7 apps

The best security & privacy apps for Mac

Firewalls, key managers and watchdogs that keep your Mac yours.

Last checked October 19, 2026 · No paid placements

Compare

Security & Privacy apps side by side

Comparison of security & privacy apps for Mac
App	Price	Mac App Store	Homebrew	Open source	GitHub stars
Little Snitch	Paid	No	`little-snitch`	No	–
LuLu	Open source	No	`lulu`	GPL-3.0	13k
OverSight	Open source	No	`oversight`	GPL-3.0	682
KnockKnock	Open source	No	`knockknock`	GPL-3.0	817
Secretive	Open source	No	`secretive`	MIT	9.1k
Strongbox	Free + Pro	Yes	No	No	–
Tailscale	Free + Pro	Yes	`tailscale-app`	No	–

FAQ

Choosing a security & privacy app

What is the best security & privacy app for Mac?

Our editor's pick is Little Snitch (one-time purchase). Little Snitch: See and control every network connection.

Are there free security & privacy apps for Mac?

Yes. 6 of the 7 apps here are free to download: LuLu, OverSight, KnockKnock, Secretive, Strongbox and Tailscale.

Which open-source security & privacy apps are there for Mac?

LuLu, OverSight, KnockKnock and Secretive are open source, with code on GitHub.

How does MacWorthy pick these apps?

Every app is native to macOS, actively maintained and tried by hand before it is listed. Nobody pays to be included or to be ranked higher. Facts such as price and install commands were last checked on October 19, 2026.

In detail