The Best Mac Tools for Remote Workers and Digital Nomads
June 9, 2025
Working remotely can be amazing — you can travel, avoid traffic, and design your own routine. But you also need the right tools to stay organized, focused, and connected. Here’s a list of apps that make remote life way easier, whether you're in a coworking space in Bali or working from your kitchen table.
1. Presentify: Draw on your screen while presenting
Presentify is a must-have if you ever need to explain things on your screen. It lets you draw over any app or window, kind of like a whiteboard that floats on top. This is super useful during video calls or demos. You can highlight buttons, sketch flows, or write notes in real time. It works with Zoom, Google Meet, and everything else. As a remote worker, it helps you be clear and quick. No more guessing what someone meant. You just show it.
2. Mouse Shaker: Stay online all the time
Mouse Shaker simulates little mouse movements to keep your Mac from going idle. This is helpful if you have a micromanaging boss or a company that logs your “online” time. It also keeps your screen awake while you read or watch something. You can set it to jiggle, scroll, click, or move between tabs. If you’re working remotely and don’t want to look “offline” by accident, this tool keeps things running smoothly.
3. Slack: The chat app that actually works
Slack is the best way to chat with your team if you can avoid being forced onto Microsoft Teams. It feels fast, modern, and lets you keep track of conversations easily. Threads make sense. You can send gifs or voice notes, and it works well on Mac, web, and mobile. Remote teams often live in Slack all day. It becomes your virtual office. If you’re a digital nomad, Slack helps you stay connected without feeling overwhelmed.
4. My Clocks: See your coworkers' time zones at a glance
My Clocks adds different time zones to your Mac’s menu bar. You can label each with an emoji and a name, like 🧑💻 Paris or 🏡 NYC. This is perfect if your team is spread out — or if you just want to keep an eye on your family's time zones. It helps you avoid messaging someone at 2am by mistake. Apple’s clock widget is too hidden. This one’s always visible.
5. Skitch: Mark up screenshots fast
Skitch is the easiest way to add arrows, text, or shapes to a screenshot. You can highlight issues, point to bugs, or explain design feedback. It’s super fast — much faster than Preview or Apple’s built-in tools. If you need to send screenshots a lot while working remotely, Skitch saves time and makes your feedback crystal clear. Great for developers, designers, and support folks too.
6. Obsidian: Your second brain, even offline
Obsidian is a note-taking app that saves everything in plain text. It’s fast, works offline, and lets you link ideas together. You can use it for work notes, journaling, or planning projects. If you follow the Zettelkasten method, it’s perfect. You can even sync your notes to Dropbox or iCloud. As a remote worker, having a solid, local note system is gold — no need to rely on the internet or company tools.
7. Stretch It: Deep focus, one drag at a time
Stretch It is a little app that helps you focus. You drag a timer like you would stretch a rubber band, drop it, and it starts a focus session. It's super fast and satisfying to use. If you're working in a noisy café or your Airbnb has distractions, this helps you zone in. You can use it for Pomodoro sessions or longer deep work blocks. It feels more fun and less stressful than traditional timers. And when you're done, you can get up and actually stretch.
