LifetimeMac

Mac apps you buy once and own

Every app here is sold as a one-time purchase, or is free. We read each price off the developer's own page and record what it does not buy you in a column that cannot be filtered away. Search for the subscription you want to cancel.

AppPriceLicenceThe catchChecked
1Blocker1Blocker LLC$39.99Lifetime tierLifetime lasts as long as the company keeps shipping blocklist updates2026-09-22
2DoGuided Ways Technologies (Fahad Gilani)$49.99Paid upgradesUpdates stop eighteen months after purchase unless you pay a discounted renewal2026-09-22
A Better Finder Renamepublicspace.net€29.95Paid upgradesThe default licence stops before version 13 unless you pay more for the Forever tier2026-09-22
Acorn 8Flying Meat Inc.$29.99Paid upgradesEach major version is a fresh $29.99 purchase, not a discounted upgrade2026-09-22
AeroSpaceNikita BobkoFreeOpen sourceconfigured only by hand in a TOML file, and it replaces macOS Spaces rather than using them2026-09-22
AffinityCanva (Serif)FreeFreeFree, but the download runs through a Canva account and the AI tools need a paid Canva plan2026-09-22
AgendaMomenta B.V.$34.99Lifetime tierThe one-time unlock covers today's features plus one year of new ones, not everything after that2026-09-22
AlDente ProAppHouseKitchen€23.99Lifetime tierRecent Apple silicon MacBooks already cap charging at 80% in macOS, which may be all you need2026-09-22
AlfredRunning with Crayons Ltd£34This versionOnly the £59 Mega Supporter tier includes free upgrades forever; £34 buys Alfred 52026-09-22
AltTabLouis Pontoise (lwouis)$9.99This version$9.99 Pro covers the current major version only; the $24.99 lifetime tier is the forever one2026-09-22
AmadineBeLight Software$29.99Lifetime tierThe iPhone and iPad app is a separate purchase with its own monthly subscription2026-09-22
AmethystIan YhFreeOpen sourceit uses native Spaces, so you keep the slow macOS switching animation, and it is still a 0.x release2026-09-22
AmphetamineWilliam C. GustafsonFreeFreeMac App Store only — no direct download or licence file, and the source is closed2026-09-22
AppCleanerFreeMacSoftFreeFreeno build listed for macOS 27 yet — the newest release on the page stops at macOS 262026-09-22
Arq BackupHaystack Software$59.99Paid upgradesUpdates stop after one year unless you pay $25 a year; your version keeps working2026-09-22
AsepriteIgara Studio S.A.$19.99This versionThe $19.99 covers the 1.x series only; a future 2.0 would be a separate purchase2026-09-22
Audio HijackRogue Amoeba$69This versionMajor versions are a separate purchase — the jump from 3 to 4 cost $292026-09-22
BartenderSurtees Studios$24.99Paid upgrades$24.99 buys Bartender 7 only; version 8 is a paid upgrade and Pro features are yearly2026-09-22
Base 3Menial£29.99This versionMenial does not publish update terms, and past major versions were paid upgrades2026-09-22
BBEditBare Bones Software$59.99Paid upgradesMajor versions are paid upgrades, currently $29.99 to $39.99 every couple of years2026-09-22
BetterDisplaywaydabber (István Tóth)$21.99This versionOne purchase covers about a year of updates, after which newer major versions are a fresh buy2026-09-22
BetterTouchToolAndreas Hegenberg (folivora.ai)$15This versionThe $15 licence stops getting updates after two years; only the $25 tier is a true lifetime2026-09-22
Beyond Compare 5Scooter Software$35Paid upgradesThree-way merge is Pro only, so the $35 Standard edition will not serve as a git merge tool2026-09-22
BikeHog Bay Software$30Paid upgradesOnly the direct licence is perpetual; the Mac App Store version is a subscription that stops working2026-09-22
Bitwig StudioBitwig GmbH€99Paid upgradesThe Grid, the reason most people buy Bitwig, is only in the EUR 399 Pro edition2026-09-22
BookendsSonny Software$74.99Paid upgradesUpdates stop after two years unless you pay $49.99 for another window; the app keeps working2026-09-22
Boxy SVGJarosław Foksa$19.99PerpetualBuy it on the Mac App Store — the developer's own site sells a separate web version2026-09-22
BrunoBruno (usebruno)FreeOpen sourceDeeper git and team features are subscription-only; only the open-source app is free2026-09-22
BusyCalBusyMac$49.99Paid upgradesThe licence never expires but includes only 18 months of updates2026-09-22
Calendar 366Dominik Stoisits$49.99Lifetime tierThe $49.99 unlock is an in-app purchase, and separate iOS-only unlocks are sold alongside it2026-09-22
calibreKovid GoyalFreeOpen sourceCurrent builds need macOS 14 or newer, so an older Mac is stuck on an old version2026-09-22
Canary MailCartasec Pte. Ltd. (Canary Mail)$99.99Lifetime tierThe lifetime price is not printed on the pricing page — only Apple's listing shows $99.992026-09-22
CaptoGlobal Delight Technologies$29.99PerpetualThe $29.99 tier is the discounted pack; the two full unlocks are $49.992026-09-22
Carbon Copy ClonerBombich Software$49.99This versionCCC 8 will be a paid upgrade, discounted for existing owners2026-09-22
CharlesXK72 Ltd (Karl von Randow)$50Paid upgradesThe next major version costs 40% of what you paid; your licence stops before it2026-09-22
ChronoSyncEcon Technologies$49.99PerpetualSyncing to another Mac properly wants ChronoAgent, a separate $19.99 purchase2026-09-22
CleanShot XMTW (Make the Web)$35This versionUpdates stop after one year unless you renew at $19; the version you own keeps working2026-09-22
coconutBatterycoconut-flavour.com (Christoph Sinai)€12.95This versionThe cheaper Plus edition only gets 4.x updates — only the Lifetime Edition covers what comes next2026-09-22
CodeRunnerNikolai Krill$22.99PerpetualCompany or institution machines need the $15-per-computer site licence, minimum five2026-09-22
CryptomatorSkymatic GmbHFreeOpen sourceFree on the desktop only — the iOS app is a separate €29.99 purchase2026-09-22
DaisyDiskSoftware Ambience$9.99This versionThe licence covers minor updates only, so a future major version may cost again2026-09-22
DatoSindre Sorhus$18PerpetualNone found2026-09-22
DaVinci Resolve StudioBlackmagic Design$295PerpetualThe free version already covers most 8-bit UHD work — check you actually need Studio2026-09-22
Default Folder XSt. Clair Software$39.95Paid upgradesMajor versions are a paid upgrade, $9.95 to $19.95, roughly every five to seven years2026-09-22
DEVONthink 4DEVONtechnologies$99Paid upgradesUpdates stop after a year unless you pay to extend; the version you have keeps working forever2026-09-22
DevUtilsDevUtils$29This versionUpdates stop after a year unless you renew at 40% off; your copy keeps working2026-09-22
DownieCharlie Monroe Software$19.99PerpetualWhich sites work depends on constant updates; a redesign can break one for a while2026-09-22
DropzoneAptonic$35PerpetualThe free tier is deliberately basic — the actions worth having sit behind the $35 Pro licence2026-09-22
EagleFilerC-Command Software$69.99This versionMajor versions are a paid upgrade, and upgrade discounts apply only if you bought direct from C-Command2026-09-22
eM ClienteM Client Inc.€39.95PerpetualVIP Support is free for the first year only, then needs a paid extension2026-09-22
EnpassEnpass Technologies Private Limited$99.99Lifetime tierThe lifetime tier is only reliably buyable as an App Store in-app purchase2026-09-22
EspansoFederico Terzi and contributorsFreeOpen sourcesnippets are YAML files you edit by hand, and syncing them between Macs is your job2026-09-22
Final Cut ProApple$299.99PerpetualSome premium content is Creator Studio subscribers only, and Motion and Compressor cost extra2026-09-22
FissionRogue Amoeba$35This versionMajor versions are a separate $15 purchase, though new ones come along rarely2026-09-22
ForkDan Pristupov and Tanya Pristupova$59.99PerpetualNothing on the site promises free major upgrades, so a paid version 3 is possible2026-09-22
ForkLiftBinaryNights$19.95This versionUpdates stop when your one- or two-year window ends; the version you have keeps running2026-09-22
Foxit PDF Editor 14 (Perpetual)Foxit Software$209.99This versionYou own version 14; version 15 is a new purchase, and cloud and AI features are excluded2026-09-22
GhosttyMitchell Hashimoto and contributorsFreeOpen sourceSupport is GitHub issues, and some niche iTerm2 features are still missing2026-09-22
Gifox 2Bitwild Ltd$14.99This versionThe $14.99 unlock buys Gifox 2; a paid Gifox 3 is already named on the developer's site2026-09-22
GifskiSindre SorhusFreeOpen sourceIt converts video you already have — recording the screen is another app's job2026-09-22
Glyphs 4Glyphs GmbH€319Paid upgradesMajor versions are paid again — Glyphs 2 and 3 owners paid 199 to move up to Glyphs 42026-09-22
GoodTaskhaha Interactive$39.99PerpetualThe iPhone and iPad app is a separate purchase from the Mac one2026-09-22
GrandPerspectiveErwin BonsmaFreeOpen sourceNone found2026-09-22
HammerspoonHammerspoon contributorsFreeOpen sourcethere is no GUI at all, so every behaviour you want is something you write in Lua2026-09-22
HandBrakeHandBrake TeamFreeOpen sourceIt will not read the copy protection on a commercial DVD or Blu-ray by itself2026-09-22
HazelNoodlesoft$42This versionMajor versions are a separate $20 upgrade, roughly every few years2026-09-22
HomerowDexter Leng$49.99PerpetualOnly works as well as an app's accessibility support; some Electron apps expose almost no labels2026-09-22
HoudahSpotHoudah Software$39This versionHoudahSpot 7 will be a paid upgrade; a version 6 licence covers 6.x releases only2026-09-22
iA WriterInformation Architects GmbH$49.99This versionEach platform is a separate purchase, and major versions may cost extra2026-09-22
IceJordan BairdFreeOpen sourcethe repo has not been pushed to in a year and some README features are still unimplemented2026-09-22
IconJarDavey Heuser and Curtis Hard$75Lifetime tierThe pricing page never states what future major versions the 75 dollar licence covers2026-09-22
IINAIINA ProjectFreeOpen sourceVolunteer-run, so fixes and releases arrive when contributors have time2026-09-22
ImageOptimKornel LesińskiFreeOpen sourceFree covers the Mac app only — server-side compression is the paid ImageOptim API2026-09-22
InfuseFirecore$99.99Lifetime tierThe free app is deliberately limited — Dolby Vision, lossless audio and cloud sources are Pro2026-09-22
InkscapeThe Inkscape ProjectFreeOpen sourceThe macOS build is a GTK port — menus, shortcuts and dialogs don't behave like a Mac app2026-09-22
iShowU Studio 2shinywhitebox$79Perpetual$79 covers Studio 2 only — the quicker iShowU V6 recorder is a separate $89 app2026-09-22
iStat MenusBjango$11.99Paid upgradesWeather is a separate subscription once the six months included with a licence run out2026-09-22
iTerm2George NachmanFreeOpen sourceOne maintainer sets the pace, and very high-volume output feels slower than GPU terminals2026-09-22
ItsycalSanjay Madan (Mowglii)FreeOpen sourceEvents can be created and deleted but not edited — editing still means a trip to Calendar.app2026-09-22
Karabiner-ElementsTakayama FumihikoFreeOpen sourceanything interesting is a JSON complex modification, and it remaps keyboards only2026-09-22
KeePassXCKeePassXC TeamFreeOpen sourceNo sync of its own, and the iOS app is a separate paid purchase from someone else2026-09-22
KekaAone (aonez)FreeFreeIt creates 7z and zip but only extracts rar, and cannot edit an archive you already have2026-09-22
Keyboard MaestroStairways Software$36Paid upgradesmajor versions are a paid upgrade, currently $25, and arrive roughly every couple of years2026-09-22
KeyCastrKeyCastr contributorsFreeOpen sourceNeeds system-wide Input Monitoring permission, so it can see everything you type2026-09-22
KritaKrita Foundation / KDE communityFreeOpen sourceThe $12.99 Mac App Store build unlocks nothing extra — it is a donation with auto-updates2026-09-22
LaunchBarObjective Development Software GmbH€35This versionVersion-locked to LaunchBar 6, current since 2014, and past major upgrades were paid2026-09-22
LibreOfficeThe Document FoundationFreeOpen sourceComplex Word and Excel files can shift on round-trip, especially macros and tracked changes2026-09-22
Little SnitchObjective Development Software GmbH€59This versionMajor versions are a paid upgrade unless your licence was bought after 1 January 20242026-09-22
Logic ProApple$199.99PerpetualMac only, and Logic Pro for iPad is subscription-only rather than part of this purchase2026-09-22
LuLuObjective-See FoundationFreeOpen sourceNo commercial support, and rule handling is rougher than the paid alternatives2026-09-22
LunarAlin Panaitiu$23Perpetualwhether hardware brightness control works at all depends on your monitor, cable and dock2026-09-22
MaccyAlex RodionovFreeOpen sourceno iOS app and no sync, so the history stays on the one Mac2026-09-22
MacWhisperGood Snooze€64PerpetualSome optional AI features call out to cloud APIs you pay for separately2026-09-22
MagnetBOOTCODE A.S.$4.99PerpetualApp Store only, so there is no trial, and updates have slowed to occasional minor fixes2026-09-22
Marked 3Brett Terpstra$69.99Lifetime tierThe $69.99 permanent unlock is introductory pricing and returns to $89.99 later2026-09-22
MarkEditMarkEdit-appFreeOpen sourceNone found2026-09-22
MarsEdit 5Red Sweater Software$59.95Paid upgradesMajor versions are a separate paid upgrade, at about half price for existing owners2026-09-22
Micro SnitchObjective Development Software GmbH$3.99PerpetualIt reports that the mic or camera turned on — it cannot block anything2026-09-22
MonitorControlMonitorControl contributorsFreeOpen sourcesupport is a GitHub issue tracker, and each new macOS release needs a matching build2026-09-22
MoomMany Tricks$15This versionMajor versions are a paid upgrade — Moom 3 to 4 cost owners $8 — and free updates run about a year2026-09-22
NovaPanic$99This versionThe $99 covers one year of updates, then it auto-renews at $49/year unless you cancel2026-09-22
OBS StudioOBS ProjectFreeOpen sourceNo editor and no official support — scenes and macOS audio routing are yours to set up2026-09-22
ObsidianObsidianFreeFreeMulti-device sync is $48 a year unless you wire up iCloud or git yourself2026-09-22
OmniFocus 4The Omni Group$74.99This versionThe next major version will be a paid upgrade, historically around half list price2026-09-22
OmniPlan 4The Omni Group$199.99This versionA future OmniPlan 5 is a separate paid upgrade, historically discounted for existing owners2026-09-22
OnyXTitanium Software (Joël Barrière)FreeFreeEach major macOS release needs its own build, and the current one is Apple silicon only2026-09-22
PastePaste Team$89.99Lifetime tierAt $89.99 the lifetime plan takes about three years of the annual plan to pay off2026-09-22
PDF ExpertReaddle$139.99Lifetime tierReaddle states new features may cost extra, and the licence covers the Mac app only2026-09-22
PDF SqueezerWitt Software$19.99PerpetualCompression only: no editing, OCR or signing, and a future major version may be paid2026-09-22
PDFgearPDFgear SoftwareFreeFreeClosed source with no stated business model, so nothing guarantees it stays free2026-09-22
PermuteCharlie Monroe Software$14.99PerpetualPermute 4 needs macOS 26 on Apple silicon; older Macs buy Permute 3 instead2026-09-22
PikaCharlie GleasonFreeOpen sourcePicking and contrast only — no palettes, no measuring, no screenshot tools2026-09-22
Pixelmator ProApple (originally Pixelmator Team)$49.99PerpetualThe one-time build is drifting behind the subscription one, which gets the Warp Tool exclusively2026-09-22
PixelSnap 2MTW (Make the Web)$39PerpetualThe buy page never says how long updates last, so treat a version 3 as a likely paid upgrade2026-09-22
PopClipPilotmoon Software$26PerpetualThe cheap $12 tier stops getting updates after two years; $26 buys the one that never does2026-09-22
Postico 2Egger Apps$69This versionThe licence covers Postico 2.x only, and Postico 3 will be a paid upgrade as 2 was2026-09-22
PresentifySoftal Limited$14.99This versionUpdates cover the current major version; the app is already at 8, so a paid 9 is possible2026-09-22
ProxymanProxyman (TablePlus Inc.)$89This versionOne year of updates; after that you keep every Pro feature, but not new releases2026-09-22
Radio SilenceRadio Silence$9PerpetualNo upgrade policy is stated, so treat the $9 as buying the version shipping today2026-09-22
RaycastRaycast Technologies Inc.FreeFreeNo one-time option exists, and the free tier keeps clipboard history for only three months2026-09-22
REAPERCockos Incorporated$60This versionThe $60 tier stops at $20,000 yearly gross revenue; past that the licence is $2252026-09-22
RectangleRyan HansonFreeOpen sourceSaved layouts, display-triggered layouts and window throwing are held back for the paid Rectangle Pro2026-09-22
Rectangle ProRyan Hanson$9.99PerpetualNo published upgrade policy, so a future Rectangle Pro 2 could be a second purchase2026-09-22
RetrobatchFlying Meat Inc.$29.99Paid upgradesThe nodes worth having are Pro-only, which is $49.99 rather than the $29.99 standard edition2026-09-22
RightFontRightFont$59Paid upgradesOne Mac per licence, and updates stop after a year unless you pay half price again2026-09-22
ScappleLiterature & Latte$20.99This versionA future Scapple 2 would be a separate purchase, as with Scrivener2026-09-22
ScreenFlowTelestream$199Paid upgradesMajor versions are paid upgrades, and Telestream does not publish the upgrade price2026-09-22
Scrivener 3Literature & Latte$59.99This versionScrivener 4 will be a new purchase, at a discount for owners of 32026-09-22
SecretsOuter Corner, Unipessoal LDA$59.99Paid upgradesEditing and Sharing unlock separately; both together is $79.99, not $59.992026-09-22
ShottrShottr$12PerpetualScreenshots only — there is no video, GIF or screen recording at any price2026-09-22
SketchSketch B.V.$120This versionUpdates stop after a year, and the licence buys the Mac app alone with no trial first2026-09-22
SkimSkim projectFreeOpen sourceReads and annotates only — no page editing, OCR or form filling2026-09-22
SoundSourceRogue Amoeba$49Paid upgradeseach major version is a separate purchase — the upgrade to SoundSource 6 costs $252026-09-22
SpamSieveC-Command Software (Michael Tsai)$39.99This versionFiltering only happens while your Mac is awake, so your iPhone sees unfiltered mail first2026-09-22
StatsSerhiy Mytrovtsiy (exelban)FreeOpen sourceFan control is in legacy mode and, in the README's words, receives no updates or fixes2026-09-22
StrongboxPhoebe Code Limited$124.99Lifetime tierLifetime costs five years of the yearly plan before it starts paying off2026-09-22
Sublime MergeSublime HQ$99This versionUpdates stop after three years; your version keeps working but newer builds need a paid upgrade2026-09-22
Sublime TextSublime HQ$99This versionUpdates stop after three years; your version keeps working but newer builds need a paid upgrade2026-09-22
SuperDuper!Shirt Pocket$43.95This versionA much older licence pays again for each new major version, discounted at best2026-09-22
SwishChristian Renninger (Highly Opinionated)$16PerpetualUseless without a trackpad; on a mouse-only Mac almost none of the gestures are reachable2026-09-22
SyncthingThe Syncthing projectFreeOpen sourceNo official Mac app — you configure it in a browser, and the menu bar wrappers are third-party2026-09-22
TablePlusTablePlus Inc.$99This versionUpdates stop after one year unless you renew; the app itself keeps working2026-09-22
TaskPaperHog Bay Software (Jesse Grosjean)$24.99This versionNo iPhone or iPad app — on mobile you edit the file in someone else's text editor2026-09-22
TextSniperTextSniper$7.99This versionMajor upgrades cost extra, and the 7-day refund covers the direct purchase, not the App Store one2026-09-22
TG ProTunabelly Software$10This versionthe $10 is a 50%-off promotion on a $20 list price, and no upgrade policy is stated2026-09-22
Things 3Cultured Code$49.99This versionEach platform is a separate purchase — the iPhone app is another $9.992026-09-22
ThunderbirdMZLA Technologies (Mozilla)FreeOpen sourceNothing to pay, but it is a cross-platform app that never quite feels Mac-native2026-09-22
TimematorCatforce Studio$39PerpetualThe iPhone app is a separate $7.99 purchase, and the Mac licence covers two Macs2026-09-22
TinderboxEastgate Systems$289Paid upgradesA year of upgrades is included, then a new version costs $98 or $83 a year to stay current2026-09-22
TinkerToolMarcel Bresink Software-SystemeFreeFreeOnly surfaces preferences Apple already ships; the system-level tools are in paid TinkerTool System2026-09-22
TotThe Iconfactory$19.99PerpetualThe iPhone and iPad app is a separate purchase from the Mac unlock2026-09-22
TransmitPanic$45This versionA future Transmit 6 would be a separate purchase, as the jump from 4 to 5 was2026-09-22
TypinatorErgonis Software$49.99This versionBasic buys Typinator 10 only; the next major version is a separate paid upgrade2026-09-22
TyporaTypora$14.99This versionA major version jump like 1.x to 2.x can require paying again2026-09-22
UPDFSuperace Software Technology$79.99Lifetime tierThe AI Assistant is a separate US$69/year subscription, not part of the lifetime licence2026-09-22
VectorStylerVectorStyler$95PerpetualOne person builds it, so "lifetime" means the app's lifetime rather than yours2026-09-22
Vellum180g$199.99PerpetualBuying Ebooks then upgrading to Press costs $19.99 more in total than buying Press up front2026-09-22
VeraCryptIDRIX / VeraCrypt projectFreeOpen sourceNeeds macFUSE, a system extension that can lag weeks behind a new macOS release2026-09-22
Wipr 2Kaylee Calderolla$4.99PerpetualBlocking outside Safari needs the separate, recurring Filtr subscription2026-09-22
WitchMany Tricks$14This versionyour licence is valid forever but includes only about a year of updates, and Witch 5 will cost extra2026-09-22
Xnapper10xCompany, LLC$29.99This versionOne year of updates included; another year costs 60% of what you first paid2026-09-22
xScopeThe Iconfactory$49.99Paid upgradesMajor versions are a paid upgrade, historically 50% off if you already own one2026-09-22
Yate2manyrobots$20PerpetualOne licence covers two Macs at a time, so a third means deactivating one2026-09-22
ZettlrHendrik ErzFreeOpen sourceExport beyond HTML needs Pandoc, and PDF needs a LaTeX install on top2026-09-22
ZoteroDigital ScholarFreeOpen sourceThe app is free forever, but only 300 MB of sync storage is; a PDF library outgrows that fast2026-09-22