macOS is a powerful operating system for getting things done, but there are always tasks we wish we could automate or speed up. Fortunately, macOS has a thriving ecosystem of apps designed specifically for automation, freeing up your time and eliminating tedious chores. These apps can handle tasks you’d normally do manually, saving you time and hassle. Here are some of the best Mac apps for automation:
Shortcuts:
Apple’s own Shortcuts app is a great place to start your automation journey. It comes pre-installed on your Mac and has a vast community of users creating and sharing shortcuts. Shortcuts allows you to create workflows that execute a series of actions in your defined order. Once you launch a shortcut, it will rapidly execute the steps, making quick work of laborious or repetitive tasks. You can even set shortcuts to run automatically without any input from you. For example, you could have your smart lights turn on when your iPhone detects you’ve arrived home, or automatically run a shortcut overnight when it’s less disruptive.
Keyboard Maestro:
For those seeking more advanced automation, Keyboard Maestro is an exceptional choice. It’s an automation wizard that can take control of nearly anything you can imagine, significantly speeding up your workflow. Keyboard Maestro’s capabilities are vast. You can use it to automatically fill out website forms, arrange app windows, create text reports, perform calculations, open apps and documents, and much more. It comes with hundreds of built-in actions, conditions, and loops that can be combined into powerful workflows for any task. This makes Keyboard Maestro one of the best Mac apps for automation and a top contender for boosting your macOS productivity.
Raycast:
Raycast acts as a more sophisticated version of Apple’s Spotlight search bar, finding files and opening apps. But its functionality extends far beyond basic searching. Think of Apple’s window management controls as lacking? Raycast can move your apps around with a simple shortcut. It can also manage music playback, initiate Zoom calls, translate text, and much more. Raycast even allows you to create your own workflows if you’re comfortable with scripting, turning it into a powerful, customized tool. Raycast boasts a vast array of features, making it worth exploring for its potential to simplify your daily tasks. With just a button press, it can handle a wide range of tasks, saving you time.
Alfred:
Alfred excels in automation but is also a versatile, all-in-one power user tool. It’s a great starting point for new tasks on your Mac. For example, it acts as a Spotlight-style search bar for quickly finding files. You can use it to control your music without switching to Apple Music or Spotify, and it can control your Mac on a deep level, putting it to sleep, accessing system preferences, emptying the Trash, and more. Alfred’s automation features truly shine when you install its Powerpack. This unlocks a new way of using your Mac, allowing you to tie keywords and actions together and trigger them with custom hotkeys and shortcuts for faster execution. There’s a large community marketplace of workflows to import, and you don’t need any coding experience to get started.
Stecker:
Stecker’s premise is simple: when you plug an external accessory or peripheral into your Mac, macOS should automatically perform relevant tasks. Stecker makes this concept a reality. Plug in or unplug an accessory, and Stecker will run a shortcut without any effort on your part. This could mean loading your favorite podcast recording app when you plug in a microphone, disabling Wi-Fi when you connect an Ethernet adapter, or changing your system keyboard layout when you plug in a specific keyboard. Stecker streamlines working with peripherals. Instead of manually navigating menus and customizing settings every time, you can focus directly on the task at hand without interruptions.
Hazel:
Tired of cluttered file folders on your Mac? Hazel brings order to chaos. This app handles file organization for you, eliminating messy folders and disorganized files. Hazel’s intuitive interface lets you set custom rules for any folder. This could mean converting files to a specific type, adding tags based on creation date, or moving files to a new location when placed in the folder. Hazel offers numerous options to satisfy even the most meticulous organizers. Hazel can also “watch” folders for changes, automatically executing tasks as soon as files are added to the watched folder. There’s no need to manually trigger anything; just sit back and let Hazel handle the entire process.
Keysmith:
macOS has excellent built-in keyboard shortcuts, but they lack flexibility. What if you want to create your own shortcuts for custom tasks? This can be challenging unless you have Keysmith installed. With Keysmith, you can create custom multi-step keyboard shortcuts for various tasks. Simply record a set of actions and assign a key combination to trigger the sequence. Once complete, you can use that hotkey or shortcut to initiate a chain of commands, saving you significant time. Keysmith’s automation potential is enhanced by its compatibility with almost all your favorite Mac apps. Whether you need to attach a GitHub pull request to a Trello task or quickly highlight text in Google Docs, Keysmith lets you accomplish it in a flash.
MacUpdater:
Updating your Mac and its apps can be tedious. Manually checking each app for updates can be time-consuming and you might miss updates. MacUpdater eliminates this hassle. This utility checks all your installed Mac apps for updates and performs them silently in the background, allowing you to focus on other tasks. This is not only a time-saver but crucial for the security of your Mac, as missing updates could leave your Mac vulnerable. Instead of taking that risk, use MacUpdater to ensure your Mac is always up-to-date and secure.
