Setapp is an app subscription service that has been available to Mac users for quite some time. It provides access to more than 250 apps. You can compare Setapp with Netflix, but instead of series and films you get apps for a fixed monthly amount. Not only for Mac, but also on iPhone and iPad.
If an iOS version of a macOS app is also available, you can also use it at no extra cost. For example, if you use PDF Search on your Mac, you can also activate the full iOS version of this app on your iPhone or iPad.
The Setapp offer
With Setapp you get access to many Mac apps from independent makers. There are popular and good apps that are often used by (web) developers. In addition, there are also a lot of good apps in Setapp for the regular consumer, such as CleanMyMac, Gemini and Luminar Flex. You can try the service for free for 7 days without any obligations.
Among the offerings you will find apps that you will probably not use every day and may therefore be less attractive to purchase. However, with a subscription to Setapp you always have access to these apps, even if you only use them once a year.
All apps offer full functionality and are continuously updated to the latest version available. This is a major advantage, because with many applications you have to purchase a new license each time to download a new ‘major’ version.
The apps are divided into different categories: Creativity, Developers, Education & Research, Lifestyle, Mac Hacks, Maintenance, Personal Finance, Productivity, Task Management, Copy Editing, and Blogging.
Download applications from Setapp
Setapp can best be compared to an App Store where you have access to more than 250 applications that you can download directly from the application. In a Finder-like view you can view the available applications, get information and install them. The apps you want to use are only installed when you actually activate them.
iPhone and iPad apps in Setapp
When an iOS version of the app is available, it will appear in the details view of the macOS app. You can also view all available iOS applications by clicking ‘All Apps’ in the sidebar and then filtering by iOS apps. Before you can link your Setapp subscription to the mobile app, you must first download it from the Apple App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
Activate iOS app from Setapp
- Navigate to the app in Setapp for Mac
- Click on ‘Get iOS App’
- If necessary, scan the first QR code to download the app
- Then click on ‘Next Step’ (step 2)
- Scan the QR code with the device on which you want to activate the app
Activate the Setapp license by using a second QR code in the linked iOS app, so that you have access to all (premium) features in the app.
Link multiple devices to Setapp
With a Setapp subscription you have a limited number of mobile device slots (such as iPhones and iPads) on which you can activate apps, for example 2 to 4 by default depending on your plan. If you want to use more devices, you can purchase additional slots via your Setapp account to activate your subscription on multiple iOS and iPadOS devices without deactivating existing ones.
AI+ for artificial intelligence
Setapp AI+ is an advanced subscription within Setapp that provides access to top AI models such as GPT-4 Turbo and Whisper-2, integrated into a selection of apps for productivity tasks such as text generation, email management, translation and more. It is specifically designed for solopreneurs and teams looking to leverage AI into their workflow on Mac and iOS devices, on top of the standard Setapp offering of 240+ apps, and requires an upgrade via your Setapp account for unlimited use of these premium AI features.
Try Setapp for free for 7 days
Installing and managing apps on both macOS and iOS is extremely easy and functions excellently; Setapp is definitely worth a try. You can Setapp Try it for free for seven days without any obligations, with access to all available applications. Click here to sign up for free and try the service right away.