This is an ever-updating list of tools that I am currently using or experimenting with. Almost all of them are free or open-source. None of these links are affiliate links.
- Obsidian — Alternatives are LogSeq and RemNote. Obsidian is very cool with a canvas and connected notes. Consider paying for their in-built sync which is way better than iCloud sync (and even has an academic discount!). obsidian.md
- Arc Browser — I use both Safari and Arc and they work fluently together. Would definitely recommend Arc for focused work. The mobile app is not too great yet but provides basic sync. arc.net
- Raindrop — My favorite bookmarks manager that works well with Chrome, Arc, and Safari. Easiest to store PDFs, especially research papers. raindrop.io
- Perplexity — Perfect replacement for You.com. Helps find interesting research papers. perplexity.ai
- Apple Reminders — Built-in with the Mac and syncs seamlessly with other apps. With the new update, you can easily make Kanban boards right in the Reminders app.
- Tweek — A simple app that allows you to input per-day tasks only. Very basic functionality but its simplicity is probably the best feature. Quite similar to a handwritten planner. I use it hand-in-hand with Apple Reminders. Completely free except for some pro features. tweek.so
- CotEditor — A beautiful editor that easily replaces Sublime Text. coteditor.com
- PDF Expert — Perfect dark themes and a simple PDF editor and reader on mobile and desktop. Has an academic discount. pdfexpert.com
- Warp — Love the command line tool with easy copying-pasting and auto-complete. Has a ton of themes and extensions and is fully free. warp.dev
- Raycast — Cannot recommend this tool enough. It will replace at least 10–12 different tools for you including Alfred, Spotlight, Calculators, File Search, storing copied text, internet speed test, and so much more. raycast.com
- Spark — Works really well with mobile and desktop emailing and allows for Office 365 and Gmail. Just plug it in once and use it forever. One caveat: requires server syncing so emails may not be fully private. sparkmailapp.com
- Fantastical — A plug-and-play app for all calendar needs. Pay for their academic discounted yearly plan and forget about forgetting events. flexibits.com/fantastical
- NordVPN — Always have amazing deals and can be used on mobile and desktop. Simple plug-and-play. nordvpn.com
Tools I no longer use
- Capacities — Amazing for academic notes. I switched to Obsidian due to its integrations and speed on both mobile and desktop. capacities.io
- You.com — Love this search engine on desktop. Perplexity’s interface and abilities seem a lot better, so I switched. you.com
- Sublime Text — Fastest editor for quick writing, scripting, and base coding. CotEditor is much more stable and fast. sublimetext.com
- Todoist — Easiest to manage tasks with a Kanban board. Apple Reminders now has the Kanban board and better speed. todoist.com
- Sleeve — Not a required app but pretty fun for switching music with a floating widget on MacOS. Works well with Spotify and Apple Music but does not support YouTube Music. replay.software/sleeve