You're on a walk and the idea arrives. You reach for your phone. The right tool turns the next twenty seconds into something your Mac inherits the moment you sit down.
The list below is five tools where the iPhone version actually carries weight. Most companion apps are quiet downgrades you put up with. These are not.
The stack:
iPhone MagSafe Camera Mount · the iPhone becomes the Mac's better camera
mymind · the visual idea that travels home from your pocket
Reference Board · the moodboard that's already waiting when you sit down
Craft · the note that exists on whichever device you happen to be holding
HiRise 3 Deluxe · where the iPhone actually lives when you're at your Mac
1. Turn the iPhone Into the Mac's Better Camera
The webcam built into your Mac does its job. The one in your pocket does it noticeably better. iPhone MagSafe Camera Mount clips the iPhone above your screen, Continuity Camera switches it on, and your video calls get real lens quality, real autofocus, and real low-light handling without any new software or new gear beyond the mount itself.
It is the kind of upgrade that costs almost nothing and changes how you show up. Worth it on the first call of the morning.
iPhone MagSafe Camera MountTransform your iPhone into a high-quality webcam.Visit WebsiteThe Belkin iPhone MagSafe Camera Mount is a hardware accessory that attaches an iPhone to a MacBook. This mount allows users to leverage the iPhone's rear camera for high-quality video calls and content creation. It is designed for individuals who frequently engage in virtual meetings or content production, providing a stable and hands-free solution that enhances the overall video experience.
- Compatible with multiple iPhone models and MacBook devices for seamless integration.
- Provides a hands-free setup for video calls and virtual meetings.
- Functions as a phone grip or kickstand for added versatility.
- Designed to enhance video quality by utilizing the iPhone's rear camera.
- Easily attaches to MacBook for quick setup and removal.
The Belkin iPhone MagSafe Camera Mount is designed for seamless integration with MacBook devices, allowing users to utilize their iPhone as a high-quality webcam. Its versatile design supports various functions, including video calls and content creation, enhancing the overall user experience.Visit Website
2. Capture On the Phone, Browse On the Mac
mymind is one of the few apps where the iPhone version is the front door and the Mac version is the living room. Snap a photo, save a tweet, copy a link, and it all lands in the same private place. By the time you sit down at your desk, the things you noticed on the train are already organised into the kind of mood you did not know you were building.
This is what an iPhone capture tool is meant to feel like. Two devices, one memory.
mymindA creatives best kept secret.Visit Websitemymind is YOUR PRIVATE place to keep everything you want to remember. Think of it as your digital garden, a peaceful place away from the noise to cultivate your inspiration, research and ideas. We’re a small & independent team that originally built mymind for ourselves. We were tired of feeling constantly distracted and overwhelmed with overly complicated tools that promised to help us stay organized. We just wanted something simple: one place to put everything, and one place to find it. We didn’t want to curate anything, manage folders or learn yet another system we would ultimately abandon. Which is why mymind asks nothing from you: NO social features NO vanity metrics NO algorithms NO social pressure NO collaboration NO manual organization NO noise
- Save anything with a single click: a bookmark, note, image, screenshot, website, article, video, highlight, quote, meme, product, song. Before, these little pieces of inspiration were forgotten or buried somewhere in your bookmarks or desktop or some complex platform. Now they're all in one place, where they may eventually connect and become useful later.
- All your inspiration and ideas are organized for you. Folders are dead. We believe manual organization is another distraction, a decoy for productivity that pulls you from what you want to do. You may not even know why you're saving something in the moment, meaning it could fit in many folders or no folder at all. Your mind understands this, revealing meaning and allowing you to make connections between what you've saved. You don't have to stop to analyze or organize anything you save. Your new mind magically categorizes, analyzes, summarizes and tags it for you, so you can just search whatever you remember to find it later. No going back to clear a queue or manage your folders. You're constantly moving forward.
- Most importantly, your mind is 100% private. No one can see what you've saved. There's no social feed or collaboration features to distract you. No ads interrupting your focus. When you have an audience watching, you operate differently. You restrain yourself in an attempt to curate a vibe, stay on trend or be accepted. Who are you when no one's watching? When can you save anything or explore any idea without fear of how it's being perceived?
- It’s your secret creative repertoire and private garden of inspiration. Every great mind has one, a central place to collect all the little things that make you stop and think or feel something. Think of it like a garden: You're enriching the soil, planting and watering seeds you trust will bloom into something bigger later. Your mind is meant to grow through all your interests and creative phases. It continues to evolve with you.
- We believe beauty is a function. We do everything we can to make your mind as beautiful and distraction-free as possible, stripping out the clunky features and filters you find in typical organization tools. If it works well, you don't think about it. It's a tool in the true sense of the word: there when you need it, and out of the way when you don't. We call it personal software.- Save everything that matters to you effortlessly.
For too long, we've been serving algorithms and tools, passively scrolling and reacting and engaging and performing and curating and brain rotting. Unlike most of the internet, mymind gives back to you rather than draining you. It's an external way to feed the beauty and depth and meaning we need internally. Your mental bank of inspiration to feed your real mind.Visit Website
3. Photograph Inspiration, Arrange It On the Desktop
Reference scattered across photo rolls and screenshot folders is reference you have lost. Reference Board lets you shoot inspiration with your phone, drop it into a board, and watch it appear on your Mac in the layout you want it. The iPhone is the camera. The Mac is the canvas.
For anyone who works visually, this is the cleanest version of the photo-to-pinboard loop you can run. Inspiration captured on Tuesday is already a mood by Friday.
Reference BoardLet your inspiration ripple.Visit WebsiteReference Board is a moodboard application available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It allows users to collect, organize, and sync visual inspiration across their devices. With features like automatic organization, powerful search capabilities, and support for various media types, Reference Board helps creatives streamline their workflow and maintain a cohesive collection of ideas.
- Create multiple moodboards on an infinite canvas, allowing for unrestricted creativity and exploration.
- Utilize powerful search capabilities, including color, style, scene, and text, with optical character recognition (OCR) for text within images.
- Automatically generate tags and descriptions for saved references, ensuring organized and structured libraries.
- Support various media types, including images, videos, quotes, and sticky notes, to consolidate all forms of inspiration in one space.
- Sync moodboards seamlessly across iPhone, iPad, and Mac using iCloud for a cohesive experience.
Reference syncs user data across Apple devices via iCloud, ensuring privacy by not tracking user activity or selling data. This approach allows for a seamless and secure experience while managing and organizing creative inspirations across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.Visit Website
4. The Note That Exists Wherever You Happen to Be
Most cross-device note apps make you pick a side: phone-shaped or computer-shaped. Craft refuses the choice. The same document opens with the right tools for the device in your hand, fingers on the iPhone, keyboard and pointer on the Mac, and nothing gets lost in the round trip.
Use it for the morning note, the meeting note, the page you swore you would come back to. Both versions are good. Both being good is what makes the daily loop fast.
CraftYour space for notes, tasks, and big ideasVisit WebsiteCraft is a software platform designed for organizing notes, tasks, and documents. It enables users to capture and connect their ideas seamlessly across devices, transforming quick notes into well-structured documents. With features like templates, writing tools, and API integrations, Craft supports a variety of users, including creators, educators, and professionals, enhancing their productivity a
- Whether it's documents, tasks, calendars, or daily notes, Craft allows you to organize and enhance your work with the power of interconnected spaces.
- Capture ideas instantly across all your devices and transform quick notes into beautifully crafted documents.
- With a variety of templates, writing tools, and API integrations, Craft adapts to how you think and work, making it an ideal tool for creators, educators, and professionals alike.
Craft provides a versatile platform for organizing notes, tasks, and documents across devices. With features like templates, writing tools, and API integrations, it supports various workflows for creators, educators, and professionals. Its interconnected spaces enhance productivity and idea management.Visit Website
5. Give the iPhone a Place to Live on the Mac Desk
The iPhone is going to be on your desk regardless. HiRise 3 Deluxe gives it a proper place to live: upright, charging, glanceable, close enough to the Mac that Continuity feels like one machine instead of two.
Without a stand, the phone migrates around the desk and ends up in the wrong pocket. With one, it stays exactly where you would put it if you cared about the setup. Quietly, you start caring.
HiRise 3 DeluxeWireless Charging Stand for Apple DevicesVisit WebsiteThe Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe is the ultimate solution for charging your Apple devices. This elegant, compact charging station allows you to simultaneously charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, helping you eliminate clutter on your desk or nightstand. The 15W MagSafe Charger features an adjustable angle for optimal viewing and is designed with vegan leather for a sophisticated touch. Along with fast charging for your Apple Watch, it also offers versatility with a third charging spot. With international plug adapters included, the HiRise 3 Deluxe is travel-ready, making it perfect for use anywhere in the world. Its space-saving design fits well in any small area, creating an organized and stylish charging solution for all your Apple devices.Visit Website
The iPhone has always been a second screen. These five make that deal explicit, and the Mac feels twice as big once they do.
Cooldock brings music, todos, events, weather, search, stats, quick actions, and more useful widgets into one beautiful live dock beside your original Mac Dock.
- Integrates live widgets for music, weather, todos, and events into a customizable second Dock.
- Provides quick access to favorite apps, folders, and system stats from a compact interface.
- Supports reminders and calendar events for efficient task management.
- Allows for real-time monitoring of system performance, including CPU and RAM usage.
- Features quick actions for toggling settings like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth directly from the Dock.
Add live widgets, quick actions, apps, folders, search, stats, weather, calendars, reminders, and more into a beautiful second Dock beside your original Mac Dock. This app provides a seamless way to enhance your productivity and streamline everyday tasks with easily accessible widgets.
SoftwaremacOS
DeskMinder
For Easily Distracted Minds
Freemium
DeskMinder is a productivity software application designed for Mac users who struggle with distractions. It provides a straightforward interface for creating desktop pop-up reminders and tasks, helping users manage urgent to-dos, short breaks, and fleeting ideas. With features like full-screen notifications and Apple Reminders integration, DeskMinder aims to enhance focus and time management for i
- With features like easy-to-create desktop pop-ups for reminders and tasks, it simplifies the process of staying on top of urgent to-dos, short breaks, or fleeting ideas.
- Users can benefit from full-screen notifications, Apple Reminders integration, and flexible widget placement, making it ideal for anyone requiring a little extra help to maintain focus.
- The app includes additional shortcuts for quick reminder setups and customizable widget options, along with a history tracking feature to monitor daily progress.
Designed specifically for Mac users, DeskMinder aims to facilitate better time management and productivity for those with attention challenges, providing a seamless user experience without unnecessary complexity.
SoftwareProductivitymacOS
Klack
Satisfying sound with every keystroke
Paid
Klack is a macOS application designed to enhance the typing experience through high-fidelity sound for each keystroke. It provides features such as immersive spatial audio, instant feedback, and customizable sound options, making it suitable for writers, developers, and anyone who values an engaging typing environment. The app is easily accessible from the menubar and offers extensive configuratio
- Provides immersive spatial audio for enhanced typing feedback.
- Allows customization of keystroke sounds, pitch variations, and volume settings.
- Features a menubar interface for quick access to configuration options.
- Supports instant feedback with each keystroke for a more engaging experience.
- Designed for writers and developers seeking auditory feedback while typing.
Klack enhances the typing experience on Mac by providing high-fidelity sound for each keystroke.
SoftwaremacOS
TypoTab
TypoTab, the ultimate AI writing assistant for
Paid
TypoTab is a macOS application that functions as an AI-driven writing assistant. It enhances writing efficiency by providing tools for grammar correction, text rephrasing, and content generation, all accessible from the menu bar without needing to switch applications. This tool is designed for writers, students, and professionals looking to streamline their writing process and improve productivity
- Provides grammar correction and text rephrasing directly from the menu bar.
- Allows text refinement in any application without switching contexts.
- Offers customizable actions to meet individual writing needs.
- Streamlines repetitive writing tasks for improved efficiency.
- Supports a wide range of applications, enhancing workflow across platforms.
TypoTab is a macOS application that enhances writing efficiency by providing grammar correction, text rephrasing, and content generation directly from the menu bar. It allows users to refine text in any application without switching contexts, offering customizable actions to suit individual writing needs.
SoftwareWritingmacOS
Opal C1 Camera
DSLR quality on a webcam for the
HardwareUtilitiesmacOS
Finbar
Powerful menu bar search for Mac
Freemium
Finbar is a Mac application designed for power users seeking enhanced functionality from the menu bar search. It provides features such as fuzzy search, recent items tracking, custom scripts, and hierarchical browsing, which improve the efficiency of accessing files, applications, and workflows compared to the standard macOS launcher.
- Fuzzy search capabilities for improved query matching.
- Recents tracking to quickly access frequently used files and applications.
- Custom script integration for personalized workflows.
- Hierarchical browsing for organized navigation through files and apps.
- Enhanced speed for launching files, applications, and workflows directly from the menu bar.
Finbar is suitable for Mac power users who require advanced search capabilities and streamlined access to their files and applications. Its features, including fuzzy search and custom script integration, facilitate personalized workflows and efficient navigation.
SoftwareUtilitiesmacOS
CleanMyMac
Mac cleaner and maintenance utility
Freemium
CleanMyMac is a software application designed for Mac maintenance. It helps users clean system junk, manage storage, and uninstall applications completely. The app scans for caches, logs, and large files, while also providing Smart Care workflows, malware monitoring, and privacy tools to enhance overall system performance and efficiency.
- Cleans system junk by scanning for caches, logs, and large files.
- Manages storage by identifying and removing unnecessary files.
- Uninstalls applications completely, including associated files.
- Optimizes system performance through automated maintenance tasks.
- Provides malware monitoring to detect and remove threats.
- Includes privacy tools to manage sensitive data and online tracking.
CleanMyMac offers practical solutions for maintaining Mac systems by effectively removing unnecessary files, managing storage, and ensuring optimal performance. Its features cater to users seeking to enhance their device's efficiency while safeguarding against malware and managing privacy concerns.
SoftwareUtilitiesmacOS
Hold My Lid
Close your MacBook. Your agents keep running.
Paid
Hold My Lid is a macOS application designed to keep your Mac awake while coding agents like Claude Code and OpenAI Codex are active, even with the lid closed. This tool helps developers manage their workflow by allowing their laptops to remain operational while stored in a bag, ensuring that tasks are completed without interruption.
- Keeps your Mac awake while coding agents are active, even with the lid closed.
- Utilizes lifecycle hooks to accurately monitor agent activity and manage wake states.
- Configurable settings allow users to set battery thresholds and power modes.
- Provides notifications and sound alerts when agents complete tasks or battery limits are reached.
- Offers a menu-bar dropdown for quick access to status, agent sessions, and control options.
- Supports global shortcuts for toggling the app on or off from any application.
Hold My Lid is a macOS application designed to keep your Mac awake while coding agents operate, even with the lid closed. It offers a one-time purchase model, allowing use on up to three Macs without the need for subscriptions.
SoftwaremacOS
Type
Take notes without interrupting your flow
Freemium
Type is a macOS application designed for quick note-taking. Ideal for individuals who need to jot down ideas without disrupting their workflow, Type offers features such as hotkey access, customizable date formats, and Markdown support.
- It is designed for people who want to jot down ideas and thoughts without losing their flow.
- The app is simple yet powerful, enabling fast entry of notes that are stored locally on your device, ensuring offline access.
- With features like hotkey access, customizable date formats, and Markdown support, Type makes it easy to integrate quick note-taking into your daily workflow.
Perfect for users of Obsidian and others who want a lightweight, distraction-free environment for capturing notes, Type continuously evolves with user feedback and planned features for enhanced functionality.
SoftwaremacOS
New additions
Finbar
Powerful menu bar search for Mac
Freemium
Finbar is a Mac application designed for power users seeking enhanced functionality from the menu bar search. It provides features such as fuzzy search, recent items tracking, custom scripts, and hierarchical browsing, which improve the efficiency of accessing files, applications, and workflows compared to the standard macOS launcher.
- Fuzzy search capabilities for improved query matching.
- Recents tracking to quickly access frequently used files and applications.
- Custom script integration for personalized workflows.
- Hierarchical browsing for organized navigation through files and apps.
- Enhanced speed for launching files, applications, and workflows directly from the menu bar.
Finbar is suitable for Mac power users who require advanced search capabilities and streamlined access to their files and applications. Its features, including fuzzy search and custom script integration, facilitate personalized workflows and efficient navigation.
SoftwareUtilitiesmacOS
CleanMyMac
Mac cleaner and maintenance utility
Freemium
CleanMyMac is a software application designed for Mac maintenance. It helps users clean system junk, manage storage, and uninstall applications completely. The app scans for caches, logs, and large files, while also providing Smart Care workflows, malware monitoring, and privacy tools to enhance overall system performance and efficiency.
- Cleans system junk by scanning for caches, logs, and large files.
- Manages storage by identifying and removing unnecessary files.
- Uninstalls applications completely, including associated files.
- Optimizes system performance through automated maintenance tasks.
- Provides malware monitoring to detect and remove threats.
- Includes privacy tools to manage sensitive data and online tracking.
CleanMyMac offers practical solutions for maintaining Mac systems by effectively removing unnecessary files, managing storage, and ensuring optimal performance. Its features cater to users seeking to enhance their device's efficiency while safeguarding against malware and managing privacy concerns.
SoftwareUtilitiesmacOS
Cooldock
A useful Dock for live widgets.
Freemium
Cooldock brings music, todos, events, weather, search, stats, quick actions, and more useful widgets into one beautiful live dock beside your original Mac Dock.
- Integrates live widgets for music, weather, todos, and events into a customizable second Dock.
- Provides quick access to favorite apps, folders, and system stats from a compact interface.
- Supports reminders and calendar events for efficient task management.
- Allows for real-time monitoring of system performance, including CPU and RAM usage.
- Features quick actions for toggling settings like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth directly from the Dock.
Add live widgets, quick actions, apps, folders, search, stats, weather, calendars, reminders, and more into a beautiful second Dock beside your original Mac Dock. This app provides a seamless way to enhance your productivity and streamline everyday tasks with easily accessible widgets.
SoftwaremacOS
Hold My Lid
Close your MacBook. Your agents keep running.
Paid
Hold My Lid is a macOS application designed to keep your Mac awake while coding agents like Claude Code and OpenAI Codex are active, even with the lid closed. This tool helps developers manage their workflow by allowing their laptops to remain operational while stored in a bag, ensuring that tasks are completed without interruption.
- Keeps your Mac awake while coding agents are active, even with the lid closed.
- Utilizes lifecycle hooks to accurately monitor agent activity and manage wake states.
- Configurable settings allow users to set battery thresholds and power modes.
- Provides notifications and sound alerts when agents complete tasks or battery limits are reached.
- Offers a menu-bar dropdown for quick access to status, agent sessions, and control options.
- Supports global shortcuts for toggling the app on or off from any application.
Hold My Lid is a macOS application designed to keep your Mac awake while coding agents operate, even with the lid closed. It offers a one-time purchase model, allowing use on up to three Macs without the need for subscriptions.
SoftwaremacOS
Type
Take notes without interrupting your flow
Freemium
Type is a macOS application designed for quick note-taking. Ideal for individuals who need to jot down ideas without disrupting their workflow, Type offers features such as hotkey access, customizable date formats, and Markdown support.
- It is designed for people who want to jot down ideas and thoughts without losing their flow.
- The app is simple yet powerful, enabling fast entry of notes that are stored locally on your device, ensuring offline access.
- With features like hotkey access, customizable date formats, and Markdown support, Type makes it easy to integrate quick note-taking into your daily workflow.
Perfect for users of Obsidian and others who want a lightweight, distraction-free environment for capturing notes, Type continuously evolves with user feedback and planned features for enhanced functionality.
SoftwaremacOS
Bitrig
The best way to build native Swift
Free
Bitrig allows you to describe what you want to build, and it transforms your ideas into real Swift code that you can ship to the App Store. The platform generates actual Swift and SwiftUI code, providing an integrated simulator that runs alongside your code, enabling you to see exactly what your users will experience. Using natural language, you can instruct Bitrig to make changes, updating the code on the spot. It's the perfect tool for anyone who has an app idea but lacks coding skills, making the development process accessible and efficient.
SoftwaremacOS
Supaste
Your clipboard, wherever you need it.
One-time
Supaste saves your clipboard and screenshots in a beautiful visual history, automatically grouped by type, app, and custom categories, so you can search, find, and paste anything back in seconds. This comprehensive tool allows you to use the notch shelf, quick search, inline paste, drag and drop, and the full Library view to efficiently manage and organize everything you copied. Whether you're a designer, developer, content creator, or just someone who needs a personal clipboard organizer, Supaste provides a clean visual timeline for easy access to your data. With features like sensitive content detection, custom categories, and the ability to filter your history by app or type, Supaste helps keep your clipboard tidy and accessible. Best of all, it's a one-time purchase with lifetime access, ensuring you have everything you need for your clipboard management without ongoing fees.
SoftwaremacOS
Milestones
Native, Private Project Management App
Freemium
Milestones is a project planning software designed to help users manage tasks across multiple projects. It organizes projects into a three-tier hierarchy of Projects, Milestones, and Tasks, allowing users to break down larger goals into manageable phases.
- Organizes projects into a three-tier hierarchy: Projects, Milestones, and Tasks.
- Allows users to visually track progress with live progress bars for each milestone.
- Enables marking one milestone as Active to prioritize current tasks while keeping others visible.
- Supports task statuses including To Do, In Progress, and Done for clear organization.
- Provides tagging options for tasks to facilitate better grouping and management.
- Syncs seamlessly across iPhone, iPad, and macOS using iCloud.
Milestones is a project management application that allows users to organize their work into a structured hierarchy of Projects, Milestones, and Tasks. It features visual progress tracking, customizable project icons, and seamless syncing across iPhone, iPad, and macOS.
SoftwareProductivityiOS & macOS
Folders
A file manager for Windows switchers
Freemium
Folders is a file manager application for macOS that provides a folder tree layout, catering specifically to users transitioning from Windows. It offers a range of features including easy navigation, comprehensive file operations, and integration with cloud storage services. Designed for both new and experienced users, Folders aims to enhance file management efficiency on Mac systems.
- Provides a folder tree layout for intuitive navigation, similar to Windows Explorer.
- Supports batch renaming and file conflict resolution for efficient file management.
- Integrates with iCloud Drive and other cloud storage services for centralized access.
- Offers multiple viewing options: Table, List, Icons, and Gallery.
- Includes a powerful search function with Spotlight integration and saved searches.
- Allows customization of themes and folder icons for personalized organization.
Folders is a file manager for macOS that emulates the folder tree structure familiar to Windows users. It offers a range of features including comprehensive file operations, customizable themes, and powerful search capabilities. Users can manage files across various cloud services and utilize batch renaming and conflict resolution tools.
Dudu
