Curated Set

The Best Mac Apps for Developers

Developers on the Mac now get native-quality tools across the whole workflow, not just the editor. Ghostty rebuilds the terminal in Metal and AppKit, Zed brings a Rust-fast editor with agentic AI built in, and TablePlus turns fourteen-plus databases into one calm window. Fork keeps Git approachable, Proxyman inspects every request an app makes, OrbStack replaces Docker Desktop without the fan noise, Yaak is a local-first API client, and Raycast runs the whole Mac from a single hotkey.

Ghostty preview
Ghostty The terminal, rebuilt properly for the Mac. Free
Zed preview
Zed A blisteringly quick editor built in Rust. Free
TablePlus preview
TablePlus Every database, one native Mac window. Free
Fork preview
Fork A Git client that stays out of your way. $59.99 One-Time
Proxyman preview
Proxyman See every request your apps are making. Free
OrbStack preview
OrbStack Docker and Linux on Mac, without the drag. Free
Yaak preview
Yaak The API client that keeps your data local. Free
Raycast preview
Raycast The command bar that runs your whole Mac. Free

Frequently asked

What are the best Mac apps for developers?

Ghostty leads for a terminal rebuilt natively in Metal and AppKit, Zed for a Rust-fast editor with agentic AI editing built in, and TablePlus for working across fourteen-plus databases in one window. Fork, Proxyman, OrbStack, Yaak and Raycast round out the shelf for Git, network debugging, containers, API testing and system-wide command running.

Is there a free option for developers?

Ghostty is free and open source under the MIT licence, and Zed, OrbStack, Yaak and Raycast all offer capable free tiers alongside paid plans for heavier or commercial use.

Which app replaces Docker Desktop?

OrbStack is a drop-in Docker Desktop replacement that also runs full Linux machines and Kubernetes, free for personal use and $8 per user a month for commercial use.

Which is the best terminal for Mac?

Ghostty, a free, open source terminal from HashiCorp co-founder Mitchell Hashimoto, built natively in Metal and AppKit rather than ported from a cross-platform toolkit.

Is TablePlus a subscription?

No, TablePlus is a one-time $99 perpetual licence with a year of updates included, and its free tier is fully functional but capped at two open tabs.