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In 2024, macOS has a big influence in the world of computers. It has over 100 million users around the world and 29.62% of the U.S. PC operating system market.
Even though the Mac has a well-designed interface and reliable speed, even the most loyal users can always find ways to make their systems better.
Utility software can help with this by adding new features, making things run more smoothly, and giving you tools to keep an eye on your system’s health and performance.
Utility software fills in the gaps in macOS’s built-in features, such as freeing up storage space, protecting private data, and making switching easier.
Now that 2025 is getting close, these tools are more important than ever. People want faster, better, and more efficient systems because they depend on them more and more for work, school, and personal use.
Utility software not only keeps systems running at their best, but it also lets Mac users make their computers work the way they need to, whether they’re using them for work, play, or just reading.
Maintaining a competitive edge in this era of rapid technological advancement requires the appropriate resources.
This piece is meant to help people choose the best utility apps for their Mac.
The right utility software can make all the difference whether you want to speed up your device, protect it from new threats, or get your online activities in order.
Let’s look at the best software and see how they fit with your specific needs.
Utility Sofware
Utility software for Mac is a group of software that are made to make macOS computers work better and more efficiently.
These tools are designed to meet specific needs, like improving speed, managing files, keeping data safe, and making changes to the system.
They work with the built-in features of macOS and gives you custom solutions that make their whole computer experience better.
Key Features of Utility Software
System Optimization
Utility software keeps your system running at its best by getting rid of files that aren’t needed, keeping track of how resources are used, and making sure processes run smoothly.
These tools are especially helpful for keeping your gadget running at its best and making it last longer.
File Management
File management tools that work well make it easy to organize, look for, and work with files. These tools make it easier to view and store files, which saves time and makes things less frustrating. They can sort through big sets of data or clean up storage space.
Backup and Recovery
By making safe copies of important files and system settings, backup tools make sure that important data stays safe. Recovery features give you a safety net by letting them quickly get back lost or damaged data.
Security and Privacy
Utility software makes macOS safer by providing features like managing firewalls, encrypting data, and keeping an eye on user activity.
These tools keep private data safe from people who shouldn’t have access to it and help you keep their computers safe.
Productivity Enhancement
Utility programs that focus on productivity make work easier by offering features like adjustable links, powerful search tools, and automated system tasks.
With these changes, you can focus on the most important jobs without being distracted by slow technology.
Customization Options
You can customize your macOS experience with the help of utility applications. These features let you make changes to the system’s behavior and the user interface that fit their needs and the way they work.
Why We Need Utility Software in 2025
Utility software is needed in 2025 because Mac chores are getting harder to do and people are relying more and more on technology for work and for fun.
As macOS systems handle more demanding apps and more data, you need tools that can improve speed and give them custom solutions.
In 2025, utility software will be important for the following main reasons:
- Efficient Resource Management: Utility software makes sure that your system’s resources are used in the best way possible, which cuts down on lags and boosts speed.
- Better data security: Strong security features are needed to keep personal and business data safe as online risks grow.
- Seamless Workflow Automation: You can save time and focus on more important tasks when they automate jobs that they do over and over again.
- Data Preservation: Reliable backup and recovery options protect against losing data because of mistakes or problems with the system.
- Personalized User Experience: Tools for customization make macOS more flexible to each person’s needs, which boosts productivity and happiness.
Now, let’s explore the best utility software for you.
1. Techtool Pro
Techtool Pro is an all-in-one program for maintaining and improving Mac computers. It was made by Micromat and comes with a set of diagnostic, repair, and maintenance tools to keep Macs running smoothly.
Features
- Disk Repair: Techtool Pro can test and fix a number of file formats, including some Windows and Mac formats, to make sure that data is safe and that the program runs at its best.
- Monitoring Your Mac: The software comes with Techtool Monitor, which lets you keep an eye on your Mac and spot new problems as they appear.
- Hardware Testing: It gives full diagnostics for Macs and a lot of debugging and repair tools that helps you find and fix hardware problems quickly.
- Volume Rebuild: This feature helps you handle their disks better by letting them see what changes will be made before changing a directory.
- Techtool Pro can make a bootable partition on your drive without missing any data, which lets you fix things without having to use an external start media.
Advantages
- Full Set of Tools: It has many tools for checking, fixing, and maintaining computers.
- User-Friendly Interface: It has an easy-to-use screen that makes all tools and tests quick and easy to find, which improves the user experience.
- Proactive Monitoring: This type of monitoring includes early signs for possible problems that help keep the system from failing.
- eDrive Convenience: You get convenience by being able to fix their systems without using external start devices when they build an eDrive.
Disadvantages
- Costs of updates: Users have said that paying for updates often can be expensive.
- Limited Integration with the Cloud: It doesn’t have cloud-based backup features, which are becoming common in current utility software.
- Occasional Stability Problems: Some users have said that the system crashed while doing certain tasks, which could mean that there are stability problems.
- Not Complete Support for APFS: Techtool Pro might not fully support the newest Apple File System (APFS), which could make it less useful on newer Macs.
Pricing
The premium subscription of the software starts from $45 per year or you can also buy the software for $110/one-time purchase.
2. Disk Drill
Disk Drill, created by CleverFiles, is data recovery software that can restore accidentally erased or lost files from a wide range of storage media, such as mobile devices, USB flash drives, memory cards, and internal and external hard drives.
Disk Drill works on both macOS and Windows and has an easy-to-use interface and many tools that make data recovery quick and easy.
Features
- Data Recovery: Disk Drill can get back more than 400 types of files, so you can get back photos, videos, papers, and more.
- Partition Recovery: The software can get back lost or destroyed partitions, giving you access to data that you couldn’t get to before.
- Deep and Quick Scan: Disk Drill has both quick scans for recently removed files and deep scans for more complicated data loss situations. This gives you a lot of choices for getting your data back.
- Data Protection Tools: Recovery Vault and Guaranteed Recovery are features that help protect data by keeping track of removed files and making copies of deleted things, which makes it easier to get them back in the future.
- Backup Features: Disk Drill lets you make byte-to-byte backups of disks and partitions, which saves data for later recovery.
Advantages
- User-Friendly Interface: Disk Drill is easy for people of all technical levels to use because it is designed to be simple.
- Wide File Format Support: Its ability to recover a huge number of file types makes it more useful for a wide range of data recovery tasks.
- Cross-Platform: It works with both macOS and Windows, so it can be used by a lot of people.
- Additional Disk Tools: Provides free disk tools for disk cleanup, health tracking, and data protection, which are useful for more than just data recovery.
Disadvantages
- Free Recovery Limits: The free version only lets you recover up to 500 MB of data, which might not be enough for bigger data recovery needs.
- Possible Incomplete Recovery: There is no promise that all files will be recovered, and some files may not be recoverable if they have been deleted or badly damaged.
- Resource-intensive: Deep screening tasks may take a long time and use a lot of system resources, which could slow down the system during the process.
Pricing
You can download the software for free and you can upgrade to the pro version for $89 for a lifetime.
3. R-Studio for Mac
R-Studio for Mac is powerful data recovery software made by R-Tools Technology. It was designed to work with Apple M1 and M2 chips and is compatible with macOS settings.
It makes it easier to get back lost or removed files from a variety of storage media, even if partitions have been wiped, formatted, or broken.
Features
- Broad File System Support: R-Studio for Mac works with many file systems, such as APFS, HFS+, HFS, FAT/exFAT, NTFS, ReFS, Ext2/3/4, and UFS, so you can get your data back from a wide range of storage devices.
- Advanced RAID Recovery: The program can fix and get back data from RAID arrays that are damaged or broken. It works with normal, nested, and custom RAID setups.
- Network Data Recovery: Because R-Studio can restore data over a network, it can be used to get back files from computers that are far away and running different operating systems.
- Disk Imaging: You can make exact byte-for-byte copies of disks or files, which can be used to get back lost data and lower the chance of losing data from the original storage device.
- Hexadecimal Editor: The built-in hex editor lets you look at and change file or disk content at a low level. This is especially helpful for more complex data recovery tasks.
- S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring: R-Studio uses S.M.A.R.T. characteristics to keep an eye on the health of hard drives and let you know early on if they might break.
Advantages
- Full Recovery Options: It works with many file systems and storage devices, which makes it more useful in many situations where data loss happens.
- Professional-Grade Tools: For professional data recovery needs, there are tools like a hex editor, complicated RAID rebuilding, and network recovery.
- Disk Imaging: This feature lets you make copies of disks that protect the security of the data during the recovery process.
- Regular Updates: The software is updated often to make sure it works with the newest versions of macOS and file systems.
Disadvantages
- Complex User Interface: The large number of advanced features may be too much for people who aren’t used to it, making the learning curve higher.
- Premium Pricing: R-Studio for Mac costs more than some other data recovery programs, which may be a factor for users who want to save money.
- Limited Trial Version: The free version only does a few things, so you can test the program but not do full restores until they buy a license.
Pricing
You can download the software for free and you can purchase the premium version for $59.
4. DiskWarrior
DiskWarrior is a well-known disk repair and recovery tool for macOS that was made by Alsoft. Its main job is to fix broken disk folders, which are necessary for the system to find files and organize them.
By rebuilding these folders, DiskWarrior makes the system more stable and lets you get to your files again.
Features
- Directory Repair and Reconstruction: DiskWarrior fixes and rebuilds damaged disk directories, getting back lost files and folders and making the disk run faster overall.
- Functionality for Previewing: Before making any changes, DiskWarrior lets you see what the repaired disk will look like. This gives them full control over the recovery process and makes it clear what is happening.
- SMART Monitoring: The software uses SMART technology to keep an eye on the health of hard drives and let you know early on if a drive might fail.
- Fail-Safe Directory Replacement: When DiskWarrior replaces damaged directories, it uses a fail-safe way to make sure that interruptions like power blackouts don’t damage the data while the repair is being done.
Advantages
- Effective Directory Repairs: Users have praised DiskWarrior for fixing disk directories in ways that other tools can’t, which lets them get back lost files and make the system stable again.
- User-Friendly design: The software’s simple design walks users through the fix process, so both new and experienced users can use it.
- Preventative Maintenance: If you use DiskWarrior regularly, you can stop directory damage from getting worse, which keeps your disk running at its best and lowers the risk of losing data.
Disadvantages
- Lack of APFS Support: DiskWarrior doesn’t work with Apple’s APFS, which is the usual file system for macOS 10.13 and later. This makes it less useful for current Macs.
- Infrequent Updates: Users have said that DiskWarrior doesn’t get updated very often, which could make it less compatible with newer gear and macOS versions.
Pricing
The pricing of the software is $119.95.
5. UFS Explorer Standard Recovery
UFS Explorer Standard Recovery is a data recovery software that is highly adaptable and was created by SysDev Laboratories.
It can get back data that you’ve lost or removed from hard drives, USB flash drives, memory cards, and virtual disks, among other storage devices.
The software works with many operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This makes it a useful tool for a wide range of data loss situations.
Features
- File System Support: UFS Explorer Standard Recovery works with many file systems, such as NTFS, FAT/FAT32, exFAT, HFS+, APFS, Ext2/3/4, XFS, Btrfs, and more. This means that you can recover data from a variety of devices.
- High-Tech Scanners: The software uses IntelliRAW technology to do deep sector-by-sector scans, which lets it find and restore files based on known signatures even when file systems are badly damaged.
- Disk Imaging: It comes with a disk imaging tool that lets you make exact copies of storage devices. This is very helpful for getting data back from drives that aren’t working.
- RAID Reconstruction: UFS Explorer Standard Recovery was mostly made for stand-alone systems, but it can also handle simple RAID setups and help get data back from RAID-based storage systems.
- Virtual Disk Support: The software can work with virtual disks made by well-known virtualization programs like VMware, Hyper-V, and VirtualBox. This makes it easier to get back lost data in virtual environment.
Advantages
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: It works with many operating systems, so it can be used by people who work in a variety of computer environments.
- design that is Easy to Use: It was made with an easy-to-understand design that makes the data recovery process simpler and easier for both new and experienced users.
- Efficient Data Processing: It can handle large amounts of data quickly, so you can work with large files and folders without experiencing a big drop in speed.
- Support for Encrypted Volumes: It can work with encrypted file systems like BitLocker and FileVault2, which gives you options for getting back data from encrypted storage devices.
Disadvantages
- Limited RAID Support: It can handle easy RAID configurations, but for more complicated RAID recovery jobs, you may need to use the UFS Explorer RAID Recovery or Professional Recovery versions.
Pricing
You can download and use the software with its free trial and you can purchase the premium version for $64.95.
6. Data Rescue
Data Rescue is data recovery software made by Prosoft Engineering that can get back lost or removed files from hard drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), USB flash drives, and SD cards, among other locations.
It works with both macOS and Windows, so it can be used by both professionals and beginners who need to quickly get back important data.
Features
- Comprehensive File Recovery: Data Rescue can restore many types of files, such as papers, photos, videos, and more, giving you a lot of options for getting your data back.
- Advanced Scanning Options: The software has both quick and deep scan modes, so you can pick between quick scans for recently removed files and full scans for more complicated data loss situations.
- FileIQ: This feature lets Data Rescue learn new file types by looking at sample files. This makes it easier for it to recover custom or unusual file forms.
- Drive Cloning: Data Rescue lets you make a copy of a failed or damaged drive so that they can safely retrieve their data without putting the original storage device at risk of more damage.
- Hex Viewer: The built-in hex viewer lets advanced users look at raw data on a storage device, which helps with in-depth analysis and data recovery.
Advantages
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: The software works with both macOS and Windows, so it can be used by a lot of people who use different operating systems.
- Advanced Search and Filtering: Powerful search and filtering tools let you quickly find specific files, which speeds up the healing process.
- Professional Version: Data Rescue has a professional version for businesses and IT workers that has more features and can activate an infinite number of systems. This version can handle large amounts of data.
Disadvantages
- Long Deep Scan Times: Users have said that deep scans can take a long time, especially on bigger drives, which could make the recovery process take longer.
- Lack of a stop and restart Function: Users must finish the scanning process all at once, which can be inconvenient since there is no stop and restart function during scans.
Pricing
You can download and use the software with its free trial and you can purchase the standard license for $79.
7. OnlyX
OnyX is a free, multipurpose app for macOS that was made by Titanium Software and has been helping people since 2003. It gives you tools for maintaining, optimizing, and customizing their systems.
It can check system files, clear caches, and set up secret settings in the Finder, Dock, Safari, and other Apple apps.
Features
- System Maintenance: OnyX lets you check the layout of system files, fix disk permissions, and run maintenance tools to make sure the system works well and isn’t broken.
- Cleaning: The software can get rid of system, user, and internet caches, get rid of files and folders that aren’t needed, and rebuild databases and indexes. This can help free up room on your hard drive and make your system run faster.
- Options for Customization: OnyX gives you access to secret macOS settings that let you change how the Finder, Dock, Safari, and other apps look and work to fit their tastes.
- Automation: You can schedule maintenance and cleaning jobs to be done automatically, so the system is always up to date without any human help.
- Extra Tools: OnyX has tools for controlling starting items, seeing system logs, and getting to specific system data, making it a complete system management suite.
Advantages
- Cost-Free: OnyX is totally free to use, making it a cheap way to keep macOS running smoothly and maintain it.
- Comprehensive Set of Tools: It has many features that make it useful for both basic and advanced system control jobs.
- Regular Updates: The creator of OnyX keeps it up to date so that it works with the newest versions of macOS. This keeps it reliable and useful.
- No Ads or Extra Software: OnyX doesn’t have any ads or extra software, so it’s easy to use and concentrate.
Disadvantages
- Lack of In-App Help: OnyX doesn’t give thorough instructions or descriptions within the app, so users may need to look for help elsewhere to understand and use its features fully.
- Compatible with Specific Versions: Each version of OnyX is made for a different build of macOS. This means that users have to download the right version for their operating system, which can be difficult.
Pricing
You can download the software and use it for free.
8. Drive Genius
Drive Genius is a complete macOS app made by Prosoft Engineering that lets you keep an eye on, manage, and get the most out of your Mac’s storage devices.
It provides a group of tools meant to improve system speed, protect against problems, and make sure data is correct.
Features
- DrivePulse Monitoring: Stays on top of your drives to find physical issues and let you know about any problems that could cause data loss or system failure.
- Malware Scan: It finds and gets rid of malware on your system, keeping your info safe and making sure it runs at its best.
- BootWell: Makes a second starting drive with BootWell so you can do repairs on your main drive without stopping.
- Repartition: This feature lets you add, remove, hide, expand, or shrink hard drive sections, making it easier to organize your storage space.
- Find Duplicates find similar files and replace them with aliases. This helps clear up space on your hard drive and make things look cleaner.
- Defragmentation: Optimizing where files are stored on your hard drive through defragmentation improves read/write speeds and system performance as a whole.
Advantages
- Comprehensive Toolset: Drive Genius has many features for keeping an eye on, fixing, and improving your computer, making it an all-in-one option for Mac users.
- Interface That Is Easy to Use: The software is made with an interface that is easy for both new and experienced users to understand.
- Real-time Monitoring: DrivePulse® keeps an eye on your drives all the time, so problems can be found early on, before they get too bad.
- BootWell feature: You can make a second starting drive so that repair work can be done without stopping your work.
Disadvantages
- Limited Support for APFS: Apple’s APFS file system doesn’t support all features, like defragmentation and repartitioning, which makes it harder for users with newer Macs to do some things.
- Potential Redundancy: Some users think that Drive Genius has tools that are already built into macOS’s Disk Utility, which makes them wonder why they need a third-party app.
- Performance Effects: Features that allow continuous tracking may use up system resources, which could slow down the whole system, especially on slower computers.
Pricing
You have to purchase the license to use the software which starts from $79 for 3 computers per year.
9. Carbon Copy Cloner
Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) utility is a macOS application that was developed by Bombich Software. Its purpose is to provide extensive backup and disk cloning capabilities.
You can make exact copies of their data, which makes system restoration, data transfer, and protection against data loss easier and safer.
Features
- Bootable Backups: Some backups can be made with CCC that can be used to start up a Mac in case the system fails.
- Updates that are smart: The software backs up in small chunks, saving only changed or new files. This makes backups more efficient and faster.
- Setting schedules: You can set backups to happen every hour, every day, every week, or every month, protecting data regularly without having to do anything by hand.
- Snapshot Support: CCC uses APFS snapshots to record the state of the system at certain times, which lets you get back to older versions of files or folders.
- Task chaining: This feature lets you run several backup jobs one after the other, which is useful for backup methods that are complicated.
- Email Alerts: CCC can send email alerts when a task succeeds or fails, so you always know the state of their backups.
Advantages
- User-Friendly Interface: Both new and experienced users can easily set up and handle backup jobs with CCC’s easy-to-use interface.
- High Reliability: Users love how reliable CCC is at making accurate backups that can be booted, which protects the security of the data.
- Flexibility in Backup Options: The software lets you choose from a range of backup options, such as selected file backups and full disk copying, to meet their specific needs.
- Regular Updates: Bombich Software changes CCC all the time to make sure it works with the newest versions of macOS and to add new features.
Disadvantages
- Limited Free Trial: While CCC does provide a free 30-day trial, users will need to pay for a license to keep using the service, which might be a dealbreaker for some people.
- Possible Duplicacy with Time Machine: Some users may find that CCC and macOS’s built-in Time Machine do some of the same things, even though CCC has more tools and can be customized more.
Pricing
You can download the software and use it for 30 days with its free trial and you can purchase it for $49.99.
10. Memtest 86
MemTest86 is a popular, stand-alone memory testing tool for x86 and ARM computers. It was made by PassMark Software.
It starts up straight from a USB flash drive and runs a series of tests to find problems in a computer’s RAM. This helps figure out why systems crash, data gets lost, or things act strangely.
Features
- Comprehensive Testing Methods: To fully check the stability of memory, MemTest86 uses 14 different methods, such as SIMD, row hammer, and DMA tests.
- UEFI Support: Made to work with current UEFI BIOS, it has a graphical user interface and supports the mouse for better user contact.
- Secure Boot Signed: Microsoft has signed MemTest86’s code to make sure it is correct and works with computers that have Secure Boot turned on.
- Compatible with Multiple Platforms: It works with both x86 (32/64-bit) and ARM64 hardware, so it can be used with a variety of system designs.
- Reporting and logging mistakes: This feature makes thorough reports of memory errors found, which helps you find broken memory modules.
- MemTest86 can test and find Error-Correcting Code (ECC) memory, which means it can deal with ECC functions.
Advantages
- Memory Testing: Users like MemTest86 because it can find small memory mistakes that other tests might miss, making sure that the system works well.
- Ease of Use: The bootable USB setup and simple design make it easy for both new and experienced users to use.
- Free Edition Available: MemTest86 has a free version with only the most important functions, so it’s a cheap way to test memory.
- Regular Updates: The program gets updates to handle new tools and technologies, which keeps it useful for modern platforms.
Disadvantages
- Time-Consuming Tests: It can take a long time to finish comprehensive memory tests; the more difficult modes can take hours, which may not work for some people.
- Restricted Repair Options: MemTest86 is only a diagnostic tool; it can’t fix memory problems it finds; you have to replace broken RAM.
- Possible Compatibility Problems: Some users have said that running MemTest86 on computers with certain settings, like Secure Boot turned on, caused problems that needed BIOS changes.
Pricing
You can download and use the software for free and the pro version starts from $52.00.
Conclusion
Disk utility software for Mac includes a number of tools that can be used to control, fix, and improve storage devices.
Apple’s built-in Disk Utility has simple functions like formatting, partitioning, and basic fixes that are good enough for everyday jobs.
Users frequently explore third-party alternatives to access sophisticated capabilities. Software like DiskWarrior is great at fixing drive layouts, which makes the system more stable.
Drive Genius has a lot of tracking and optimization tools, such as malware screening and defragmentation, which help make things run faster.
It is Carbon Copy Cloner’s specialty to make backups that can be used to restore data or move a machine.
These third-party tools have powerful features and easy-to-use interfaces that often go beyond what Apple’s Disk Utility can do.
On the other hand, they have some problems. Some of the people have said that some of these apps can use a lot of resources, which could slow down the system while it’s running.
Also, the price of extra services might be an issue for people who are watching their pennies.
And, these tools have advanced features, but users who aren’t familiar with their designs or features may need some time to get used to them.
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