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macOS

Score9.3 out of 10

36 Reviews and Ratings

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What is macOS?

macOS is the graphical operating system for Apple desktop devices.

Categories & Use Cases

Key Features

Learn about the best (and worst!) features macOS has to offer, as determined by TrustRadius' reviewers.
Based on 36 ratings of macOS's features
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Top Performing Features

  • Software Application Management

    The handling of software applications by the OS, including their installation, execution, resource use, and termination.

    Category average: 8.5

  • System Update Frequency

    How often the operating system receives patches or upgrades to improve functionality, fix bugs, and enhance security.

    Category average: 8.2

  • Operating System Security

    The measures and features within the OS that protect data and resources from unauthorized access, threats, and vulnerabilities.

    Category average: 8.8

Areas for Improvement

  • File Management

    The system's method of storing, organizing, retrieving, and securing data in files and directories on storage devices.

    Category average: 8.2

Reviews

What users are saying about macOS.
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Easy to use solidly integrated OS.

Incentivized
Bruce CarterView profile
Senior Systems Engineer in Information Technology at University of Notre Dame (5001-10,000 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use macOS (and the associated iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS) because it is the operating system supplied for Apple devices used by our faculty and staff. For the most part, faculty choose the platform that best aligns with their teaching mission or the industry they are preparing students for. Macs are heavily used in the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Engineering, and the College of Science. They are also used by administrative personnel in several academic departments. The students at the university as a whole are about 60% Mac users, and an even higher percentage of iPhone and iPad users.

Pros

  • Easy to use user interface.
  • Integrated artificial intelligence features.
  • Excellent media support.
  • Excellent graphic support.
  • Hardware and software are very well integrated.
  • Built-in security features.
  • Very customizable.

Cons

  • Intrusiveness of security features is sometimes detrimental.
  • "Apple tax" (premium pricing).
  • Integration with open source and public domain development.
  • Strictly limited to Apple hardware.

Return on Investment

  • macOS and associated hardware have a very long service life compared to other platforms, providing a low total cost of ownership.
  • macOS is lower-maintenance than Windows and much lower-maintenance than Linux distros, thus reducing the need for expert support.
  • Choice of operating environment aids in talent retention.
  • Students primarily use Macs/MacOS, accounting for about 60% of our overall student population. Fully supporting this platform leads to better responses from applicants.
  • macOS is seen as modern, which has an impact in all recruiting and retention areas.
  • macOS requires very little troubleshooting.

Usability

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft Windows, Amazon Linux, Fedora Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and Debian OS

Other Software Used

BeyondTrust Remote Support, Time Machine, Apple Remote Desktop, Jamf Pro, Jamf Connect, 1Password, Adobe Acrobat, BBEdit, Vasion Print, Pharos Uniprint, GitHub, Google Authenticator, Google Drive, Slack, LibreOffice, Malwarebytes, ThreatDown, powered by Malwarebytes, Xcode

macOS is the best OS ever

Incentivized
Gabriel MyndlisView profile
director at Quo Música (1-10 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We all use Macs. Fast, friendly, stable, intuitive, everything just works. macOS feels thoughtfully designed, with hardware and software perfectly integrated. From startup to daily tasks, the experience is smooth and reliable.One of its greatest strengths is its true plug and play simplicity: connect a device, install an app, and you’re ready to go. No endless drivers, no complicated setup. Security is solid thanks to its Unix-based foundation, offering strong protection against viruses without constant intervention.Crashes are rare, performance stays consistent over time, and the clean interface helps you focus on creativity and productivity. macOS doesn’t demand attention, it simply works, quietly and efficiently.

Pros

  • intuitive
  • secure
  • multitasking

Cons

  • compatibility

Return on Investment

  • fast
  • friendly
  • cool

Usability

Other Software Used

Dropbox

Perfect for casual and power users alike.

Incentivized
Verified User
Team Lead in Engineering (51-200 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use macOS for all staff bar windows developers. It's lightweight, easy to manage with policies and can be extended for power users with ease.
The unified hardware and software results in near zero IT issues day to day. Backups can be stored on the cloud, remote management is easy, preventing unauthorised apps is a piece of cake.

Pros

  • Unified hardware and software drivers
  • Power users can have full access if needed
  • Upgrade cycles are so easy with OS transfer

Cons

  • Allowing test apps can be tricky
  • .net and windows development is poor
  • Theming is pretty locked down

Return on Investment

  • Reduced IT issues to near zero
  • Upgrade cycles take hours not days
  • Threat management has meant zero breaches

Usability

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft Windows and Linux Mint

Other Software Used

Docker, Google Chrome, Microsoft Visual Studio Code

macOS is Undefeated

Incentivized
Verified User
Employee in Engineering (5001-10,000 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Every engineer at our company uses a Macbook Pro so macOS is deeply integrated within our team. macOS makes it easier for engineers to develop mobile apps since it has native support for that and it's the Unix sweet spot (macOS provides the powerful "under-the-hood" tools of Linux while keeping a smooth, stable interface for everything else).

Pros

  • mobile apps
  • running every day tasks (Zoom, Slack, Excel)
  • M series chip is superior
  • the OS isn't clunky like Linux

Cons

  • upfront costs to getting the most benefit from macOS requires you to purchase a Macbook...this is expensive
  • it's windows snapping function just isn't as good as Windows OS
  • as good as the M chips are, gaming just isn't a big strong suit

Return on Investment

  • DLP and overall security on macOS is just far superior than Windows OS
  • Updates are easier to push out on macOS so security has been further improved

Usability

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft Windows

Other Software Used

Microsoft Windows

macOS is brilliant

Incentivized
Verified User
Manager in Product Management (51-200 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Ease of use, extremely fluid syncing between accounts and devices, battery optimizations. Reliability, security and constant software updates ensure a smooth and constant user experience software use is not specific to macOS so being able to utilise Safari and also Chrome for testing purposes makes a very seamless process for users

Pros

  • Speed
  • Reliability
  • Security
  • Battery
  • Fluidity
  • Hardward integration

Cons

  • Permissions
  • More granular power control
  • User management for personal vs business settings

Return on Investment

  • None noticed on my end

Usability

Alternatives Considered

ChromeOS

Other Software Used

LG webOS, Microsoft Windows, Apple iCloud, Apple Pay