Where to Download Mac Software for Free
Mac software is not immune to security issues. 3rd-political party apps can harbor malware, spyware, adware, ransomware, and numerous other security-based threats.
As such, y'all demand to make sure you lot simply download Mac apps from safe, secure, and trustworthy websites. Hither are some of the safest sites to download Mac software from.
Analyzing Site Security
When we looked at the safest free software sites for Windows, we ran each site through ii reputation checkers—Spider web of Trust (WOT) and URLVoid.
We're going to apply the same philosophy in this article. Spider web of Trust provides a trustworthiness score out of 100 while URLVoid grades each site out of 36.
1. MacUpdate
WOT Trustworthiness: 91/100
URLVoid Rating: 35/36
MacUpdate is one of the most popular websites to download Mac software safely. It has a library of more than 32,000 apps.
All the apps in the library have been paw-picked by the site's squad of experts, so you can be confident they've all gone through a full vetting process.
MacUpdate can also salve y'all money as there are groups for costless apps and apps that are currently on auction. Sometimes yous tin can find savings of as much as 90 per centum.
Navigating the site is like shooting fish in a barrel; all the apps are divided into 20 well-divers categories. They include Internet, Utilities, Drivers, Games, Pedagogy, Home, Business organisation, Multimedia Design, Development, and Graphics and Design.
2. Softpedia
WOT Trustworthiness: 93/100
URLVoid Rating: 36/36
Softpedia is one of the largest software download sites on the web. Unsurprisingly, information technology has an unabridged department dedicated to Mac apps.
The download files are updated every day, so you lot can be sure y'all're ever getting the latest available version. Using upward-to-engagement versions is critical for avoiding security bugs and flaws.
Many apps are also tagged with the "100% Clean" label. Hither is how Softpedia describes information technology:
Softpedia guarantees that the app is 100% Make clean, which means it does not contain any form of malware, including but not express to: spyware, viruses, trojans and backdoors.
This software production was tested thoroughly and was found absolutely clean; therefore, it can exist installed with no business by any calculator user. However, it should be noted that this product will be retested periodically and the award may exist withdrawn, so you lot should check back occasionally and pay attention to the date of testing shown above.
Softpedia also has user reviews for many of the available apps. They can provide insight on any issues yous may meet during use.
3. Pure Mac
WOT Trustworthiness: 92/100
URLVoid Rating: 36/36
If yous tin can wait by the slightly dated visuals, Pure Mac is another of the almost secure sites to download Mac software and apps.
The site boasts i of the most all-encompassing selections of categories; in that location are more than 80 to choose from. The large number of groups means the site is excellent for finding a Mac app to perform a detail function.
On the downside, Pure Mac does not run its own download servers. All the downloads on the site are direct links that the app's publisher or programmer has provided. Remember, using 1 of the best anti-virus apps for Mac tin can help to catch whatsoever malware-laden downloads you encounter.
iv. CNET Download
WOT Trustworthiness: xc/100
URLVoid Rating: 36/36
CNET's Download.com is some other of the web's largest collections of apps. Like Softpedia, it covers all the major operating systems, including macOS. In total, the site offers more than 150,000 costless downloads.
All the Mac software on the site goes through a rigorous testing procedure to check for malware and other viruses.
Download.com likewise bans any apps that:
- Don't have easy-to-read end-user license agreements.
- Modify default browsers, search-engine habitation pages, or other security settings.
- Ship data about your calculator usage habits to the developer without prior notification.
Because information technology's part of CNET, many of the Mac apps you can download have editorial reviews, accompanying blog posts, and how-to articles. These combine to make certain that not only is the initial download safe, but that you as well use the software in a safe and secure fashion one time it'southward on your system.
5. MacApps
WOT Trustworthiness: Not Ranked
URLVoid Rating: 36/36
If yous've ever bought a new Windows automobile, yous may exist familiar with Ninite. Information technology provides a comprehensive list of many of the most popular Windows apps across a range of categories. You can choose the ones you desire, and so download them in bulk via a custom installer. It tin salvage hours during the system setup phase.
Sadly, Ninite does not provide a solution for Macs—simply there is an alternative: MacApps. The available software is divided into seven categories: Cyberspace, Productivity, Programmer, Tools, Utilities, Multimedia, and Messaging. There are download links for all the apps you probably utilise every solar day, including Spotify, GitHub, Docker, Evernote, Firefox, Chrome, and many more. In total, there are more than 120 apps to choose from.
To utilize the tool, select the apps you want from the list, and MacApps will provide you lot with a custom Terminal control. Paste the command into the Final app, and the download volition begin.
6. Mac App Store
WOT Trustworthiness: 92/100
URLVoid Rating: 36/36
Of course, if y'all want to avoid third-party Mac software sites entirely, you could just caput to the official Mac App Shop. In theory, information technology has highly robust processes to foreclose malicious apps from finding their way into the listings.
But contrary to pop belief, the Mac App Store isn't bulletproof from a security standpoint. Some bad stuff does sneak through.
For example, in September 2018, Malwarebytes discovered that multiple apps were collecting sensitive user data and uploading it to servers controlled by the developer. In many cases, the servers were in China. Amazingly, one of the apps—Adware Physician—was number one in the nautical chart for paid utilities until the research was made public.
7. Download Straight From the Programmer
Information technology'southward like shooting fish in a barrel to understand why sites that curate libraries of Mac app downloads are pop. They save fourth dimension, offering unbiased reviews, and let you to download older versions of software to get rid of unwanted new features.
But none of the sites we've looked at are perfect. If Apple can't even keep bad actors out of its own shop, you lot can be certain that some malicious software makes its way onto the other platforms as well.
The most reliable fashion to safely and deeply download Mac apps, therefore, is to head to the developers' own sites and download the file directly. Just beware of phishing attacks for the most pop software!
Make Sure Y'all Download Safely
As long as you take reasonable precautions while downloading Mac apps, you should exist safe. All the usual advice applies—don't download pirated or croaky apps, don't use unknown mirrors, don't apply third-party installers, and run an anti-virus at all times.
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