Best Open Source Mac Apps

The short answer. Open source is worth preferring, but for a specific reason: it is the ability to check what a program does and to keep using it if the vendor walks away. That is a real benefit and it is not the same as “more secure” or “better made”. The licence is the part people skip. A permissive licence such as MIT or Apache-2.0 lets the code be reused almost anywhere; a copyleft licence such as GPL or AGPL requires derivative works to keep the same terms. If you plan to embed a tool in something you ship, that distinction is the one that matters, and it is written on every app page below.

This guide covers 30 open source mac apps for macOS. Every fact below is drawn from the same verified records that back each app’s own page. The recommendations are our editorial judgment, not payment. Last verified 2026-10-16.

Quick comparison

What actually decides this

• Which licence, not just whether. “Open source” is a family of licences with different obligations. Permissive licences ask little of you; copyleft licences require anything derived from the code to carry the same licence. The practical consequence appears only when you redistribute something.
• Whether it is maintained. Source code being available does not mean anyone is working on it. An unmaintained open-source app still runs, but it stops tracking macOS releases, and the community that could fork it may or may not exist.
• Whether the open version is the whole product. Some projects are fully open; others publish a core and keep features back. Both are legitimate, but “open source” on the label does not always mean everything you use is in the repository.
• Where the build comes from. You can compile the source yourself, or install a build someone else made. The second is what almost everyone does, and it means the provenance of the binary is a separate question from the openness of the code.
• How it is funded. Open-source projects still need money. Donations, a paid tier, or corporate backing each shape which features get attention and how long the project lasts.

The apps

Element

Element is a messaging app for macOS. Free and open-source Matrix client for Mac, Windows, Linux and the web, with end-to-end encryption on by default, decentralised rooms, threads and Element Call voice and video. It is released under AGPL-3.0. It is freemium. According to the developer, end-to-end encryption is on by default across the platform, including voice and video calls.

Full profile and verified facts for Element →

Matrix

Matrix is a communication protocol for macOS. Open, decentralised protocol for real-time communication, where accounts live on independently run homeservers that federate with each other, and clients, servers and bridges are built by anyone. It is released under Apache-2.0. According to the developer, decentralised by design: accounts live on independently operated homeservers rather than on a single provider’s infrastructure.

Full profile and verified facts for Matrix →

Mattermost

Mattermost is a team collaboration app for macOS. Self-hostable team collaboration platform with a free desktop client for macOS, Windows and Linux, sold as prepaid annual per-seat subscriptions with a free limited-use edition for evaluation. It is released under Apache-2.0. It is freemium. According to the developer, the server can be deployed on Kubernetes, on Azure or Oracle cloud infrastructure, from signed Linux packages, from a tarball, or in Docker.

Full profile and verified facts for Mattermost →

Amethyst

Amethyst is a window manager for macOS. Free, open-source automatic tiling window manager for macOS modelled on xmonad, with eleven window layouts, a full keyboard command set and Homebrew installation. It is released under MIT. According to the developer, tiles windows automatically, so they are arranged by layout rather than by hand.

Full profile and verified facts for Amethyst →

yabai

yabai is a window manager for macOS. Tiling window manager for macOS that lays windows out with binary space partitioning and adds focus-follows-mouse, instant space switching and spaces beyond the built-in limit of 16. It is released under MIT. According to the developer, lays windows out automatically with a binary space partitioning algorithm, so the layout adapts as windows are opened and closed.

Full profile and verified facts for yabai →

AltTab

AltTab is a window switcher for macOS. Free, open-source macOS window switcher that brings Windows-style Alt-Tab behaviour with live window thumbnails to the Mac, with a paid Pro tier adding search and extra styles. It is released under GPL-3.0. It is freemium. According to the developer, switches between individual windows rather than whole applications, with live thumbnails.

Full profile and verified facts for AltTab →

Podman Desktop

Podman Desktop is a container platform for macOS. Free, open-source desktop application for building, running and managing containers and Kubernetes on macOS, Windows and Linux, built around Podman’s daemonless, rootless runtime. It is released under Apache-2.0. According to the developer, built on Podman, which the project describes as a secure container runtime because of its focus on daemonless, rootless containers, SELinux support and network policy enforcement.

Full profile and verified facts for Podman Desktop →

Rancher Desktop

Rancher Desktop is a container platform for macOS. Free, open-source desktop application from SUSE that provides containers and Kubernetes on macOS, Windows and Linux, bundling docker, nerdctl, kubectl and helm behind a graphical interface. It is released under Apache-2.0. According to the developer, lets you choose the container engine — containerd or Docker — and the Kubernetes version from a preferences dialog.

Full profile and verified facts for Rancher Desktop →

Lima

Lima is a Linux virtual machine manager for macOS. Command-line tool that launches Linux virtual machines on macOS with automatic file sharing and port forwarding, used as the engine underneath several desktop container tools. It is released under Apache-2.0. According to the developer, automates the two things that make a Linux virtual machine usable: file sharing between host and guest, and port forwarding.

Full profile and verified facts for Lima →

RustCast

RustCast is an application launcher for macOS. Free, MIT-licensed Rust launcher for apps, files, calculations and clipboard history, configured from a TOML file. No longer maintained. It is released under MIT. Free and open source under the MIT licence, with no subscription, account or telemetry.

Full profile and verified facts for RustCast →

Brave

Brave is a web browser for macOS. Chromium-based web browser that blocks ads, trackers and cookie prompts by default, with an independent search engine and an optional VPN. It is released under MPL-2.0. According to the developer, blocks third-party ads, trackers and cookie-consent pop-ups by default, without extensions.

Full profile and verified facts for Brave →

Maccy

Maccy is a clipboard manager for macOS. Lightweight clipboard manager for macOS. It is released under MIT. Open source under the MIT licence and free, with no account and no subscription.

Full profile and verified facts for Maccy →

Shotcut

Shotcut is a video editor for macOS. Free, open-source cross-platform video editor for macOS, Windows and Linux, with 4K and 8K support, HDR, 10-bit colour, GPU image processing, subtitles and a large filter set. It is released under GPL-3.0. According to the developer, handles 4K and 8K, 10-bit video end to end, linear colour processing, and HDR10 (PQ) and HLG HDR with tone mapping to SDR.

Full profile and verified facts for Shotcut →

IINA

IINA is a media player for macOS. A native macOS video player built on mpv, with trackpad gestures, Picture in Picture, Live Text and a plugin system. It is released under GPL-3.0. According to the developer, native macOS interface with trackpad gestures, media controls, Picture in Picture and Live Text.

Full profile and verified facts for IINA →

VLC

VLC is a media player for macOS. A free, open-source media player from VideoLAN that plays most audio, video and streaming formats without extra codec packs. It is released under GPL-2.0. According to the developer, ships its own decoders, so most formats play without installing extra codec packs.

Full profile and verified facts for VLC →

Krita

Krita is an image editor for macOS. Free and open-source digital painting application for macOS, Windows, Linux and Android tablets, aimed at concept art, illustration, comics, textures and 2D animation. It is released under GPL-3.0. Free software under the GNU GPL v3, with the source available to study, modify and redistribute.

Full profile and verified facts for Krita →

GIMP

GIMP is an image editor for macOS. Free and open-source raster image editor for macOS, Windows and Linux, covering photo retouching, compositing, artwork and scripted image processing. It is released under GPL-3.0-or-later. Free software under the GNU General Public License, with no paid tier, no account and the source available to modify and redistribute.

Full profile and verified facts for GIMP →

Inkscape

Inkscape is a vector graphics editor for macOS. Free, open-source vector graphics editor for macOS, Windows and Linux that works natively in SVG, with flexible drawing tools, Bezier and spiro curves, a powerful text tool and broad file-format support. It is released under GPL-3.0-or-later. According to the developer, uses SVG as its native document format, the standard vector format that browsers render and many other applications support.

Full profile and verified facts for Inkscape →

LuLu

LuLu is a firewall for macOS. Free, open-source macOS firewall that alerts you to every new outgoing connection, with scoped and time-limited rules, allow and block lists, profiles and a bundled network monitor. It is released under GPL-3.0. According to the developer, alerts on every new or unauthorized outgoing connection, showing the process and the destination with block and allow actions.

Full profile and verified facts for LuLu →

Strongbox

Strongbox is a password manager for macOS. KeePass and Password Safe compatible password manager for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, with local or self-hosted sync, biometric unlock, browser AutoFill and YubiKey support. It is released under AGPL-3.0. It is freemium. According to the developer, databases are in the KeePass and Password Safe formats, so the same file opens in any compatible client on any platform.

Full profile and verified facts for Strongbox →

KeePassXC

KeePassXC is a password manager for macOS. Offline, open-source password manager that keeps credentials in an encrypted local file rather than in a vendor’s cloud. It is released under GPL-3.0. According to the developer, the password database is an offline encrypted file and is never stored on a vendor’s servers.

Full profile and verified facts for KeePassXC →

Windscribe

Windscribe is a VPN client for macOS. VPN service with a permanently free tier, open-source desktop clients and a native Apple silicon macOS app. It is released under GPL-2.0. It is freemium. The free tier is permanent rather than a trial, with no card required and no countdown to a paywall.

Full profile and verified facts for Windscribe →

Sniffnet

Sniffnet is a network monitor for macOS. Free open-source network monitor for macOS that charts live traffic, names the programs using your bandwidth, and identifies the remote hosts, services and malware families behind each connection. It is released under MIT OR Apache-2.0. According to the developer, recognises more than 6000 upper-layer services, protocols, trojans and worms, so a connection can be named rather than shown as a bare address.

Full profile and verified facts for Sniffnet →

mitmproxy

mitmproxy is a HTTP debugging proxy for macOS. Free and open-source interactive HTTPS proxy for intercepting, inspecting, modifying and replaying web traffic, with command-line, web and Python-scriptable tools. It is released under MIT. According to the developer, intercepts, inspects, modifies and replays traffic across HTTP/1, HTTP/2, HTTP/3, WebSockets and other TLS-protected protocols.

Full profile and verified facts for mitmproxy →

DiskWise

DiskWise is a disk cleaner for macOS. Free open-source SwiftUI disk cleaner for developer Macs: its only deletion path is the Trash, with per-session undo and a knowledge base that explains every cache entry. It is released under Apache-2.0. Every removal goes through the system trash API and can be undone for the rest of the session.

Full profile and verified facts for DiskWise →

App Uninstaller

App Uninstaller is an app uninstaller for macOS. Lightweight app uninstaller with drag-and-drop support. Built with Swift and SwiftUI. It is released under MIT. Drag & Drop: Simply drag any .app file onto the window to uninstall.

Full profile and verified facts for App Uninstaller →

Cleaner for Xcode

Cleaner for Xcode is a developer utility for macOS. Remove unwanted Xcode files. It is open source. Make Xcode Clean Again.

Full profile and verified facts for Cleaner for Xcode →

AppPorts

AppPorts is a file manager for macOS. Move apps to external storage while keeping working launch links in /Applications. It is released under Apache-2.0. Orphaned Link Detection: Mark unavailable targets so you can check the drive connection, locate missing apps, or clean up leftover launchers.

Full profile and verified facts for AppPorts →

Modal File Manager

Modal File Manager is a file management tool for macOS. Dual-pane file manager with Vim-style hotkeys and customizable extensions. It is released under MIT. Dual pane file manager with vim style model hotkeys for navigation and action launching.

Full profile and verified facts for Modal File Manager →

muCommander

muCommander is a file management tool for macOS. Lightweight file manager with a dual-pane interface. It is open source. muCommander is a free cross-platform file manager.

Full profile and verified facts for muCommander →

How to choose

• No licence fee, source available. Matrix, Amethyst, yabai, Podman Desktop, Rancher Desktop, Lima, RustCast, Brave, Maccy, Shotcut, IINA, VLC, Krita, GIMP, Inkscape, LuLu, KeePassXC, Sniffnet, mitmproxy, DiskWise, App Uninstaller, Cleaner for Xcode, AppPorts, Modal File Manager and muCommander — the source can be read and, under the terms of each licence, reused.
• Freemium. Element, Mattermost, AltTab, Strongbox and Windscribe — free to use, with paid tiers for additional features.

Open source: Element, Matrix, Mattermost, Amethyst, yabai, AltTab, Podman Desktop, Rancher Desktop, Lima, RustCast, Brave, Maccy, Shotcut, IINA, VLC, Krita, GIMP, Inkscape, LuLu, Strongbox, KeePassXC, Windscribe, Sniffnet, mitmproxy, DiskWise, App Uninstaller, Cleaner for Xcode, AppPorts, Modal File Manager and muCommander (30 of 30).

Common mistakes

• Assuming open source means secure. Code that can be read is not the same as code that has been read, and visibility is not a review.
• Assuming open source means no cost. The software may be free while support, hosting or a hosted tier is not.
• Confusing “source available” with an open-source licence. Some licences let you read the code but restrict what you may do with it, which is a different bargain.
• Taking a project’s openness as proof it is maintained. Check when it was last worked on before you build a workflow around it.

How this guide was put together

Each app’s facts come from its own record: the developer’s own pages and repository, the App Store listing where one exists, and the documentation, each with a source grade and an access date. Where a fact rests on the developer’s own statement rather than on something we verified independently, the sentence says so. Where our data has no value for something, the guide says “not published” instead of guessing.

A price appears here only where the record carries one from a stated source; the guide never estimates one, and it records the pricing model alongside so the two can be read together. Prices change and vary by region, so each app links to its own page for the current detail.

The facts and the recommendations are kept apart on purpose. Everything in the app entries, the comparison table and the answers above is composed from the records. The short answer, the criteria and the picks are our editorial judgment: they reflect what we would choose and why, and they are not paid for. Where we make a recommendation we name the condition it applies under, because we do not call anything “the best” without explaining the criteria.

Verified 2026-10-16.