My New MacBook Setup: 10 Essential Apps in 2025

I just got a new MacBook Air. The first thing I did was install my go-to apps that I use every day for work and productivity.

Plus, I got some fantastic recommendations from friends, which I’ve added as bonus picks at the end. 

Here’s the full list of tools that power my workflow.

Featured Apps

Here’s a quick list of all the apps I downloaded:

1. Brave Browser
2. 1Password
3. WhatsApp Desktop
4. Wispr Flow
5. Logi Options+
6. Raycast
7. Superhuman
8. 2FHey
9. Loom
10. Stats

Read why I like each of these and what I use them for below.

Here are a few apps that my friends love which I want to check out:

11. Beeper
12. Superwhisper
13. HiddenBar
14. Sparkle
15. Cleanshot X
16. Paste
17. Cloudflare WARP

Full List

The 10 apps that I installed first are listed below.

Brave Browser

My default browser, hands down. Brave is built on Chromium (so it feels familiar if you’re used to Chrome) but it comes with a built-in ad and tracker blocker. This means faster page loads and a much cleaner, more private experience right out of the box.

1Password

Seriously, if you’re not using a password manager in 2025, what are you waiting for? I wish I would have started to use one sooner.

1Password is my choice for creating, storing, and auto-filling strong, unique passwords for everything. I like it better than Apple’s default, but Apple’s default password thing is probably good, too.

WhatsApp Desktop

The WhatsApp Desktop is still a must-have for me for staying connected with various group chats.

Wispr Flow

For quickly getting thoughts down in emails, drafting prompts, or even sending some texts, Wispr Flow has been my go-to. It’s a neat voice-to-text app that’s incredibly accurate and helps speed up writing when I don’t want to type everything out. Like 10x better than Siri’s voice-to-text.

Logi Options+

This one’s for a specific but crucial part of my workflow: mouse customization. I use Logi Options+ to map my Logitech mouse buttons. I use the Logitech Lift mouse, btw, which is a bit controversial.

My favorite tweak is setting the side “Forward” button to “Close Tab” – so my side buttons become Back and Close Tab. It’s a small thing, but it makes a big difference in my web browsing speed. I hate needing a full app for it, but the utility is undeniable.

Raycast

This app has replaced Spotlight for me. 

I need to learn to use this better – it is very powerful and I bet I only use 5% of it.

Superhuman

When it comes to email, Superhuman is my client of choice. I’ve used it for 7 years or so and just haven’t found a better alternative. But it is expensive: $30 per month. 

It’s built for speed and efficiency, with a focus on keyboard shortcuts, a clean interface, and features designed to help you get through your inbox faster. It’s a premium tool, but for me, the time saved is worth it.

2FHey

This is a nifty little utility for macOS that I find incredibly useful. However, some friends said it might be at risk for security vulnerabilities, so be careful.

2FHey automatically spots two-factor authentication (2FA) codes that arrive in iMessage and copies them to your clipboard. This makes pasting them into your browser or any app a breeze. No more manually retyping codes.

Loom

I use Loom every single day. It’s fantastic for quickly recording my screen and camera to share updates, explain concepts, or give feedback to my team. The videos are instantly shareable with a link, making collaboration much more efficient than typing out long explanations. I happily pay for this app, but the free version is nice too.

Stats

Stats is a free, open-source, and lightweight macOS app that lives in your menu bar. It shows crucial system information like CPU usage, RAM, network activity, and battery levels. It’s highly customizable and helps me keep an eye on what my Mac is doing without being intrusive. (You can also often find it on GitHub: ExelS/Stats on GitHub)

Bonus App Recommendations

After posting my initial setup, friends chimed in on X with their essential apps. 

Here are some standout suggestions.

• Beeper: brings together messages from WhatsApp, Signal, Instagram DMs, X (Twitter) DMs, Slack, and many more into a single, unified inbox. “Still in beta but its a game changer,” from Andrew Wilkinson.
• Superwhisper: this AI-powered app significantly enhances standard voice-to-text by not only transcribing but also transforming your speech. It can generate LLM prompts from dictated thoughts or rephrase feedback into a more professional tone. “It’s phenomenal,” from Andrew Wilkinson.
• HiddenBar: a free utility, often found on GitHub or the Mac App Store, that helps declutter your Mac’s menu bar. “It compresses all your non-critical menubar items,” from Andrew Wilkinson.
• Sparkle: uses AI to assist in organizing your desktop and folders by automatically categorizing files based on their names (it does not read file contents) and moving them into a structured system. From Andrew Wilkinson.
• Cleanshot X: a major upgrade from built-in macOS tools for anyone who frequently takes screenshots. “For sure, Cleanshot X for screenshots,” from Sara Dietschy.
• Paste (pasteapp.io): a dedicated clipboard manager that remembers everything you copy (text, images, links, files), allowing for easy retrieval and reuse of items later. “I use this multiple times a day,” from Chad Gorshing.
• Cloudflare WARP: an easy-to-use VPN (part of the 1.1.1.1 app) providing added privacy and security by encrypting your traffic, built around Cloudflare’s fast DNS resolver. “If you still don’t use a VPN, get this,” from Simon de Haast.

Conclusion

If you’re setting up your Mac or just looking to refresh your toolkit, I hope this list of essential apps helps get you started.

Next up, I’m debating a switch from Zoom to Google Meet for video calls.