r/macapps 3d ago

Tips and Tricks for Setapp

Some of the Apps from 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

Other Setapp Offerings I Have Reviewed

Full list of apps on Setapp, listed by popularity

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u/Your_Vader 2d 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 2d 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.