Package managers, containers, Git clients and debugging tools.
The standard package manager for command-line tools and apps
A free, open-source package manager that installs command-line tools and Mac apps from the terminal with one command. It also runs on Linux and WSL.
Our take Install this first on any developer Mac. It keeps tools up to date and makes setting up a new machine much faster.
FreeBSD-2-Clause licenceby Homebrew
Light, fast way to run Docker containers and Linux machines
A native Mac app for running Docker containers, Kubernetes and Linux virtual machines. It works as a drop-in replacement for Docker Desktop.
Our take The better choice than Docker Desktop for most Mac users: quick to start and light on battery and memory. Commercial use requires the Pro plan.
Free personal; Pro $8/user/month as of Oct 2026by Orbital Labs
Fast, friendly Git client with a one-time price
A graphical Git client for Mac and Windows for browsing history, staging changes, resolving conflicts and managing branches.
Our take A good value Git GUI for people who want a visual view of their repositories without a subscription. A free evaluation is available.
$59.99 one-time as of Oct 2026by Danil Pristupov
Native database client for SQL and NoSQL databases
A native macOS app for querying, editing and managing databases, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, SQL Server, Redis, MongoDB, DuckDB and many more.
Our take Covers most databases in one fast, tidy app. The free version limits you to 2 open tabs, 2 windows and 2 advanced filters, which is enough for light use.
Free with limits; $99 one-time as of Oct 2026by TablePlus Inc
Docker's official app for building and running containers
Docker's own desktop app, bundling Docker Engine, the CLI, Compose, Build, a local Kubernetes cluster and extensions. Builds are available for Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
Our take The official option, and sometimes required by employers or tooling. It is free for personal use and small businesses (fewer than 250 employees and under $10 million revenue); larger companies need a paid plan.
Free personal; Pro $11/month as of Oct 2026by Docker
Debugging proxy to inspect and mock HTTP(S) traffic
A native macOS debugging proxy that captures, decrypts and lets you modify or mock HTTP and HTTPS requests from your Mac, iOS and Android devices.
Our take Essential for app and API developers who need to see exactly what is going over the network. The free version captures traffic but leaves out breakpoints, Map Local and scripting.
Free with limits; $89 one-time as of Oct 2026by Proxyman LLC
Powerful Git client with undo and advanced workflows
A Git client for Mac and Windows with drag and drop, undo for most actions, interactive rebase, a conflict wizard, pull requests and worktrees.
Our take For heavy Git users and teams who want advanced features like stacked branches. It costs more than Fork and is subscription-only.
Basic $69/year; Pro $129/year as of Oct 2026
Offline toolbox of 47+ small developer tools
A Mac app that bundles dozens of offline tools such as JSON and SQL formatters, JWT and Unix time decoders, Base64 and URL encoders, a regex tester, text diff and UUID generators.
Our take Handy if you often paste data into random websites to format or decode it, since everything stays on your Mac. Many of the same tasks can be done free with command-line tools.
$29 one-time as of Oct 2026by Typing Technology Company Limited
No app in this category matches that filter.
Paste this into ChatGPT, Claude or any AI assistant that can open links. It reads the list, asks about your Mac and budget, and suggests a short list.
Help me choose the right developer tool for my Mac. Read https://dockpicks.com/developer-utilities/ and its plain-text version, https://dockpicks.com/developer-utilities.md. Ask me which Mac I have, what I use it for and my budget, then recommend a short list from that page with the free and paid trade-offs.