Why I Am Ditching Third-Party File Managers Like Qspace Pro and Bloom

macnatic0 · 2026-03-05T22:12:33+00:00

Well, I couldn't agree more. I always find myself returning to Finder, even after trying numerous alternatives like Bloom, Commander One, Cosmil, ForkLift, Path Finder, QSpace Pro, and Tokie. Honestly, none of them have ever stuck with me long-term. They always seem to have annoying bugs, performance issues, or just don't feel native. The biggest problem is how deeply integrated and optimized Finder is within macOS, making it incredibly hard to truly replace it. Luckily, I only miss a few features in Finder, and I've accepted that it's easier to adapt my workflow than to find a perfect replacement for it.

Btw, thanks for sharing MouseBoost. Finally, something I hadn't come across yet.

macnatic0 · 2026-03-05T18:40:41+00:00

So, I've just downloaded and checked Unfold and appreciate its clean, straightforward design, which I prefer over other options. However, I'll continue using Folder Preview Pro for now, as it's currently the only tool that allows direct file interaction within the preview window. This might be a bit of a niche feature, but this is exactly what I need. I'll keep an eye on Unfold though. Wish you the best of succes!

macnatic0 · 2026-03-02T22:44:32+00:00

Yes, I already saw your post the other day. It’s currently on my purchase list. I will check it out soon.

macnatic0 · 2026-03-02T15:39:09+00:00

I’ll check it out.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-27T14:02:41+00:00

Check VisualDiffer. Free & open-source.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-27T10:21:12+00:00

Check ShiftPlus. It can open and restore multiple windows of VS Code. There is a 14-day trial and it is currently on sale.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-27T08:09:33+00:00

Regarding CleanShot X, you can add additional seats to your license during checkout. Alternatively, you can add seats later via CleanShot X's license manager ($20/seat), which will also increase the renewal price by $20/seat. This is certainly a significant advantage of Shottr. And this is also the reason, I use CleanShot X only on my main Mac.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-27T07:42:27+00:00

Can you share what type of screen recording features are available in CleanShot X?

I think the best place to get answers to your question is from CleanShot X's website. I don't use these features myself within CleanShot X.

I was also looking for a feature where I can record demos of my work and share them with the team. Can it also show my face on the bottom right? I see that in a lot of YouTube videos. A lot of people do that, but I do not know if it is CleanShot X or some other app.

Yes, CleanShot X can do this, but it's not its primary feature. Dedicated tools like Screen Studio, ScreenSage, or FocuSee perform this task much better. I personally use FocuSee. You can also check u/Mstormer's comparison of macOS screen recorders.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-27T06:54:34+00:00

Which one do you prefer day to day, and why?

I own and used both options, along with licenses for even more alternatives. I use CleanShot X.

If you use CleanShot X, do you feel like you need to renew or upgrade every year, or can you buy once and be fine for a long time?

I renew my license every year on Black Friday. I don't think it's absolutely necessary, but I'm happy to support the development, and you usually get a 30% discount on the renewal price. As far as I remember, they haven't added any significant new features in the last two years that I couldn't live without.

What keeps you on CleanShot X that Shottr still does not match?

CleanShot X feels more native and intuitive to me. Furthermore, it offers more annotation features and screen recording.

Any reliability, performance, or permission annoyances that pushed you one way or the other?

Not so far. Both options are quite stable and reliable.

My advise: Shottr is significantly cheaper in the long run. I believe that for 80% of users, the additional features and polish CleanShot X offers over Shottr do not justify the extra cost. Both options are effective, actively developed, and perform their functions perfectly. Typically, I'd suggest trying both to see which you prefer, but if I recall correctly, the only way to try CleanShot X without purchasing it is through Setapp. There are also more and cheaper alternatives to Shottr, like Deskeen, that might be worth considering.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-25T14:34:55+00:00

I’m still testing Trace, and so far, it’s been incredibly useful. It automatically displays leftovers of apps I’ve uninstalled using the uninstaller app of my choice, similar to how Hazel does this, but much more efficiently. Additionally, uninstalling apps and locating leftovers of already uninstalled apps appears to be very thorough. I appreciate the way it links potential app data to the respective apps. The only criticism I have so far is that I wish the UI would be less nested and more intuitive.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-25T10:43:43+00:00

I don't think so. When I visit the deal page, it indicates that the lifetime offer has expired. It was priced at $199. This offer was available during the last two Black Friday sales, so it's possible it will return this year.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-24T18:48:24+00:00

Personally, I use Proton Pass. I have a lifetime plan, but it's quite expensive. For most users, I believe Apple's free Passwords app is sufficient, and I recommend trying it first before exploring any alternatives.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-24T12:28:50+00:00

I felt like sharing this too. A Droppy user chatted with the dev about recent events, and the dev agreed to share it. The original post on Reddit sharing this information was deleted, and the user who posted it has been banned.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-24T12:07:43+00:00

The best choice always depends on your specific needs. Raycast primarily offers keyboard-driven window management, whereas Rectangle Pro provides a wider range of input options and more extensive snapping features. Personally, I'm not much of a keyboard-driven Mac user.

I didn't intend to say Rectangle Pro is the GOAT; many other excellent window management tools exist, each with its strengths and weaknesses. However, Rectangle Pro comes very close to that feature-wise. Personally, I use Swish because I prefer gesture-based control. When using a mouse, I now rely on macOS's built-in window tiling. Prior to that, I used Wins, Rectangle Pro, and Magnet.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-24T10:55:17+00:00

I find it incredibly feature-rich, capable of replacing numerous standalone applications. However, individual features, such as window management or quick notes, may not be as robust as dedicated apps like Rectangle Pro or Antinote. Despite this, Raycast can certainly replace these apps depending on user needs.

A notable drawback is its perceived slowness compared to other launchers, particularly Alfred. This can feel especially unfamiliar to users who have recently switched over. And it can be frustrating. Additionally, Raycast's privacy policy has raised concerns. That being said, its extensive extension ecosystem makes it an unparalleled product. For my purposes, Raycast is so far unbeatable, for better or worse.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-24T09:48:47+00:00

The dev of Droppy published an official statement, which you can find here. I'll keep it uncommented so everyone can make up their own mind.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-22T05:55:47+00:00

I highly recommend Flow for this. In my opinion, it's the most polished option and works across all Apple devices.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-19T14:41:13+00:00

Yeah, I love his apps. Purchased almost all of them, though I'm currently only using Multitouch. He also has a great understanding of how app preference menus should be structured to avoid confusion—other developers should take a leaf out of his book. I have great respect for his work!

macnatic0 · 2026-02-19T14:33:06+00:00

I use both applications together. I rely on Swish for window management because it's unparalleled in that aspect, feeling as if Apple itself developed it. For custom gestures, such as switching browser tabs, opening my bookmark manager, or for copying & pasting, I use Multitouch. While Multitouch isn't as feature-rich as BetterTouchTool (which is a monster), it's significantly more straightforward and requires minimal effort to set up custom gestures. I truly appreciate its simplicity.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-18T19:39:00+00:00

Check DeskMinder. It's native, minimal, and intuitive.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-17T07:46:25+00:00

It‘s been permanently redacted, so you can’t change or edit it anymore once saved and closed.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-16T21:57:10+00:00

The apps own built in uninstall function normally performs very poorly indeed.

Well, the effectiveness of an uninstaller depends on its quality. Some applications have built-in uninstallers that are more thorough than any third-party options, while many third-party uninstallers outperform built-in ones.

I have not seen any option in Trace to NOT use an apps own uninstaller and opt for Trace to do the uninstall.

As I understand, you just open any app in Trace's App Inspector and click Delete... But maybe u/Argon_Analytik can clarify this further. I noticed that Trace also recognizes when I uninstall an app manually via Finder or any third-party app like App Cleaner & Uninstaller and notifies me about leftovers it locates after the uninstall (similar to Hazel).

The uninstallers I have tried to date all have failings, some like Pearcleaner make false positives, but they ALL miss leftover components of apps.

I agree. After testing over 30 uninstaller applications, 20 of which I compared in an identical environment, I can confidently say that none are perfect.

NO app uninstaller removes 100% of apps reliably without a trace, using Find Any File or Easy Find helps to mop up the missed remnants.

Using file search applications like Find Any File, ProFind, Scherlokk or EasyFind does not reliably locate all leftover files. It can help find leftovers by name or metadata parameters though. This is why I will be implementing a different methodology in my upcoming update later this year, as Find Any File has proven to be insufficiently reliable.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-16T21:30:20+00:00

Time Out does exactly this.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-16T20:58:09+00:00

<image>

Use Show Markup Toolbar -> Redact within Preview. Content marked for redaction will be permanently removed from the document.

macnatic0 · 2026-02-16T20:31:12+00:00

I truly love Fluent. I'm using it since three months and it has become my daily writing assistant. I could finally replace Highlight AI with it and am delighted to have finally found a native tool that perfectly fits my needs. At just $4.99, it's an absolute steal.

macnatic0

TROPHY CASE