A Curated List of macOS Apps That Doesn't Waste Your Time
You've probably bookmarked a dozen "best Mac apps" lists, and you've probably never opened most of them again. They're either stale, stuffed with affiliate links, or padded with apps you already know about. This repository takes a different approach: it's a curated list of macOS apps maintained by a developer who actually ships Mac software himself.
What It Does
At its core, this is a curated list of macOS applications, hosted on GitHub and maintained by jaywcjlove. It's a reference resource rather than a piece of software you install. You browse it, find something useful, and move on with your day.
What makes the structure worth noting is the transparency. The top of the README is dedicated to sponsors — LIZHI.SHOP, SubList, ScreenSage Pro, IP.IM, and HiPixel are all featured with links and descriptions. Below that, the maintainer lists his own apps: DockLift, Zipora, Scap, Screen Test, Deskmark, Keyzer, Vidwall Hub, VidCrop, Vidwall, Mousio Hint, and Mousio. Each gets an icon and a direct link, mostly to the Mac App Store.
So the architecture here is simple: a markdown file on GitHub, rendered as a browsable list. No build step, no framework, no database. It's the kind of thing that works because it doesn't try to be more than it is. The curation is the product.
Why It's Cool
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The sponsorship model is upfront, not sneaky. Plenty of "awesome" lists quietly insert affiliate links or bury sponsored entries in the middle of a category. Here, the sponsors are clearly labeled at the top, with a note thanking them. You know exactly what you're looking at before you scroll. That kind of honesty is rarer than it should be.
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The maintainer is a Mac developer, not just a list-keeper. The apps he's built — screenshot tools, window management, video wallpaper utilities, unarchivers — suggest he spends his days in the same ecosystem he's curating for. That context matters. A list maintained by someone who ships Mac apps is more likely to surface tools that actually solve real problems on the platform.
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It doubles as a portfolio. The section featuring his own apps isn't hidden — it's presented directly. If you're curious about what a solo Mac developer builds, you get a quick tour: DockLift for window management, Zipora for archives, Scap for screenshots and markup, Deskmark for desktop organization, Keyzer for keyboard customization, and several video-related tools. It's a practical cross-section of utility app categories.
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The format is frictionless. No sign-up, no newsletter, no "click here to reveal." It's a README. You can read it in your browser, star the repo if you find it useful, and come back when you need something. That low-friction approach is exactly what you want from a reference list.
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Sponsors get real estate, but so does substance. The sponsor section is visually prominent, but it doesn't crowd out the actual list. The balance feels deliberate — enough visibility to make sponsorship worthwhile, but not so much that the list becomes an ad.
How to Try It
There's nothing to install. The whole thing is a README file.
- Open the repository in your browser: https://github.com/jaywcjlove/awesome-swift-macos-apps
- Scroll past the sponsor section to reach the curated list.
- Click through to any app that looks interesting — most link directly to the Mac App Store or the developer's site.
- If you find the list useful, star the repo so you can find it again later.
If you're a developer who wants to contribute, the standard GitHub workflow applies: fork, edit the README, and open a pull request. The list is markdown, so adding an entry is about as simple as it gets.
Final Thoughts
This isn't a tool you'll use every day, and it's not trying to be. It's a reference — one that's honest about its sponsorships and maintained by someone with skin in the game. If you're tired of bloated app roundups and want a straightforward list of macOS software, this is worth a bookmark. If you're a Mac developer yourself, it's also a decent look at how one indie dev structures a public resource around his own work. Either way, it costs you nothing to browse.
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