Most Mac utilities aim to boost productivity or streamline workflows. GlitchTone takes a completely different approach: it makes your computer sound like something out of a sci-fi movie. Every click, scroll, and keystroke triggers cinematic audio effects, transforming mundane computing into something that feels vaguely like piloting a starship. It’s delightfully unnecessary, and that’s exactly the point.
The app monitors system events and plays sound effects in response to your actions. Clicks get satisfying audio feedback, scrolling produces smooth whooshing sounds, and typing becomes accompanied by retro computer beeps and typewriter-style effects. GlitchTone ships with multiple sound packs—Default for clean retro sounds, Sci-Fi Glitch for futuristic effects, and Retro Computer for classic computing aesthetics. Advanced users can import custom sounds if the built-in options don’t match their particular flavor of nostalgia.
I tested this on my Mac Mini M4 running macOS Sequoia, and the performance impact is minimal. The developer emphasizes lightweight operation, and true to their word, GlitchTone runs quietly in the background without dragging down system resources. Volume controls live right in the menu bar, so you can adjust intensity on the fly or mute it entirely when you need to focus or join a meeting.
The question with an app like this isn’t whether it’s practical—it’s not, and that’s fine—but whether it brings enough joy to justify the distraction. For me, the novelty wore off after a few hours of constant use, but I can see the appeal for developers, writers, or anyone who spends long hours at their computer and wants to inject some personality into the experience. It’s the kind of thing you might enable for an afternoon when you need a mood boost, then disable when you’re back to serious work.
GlitchTone is available on the Mac App Store and works with macOS Big Sur and later on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. The developer states they collect no data, which is always appreciated even for something as whimsical as this. Pricing wasn’t immediately clear from the website, so you’ll want to check the App Store for current details.
This app sits in a niche category of software designed purely for entertainment rather than productivity. It’s not solving a problem so much as creating an experience. If you’ve ever wished your MacBook sounded more like the computers in Star Trek, or if you’re the type of person who misses the tactile feedback of mechanical keyboards and old-school computing, GlitchTone might resonate with you. For everyone else, it’s a fun curiosity that probably won’t stick around in your menu bar long-term.
