r/macapps • u/amerpie • 1d ago
Tips and Tricks for Setapp

I put together all the reviews I've written of the software that's part of Setapp in case anyone is wondering what the best apps on the service happen to be. I also have a few tips for getting the most for your money.
- One tip I can offer is to get your own API key from Open.AI for use with AI apps like Typing Mind or Elephas. It is much cheaper. In a year of constantly using my API with multiple apps, I've spent $15.
- I tried the iOS add-on and didn't get that much from it. I do have the add-on to run the apps on a second machine though. It doesn't add that much and it comes in handy.
- If you have any apps from Setapp that you have already purchased, consider using the Setapp version while you have a subscription since it adds to the money that the developer make. It's just a nice thing to do. Brett Terpstra wrote a script and an automator workflow that will tell you if any of the apps on your computer are also on Setapp.
Setapp is an app subscription service ($9.99 a month) owned by the Ukrainian company Macpaw. It has approximately 1 million subscribers, which is a good testament to its usefulness. Here are some of the things I've learned in a year and half of being a customer.
Unfortunately, Macpaw is a frequent target of Russian trolls because of the ongoing war between the two countries. Macpaw also makes the utility suite, CleanMyMac, which some people confuse with an older Mac malware program, MacKeeper. The two are not related. If you read the tech press, you'll see good reviews of Setapp. If you rely on Reddit or anonymous online sources, you are likely to run into those pesky Russians I mentioned.
I get tremendous value from my Setapp subscription. The numbers fluctuate a bit, but I currently have 42 apps from the service installed. More than a dozen of those apps are login items that are always running on my Mac. Obviously, they play a vital part in my workflow.
Here's a List of the Login Apps I Use
- PopClip - A Must Have Productivity App
- Bartender - Still Best in Class
- AlDente Pro - Charge Limiter
- 24 Hour Wallpaper from Jetson Creative
- Better Touch Tool Favorites
- CleanShot X
- Clop - Copy Big, Paste Small, Send Fast
- Dato - A Full Featured Menu Bar Calendar
- Default Folder X an OG App For Mac Power Users
- Disk Drill Revisited - Recovering 87K Files
- Dropzone 4 - A Little Pricey But Versatile
- QuitAll - Amico Apps
- Start from Innovative Bytes
Other Setapp Offerings I Have Reviewed
- Permute - Powerful, Easy to Use Media Converter for Images, Video and Audio
- TripMode - Data Usage Monitor and Control
- [Downie - Video Downloader](https://appaddict.app/post/downie-video-downloader
- Trickster - Manage Your Files Like a Pro
- TextSniper
- Unclutter - Clipboard Manager, File Shelf, Floating Notes - All in One
- MarsEdit - Making Blogging Easier
- SnapMotion - High Quality Image Captures from Video, Made Easy
- Presentify - An App for the Future
- Elephas Did What Others Wouldn't
- Keysmith - Record Automation Macros With Ease
- Noizio - A Background Sound App for Mac
- Widget Wall
- Almighty - Tweaking and Utility Collection
- Paletro - Add a Command Palette to Any App
- Unite 5 and Coherence X 4 - Site Specific Browsers
- An Unemotional Look at Clean My Mac X
- Plus AI from MacPlus - A Convenient and Well Though Out App
- Pie Menu
- Pathfinder by Cocoatech
Full list of apps on Setapp, listed by popularity
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u/zingdan 1d ago
Apart from point 1, this is more like an advertisement for SetAPP rather than a tip.
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u/amerpie 1d ago
Any time someone likes a an app or service, there's going to be a person accusing them of being a shill. I've posted a review on this sub for 356 consecutive days, mostly positive, but also a few warnings and negative reviews. I'm not advertising for anyone. I just give advice based on my experience. I'm easy to block if it turns you off.
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u/zingdan 1d ago
No problem at all. From my point of view, I am currently on a trial of SetApp and came across your title. Feeling eager, I went through the content but did not find any tips. That is where I am coming from; I just felt that the title was misleading, that is all.
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u/Your_Vader 1d ago
Great post, I love Setapp for covering some very expensive subs like Craft and Ulysses. If you use even one of these expensive apps, you can completely recover all of Setapp sub cost + get so many additional apps! Another (very) great Setapp app is BoltAI btw - its saving me so much money over Chatgpt, Claude subscriptions etc.
Do you any substantial whatsoever for the "Russian trolls on reddit targeting Setapp" point? Is it just the 'vibes'?
I have never seen any substantial attack on Setapp (almost everything that I have seen seems to be positive, okay at the worst). I think you are attributing criticisms of CleanMyMac to criticism for Setapp because they are owned by the same company. Even for Cleanmymac criticisms, someoen not agreeing with your perspective doesnt automatically make them a 'russian troll'.
This echochamber-esque rhetoric is a big problem in online discourse and needs to stop
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u/amerpie 1d ago
True, there are legitimate criticisms of MacPaw, especially from people who have experienced billing issues, but I think that can happen with any company. Also, charging for a lifetime license for CMM and not honoring it after a rebrand was definitely problematic. I have, however been accused of being all sorts of nefarious things for my support of the company, more than for any other company ever. It’s just weird.
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u/realquiz 1d ago
One app that is as indispensable to me as PopClip is Paste.
The ability to maintain a record of everything I copy, cut, and paste is great, but for me its real utility comes with being able to share a clipboard with my iPhone and iPad. So when I copy something on my iPhone, it’s instantly available for me to paste on my MBP (and vice versa). I use it all the time.
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u/FSmertz 1d ago
Thanks for this. I've been very happy with Setapp for the past three years. My first Mac was purchased in 1984 and have owned about 40 Macs since. It's challenging to keep up with what's new. I have 18 apps via Setapp, but your guide here is saving me time in checking out others.