Awesome Mac Admin Tools 
A curated list of handy-dandy tools for Mac Admins.
Inspired by the awesome list.
Contents
- Command-line tools
- Deployment
- Helper Menus
- Onboarding Experience
- Productivity
- Text Editing
- Utilities
Command-line tools
erase-install
erase-install.sh is a script to download macOS full installers, and to reinstall, upgrade or erase macOS.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/grahampugh/erase-install
getmacosipsws.py
Quick-and-dirty tool to download the macOS IPSW files currently advertised by Apple in the https://mesu.apple.com/assets/macos/com_apple_macOSIPSW/com_apple_macOSIPSW.xml feed.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/munki/macadmin-scripts
installinstallmacos.py
Create disk images containing macOS Installer applications available via Apple's softwareupdate catalogs.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/munki/macadmin-scripts
MIST - macOS Installer Super Tool
A Mac command-line tool that automatically downloads macOS Installers/firmware.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/ninxsoft/Mist
moss
A helper app for Hello IT to make building mobileconfig files easier.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/WardsParadox/moss
Recategorizer
Quickly recategorize policies and packages in Jamf Pro, and even more unused categories.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/sheagcraig/Recategorizer
scriptorium
A utility for managing the scripts in Jamf Pro. It provides backup, change tracking, and an easier edit process.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/Honestpuck/scriptorium
S.U.P.E.R.M.A.N.
S.U.P.E.R.M.A.N. (Software Update Policy Enforcement (with) Recursive Messaging And Notification) optimizes the macOS software upgrade and upgrade experience.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/Macjutsu/super
Stronghold
Easily configure macOS security settings from the terminal.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/alichtman/stronghold
vfuse
A handy script that converts a never-booted DMG into a VMware Fusion VM.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/chilcote/vfuse
Deployment
Apparency
An application for inspecting application bundles, including code signing requirements, notarization, and included frameworks.
Cost: Free
Link: https://www.mothersruin.com/software/Apparency/
AutoPkg
Automated third party package download and creation for deployment.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/autopkg/autopkg
AutoPkgr
GUI for AutoPkg, with click-to-add functionality of additional components.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/lindegroup/autopkgr
Composer
Jamf's in-house package creator tool. Builds pkgs and dmgs made for deployment with the Jamf Pro Suite, but pkgs built with Composer can be used with any management framework.
Cost: $ USD 99.95, otherwise included with the Jamf Pro Suite if a Jamf customer.
Link: https://www.jamf.com/products/jamf-composer/
Low Profile
A Mac utility to help inspect Apple Configuration Profile payloads.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/ninxsoft/LowProfile
munki-pkg
munki-pkg is a simple tool for building packages. While it was developed for use with munki, it can be used to make pkgs that are deployable with any management framework.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/munki/munki-pkg
Nudge
Nudge strongly encourages running macOS updates and can be customized with profiles or local json files.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/macadmins/nudge
Packages.app
A free package creation tool. The gold standard of making your own custom installer packages.
Cost: Free
Link: http://s.sudre.free.fr/Software/Packages/about.html
Payload-Free Package Creator
An Automator application that quickly builds payload-free pkgs for deployment.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/rtrouton/Payload-Free-Package-Creator
ProfileCreator
macOS application to create configuration profiles.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/ProfileCreator/ProfileCreator
Suspicious Package
An application for inspecting the contents of macOS packages.
Cost: Free
Link: https://www.mothersruin.com/software/SuspiciousPackage/
Helper Menus
Hello-IT
A handy menubar application to get users in touch with IT and quickly get information and resources on their Mac.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/ygini/Hello-IT
MacDNA
Customizable menubar that checks for hardware status, management framework status, and other handy information.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/jhbush/Arek/tree/master/Development/MacDNA%20Menulet
NoMAD
The functionality you want from a Mac bound to Active Directory without having to actually bind to AD. (Make sure you check out this NoMAD updater as well.)
Cost: Free, Jamf Connect (pro version) pricing information can be found here
Link: https://nomad.menu/products/#nomad
Pareto Security
Automatically audit your Mac for basic security hygiene.
Price: N/A
Link: https://paretosecurity.app/
SupportApp
The Support app is a macOS menu bar app built for organizations to help users and helpdesks to see basic diagnostic information at a glance and easily customizable with a configuration profile.
Cost: Free
Link: https://github.com/root3nl/SupportApp
Onboarding Experience
ADEPT
A setup/splash screen for DEP and user-initiated Jamf Pro enrollments. Detailed documentation highlights how to work with the application in Xcode to customize it for your organization's needs.
Cost: Free to use, paid installation/customization services available.
Link: https://git.tramscloud.co.uk/projects/XCOD/repos/adept/browse
DEP Notify
A lightweight notification app designed to let users know what's happening during DEP enrollment.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://gitlab.com/Mactroll/DEPNotify
Jamf Setup Manager
There are many enrollment progress tools available for Mac admins, each with their own strengths. Jamf Setup Manager approaches the problem from the perspective of an IT service provider. It runs over Setup Assistant before a user is created so it won't interfere with MDM-capable user or the secure token flow for FileVault. You can control which policies and installations Setup Manager runs with a configuration profile.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/Jamf-Concepts/Setup-Manager
Octory
Octory is a highly customizable and elegant macOS application to onboard, support and watch over your users on their Mac.
Cost: Free, with Pro pricing/options available
Link:
Productivity
Google Keep
Virtual sticky notes, lists, photos, and audio.
Cost: Included with Gmail accounts.
Link: https://www.google.com/keep/
Slack
Team chat and productivity client. Anyone can create a free team with ten integrations. (Join the MacAdmins Slack!)
Cost: Free teams with limited capabilities, additonal pricing can be found here
Link: https://slack.com/downloads/osx
Taskade
Create simple and minimal checklists, notes and outlines. Taskade is collaborative and syncs in real-time across all devices. Free, browser-based and mobile app interface.
Cost: Free, with paid features available.
Link: https://taskade.com/
Trello
Use Trello's boards, lists, and cards to organize and prioritize your projects. Free, browser-based and mobile app interface.
Cost: Free, with paid features available.
Link: https://trello.com/
Text Editing
BBEdit
Clean and simple HTML & text editor, made by Bare Bones Software.
Cost: USD $49.99 (direct download or via Mac App Store)
Link: https://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/
CodeLobster
Free cross-platform editor
Cost: free (plug-ins are paid)
Link: https://codelobster.com/
MacDown
An open source markdown editor for macOS.
Cost: Free
Link: https://macdown.uranusjr.com/
Nova
Nova is a new, fast, and flexible text editor, with all the features like smart autocomplete, multiple cursors, a Minimap, editor overscroll, tag pairs and brackets, and way, way more.
Cost: USD $99.99 + tax (includes one year of updates and new features)
Link: https://nova.app/
Sublime Text
A high performance, cross-platform text editor.
Cost: USD $80 to buy, free to evaluate.
Link: https://www.sublimetext.com/
Visual Studio Code
Microsoft's source code editor in a lightweight, open source, cross-platform application.
Cost: Free
Link: https://code.visualstudio.com/
Xcode
Apple's integrated development environment (IDE) containing a suite of software development tools developed by Apple for developing software used by Apple hardware.
Cost: Free with an Apple ID.
Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/xcode/id497799835?mt=12
Utilities
Amphetamine
A caffeine replacement that prevents your Mac from sleeping on demand.
Cost: Free in the Mac App Store
Link: https://itunes.apple.com/app/amphetamine/id937984704?mt=12
AppCleaner
A small application which allows you to thoroughly uninstall unwanted apps.
Cost: Free
Link: https://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/
Escrow Buddy
An authorization plugin that helps MDM administrators regenerate and escrow FileVault recovery keys.
Cost: Free
Link: https://github.com/macadmins/escrow-buddy
Giphy Capture
Easily capture GIFs from your Mac, great for documentation.
Cost: Free from the Mac App Store.
Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/giphy-capture-the-gif-maker/id668208984?mt=12
Icons.app
Icons.app is an application for macOS which enables you to create graphics files in PNG format, for use with management tools like Jamf Software's Jamf Pro or the open source Munki software installation tool.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/SAP/macOS-icon-generator
Jamf Compliance Editor
Jamf Compliance Editor is a tool that provides macOS system administrators with an easy way to establish and manage compliance baselines on their fleet of macOS devices. This tool is built on the foundations of the macOS Security Compliance Project, hosted by the United States government agency, NIST, in their Github repo.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://trusted.jamf.com/docs/establishing-compliance-baselines
Jamf Migrator
A tool to migrate data granularly between Jamf Pro servers.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/jamf/JamfMigrator
macOS Security Compliance Project
The macOS security compliance project is an open source effort to provide a programmatic approach to generating security guidance. This project can be used to create customized security baselines of technical security controls by leveraging a library of rules which are mapped to compliance requirements in existing security guides or used to develop customized guidance.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/usnistgov/macos_security
The MUT
The MUT is a native macOS application written in Swift which allows Jamf admins to make mass updates to attributes (such as username, asset tag, or extension attribute) of their devices and users in Jamf.
Cost: Free
Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-mut/id1133234759
Particulars
Particulars displays system information as an overlay to your Mac wallpaper, as a Siri Shortcut, or a via command line. In wallpaper mode, you choose the position and theme of the overlay. You can choose to display any or all of: computer name, model name & identifier, serial number, CPU, GPU, RAM, OS version, Darwin version, current user, uptime, disk space, and network configuration. Available via Mac App Store, and also offers a mass deployment .PKG for IT administrators.
Cost: Free (developer accepts donations)
Link: Main Site (https://particulars.app), or Mac App Store.
Postman
Postman is an API platform for building and using APIs. The Postman desktop app provides a simple way to interact with an API.
Cost: Free, with paid options
Link: https://www.postman.com/downloads/
PPPC-Utility
PPPC Utility is a macOS (10.15 and newer) application for creating configuration profiles containing the Privacy Preferences Policy Control payload for macOS.
Cost: Free
Link: https://github.com/jamf/PPPC-Utility
Prune
Prune is a handy app that looks for unused items in a Jamf Pro server and makes them easy to identify and remove.
Cost: Free
Link: https://github.com/BIG-RAT/Prune
Rectangle
Move and resize windows in macOS using keyboard shortcuts or snap areas.
Cost: Free
Link: https://rectangleapp.com/
Script2Pkg
Helps with the process of creating payload-free installer packages.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/SAP/script-to-package-tool-for-macos
SOFA
SOFA (Simple Organized Feed for Apple Software Updates) supports MacAdmins by efficiently tracking and surfacing information on updates for macOS and iOS. It consists of a machine-readable feed and user-friendly web interface, providing continuously up-to-date information on XProtect data, OS updates, and the details bundled in those releases.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://sofa.macadmins.io/
sus-inspector
Inspect Apple macOS software updates.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/hjuutilainen/sus-inspector
umad
A Professional Tool to help users with getting pre-existing devices enrolled into MDM.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/macadmins/umad
Yo
Custom user notifications with Swift.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/sheagcraig/yo
ProfileCreator
A macOS app to create standard & customized configuration profiles & plists.
Cost: N/A
Link: https://github.com/ProfileCreator/ProfileCreator
License
To the extent possible under law, Emily Kausalik has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this work.