A.nnotate Alternatives For Mac
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Once the scrappy upstart, InDesign is now the dominant page layout app. Is there any alternative that comes close?
Adobe's switch to software as a service has sent budget-minded creative professionals looking for alternatives to the Creative Cloud apps that don't cost them a monthly fee. As the Mac App Store has grown in popularity, alternatives have cropped up. Pixelmator serves many users' needs for a Photoshop replacement. Sketch 3 is an excellent alternative to Illustrator. But where's a solid alternative to InDesign?
I've checked around; I've even polled some of you on Twitter to find out what you like. And my results have come up a bit short. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think that there really is a solid alternative.
Disrupting the disruptor
InDesign exists in an interesting place in the design ecosystem. It started life itself as a market disruptor — Adobe introduced InDesign as an alternative to QuarkXPress at a time when Quark ruled the desktop publishing market. Because of unwise management, hostile customer service, and other foibles, Quark was utterly loathed by many of the businesses and users that depended on its software.
Adobe didn't hit a home run with the first version of InDesign, but steadily improved it and integrated it so thoroughly with other Adobe products that it eventually became indispensable. Now InDesign is the market behemoth, and at least for some, Adobe has become the evil empire they're trying to get away from.
Having said that, InDesign is a darn nice piece of page layout software. It's powerful and it's ubiquitous. If you have InDesign and are familiar with how it works, it's reminiscent of the old marketing phrase, 'No one ever got fired for buying IBM.'
Though the full Creative Cloud suite costs $49.99, it's worth pointing out that if all you need is InDesign, you can subscribe to just it for $19.99. And if you're a Creative Suite user, you can 'upgrade' to Creative Cloud for $29.99 per month for your first year.
- $49.99 per month - Download now
QuarkXPress: Everything old is new again
Quark, for its part, soldiers on with QuarkXPress. With QuarkXPress 10.1, Quark continues to iterate Quark with very powerful features. Last year's version 10 release saw a thorough under-the-hood and feature-rich modernization, with 50 feature enhancements, a throughly optimized graphics engine, improved interface elements and much more.
More recently, the 10.1 release makes tweaks that even further, incorporating InDesign-style Dynamic Guides (like Smart Guides), 8000 percent zoom, layout export, a reimplemented and greatly improved Books feature, and HTML 5 animation support.
Unfortunately, all that power comes with a price, and a hefty one at that: $849, a lot more than budget-conscious creatives will be willing to pay, especially those that still have a negative connotation of Quark.
- $849 - Download now
iStudio Publisher
iStudio Publisher came out in 2009, coincidentally the same year Apple really brought Pages into its own as a powerful page layout tool. If you've exhausted what the older version of Pages can do for you — or if you're horrified by what happened to it in 2013 – give iStudio a try. There are a ton of templates you can download, too.
C.Four published it then handed back to the original creators. It'll be interesting to see what they do with iStudio Publisher — certainly one to keep your eye on.
$29.99 - Download now
Swift Publisher: Consumer-focused page layout tool
Some of you pointed out Swift Publisher as a possible alternative to InDesign. In fairness, developer Belight Software isn't trying to copy InDesign feature for feature, or even attempting to make a professional page layout app. But they have succeeded in creating a surprisingly powerful, lightweight page layout app with a lot of cool features at a very low price.
Looking over Swift Publisher, I don't liken it to an InDesign competitor as much as a more sophisticated version of an tool like Print Explosion or The Print Shop — and that's squarely its market: for consumers looking for a way to make really pretty layouts for their projects. You can use it to print flyers, newsletters, brochures, calendars and other content either freeforming them from scratch or using built-in templates and clip art.
- $19.99 - Download now
Pages: Apple's alternative
I can hear some of you out there groaning already. Pages took a big step backwards last year when Apple reworked the Mac versions of its iWork apps to work in lockstep with their iOS counterparts. And of all the apps, Pages took the biggest hit in terms of interface and functionality; changes I don't see it getting back any time soon.
Having said that, Pages' price for new Mac owners is certainly right — it's free with the purchase of a new computer, after all. What's more, it does have a powerful set of page layout features that make it powerful if you're patient enough to use it right.
But if you're a long-time Pages user, you're probably still suffering with some of the missing features and functionality from previous versions. Either that, or you're still using the older iWork '09-era version that Apple leaves behind when it upgrades.
- $19.99 - Download now
MultiAd Creator: Consumer or pro, it's your choice
It's been a few years since MultiAd has done anything significant to Creator, but it's still an alternative that some may want to consider. Creator combines page layout, drawing, illustration and image editing tools in one. It supports different export options, text on a path, automatic CMYK-RG conversions and full support of OpenType fonts.
Creator is available in two trim levels - Creator Express, a consumer-friendly version available for download in the Mac App Store, and Creator Professional, which is available for purchase directly from MultiAd. Professional adds a slew of important features like Pantone color library support, file conversion (including InDesign Interchange), trapping and more.
Creator Express:
- $29.99 - Download now
Creator Professional:
Track sales and expenses, create estimates, manage customers, collaborate with your accountant, and more. Quickbooks desktop app for mac. The power of QuickBooks for Mac Online with the speed and ease you expect on your desktop!
- $499 - Download now
Still looking
None of these options really fit the bill for what I was looking for — an inexpensive alternative to InDesign that's powerful enough for a creative professional to get by. It seems that we've come along way with image editing and illustration alternatives to Adobe products, but page layout still needs work.
Maybe I just have to accept that InDesign is the page layout king, and move on. Or maybe you're familiar with something that isn't listed here. If that's the case, I heartily welcome you to share your comments with me below.
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Safari was to be my go-to browser on the Mac for quite a while. It was excellent performance-wise and easy on power consumption. And it still is. However, Apple took things too far with the way how extensions worked starting Safari 13 version. After daily run-ins with them, I decided to look for the best Safari alternatives for Mac.
With Safari 13, the extensions run as 'apps,' and are supposedly more 'secure.' In the case of content blocking, extensions now instruct Safari on what to block. It should be the other way around. That means extensions can no longer keep tabs on your browsing activity.
While Apple deserves recognition for its efforts to improve user privacy, I can no longer run various extensions that are often essential for productivity. They just aren't supported anymore. That's why I had to look elsewhere despite wanting to stick to Safari.
If you are on the same boat, or if you just want a different take on web browsing on the Mac, then here are six excellent Safari alternatives that you can try out right away.
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Read More1. Google Chrome
Chrome holds the lion's share of the browser market, and for a good reason. It's fast, snappy, and polished to near perfection. Also, almost every website out there is primarily designed with Google's browser in mind, so you should rarely find one that fails to work.
It also supports thousands of extensions, which means you can tailor a variety of activities in it. And you should most likely find the same extensions that no longer support Safari quite easily on the Chrome Web Store.
That said, what I like best is the way how Chrome goes about syncing my data. I've had no issues — except in rare instances — in getting my browsing activity synced across devices. It also syncs pretty much everything - be it bookmarks, passwords, open tabs, extensions, themes, etc., which is insanely useful.
Chrome also beats Safari in terms of availability. You can install and get your browsing data synced over to any platform, be it Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome OS, or Linux. On the other hand, Safari is restricted to just iOS and macOS.
However, Chrome often gets a mention in the news due to freshly discovered vulnerabilities. If you decide to switch to Google's browser, just remember to update it regularly — you don't want to be stuck with a compromised version for too long.
Download Chrome2. Mozilla Firefox
Firefox is an excellent web browser for the Mac with rock-solid performance, regular updates, and a large extensions library to boot. It also lets you sync your data to other devices on multiple platforms, similar to how Chrome does. I just find Chrome to be better at that, albeit slightly.
But where Firefox really excels at is privacy. The browser blocks cross-site cookies, social media trackers, crypto miners, and fingerprinters, by default. You can also opt for tighter anti-tracking measures or choose which trackers and scripts to block manually — the result, fewer targeted advertisements, and less strain on system resources.
That said, Firefox isn't based on the Chromium open-source engine, unlike the other browsers on this list. Rather, it uses the Gecko rendering engine. Firefox's rather tiny and dwindling market share, in contrast to Chromium, may mean fewer sites optimized for it as time goes by.
Download Firefox3. Brave
If you prefer a privacy-centric browser based on the same engine as that of Chrome, then Brave should do the job just fine.
It's integrated Brave Shields can block everything from cross-site trackers to browser fingerprinters. Brave's new tabs even show you the number of trackers that it has blocked along with the amount of time saved as a result, which adds for a nice touch.
The browser also lets you earn cryptocurrency-based BAT tokens in exchange for viewing advertisements, which you can then choose to distribute back to publishers and content creators. It's a neat concept that's worth checking out.
Brave is available on multiple platforms. Despite that, the browser only sports limited cross-platform sync capabilities. You can only sync your bookmarks, but that doesn't cut it if you switch between devices a lot.
Download Brave
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#privacy
Click here to see our privacy articles page4. Opera
Opera feels like Chrome on steroids. It comes with a dizzying array of features, most notable being the Sidebar. With it, you can perform lots of actions like instant messaging via Messenger/WhatsApp/Telegram, sending links and notes to other devices using My Flow, performing searches quickly with Instant Search, etc.
Under the hood, you will find various useful functionalities such as a built-in battery saver mode, a native crypto wallet, customizable mouse/rocker gestures, etc.
But perhaps the best of the lot is the integrated VPN module, which you can easily activate and start using not just to preserve your privacy from online trackers, but also to gain access to geo-restricted content. And it's completely free to use. However, I wouldn't recommend relying on that much.
Opera can feel too cluttered. For example, I don't like the way how it bombards me with news articles whenever I open a new tab. If you feel the same, you can always choose to make Opera less distracting.
5. Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge ditched the proprietary EdgeHTML browsing engine in favor of Chromium. That means you can now install the browser not just on Windows, but on macOS as well. And it works incredibly well.
You can sync your browsing data across multiple platforms, use websites as PWAs (Progressive Web Apps), install loads of extensions, and more. The browser even features a built-in Tracking Prevention module to help you protect your privacy.
However, Microsoft Edge Chromium is still in its early stages. Compared to Chrome, the user interface feels slightly rough around the edges (no pun intended). You will also find certain functionalities — such as the ability to sync extensions and open tabs — missing, at least for now.
If you don't mind the odd hiccup once in a while, then it's a great alternative to Safari, especially if you shuttle a lot between a PC and a Mac.
Download Microsoft Edge6. Vivaldi
Vivaldi is a fantastic browser with an eye-popping user interface that mirrors the color accent of any website that you visit. It just allows for a truly immersive browsing experience.
The nifty side-panel to the left of the browser screen allows you to gain instant access to your bookmarks, downloads, and browsing history.
But perhaps the most useful is a feature called the Web Panel, which you can use to launch any site of your choosing in a dedicated side panel while browsing another site.
Under the hood, Vivaldi features a plethora of minute configuration options, which you can use to change the browser appearance, set up keyboard and mouse shortcuts, manage privacy settings, and more. It will take a lot of time to go through what Vivaldi has on offer.
Download VivaldiAlso on Guiding Tech
Safari vs Firefox for Mac: Which Browser Is Better for You
Read MoreMake Your Pick
Ditching Safari in favor of either Chrome or Firefox is a no-brainer. Both browsers are well optimized, support lots of extensions, and sync your data to multiple platforms. I've already switched to Chrome full time. I was already using it on my non-Apple devices, and that made the decision much easier.
The other browsers in this list — Brave, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Vivaldi — bring their unique flavors to the table. They are also based on the same engine that Chrome uses, so you shouldn't have issues in terms of compatibility or extension support. It's solely up to you to decide what works best for you.
Next up:Thinking about switching browsers on the iPhone as well? Here are nine superb alternatives to try out right away.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextTop 9 Safari Alternatives for iPhoneAlso See#macos #safari
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