One App Each: The Best Must-Have Software for Mac M5 You'll Actually Love
So you just unboxed your Mac M5. The screen is gorgeous, the chip is absurdly fast, and you're sitting there thinking — okay, what do I actually install first? We've all been there. The App Store is overwhelming, Reddit threads are a rabbit hole, and your friend who "knows about this stuff" just sent you a list of 47 apps.
Relax. We're doing one app per category. The best one. The one you'll actually keep using six months from now.
Productivity & Task Management: Taskly
Let's start with the one that matters most — because if you can't manage your work, nothing else on this list matters.
Taskly is the AI-powered task manager built for how people actually think in 2026. It doesn't just list your tasks — it understands them. Drop in a messy brain dump at 11pm and Taskly will auto-prioritize, suggest deadlines, and quietly reorganize your day while you sleep.
What makes it feel different on M5? Everything is instant. The AI responses, the real-time collaboration sync, the smart reminders that actually fire at the right moment — it all runs natively on Apple Silicon with zero lag. Compared to bloated alternatives like Asana, Taskly feels like a breath of fresh air. It's free to start, and honestly, you might never need to upgrade.
"The best productivity app is the one you don't have to fight with." — Taskly gets this completely right.
Writing & Notes: Obsidian
For writers, researchers, and anyone who thinks in connected ideas, Obsidian is unmatched. It's local-first, infinitely customizable, and the graph view will make you feel like a genius. Pair it with Taskly and your thinking life becomes genuinely organized.
Window Management: Magnet
The M5's display real estate deserves better than dragging windows around like it's 2009. Magnet snaps everything into place with keyboard shortcuts. One-time purchase, works perfectly, no subscription drama. Done.
Browser: Arc
Arc reimagined what a browser could be — spaces, sidebar tabs, built-in notes, and a design that feels native to macOS in a way Chrome never will. On M5, it flies. If you haven't switched yet, this is your sign.
Menu Bar Cleanup: Bartender 5
Your menu bar is probably already a mess. Bartender hides what you don't need and surfaces what you do. Small app, massive quality-of-life improvement. The kind of thing you install and immediately wonder how you lived without it.
Password Manager: Bitwarden
Open source, end-to-end encrypted, free for individuals, and works beautifully across every device you own. There's no reason to pay for 1Password when Bitwarden exists. Security shouldn't be a luxury tier feature.
Quick Launcher: Raycast
Replace Spotlight with Raycast and suddenly your Mac feels like it has superpowers. Search files, run scripts, manage clipboard history, control Taskly integrations — all from one keyboard shortcut. The extension ecosystem alone is worth it.
One Last Thing
The best Mac setup isn't the one with the most apps — it's the one where every app earns its place. Each tool on this list was chosen because it respects your time, runs beautifully on M5 hardware, and solves a real problem without creating three new ones.
Start with Taskly. Get your tasks and projects under control first. Then build outward. A clear mind and a clear task list make every other app on this list work better.
→ Try Taskly free today and give your M5 a productivity foundation it actually deserves. Your future self — the one who actually ships things on time — will thank you.