by The Mac App Store is great for the majority of simple applications you might want to purchase. But there are plenty of other apps—ones from registered Apple developers but not in the Store—for you to explore and try. Here are some of the ways to find such apps, get them onto your computer, and keep them up-to-date.
Find new software
Apple personally vets each and every application in the Mac App Store, which helps give those apps extra prominence and safety. Unfortunately, Mac App Store apps are tightly restricted as to what they can and can’t do on your system. As such, if you need an app that does more than Apple allows—one that cleans up your file system, say, or that records your Mac’s audio—you’ll need to venture beyond the store.
Types of software Unlike the Mac App Store, which only provides you with options to download free and paid apps, companies outside the store may offer other options, including trials, shareware, and donation-requested software.
On Trial Many developers offer time-limited trial versions of their software.
Trial versions of programs are usually time-limited (and occasionally feature-limited). They’re almost always free to download; once the trial period runs out, you’ll be locked out of the app and asked to pay for a full license. Shareware is similar to a trial version, but it may not lock you out after your time is up. Instead, it may present nagging dialog boxes reminding you to buy the app, or it may limit some features until you purchase it. In the case of a requested donation, the app is usually free, but the developer asks that you donate a certain amount if you like using it.
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