical pricing and platforms<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free plan<\/td><td>Yes, with many restrictions<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Free trial<\/td><td>Yes, 14-day free trial<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cheapest paid plan&nbsp;<\/td><td>$4.75 month for individuals, if billed annually<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Availability<\/td><td>Mac, iOS, Web<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best fit for:<\/strong> Large teams who want to have a beautifully designed, AI-powered calendar.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p>\ud83d\udca1 <strong>CLOCKIFY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find out how to get more tasks done with our handy guide on productivity and efficiency:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/managing-tasks\/productivity-vs-efficiency\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Productivity vs Efficiency: Maximizing Performance and Output<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"8-1password-best-for-password-management\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#8: <a href=\"https:\/\/1password.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1Password<\/a> \u2014 best for password management<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"772\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1Password.jpg\" alt=\"1Password\" class=\"wp-image-28848\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1Password.jpg 772w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1Password-386x300.jpg 386w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1Password-768x597.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1Password-15x12.jpg 15w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 772px) 100vw, 772px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>1Password is a password manager that allows you to control dozens of passwords in one place. Keeping passwords in a safe place protects your login data and saves you a lot of time you would spend recovering lost passwords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-is-1password-best-for-password-management\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is 1Password best for password management?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>1Password is an app that helps you store all your passwords on your Mac and keep them safe. The tool only requires you to memorize one master password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the key features that 1Password offers include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Watchtower<\/strong> \u2014 a place where you can check your overall password strength and review compromised websites and vulnerable passwords, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Secret key<\/strong> \u2014 you get a Secret key you need to enter when logging in, as another layer of security, in addition to your password.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The first feature I enjoyed tremendously was <strong>Watchtower<\/strong> \u2014 a functionality that sends alerts if any security password-related issues arise. For example, if you have weak passwords, the Watchtower will ask you to strengthen them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While trying out this feature, I purposely added one strong password and one I assumed would be very easy to guess. The app immediately informed me that one of my passwords was very weak.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"906\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1Password-Watchtower.jpg\" alt=\"1Password - Watchtower\" class=\"wp-image-28849\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1Password-Watchtower.jpg 906w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1Password-Watchtower-453x300.jpg 453w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1Password-Watchtower-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1Password-Watchtower-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 906px) 100vw, 906px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Watchtower in 1Password<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>When you open the Vaults folder, you can view all your stored passwords. Here, you get to categorize all your login information however you like. For example, I created 2 categories \u2014 <em>Personal<\/em> for personal login information and <em>Professional<\/em> for my business accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"842\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1Password-Vault.jpg\" alt=\"1Password - Vault\" class=\"wp-image-28850\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1Password-Vault.jpg 842w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1Password-Vault-421x300.jpg 421w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1Password-Vault-768x547.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1Password-Vault-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 842px) 100vw, 842px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vaults in 1Password<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you use some passwords more often than others because they are for your favorite websites \u2014 simply mark them, and they\u2019ll pop up in your <strong>Favorites section<\/strong> on 1Password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"1passwords-pros\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">1Password\u2019s pros&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let me list a few pros of using this Mac productivity app:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Prevents users from reusing passwords on different websites, offering higher security, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allows you to recover recently deleted passwords.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"1passwords-cons\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">1Password\u2019s cons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As for the disadvantages of 1Password, let\u2019s take a look at a few:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No option to disable Secret key feature, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No free plan, only a 14-day trial.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-1password\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in 1Password?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In October 2024, the app\u2019s search capabilities were improved significantly. Instead of having to know the exact names of items you\u2019re searching for, you can find them based on their category. For example, if you\u2019re looking for your bank login information, you no longer have to type in the exact name of the bank \u2014 searching the word \u201cbank\u201d instead will do the trick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Type of plan and availability<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>1Password pricing and platforms<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free plan<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Free trial<\/td><td>Yes, 14-day free trial<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cheapest paid plan&nbsp;<\/td><td>$2.99\/user\/month if billed annually<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Availability&nbsp;<\/td><td>Mac, iOS, Windows, Android, Linux<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best fit for<\/strong>: Individuals and teams looking for advanced password protection and management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"9-alfred-best-for-setting-up-shortcuts\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#9: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alfredapp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alfred<\/a> \u2014 best for setting up shortcuts&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"926\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred.jpg\" alt=\"Alfred\" class=\"wp-image-28851\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred.jpg 926w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-463x300.jpg 463w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-768x498.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Alfred is a productivity tool designed to help you customize and improve your Mac user experience. It allows you to <strong>create shortcuts<\/strong> and <strong>perform quick searches<\/strong> on the web and on your device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-does-alfred-work\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does Alfred work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With Alfred, you can instantly boost your productivity, as it helps you quickly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Find<\/strong> web pages, apps, and files,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Create<\/strong> workflows, and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Set<\/strong> hotkeys.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"926\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-features-on-Mac.jpg\" alt=\"Alfred - features on Mac\" class=\"wp-image-28852\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-features-on-Mac.jpg 926w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-features-on-Mac-463x300.jpg 463w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-features-on-Mac-768x498.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-features-on-Mac-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Features tab in Alfred<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Since I spend a lot of time searching the web, my favorite Alfred feature is the ability to create and customize <strong>web search<\/strong> shortcuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some shortcuts are already available by default. For example, I tried typing in \u201cSeach YouTube for funny cat videos,\u201d and the app opened YouTube with funny cat video search results in an instant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can even change the keyword in settings, such as \u201cyt\u201d for YouTube, so it takes you even less time to type in the command.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"922\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-web-search-settings-on-Mac.jpg\" alt=\"Alfred - web search settings on Mac\" class=\"wp-image-28853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-web-search-settings-on-Mac.jpg 922w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-web-search-settings-on-Mac-461x300.jpg 461w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-web-search-settings-on-Mac-768x500.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-web-search-settings-on-Mac-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 922px) 100vw, 922px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Web Search tab in Alfred<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The app also allows you to <strong>search for specific apps or files<\/strong> on your device.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"710\" height=\"163\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-search-bar-on-Mac.png\" alt=\"Alfred - search bar on Mac\" class=\"wp-image-28854\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-search-bar-on-Mac.png 710w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Alfred-search-bar-on-Mac-18x4.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 710px) 100vw, 710px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Searching for apps on Mac device in Alfred<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Apart from enabling you to customize your shortcuts, Alfred also learns how you use your Mac. This allows the app to prioritize your searches so that you can quickly find exactly what you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"alfreds-pros\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alfred\u2019s pros&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>First, let\u2019s explore the top 2 advantages of using Alfred:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clipboard History option allows you to quickly access any images, text, or files you copied earlier, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integration with password manager 1Password gives you instant access to all your login information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"alfreds-cons\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alfred\u2019s cons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Alfred has been one of the leaders in its industry, it sure has a few cons as well:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>More advanced features, like Snippets and Clipboard History, aren\u2019t available in the free version, and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some time is required to learn how to use Alfred and configure it to match your preferences.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-alfred\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Alfred?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In March 2024, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alfredapp.com\/blog\/releases\/alfred-5-5-released-exciting-workflow-views\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alfred 5.5<\/a> was launched. This update included integrations with OpenAI\u2019s AI models, ChatGPT and DALL-E.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Type of plan and availability<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Alfred pricing and platforms<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free plan<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Free trial<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cheapest paid plan&nbsp;<\/td><td>\u00a334 for lifetime access<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Availability<\/td><td>Mac, iOS<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best fit for<\/strong>: Mac users in search of the perfect shortcut solution for their devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"banner banner-dark clockify-gradient-landing-1\">\n    <div class=\"banner-text lg:pr-[6rem]\">\n        <span class=\"h4 text-lg translation-block mb-0\">Free time tracker<\/span>\n        <p class=\"translation-block mt-1 mb-3\">Time tracking software used by millions. Clockify is a time tracker and timesheet app that lets you track work hours across projects.<\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"banner-buttons d-flex gap-4 align-items-center translation-block justify-content-center justify-content-sm-start\">\n            <a class=\"bg-white rounded px-3 py-1 text-gray-dark\" href=\"https:\/\/app.clockify.me\/en\/signup\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up<\/a>\n\n                            <a class=\"button-2\" href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/apps\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"banner-image banner-image-middle \">\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/clockify\/landing-1@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Illustration\"  media=\"(min-width: 1022px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/clockify\/landing-1.png\"  alt=\"Illustration\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    \n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"improve-your-productivity-with-clockify\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Improve your productivity with Clockify&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever productivity app you prefer, it shouldn\u2019t be time-consuming to use. After all, a good application is only as good as the workflow it creates for your team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking of teams, a time tracking app like Clockify allows you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Set<\/strong> billable and cost rates per team member,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Define<\/strong> roles and responsibilities,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Add<\/strong> team members to groups, and much more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also schedule your team\u2019s activities so they can plan their workday accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-Schedule.jpg\" alt=\"Clockify - Schedule\" class=\"wp-image-28855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-Schedule.jpg 735w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-Schedule-368x300.jpg 368w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Clockify-Schedule-15x12.jpg 15w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Scheduling employees in Clockify<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you need more information on how to use the numerous Clockify productivity features, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">blog posts<\/a> that cover time management and productivity-related topics,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Read through detailed <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/help\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">help pages<\/a>, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/help\/contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">customer support<\/a> to ask specific questions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.clockify.me\/en\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Boost productivity with Clockify<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Improve your efficiency and overall Mac experience by trying these 8 best productivity apps for Mac.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":29216,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-apps-tools"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1987","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1987"}],"version-history":[{"count":121,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1987\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36907,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1987\/revisions\/36907"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}