12 Hidden Mac Apps Worth Installing: Cotypist, TypeWhisper, Hyperkey, and More

A curated selection of lesser-known macOS applications, most of them free, from a long-time Mac reviewer. ## Top Tier (Install Immediately) **Cotypist** (Free) — AI text autocomplete that works across all Mac applications. Takes periodic screenshots of your screen to build context: if you're writing an email, it knows the recipient's name, the conversation topic, and visible details. All processing is local — nothing leaves the machine. Tab accepts one word, tilde accepts the full suggestion. From the developers of Timing (time tracking app). **TypeWhisper** (Free, open source) — Speech-to-text that rivals paid alternatives like Whisper Transcription and Superwhisper. Uses OpenAI's Whisper model running locally. Activated via hotkey, transcribes directly into any text field. Open source and completely offline. **Hyperkey** (Free) — Remaps Caps Lock to press all four modifier keys simultaneously (Control+Option+Shift+Command). This creates an entirely new modifier key that no application uses by default, giving you unlimited custom keyboard shortcuts. Configure shortcuts in System Settings that use this "hyper" modifier with any letter key. **LinearMouse** (Free, open source) — Fixes macOS's aggressive mouse acceleration for external mice. macOS applies the same acceleration curve designed for trackpads to external mice, making precise movement frustrating. LinearMouse provides per-device sensitivity and acceleration settings. ## Notable Mentions **Ice** (Free, open source) — Menu bar manager that hides icons and auto-collapses sections. Alternative to the paid Bartender app, which was acquired and had trust issues in 2024. **Velja** (Free) — Browser picker that routes links to specific browsers based on rules. Example: Google Docs links always open in Chrome, everything else in Firefox. **Plash** (Free) — Sets a website as your desktop wallpaper. Niche but useful for dashboards, live data feeds, or ambient information displays.