About Maco

Great software is being made in the open, every day. Maco is a place to find it, understand it, and support the people behind it.

A collection with a point of view.

We’re building a useful starting point for open-source software on macOS. Small menu bar helpers sit alongside creative tools, text editors, and everyday essentials. Each listing brings together what matters: what it does, what it looks like, its source code, and its license.

Maco is a community project by Koative. It’s an independent directory, not an app installer or a software marketplace. Official project pages handle downloads, support, and any paid distribution options.

Know what the license allows.

Open-source apps sit alongside clearly labeled source-available apps. The latter publish their code with additional restrictions. Use the source filter to browse either group, and read each app’s license notes.

Evidence, not guesswork.

Every entry links to the repository and license we checked, with a verification date. That date is a record of our review, not a security certification.

Real apps. Real images.

Icons and screenshots come from the original projects. Their sources, credits, and rights travel with each listing. No generated app screenshots.

One folder. One contribution.

A small Markdown file and its images power the website and README together. Everything is versioned, reviewable, and easy to improve.

Standing on open shoulders.

This collection started with Jeffrey Jackson’s Mac apps list and grew through research across these community directories. They’re discovery sources; each application is verified independently.

Read our research and inclusion policy for the comparisons, exclusions, and licensing details.

There’s room on the shelf.

Have an app we should know about? Found an outdated link or a better screenshot? You don’t need to be the original developer to help.

Contribute to Maco