What about software for my Mac that doesn't come from the App Store?

straydog

I've recently purchased my fourth new Mac. On each earlier Mac I have resorted at various times to software solutions from sources other than the App Store. But every time I did so, I was less than comfortable about it. In the wild world of computer technology and the internet, it always felt to me safer to stick with what Apple monitored and sanctioned.

This time, with my newest MacBook Pro, I hoped to avoid using third party software downloaded from sources other than the App Store or the apple website. The problem is that there are great offerings out there, the capabilities of which I can't find directly from Apple.

Right now, I very much want to enhance my new MacBook with one of my favorite apps, BetterTouchTool, and am very frustrated about what to do. Is there a good way to decide when it's "safe" to venture outside of the official Apple realm to find software solutions?

Any advice I could get here would be greatly appreciated.

spheric

Asking here is a good start. 

BetterTouchTool is reputable standard software.

mike wuerthele

spheric said:

Asking here is a good start. 

BetterTouchTool is reputable standard software.

Second this. We've also recently ramped up our software coverage too, so take a gander at what we've done there. The Setapp subscription service is a good place to start too.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/07/30/hands-on-setapps-continuing-attempt-to-change-the-way-we-all-pay-for-mac-apps

straydog

Thanks, Spheric. That does make me more comfortable about installing BTT.

And thank you, Mike. I will check out your helpful suggestion and link!

Really appreciate the guidance.