10 must-have productivity apps for professional bloggers in 2025
11 min read
Running DroidCrunch, I have to handle so many tasks simultaneously — writing, researching, organizing work, and keeping everything running smoothly. But slow performance, distractions, and switching between different tools made it hard to get things done quickly. Much time was wasted on small tasks like taking a proper screenshot without notifications, dealing with browser tabs, and uncluttering my Mac so it wouldn't slow down.
Ironically, as I write about productivity tools and technical solutions, my own system needed some serious tweaking.
So, here are my top apps for bloggers who want to stay productive and focus on creativity rather than routine chores.
Best apps for blogging: my picks as a content creator
Sure, I tested a lot of productivity apps for bloggers before settling on the Setapp collection (Setapp is a subscription service that offers more than 260 Mac, iOS, and web apps for $9.99 + tax per month). I tried paid versions, purchased subscriptions and was disappointed because I didn't get the results I wanted and my experiments cost me too much. The financial burden of multiple app subscriptions added stress without providing a cohesive solution. Organizing research, tracking deadlines, and keeping a clean screenshot workflow became challenging without a system. Together, these issues made it tough to maintain consistent quality and content output.
Here are the apps I use daily to create content on my blog:
App | How I use it |
Run weekly system cleanups to remove junk files and optimize performance | |
Keep constant tabs on CPU usage and memory while running multiple apps for research and writing | |
Capture professional screenshots for tutorials | |
Draw attention to specific elements on screen during video tutorials | |
Pin my analytics dashboard, content calendar, and research tools for instant access | |
Activate it during deep writing sessions to dim everything except my current document | |
Organize research, outlines, and draft content in a clean, distraction-free environment | |
Store code samples, HTML templates, and frequently used text blocks | |
Use it to overcome writer's block and to help refine technical explanations | |
Calculate benchmarks, conversion rates, and comparison metrics while writing reviews |
With this basic toolset for blogging in 2025, I can manage DroidCrunch better and produce quality content more frequently.
I will now go into the details of using each of these apps to grow my blog.
Writing attention-grabbing posts
Over time, I’ve discovered some standout tools that elevate my blog writing process. These are my go-to apps for crafting engaging posts quickly and effectively.
Craft for post outline
Whenever I work on content for DroidCrunch, I start by creating an outline for a future text. I need to sketch out ideas, analyze tech software, look for what has already been written about it, and what value I can give with my review. To keep myself organized and not get lost in dozens of ideas, I use Craft.
I like its simple interface and that it syncs across all devices. I might come up with an idea while I'm on the road and quickly write it down on my phone — it immediately feeds into an already written text on the topic.
Best features
All your tasks, notes, and to-dos under one roof
AI Assistant
Doc customization with highlights, backgrounds, etc.
Collaboration features
Price: Included in Setapp from $9.99 + tax per month (with over 260 other apps).
TypingMind for overcoming writer’s block
Every writer knows that the introduction is the hardest part. It determines whether readers will continue reading or all your efforts are in vain. TypingMind is my go-to tool for creating intros. Here's how it works: I upload my basic introduction, ask it to make it more engaging, and then refine it.
Before discovering this app, I would sometimes stare at a blank screen for hours, especially when learning complex technical topics that required clear explanations.
Now, when I'm trying to start a product review or explain a complex feature, TypingMind offers me alternative phrases and helps me break down complicated concepts. Often, these suggestions open up new perspectives I hadn't thought of.
"TypingMind is like having a full team of AI assistants in one place — I use it to generate YouTube scripts, cold emails, and more. With access to models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, plus built-in web search and 160+ ready-made tools, it saves me hours every week", shares Stefan-Radu Gogolan, video editor, digital marketing specialist.
Best features
All ChatGPT models (GPT-4), Claude Al models, and Google Gemini models
Built-in AI agents
Prompt library
Price: Included in Setapp from $9.99 + tax per month (with over 260 other apps).
Learn more:
Creating visuals and tutorials
When it comes to making engaging visuals and step-by-step tutorials, having the right tools is crucial. Here are my top picks that make the process smooth and creative.
CleanShot X for perfect screenshots
Creating tech tutorials requires countless screenshots. Before CleanShot X, this process was tedious — capture, open an editor, crop, annotate, save, repeat. It disrupted my workflow and doubled the time needed for tutorial creation.
With CleanShot X, I capture exactly what I need with precise area selection. I can instantly add arrows, text annotations, and highlights without switching applications. For tech comparisons, I use the side-by-side capture to show feature differences.
While researching screenshot apps on Reddit, I noticed many people debating the merits of the native screenshot tool versus various third-party apps. CleanShot X is a particularly popular choice, and for good reason. One Redditor says: “Cleanshot. I use it 50+ times every day (not an exaggeration). Simple, fast, keeps captures on-screen until I’m ready to do something with them (or not if I turn this off), excellent editing capabilities, etc. I’ve tried many apps and settled on Cleanshot. I use it through Setapp subscription (which I also highly recommend).”
Best features
The ability to combine multiple images into one
10 beautiful backgrounds for screenshots included
Blur with secure and smooth options
Scrolling capture
The option to enable/disable shadow
Modern interface with perfect UX
Multiple sharing options
Price: Included in Setapp from $9.99 + tax per month (with over 260 other apps).
Presentify for online presentations
When creating video tutorials or whenever I need to explain a complex topic during an online presentation, I use Presentify. It allows me to draw directly on my screen during recordings, highlighting important buttons, menus, or options as I'm explaining them.
This visual emphasis helps my viewers follow along without getting lost, especially for more complicated tutorials. I noticed that since using Presentify, readers have been asking fewer questions about clarification and getting more involved in the content.
Best features
Screen annotation with different shapes, colors, and even gradients
Mouse pointer highlight
Whiteboard support
Price: Included in Setapp from $9.99 + tax per month (with over 260 other apps).
Learn more:
System optimization and performance
A fast, smooth system makes all the difference. These tools help keep your Mac running like new, so you can focus on what matters without frustration.
CleanMyMac for speeding up your Mac
As I’m running a tech blog, I should constantly test apps and download files, which leaves a ton of digital clutter. CleanMyMac has become my weekly ritual to keep my system running smoothly. I just run a quick scan before I start my week, and it removes unnecessary junk files, clears RAM, and optimizes my Mac for peak performance.
This maintenance routine has saved me from countless frustrating moments when I'd be on a deadline, and my system would suddenly slow to a crawl. Now, my Mac will stay responsive even if I have a bunch of browser tabs open for research.
Best features
System junk removal
Large & Old files scanner
Bulk app uninstaller
Price: Included in Setapp from $9.99 + tax per month (with over 260 other apps).
iStat Menus for CPU, GPU, memory, and network monitoring
Once, due to a system crash, I lost my writing progress on a blog review and had to start all over again. Since then, I've been looking for an app to help me avoid this. I tried iStat Menus, and now it sits in my menu bar, showing me real-time data about what's happening with my CPU, memory, and network.
I can immediately spot which application is causing my fan to spin up or slow down my system. This early warning system lets me save my work and close resource-hungry applications before they cause problems.
.jpg "iStat Menus menu bar")
Best features
CPU usage monitoring in real-time to know what's consuming resources
Memory and RAM usage tracking to optimize system performance
Battery status and health monitoring for MacBooks
Price: Included in Setapp from $9.99 + tax per month (with over 260 other apps).
Enhancing productivity and being focused
Staying productive and focused can be challenging in a busy world. These tools and tips help you cut through distractions, stay on task, and make the most of your time every day.
Menubar X for workflow customization
It's hard to stay productive when you're managing social media, tracking analytics, and juggling multiple articles. I was constantly struggling with distractions and jumping between tasks every time, which hindered concentration.
Menubar X has transformed how I access my most-used tools by putting them all in one convenient menu bar dropdown. I've pinned my analytics dashboard, content calendar, and research tools for instant access. Now, I'm no longer distracted by app switches all day and can quickly check site stats or my publishing schedule without breaking my writing flow.
.jpg "MenubarX menu bar")
Best features
Notifications and quick access to apps and services
Customizable menus with shortcuts for your favorite tools
Multiple widgets for weather, clock, and calendar integration
Quick access to notes, files, and clipboard management
Price: Included in Setapp from $9.99 + tax per month (with over 260 other apps).
Learn more:
HazeOver for focusing on what you are working on
I was easily distracted by messengers because I thought they required my immediate intervention. Also, I always had dozens of windows open in the background, among which I was shifting and getting lost. As a result, my focus of attention was anywhere but on the content task I was working on.
HazeOver automatically dims everything except my active window, creating a distraction-free zone that keeps my attention locked on the task at hand. I activate it during intensive writing sessions, and the difference is remarkable. Instead of my eyes wandering to email notifications or Slack messages in background windows, I stay immersed in my current draft. This has helped me complete articles in single sessions rather than fragmented attempts.
.png "Haze Over")
Best features
Automatic focus highlighting
Customizable dimming level
Price: Included in Setapp from $9.99 + tax per month (with over 260 other apps).
Technical content & Data management
1. SnippetsLab for creating a library of snippets
When you write about tech as much as I do, you end up explaining the same concepts over and over. Before I found SnippetsLab, I'd waste time hunting through old articles trying to find how I explained something before, or I'd just rewrite it (usually worse the second time around).
SnippetsLab has become my personal library of frequently used explanations, code samples, and HTML templates that I can instantly search and insert into my content.
This organized approach ensures consistency across my articles and saves me from rewriting similar technical explanations. For code-heavy tutorials, having trusted snippets ready to go has cut my writing time significantly and reduced errors in my examples.
Best features
Rich notes
Personal assistant in the menu bar
Price: Included in Setapp from $9.99 + tax per month (with over 260 other apps).
Numi for calculation in natural language
Writing about software and tech tools, I always need to compare them with other products in terms of prices, dimensions, and specifications. Numi has replaced my standard calculator by allowing me to quickly perform conversions and calculations right inside my workflow.
My favorite part is how it handles mixed currencies and units. And what's important for me — it understands me in half a word. I just type in what I need to calculate, and it does it in seconds.
.jpg "Numi app window")
Best features
The ability to input text and numbers in natural language
Can be launched using a custom shortcut
Save and synchronize results on iCloud
Price: Included in Setapp from $9.99 + tax per month (with over 260 other apps).
Obsessed with content creation? Check out how to make money with a blog!
Final thoughts on best blogging apps
Blogging is getting harder and harder because we are constantly competing with AI content. I'm constantly thinking about how I can make my audience come to my DroidCrunch to read a tech tools review instead of asking ChatGPT about it. But I know that robots don't give out such detailed in-person reviews, hence I have the advantage. Setapp's blogging apps help me generate more content and, as a result, stay relevant as a resource for tech enthusiasts looking for valuable reviews.
My content creation process has sped up a lot since I started using Craft and TypingMind for writing, Menubar X and HazeOver for focusing, and CleanMyMac for regularly decluttering my Mac. Together with valuable apps for screenshot editing, calculation, and system optimization, I achieve the results I want while saving hours a day!
FAQ
Which apps do bloggers use?
Bloggers use a mix of tools in their work. For instance, to run a text blog you may need a combination of writing tools (like Craft, Ulysses), screenshot editors like CleanShot X, productivity apps like Menubar X, and system optimization tools such as CleanMyMac.
What is the best app to start a blog?
Begin with a content plan, do research for your blog and create your positioning. Apps like Craft or TypingMind can help you with this, allowing you to structure your ideas, write articles or scripts for videos.
Which app is best for online writing?
It depends on your specific needs, but there are a bunch of apps to assist you with writing content. Craft, Paper, Ulysses will help you improve your text and edit your grammar. To stay focused on the writing process, try HazeOver or Focused. For easy writing of complex texts, check TypingMind — it will help you convey even the most sophisticated topics in simple words for your audience.
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