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Where Download Free Apps For Mac?

Should people download Mac apps from Mac App store or directly from developer's site?

  • I have many Mac apps downloaded from developer's site (for example Evernote) and they're available in Mac App store now. UPDATE: I've just realized that some of my bought apps are somehow "paired" with Mac App Store (Things, iWork, iLife) and some of them are not (Evernote)..

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    I recently purchased "Alfred" powerpack. I couldn't figure out how to enter the serial key given to activate the product. Then I read somewhere that the appstore version cannot be upgraded and I have to download directly from the developer. This wasn't very clear and might potentially frustrate some users. I also thought BetterTouchTool (gives magic to the magic mouse) is going to do amazing well in the appstore. Only to find that it isn't in the appstore due to the rules. I think there is now a clash between the conventional way of app distribution and the appstore way. I prefer the former. I feel the appstore way is analogous to a food court at the mall. It has simpler/cheaper versions of every cuisine, maybe one or two is even pretty good. But the really good food is out there, although harder to find and probably more expensive. It also worries me the this appstore is no ordinary food court. It is a giant and will force a lot of restaurants to move into the food court or close shop because business is simply better in a food court despite more rules. Some folks might not even bother with individual restaurants because they think you can and should find everything in this food court.

Alan Hsu at Quora Visit the source

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If an application is available on both it is usually better to purchase it through the Mac App Store. There are a couple reasons for this.  - There is an emerging trend for Mac developers to move exclusively to the Mac App Store and stop issuing updates to direct downloads. Several large developers have announced this and I suspect the trend will continue.  - App licenses are not transferable from a developer download to a mac app store purchase. While apps can show up as "installed" they are not actually linked in any meaningful way.  Developer downloads won't be upgraded or migrated.  - Mac Store prices are typically less expensive. This is due to several realsons. Apple makes the purchase process much easier for the consumer and it eliminates the need for issuing serial numbers for the developer.  The Mac App Store also consolidates the shopping experience. This helps drive volume up and prices down. Some larger developers like Adobe or Microsoft may resist this trend however for consumers I suspect the Mac App Store will become a thriving marketplace.

Gregory Raiz

Third party applications in the Mac App Store tend to be more safe and secure because of sandboxing and vetted through Apple's own app review process. Sandboxing means that apps are restricted to access only a part of the user's files. Furthermore the review process should also reduce the risk of buying an application that doesn't "do what it says on the tin". However these restrictions and processes does have certain drawbacks that prevents some power user tools from being offered in the app store[1]. Applications that inherently require access to arbitrary files in the user's home directory, script/control other applications, or performs some low-level hardware communications cannot be accommodated in the app store. From the non-technical side, the Mac App Store model are not conducive to a number of common software practices: Providing a free time-limited trial of all functionalities. Providing discounted upgrade prices. Providing discount for buying applications in a bundle. These limitations prompted some developers to only offer reduced functionality set of their applications to the App Store and continue to sell the "pro features" of their applications outside the store. One notable example is Adobe – where they only made "Photoshop Elements" available on the app store and not the full Photoshop. http://www.panic.com/blog/panic-on-the-mac-app-store/

Sasmito Adibowo

I think that for free apps, it mainly depends on your preference between letting the application manage the update process (typically done with http://sparkle.andymatuschak.org/ ) or having the Mac App Store handle this. For paid apps, I think you're typically better of with buying from the App Store, since that would enable you to install the app on any of your current and/or future macs. An exception is with buying an upgrade license. A developer cannot offer you a discount on an app in the App Store if you already have paid for a previous version. I hope that someday, Apple will launch a kind of "App Store Match" service similar to iTunes match. I agree with that there's currently tension between the evolved practices of independent software developers and the pricing/distribution options the Mac App Store offers them. I hope Apple will accomodate to cover more of these use cases. I think it's reasonable to at least expect in-app purchases, since this is already possible on iOS. I hope to see support for upgrade discounts too. That shouldn't be too hard to build.

Myrne Stol

It depends. For example, purchasing a game in Steam you can continue to buy the DLC as well, and might get both mac and win versions. In the Mac App Store it doesn't work very well in this case.

Anjia Wang

I don't think it matters too much from an end user standpoint (like downloading your iPhone apps from iTunes or from the actual developer). It is much easier to get it from a consolidated database like the appstore, but I don't see it much of a difference. Hopefully, if it's paid for, that it would be same price. Maybe it would be cheaper getting it from the developer, and they stand not to give a cut to Apple. I found this article that makes the same points and why buying from the Mac App Store sucks. http://lifehacker.com/5726764/why-the-mac-app-store-sucks

Laura Chiu

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