When using a Mac, you'll find plenty of things to download from the App Store. But sometimes, you might find it easier to discover what you're looking for elsewhere. And in some instances, you may not find what you want on the App Store.

You'll find plenty of websites comparing the best apps for Mac nowadays, and one of the most popular ones is MacUpdate.

Before using a website to download apps for your computer, doing research is crucial. So, is MacUpdate safe? Keep reading to find out.

What Is MacUpdate?

MacUpdate Homepage Screenshot

MacUpdate is a website that sources different apps and software for Mac devices. The company was founded in 1997—over a decade before Apple launched the App Store—and has over one million users. On MacUpdate, you'll find a wide selection of tools available for download on your computer—in addition to a list of several discontinued ones.

You can segment your search with multiple parameters to find what you're looking for on MacUpdate. You can check apps based on user ratings, categories, when they were last updated, and more.

MacUpdate is updated daily.

Is MacUpdate Free to Use?

You can sign up for a MacUpdate account, which doesn't cost you anything. You've got multiple options when doing so, which include entering your email address and signing up with Google.

Browsing MacUpdate is free, and you will find a lot of apps and software that cost you nothing. However, that is not universal. You will need to pay to download a wide selection of apps; examples include Final Cut Pro and Adobe's suite of Creative Cloud solutions.

You will only need to pay for apps if you are required to do so when purchasing directly from the company.

Is There a Limit on How Many Apps You Can Download From MacUpdate?

You don't have a limit on how many apps you can download from MacUpdate. You're free to use whatever you need if you have the necessary space on your device. And even if you don't sign up for an account, you can still download apps and software from the website.

The only limit is that you need to be at least 13 years old to sign up for a MacUpdate account.

What Apps Will You Find on MacUpdate?

When browsing on MacUpdate, you will find more than 30,000 apps and software solutions available for download. These tools fall into several categories, including:

  • Finance
  • Business
  • Photography
  • Games
  • Graphic design

You will find a wide variety of well-known Mac apps on the website. For example, you can download Amazon Prime Video if you're looking for a streaming service. Other famous apps you'll find on MacUpdate include Dropbox, Kindle, and Twitter.

When looking for apps on MacUpdate, your best starting point is to browse via the categories on the homepage. After clicking on your preference, you'll find a wide selection of tools.

Are the Apps on MacUpdate Legit?

Screenshot of Netflix page on MacUpdate

When searching for apps on a third-party website, you might be unsure whether the apps are legit. However, the apps on MacUpdate are genuine.

After clicking on an app, you'll find the original source. The example screenshot above shows that Netflix has a Get from App Store button. Once you've clicked on that and passed the next window, MacUpdate will redirect you to Apple's App Store.

If you need to make additional purchases for an app, such as paying for a subscription, you will typically do so after downloading it.

Is MacUpdate Safe to Download From?

When looking at places to download apps for your Mac, looking at whether it's safe to do so should be one of your top priorities. Generally speaking, you shouldn't encounter major issues when downloading apps via MacUpdate.

Why is MacUpdate safe to download from? Below are the two main reasons.

App Verification

If you scroll through MacUpdate's pages, you'll notice that anybody with a MacUpdate account can submit apps to the website. However, those submissions are not automatically accepted.

After a user has filled out the necessary form, MacUpdate reviews the submissions and the apps themselves. You only see the software solutions that have passed this process on the website.

User Reviews

Reviews on MacUpdate for Dropbox app

Social proof is an excellent way to determine whether a product or service is worth using. And, like the App Store, MacUpdate lets users write reviews once they've used an app or downloaded software.

When browsing the apps on MacUpdate's website, you can filter through what others have said to decide for yourself. The platform lets users rate their experience in multiple categories:

  • Value
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Reliability
  • Customer support

You will also see what users like and what they're not particularly keen on, so you can make an informed decision. It's one of the reasons why everyone should review apps, whether you use MacUpdate or the App Store.

What Else Does MacUpdate Offer?

MacUpdate has a couple of other features designed to help you decide for sure that you're making the right decision with your app download. Below, you'll find a brief explanation for the most important ones.

Expert App Reviews

Sometimes, reading what an expert has said is the best way to determine whether an app or software solution is worth using. MacUpdate has reviewed several tools on its website, including VPNs and computer system cleaners.

You can find what you're looking for by going to the Reviews tab. When reading these reviews, you'll learn more about each app's unique features. On top of that, you will find its pricing and various other parameters.

Screenshot showing the trending apps section on MacUpdate

Another handy section you'll find on MacUpdate is Trending Apps. Here, you'll find the most popular software in three sections: antivirus solutions, virtual private networks (VPNs), and system utilities.

To find the Trending apps section, scroll down on the homepage until you see it. You can change the category by clicking on the dropdown menu.

Is MacUpdate Safe? We Think Yes

Following our MacUpdate review, we think the website is valuable in finding various apps and software tools for your computer. The apps you see on the website were reviewed and verified by its team, and you can also get a clear overview of what other users think.

With thousands of apps to choose from, MacUpdate is an ideal starting point if you're looking for something specific.