This article lists nine free or one-time-purchase Mac apps that tackle little annoyances in macOS—from using the notch as a file shelf and hiding menu-bar clutter to boosting file transfers, window management, screenshots, local AI, and cleanup. Each tool solves a specific pain point so the system feels smoother without ongoing subscriptions.

• NotchNook turns the MacBook notch into a drag-and-drop file shelf, donation-priced with a perpetual license.
• Blip and DeskIn solve cross-platform transfer gaps AirDrop can't (Windows/Android support, 4K60 4:4:4 remote sessions).
• Loop and Dropover replace complex shortcut-based window/file management with simple cursor gestures (radial menu, shake-to-shelf).
• Msty enables local AI inference (e.g., Llama 4) on the Neural Engine with side-by-side model comparison, no terminal required.