Setapp: The App Store Your Mac Deserves. A Bold Alternative.

Most people expect a bunch of well-optimized apps when they move to macOS from Windows/Linux. While there are countless great apps, the Mac App Store is not the best place to get them.

Its lack of affordability, limited free trial options, inadequate subscription bundles, and sandboxing seem to cause more trouble than benefits. The problematic revenue-sharing policies of the Mac App Store have also been driving some great developers in the opposite direction.

Setapp, a subscription service from MacPaw, aims to solve this problem, offering an intuitive way to get good apps on your Mac without spending a fortune.

About Setapp

Setapp is a subscription that gives you access to over 250 macOS, iOS, and web apps for only a small amount every month. Setapp maintains an incredible collection of apps with regular updates and upgrades.

By going for this subscription package, you can stop paying for individual apps or subscription plans. Setapp also offers many features to help users discover, use, and manage apps on their Mac, iPhone, iPad, or even an Android or PC.

Features Highlight

• Setapp gives you access to a well-maintained library of apps for your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and web. It currently has over 250 apps in the library.
• Users can pay for a single monthly subscription instead of one-time purchases and subscriptions from multiple developers/vendors.
• The Setapp interface makes it easy to browse the collection of apps and find something that would increase productivity, boost Mac’s performance, or help with design/development.
• The apps included in the Setapp subscription are ad-free, providing you with the best possible User Experience across your Mac, iPad, and iPhone.
• Setapp also features an impressive selection of AI-powered apps for macOS and iOS, along with various plans that include built-in AI credits.

Key Information

• Free for 7 days, then $9.99/month for individual Mac access.
• Flexible plans available for Mac + iOS and families.
• System Requirements: High Sierra 10.13 (minimum), Big Sur 11.0 and later (recommended).
• All apps updated for free.
• Ad-free experience.
• Full access to the entire app collection, including new additions.
• Every app in Setapp is carefully chosen.

Setapp Review (TheSweetBits Take)

As a writer for TheSweetBits, finding great Mac apps has become second nature to me. For over 5 years, the Setapp subscription has made this easier. I have used Setapp on all the Macs I have owned since 2018. Even today, I spend more time on Setapp than the Mac App Store when I want to find a great app for a purpose.

In short, Setapp has become my go-to place for finding great apps that I can trust. For this review, I have been testing the latest version of Setapp on my M2 MacBook Air. I’ll talk about everything you should know about, starting from installation and setup to the current library of apps.

Installation and Setup

Installing Setapp on your Mac is like installing any other app. However, you may want to register on the site for an account for a seamless process. It may also be a good idea to start the Setapp free trial.

Setapp asks for standard macOS permissions during installation since it will be installing apps on your device. Apart from this point, the installation and setup are straightforward.

You can also choose to sign in to/sign up for the Setapp subscription after the installation. Once this part has been completed, you can start using all the features from Setapp.

The User Experience

When you get started with Setapp, you get to see the My Explorer tab of the applications. You can think of this pane as a space where you can find incredible recommendations and the newest additions to the app library that is Setapp.

As you can see, there might be a section called Hidden Gems or a couple of how-tos that can help you get something stuck. There are also personal recommendations and collections that you can explore to find out which apps can help you get the best out of your Mac, iPhone, or iPad.

The recommendations become really great and spot-on after you have installed a few apps from Setapp. It learns from how helpful the existing apps are.

Sorting & Filtering

You can also explore other categories, such as On This Mac, Collections, How-Tos, and App Guides, if you want. Setup also allows you to explore all the apps in its collection or go through separate sections, such as Optimize, Work, Create, Develop, or Solve with AI Plus.

All these options in the sidebar make it easy to navigate the rather large collection of apps that you get from Setup, and once you are in a particular category, you can filter the options further. For instance, if you go to the Optimize app, you can select between options such as Menu Bar and Dock, Battery, CPU and RAM, Temperature, Speed, Screen, etc.

These filters and sorting options make it easy to navigate the vast collection and find something that you would want to install on your Mac, and this system is far better than what I have seen on the Mac App Store.

Search & AI Assistant

You can also use the search bar to find a macOS or iOS app for specific purposes. The best part? You don’t have to search for the name of the app. Instead, you can search for a particular task, such as “develop apps”.

You can also ask the AI-powered Setapp Assistant if you want in-depth suggestions. You can get started with the Setapp assistant and ask for basic tasks like “How to convert PDF to Word?” or “How do you take a screenshot on a Mac?”

If you need an interactive way to find great apps for your Mac, these two functions add a lot of value.

The Setapp App Library: An Overview

Let’s first take a look at the top Setapp apps from its five categories. I have picked five apps from each section, but they don’t show the versatility of the Setapp library.

Optimize

• Bartender helps you organize your busy macOS menu bar by arranging menu bar items and managing its behavior.
• BetterTouchTool is a great way to customize almost everything on your Mac. It offers full support for gestures, custom triggers, actions, etc.
• CleanMyMac is an all-in-one optimization and cleaning utility for macOS. It lets you free up storage space, remove applications, and speed up your Mac.
• Get Backup Pro offers fully-fledged backup solutions for your Mac. You can back up data to multiple storage spaces and retain control while doing so.
• iBoysoft NTFS for Mac is a trusted way to access NTFS drives from your Mac. This reliable tool makes it easy to format and control hard drives and other storage devices.

Work

• CleanShot X and Xnapper are two great screenshot utilities from the Setapp collection. These utilities make it easy to take beautiful and accurate screenshots on your Mac.
• Timing is a complete time-tracking solution for macOS. You can use the tool to understand the time spent on each app.
• Folx is one of the most popular download managers for macOS. It not only boosts download speeds but also supports torrent downloads and scheduling options.
• GoodTask is an excellent task manager who supports to-dos and reminders. You can sync all your data with other devices as well.
• CleanPresenter makes it easy to optimize how you present content from your Mac. This app offers incredible customization options, for starters.

Create

• Ulysses is probably the best distraction-free writing solution out there. It comes with markup support and various editing options. You can also directly publish content from Ulysses if you’re interested.
• Craft is a collaboration-friendly writing app available for macOS. The Setapp subscription brings the fully-fledged version of Craft, which also now has AI-powered tools.
• Typeface becomes a blessing for developers and designers by keeping track of your fonts. The app is an easy way to test your fonts and organize them.
• Swift Publisher makes everyone a potential publisher of books and booklets. You can use the app to design other design products as well.
• CameraBag Pro is a full-featured photo editor that professionals and beginners can rely on. It comes with a great collection of photo filters and presets.

Develop

• CodeRunner is one of the best multi-language programming editors we’ve seen. Not only is it easy to use, it offers extensive support for code completion.
• Hype is a unique app for HTML5 content creators. You can use Hype to create interactive content based on the HTML5 platform.
• SwiftyLaunch transforms how you build apps by saving up to 50 hours. This app can provide essential modules and pre-built features to optimize your next big iOS app.
• DevUtils is a curated collection of developer tools. You can use the app to quickly access generators and debuggers.
• SSH Config Editor is an effective way to manage your SSH config files from the convenience of your Mac. It will help automate many processes, thus saving a lot of time on your end.

Solve with AI+

• MurmurType is probably the best AI-powered we have come across recently. Powered by OpenAI’s Whisper engine, MurmurType can transcribe audio in almost every language you speak.
• Elephas is an AI-powered content editor that works across macOS. You can use ChatGPT’s generative ability without worrying about API keys and other technicalities.
• PDF Pals makes it easy to chat with your PDF documents. It uses the power of ChatGPT and other AI platforms to make things easier.
• Superwhisper allows you to transcribe audio to text on your Mac. You can easily download models to your Mac and get the job done.
• Spellar AI is a real-time assistant that helps you improve your performance in meetings. It can assist with English pronunciation, vocabulary, body language, etc.

Something great here is that Setapp offers iOS apps for many of these solutions. So you can enjoy the same experience on desktop and mobile devices.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• A Setapp subscription offers an incredible value
• You always have access to a curated set of apps
• Setapp can manage how you install and update apps
• Personal recommendations and discovery options
• Most apps in the collection maintain quality standards

Cons

• Access to apps is dependent on the subscription
• Not all apps are available cross-platform, especially on Android

Verdict

It must be clear to you that Setapp offers incredible value to anyone.

Even if you decide to purchase five apps from the collection separately, you’d end up spending more than what you would pay for Setapp in a year. Similarly, the Setapp subscription offers more value than any other app bundles I have come across out there.

I should also remind you that the collection of 250+ apps keeps updating. For the price of $120 per year, you get a great value package from Setapp.

Pricing Plans

Quite surprisingly, the Setapp membership currently starts at $9.99 per month, and this gives you access to one Mac.

If you want to access iOS and macOS applications, you can go for the Mac plus iOS bundle, which will cost $12.49 per month, but this will give you access to 5 devices in total. There is also a power user bundle, which will set you back at $14.99 per month, but this will give you access to 8 devices in total.

By choosing to pay annually, you can save 10%, which brings the monthly price to $8.99.

In addition, MacPaw offers additional discounts for students and teachers. That is one more reason to check out the subscription service.

If you are still unsure, you may want to try the 7-day free trial, during which you have access to the entire app library.

Exclusive offer for TheSweetBits readers!

The Setapp team is excited to offer TheSweetBits readers an exclusive benefit: a 30-day extended trial using the coupon code THESWEETBITS. This extended trial gives you even more time to discover the vast collection of high-quality apps Setapp has to offer and see how it can transform your workflow.

Visit https://stpp.co/thesweetbits to start your free trial.

Setapp vs. Mac App Store

Here’s a quick comparison of Setapp and the Mac App Store.

As you can see, the only aspect where the Mac App Store offers better value than Setapp is ownership. When you get an app from the MAS, you get full ownership and offline access. You might also have concerns about Setapp removing apps from its library. So, if you really want to own the Mac apps, you should stick to the Mac App Store.

I also wanted to mention the case of sandboxing. Many apps on the Mac App Store are sandboxed, meaning that all their functionalities are not available. Setapp, on the other hand, offers many apps without sandbox. This makes a huge difference when it comes to customization apps like BetterTouchTool and CleanMyMac.

But you also get the typical benefits of a subscription model without subscribing to different apps/vendors. For instance, Setapp offers continuous upgrades, including major ones. With the Mac App Store, you need to pay for every major upgrade.

Setapp FAQs

Can Setapp be trusted, are Setapp apps safe?

Yes, Setapp emphasizes security and trustworthiness. They conduct rigorous audits and certifications, partner with reputable developers who create high-quality apps, and implement a thorough review process to ensure that all apps meet high standards for quality, functionality, safety, and privacy.

Is Setapp available on the App Store?

No, Setapp itself is an app platform, so it’s not available on the Mac App Store or the App Store for iOS. You can sign up and install the Setapp desktop app on your Mac to access the included apps.

Can I use Setapp apps on multiple Macs?

Yes, your subscription allows installation and use on up to two Macs simultaneously.

Can I use Setapp Mobile with my plan?

Setapp Mobile requires an iOS Advanced, Power User, or AI Expert plan. Other plans don’t include it. Additionally, you need to be in the EU to install apps on your iPhone from Setapp Mobile.

Is Setapp worth it?

Determining whether Setapp is worth it depends on your individual needs and app usage. Setapp offers a variety of high-quality apps for a monthly subscription fee. Consider the value you get from using multiple apps compared to purchasing them individually. They also offer a free trial, so you can try it out and see if it works for you.

Conclusion

Setapp is a no-brainer choice for those who want the best out of their Mac and iOS devices. For the same amount you would spend on coffee every day, you get a month’s access to some great apps.

We feel Setapp has all the apps you would need to turn your Mac into a productivity boost. Its subscription model not only saves money but also simplifies app management through regular updates and an intuitive interface. For those who prioritize value and variety over ownership, Setapp presents an attractive option.

Visit setapp.com and start your free trial now.