Seven Apple Apps Replaced with Better Alternatives on My Mac

I've replaced seven Apple apps on my Mac with third-party alternatives that better suit my workflow. The built-in apps are surprisingly feature-rich and fast, but they don't quite meet my needs. I started making these switches over time, replacing each app with one that solved a specific problem or added a feature I couldn't live without.

CleanShot X is the first app I'll mention. It's a powerful screenshot tool that supercharges how I take and edit screenshots. CleanShot X displays a small Quick Access Overlay after taking a screenshot, allowing me to copy, save, drag, annotate, or upload it immediately. The app also comes with a robust set of editing tools, including the ability to add arrows, text, highlight important areas, blur sensitive information, and place screenshots against beautiful backgrounds.

I use CleanShot X's Scrolling Capture feature to capture entire webpages or documents in a single screenshot, and its Timer feature to take a screenshot after a short countdown. The app also includes on-device OCR for extracting text from images. While it may seem pricey at $29 per year (with renewal at $19 per year), the time CleanShot X saves me easily justifies the cost.

I've also replaced Apple Calendar with Hora Calendar, which integrates seamlessly with Google Calendar and supports multiple accounts, color-coded calendars, and native Zoom and Teams integration. Another app I rely on is Raycast, a command center that allows me to launch apps, search for files, do quick calculations, search for symbols, and execute system commands like shutting down the Mac or locking the screen.

For email, I use Mimestream instead of Apple Mail because it connects through the Gmail API, providing access to almost all of Gmail's features. This includes colored labels, inbox categories, server-backed filters, and search. Finally, I've switched from Safari to Google Chrome, which offers a wider selection of extensions and better handles heavier websites and online tools.