A useful Mac app does not need to become an entire workspace. Sometimes it only needs to help you retrieve copied text, inspect a file, or hand a document to another computer.
These four apps are available through the Mac App Store and cover distinct jobs. The shortlist is intentionally small, with pricing differences and limitations made explicit. Store prices and compatibility vary over time and by region.
Maccy: find something you copied earlier
Maccy provides searchable clipboard history with a keyboard-oriented interface. It fits workflows that involve pasting links, text fragments, and other recently copied items.
The important decision is not just the shortcut: decide what should stay in your history. Review exclusions and clearing behavior before working with private information. Maccy is not a replacement for structured notes.
The official website links to the project and download options. The Mac App Store edition is paid to support development; a free open-source download is also available from the developer. “Open source” does not necessarily mean “free on the store.”
CotEditor: edit plain text without adopting an IDE
CotEditor is a macOS-focused text editor with syntax highlighting, regular-expression search, and encoding tools. It makes sense for scripts, markup, and plain-text work that does not need a full development environment.
It is not a rich-text document editor. If the task depends on a debugger or a particular IDE extension, choose the development tool that supports that workflow instead. The developer’s feature list explains what the editor includes. Its Mac App Store edition is free.
Keka: more choices for compressed files
Keka handles archive creation and extraction, including options such as splitting archives and setting passwords where supported.
Check the specific operation you need. Reading a format does not mean the app can create it: RAR extraction, for example, is different from RAR creation. Password protection also differs by archive format.
The developer website lists supported formats and explains the pricing: the paid Mac App Store edition supports development, while the same app is available directly for free with a different update channel.
LocalSend: share with devices beyond your Mac
LocalSend transfers files to nearby devices on the same network. It is especially relevant when your desk includes a Windows PC or an Android phone as well as your Mac.
Install it on both devices, use a network that lets them communicate, and check the receiving device before accepting a transfer. It does not automatically keep folders synchronized. See the official downloads for supported platforms and our Windows-to-Mac guide for a starting workflow.
Choose by the repeated task
Start with the job, then the app. If you rarely open compressed archives, Keka may not be the first addition you need. If you repeatedly lose copied text, a clipboard history may be more useful. All four profiles link to the official store and explain their main limitations.
Based on the official sources linked in this article and the app profiles. This guide does not claim hands-on testing or measured performance. Our editorial policy.