Due to several reasons like a slow startup, lack of storage space, lagging system performance, and others, Mac users look for system utility tools. And due to this demand, supply is abundant. This means you can find several free & paid cleaning apps for Mac. Among them, one with a long history is OnyX, developed by Titan Software.
This free Mac maintenance utility is a useful tool for all Mac users. Using it, you can check startup disk, system files structure, run various cleaning tasks, delete cache, problem creating files and folders, rebuild databases, and do a lot more.
In a nutshell, this tool helps perform all the tasks required to keep Mac optimized. So, if you are interested to know more about this tool, here’s a detailed review of the OnyX – The best Mac optimization tool.
Writer’s Rating
- Overall – 4/5
- Price – 5/5
- Customer Service – 3/5
Overview –
Product Version – 3.8.6
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- Whenever one thing about apps, the first thing that comes to mind is the app icon that performs amazing functions for the gadget. Between best free apps available on the internet, Apple’s App store provides the best applications for the MacBook that serves a great purpose for your Mac device.
- One of the powerful and strongest apps on the app store is Fancy AppLock: LockApps, for Mac which is holding the average rating of 4.5. This Fancy AppLock: LockApps, provides the current version 1.7.7 for Mac to install on your device.
Price – Free
When it comes to maintaining Mac and optimizing the performance, OnyX is the best. This multifunctional tool lets you control basic Unix programs built-into macOS. Moreover, using it, you can delete files associated with uninstalled apps, rebuild the Spotlight search index, clean junk files, and a lot more.
Excited to know more about this amazing tool?
Well, before we move ahead, here’s a heads up. OnyX is an advanced and powerful tool that gives full control of Mac. This means beginners can face difficulty when using OnyX.
Highlights –
- Onyx’s maintenance tab helps rebuild, clean, and delete junk files
- Easy access to several Mac functions and verifies the structure of the file system
- Secure deletes file and folders without leaving any leftovers
- Offer configuration panel to change various settings
- Restart routine improved
Features:
1. Maintenance:
This tab consists of several subgroup tasks. Using it in a single click, you can rebuild, clean, and perform other tasks. To use it, you need to check the boxes next to the task and click Run Tasks.
Each task in the maintenance group is handcrafted to make your Mac work flawlessly and boost performance.
Verifying subgroups helps speed up the verification process by checking the file system structure. Honestly, if you are facing any problem in using the Mac or your Mac gets stuck while performing certain tasks use the First Aid built-in Disk Utility app.
Rebuilding subgroups help remove leftovers and associated files that unnecessary clutter the Mac.
Cleaning subgroups is the most useful section; you can clean log files and free disk space using it. Getting rid of these unwanted files will help boost startup time.
Misc. options help deal with problems that do not belong to any of the above subgroups. This includes maintaining scripts, fonts cache, clearing Trash, and more.
2. Utilities:
Honestly, all the operations explained in this group are quite advanced. I’ll confess it wasn’t easy for me too. But I did find this Applications section useful. This feature lists all the features that are hidden under System Preferences. This means you can access Storage Management, Wireless Diagnostics apps, etc., easily in one place.
3. Files:
Want to perform various actions on files, folder, and disk? Well, this feature gives control over all disks and files. You can change the disk visibility by adding a (.) to the file name. To show/hide hidden files, press the Shift+Command (.) dot key. This will show files. To hide the data, simply add a dot to the file name. This will hide the file. Moreover, using it, you permanently delete files.
4. Parameters:
This section is an all-in-one configuration panel. From here, you can change display speeds, graphic effects, change the default number of recent items from 10 to 20, save screenshots in some other format, remove restart, and shut down the menu bar, change hover color on Dark icons, and a lot more. All this will help fine-tune Mac.
Is OnyX Worth Giving a Try?
Indeed, the OnyX system utility tool for Mac is special. It helps perform intensive tasks without you bringing around and optimizing Mac in no time.
What makes OnyX a must-have system cleanup tool for Mac?
Unlike other disk managers, OnyX offers proficiency and gives full control to perform several tasks. During my research, I have noticed some noteworthy things about OnyX. They are listed below:
1. No Fancy design: Onyx believes in offering the services that users look for. Instead of paying attention to looks, the system utility app offers different tabs categorized hierarchically. This might look a bit old fashioned, but it does work.
2. Power: OnyX performs cleaning at a deep level, thereby permitting users to customize settings.
How to install OnyX
Note: Before you install OnyX you need to know the macOS version you are using. This is required to install the compatible version of OnyX.
However, if you do not know the OS, you are running, follow the steps below.
How to find the macOS Version?
1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar > select About this Mac from the drop-down menu.
2. This will open a new window; here you can see the name of the current OS.
3. Now that you know the version of macOS head to the official site and download the compatible version of OnyX.
Note: When downloading the version of OnyX, ensure you download it from the website. This will prevent you from installing an infected version of OnyX.
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4. Once downloaded, look for .dmg file on the Downloads folder in the Finder and double click the file.
5. Drag the app into the Applications folder > grant Full Access to the disk by following instructions.
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Pros
- Free to use Mac system utility
- Excellent maintenance and Mac optimization tool
- Helps clean junk files
- Automated cleaning and maintenance
- Allows accessing macOS hidden features
- Enlist malware infections in detail
Cons
- No information about the reclaimed storage space
- Lacks preview option
- There’s a specific version of OnyX for every macOS
So, this is all the information about OnyX – a safe to use Mac system utility. Using it, you can perform different operations on your Mac. However, if you are still looking for an alternate, try using Disk Clean Pro – #1 Mac cleanup and optimization app. Offered by Systweak, this Mac tweaking tool works wonders. If you want to give it a try, click here.
Alongside you can check the list of best Mac optimization apps. This will help find alternatives to OnyX and make you aware of the tools available in the market.
No matter what your major, you’re bound to take a class that requires you to memorize large amounts of information. Whether it’s historical dates, medical terms, equations, or quotes from your professor’s favorite TV show, memorizing information can be a challenge.
To make memorization easier, people have come up with all kinds of systems and techniques. And one of the most powerful systems is flashcards.
You probably made paper flashcards in school, but the right digital apps can make flashcards an even more powerful tool. Plus, they’re a lot easier to manage than a bunch of pieces of paper.
Since the app stores and internet are flooded with flashcard apps that all claim to be the best, it can be difficult to find the app that’s right for your needs. To save you time, we tested over a dozen flashcard apps and narrowed them down to our six favorites.
Whether you’re studying for a final exam or a standardized test like the GRE, there’s an app on this list that will make your studies easier and more effective.
1. Anki
Overview: A powerful flashcard app that uses spaced repetition to make your studies more efficient and effective.
Even after testing many other flashcard apps, Anki remains my top recommendation. While some of the other apps on this list have slicker interfaces and more features, Anki remains superior for helping you learn, retain, and review information.
To use Anki, you first create a flashcard in the way you’re used to (a term on one side and a definition on the other, for example). You then organize these cards into “Decks” based on whatever information you’re trying to learn.
Once you’re ready to study, Anki will show you one side of each card. When you think you have the answer (or if you can’t remember), you flip the card over to reveal it.
After you’ve revealed the answer, Anki will ask you to rate how difficult it was for you to recall it. Based on this difficulty rating, Anki will decide when to show you the card again. This could be as soon as a few minutes from now or as long as a month.
The idea behind this is to review information only when you’re about to forget it. This way, you spend the most time studying the concepts that are difficult for you and don’t waste time reviewing information you already know.
If you’re curious to learn more about the principles that Anki is based on, check out our guide to spaced repetition.
Pricing: Free (except for the iOS app, which is $24.99)
Platforms: Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows, Web
2. Brainscape
Overview: A flashcard app that uses spaced repetition, though you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro version to add images and sounds to cards.
Brainscape seems like a fairly simple flashcard app on the surface, but it includes some advanced features that are helpful for tracking your progress and ensuring that you’ve learned information thoroughly.
To get started with Brainscape, you’ll need to create a class. This could be a real class you’re taking, or just a general subject you’re learning. Within each class, you can then create decks of flashcards on more specific topics.
Creating flashcards in Brainscape is quite easy, with each card’s question in one column and the answer in another. Be aware that the free version only allows you to add text; you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro version to add images and sounds (the Pro version starts at $9.99 per month).
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After you’ve created your deck, you can start studying it. When you reveal the answer to a question, Brainscape will ask you to rate how well you knew the answer on a scale of 1 (“Not At All”) to 5 (“Perfectly”).
Based on your ratings, the app assigns you a “Mastery” score ranging from 0% to 100%, and it will continue to quiz you until you’ve reached a 100% Mastery. This is more or less the same as the spaced repetition system that Anki uses.
Pricing: Free (with a Pro version that lets you add images/sounds and study other users’ flashcard decks)
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
3. Quizlet
Overview: A simple flashcard app that emulates the experience of studying paper flashcards.
Are you looking for an app that mimics paper flashcards without a lot of added bells and whistles? Then Quizlet is a great choice.
Once you sign up, the app makes it simple to start creating cards on the topic of your choice. In addition to text, you can also add images from your computer or Quizlet’s library.
When it’s time to study your cards, Quizlet gives you a variety of options. You can “flip” the cards over to mimic studying paper cards, but you can also study the cards using games or fill-in-the-blank tests.
If you’re trying to learn how to spell words (such as with a foreign language or technical vocabulary), there’s also an option to listen to a computer-generated recording and type what you hear.
My only criticism of Quizlet is how it suggests answers/definitions for your cards. For instance, if you type “function” on one side of a card, Quizlet will suggest definitions like “a relation in which each element of the domain is paired with exactly one element of the range.”
While this is supposed to be a helpful feature, I don’t suggest using it. To truly learn information, you need to put it into your own words and make the cards yourself. Only then will you understand what you’re learning.
Pricing: Free (with paid, pre-made flashcard decks for specific topics)
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
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4. Chegg Prep
Overview: A solid flashcard app that grades you on each of your study sessions.
Chegg is our top recommendation for saving money on textbooks, so I was interested to see that they also offer a flashcard tool called Chegg Prep.
The flashcard features are fairly standard, letting you create two-sided cards with basic text formatting and the option to add images. Studying the cards is fairly similar to paper cards, with the option to flip the card over to reveal the other side.
After you flip a card, Chegg will ask you if you got the answer right (“Got it”) or if you need to review it again (“Note quite”). Based on this information, you’ll receive a score at the end of each study session, with the option to study the cards again if you want.
While the scoring system isn’t useless, it doesn’t affect how often you’ll see cards as it would in Anki or Brainscape. This isn’t a big deal if you’re studying a small amount of information, but it could be problematic if you need to memorize hundreds of terms for an exam like the MCAT or GRE.
Pricing: Free
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Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
5. Cram
Overview: A basic flashcard app that offers a variety of ways to study your cards, including games.
Cram is a fairly straightforward flashcard app with some interesting features for reviewing and studying your cards.
To start, you create a set of flashcards with a title of your choice. From there, you add information to the front and back of the card using text and (optionally) images.
Notably, you can also create a “Hint” side to the card if you want (which can be a useful way to emulate a real person quizzing you on the cards).
From there, you have many options for studying the cards. There’s a fairly standard flashcard mode where you flip the cards, which also lets you tell the app if you got the answer wrong or right.
Cards that you get right won’t show up in future study sessions, while cards that you get wrong will appear again. This isn’t as sophisticated as the system in Anki or Brainscape, but it’s still helpful.
Beyond the basic flashcard mode, you can also choose to study your cards using matching, multiple-choice, true/false, or fill-in-the-blank tests.
There are even two games you can use to study, “Jewels of Wisdom” and “Stellar Speller.” While interesting, I’m not sure how much learning value there is in these games (though that could just be my preference).
Pricing: Free (with a paid option that removes ads and gives you additional formatting tools)
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
6. IDoRecall
Overview: A flashcard app that integrates with your study materials.
IDoRecall is a spaced repetition flashcard app, similar to Anki. However, it also has some important and exciting differences.
Most notably, IDoRecall is an app designed specifically for studying academic material. Instead of leaving you to create cards on your own, the app lets you upload the material you’re studying and create cards directly from it.
These cards then link back to the study material, letting you quickly refresh your memory if you can’t remember something when you’re reviewing it.
The app supports a variety of media formats, including PDFs, PowerPoints, Word Docs, images, and YouTube videos. And once you’ve created your cards, IDoRecall uses spaced repetition to ensure you only study the material you’re about to forget.
Finally, the app lets you create virtual study groups where you can share files and learning materials with classmates. This is extremely helpful if you’re studying with a group for a big exam.
Pricing: A free version is available with a limit of 200 cards and 10 MB of file storage. To get unlimited cards and file uploads, you’ll need to subscribe to the paid plan for $96 / year or $16 / month.
Platforms: Web (though the company claims that desktop apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux are in development)
Flashcards Are About Technique (Not Apps)
I hope this guide has helped you find a flashcard app to improve your studies.
But I also want to emphasize that to truly succeed with flashcards, you need to learn how to create them correctly. The best app in the world isn’t very useful if you’re not writing effective questions.
For more information on how to make and study flashcards (on paper or digitally), check out this guide.
Image Credits: file cabinet