Ragic: The Easiest No Code Microsoft Access Alternative for Mac

Looking to install Microsoft Access but working on Mac? In this article, we introduce all the possible ways you can download Microsoft Access on your Apple Mac computer. Many of these methods do require additional resources, software, and complex set up. To provide a simple, affordable, and flexible solution, we’ve also included our recommended Microsoft Access alternative.

Microsoft Access for Mac Official Download?

Microsoft Access is a powerful database management tool where you can create data relationships, store and retrieve information, and generate reports to help with business operations, processes, and workflows. It is part of the Microsoft 365 suite of applications and can also be purchased separately. However, unlike Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint where official Mac versions exist for Apple users, Microsoft Access, is unfortunately exclusive for Windows PC users.

As much as I’d like to provide a quick and easy download link for you, unfortunately, it does not exist at this time and it seems like Microsoft has no intentions of making it available for Mac, as community requests have received negative responses from the Microsoft Team. It is possible this is attributed to its architectural design’s reliance on Windows-Exclusive Architecture.

Where can I Access Microsoft Access?

Despite its name, Microsoft Access is not very accessible compared to other Microsoft applications. It is made exclusively for Windows computers, which means it cannot run natively on other operating systems such as MacOS and Linux. It is also not available on mobile, unlike other Microsoft applications with mobile apps.

Other than limitations on devices and operating systems, Microsoft Access is also primarily an on-site application rather than a cloud-based application, which can be an issue if you’re planning on using the application for real-time team collaboration and data sharing. There are ways for sharing Access files through Sharepoint, but there are a series of extra steps and hindrances involved that are not usually found in native cloud-based applications.

In case you REALLY need to install Microsoft Access on your Mac computer, continue reading on our recommended solutions below.

Microsoft Access for Mac: Solutions that Work

Solution 1: Install a Crack Version on your computer

Let me start by saying that we do not recommend installing a crack version of this software, or any other software, on your computer. Software packages that are downloaded from unofficial websites and unauthorized resellers may not be safe, are unreliable, and therefore not recommended. This is especially true if you plan to use this software and computer to handle vital business information. However, if we’re simply exploring the mere possibility of getting Access installed in your Macbook through this route, it is possible.

Solution 2: Install a Virtual Machine into your computer and download Microsoft Access

Virtual machines, in simple words, are software that emulate the functionality of a physical computer. In our context, installing a virtual machine into your Macbook is like having a Windows computer right inside of your Mac computer, which allows you to work with Microsoft applications on your Macbook. It’s like having an app inside an app. Having this “Windows” environment installed will enable you to use Microsoft Access on your Macbook. The most popular, commonly-used virtual machine is Parallels. We’ve tested it, and although it does work, we’ve encountered some issues. We’ll dive more into that later.

Solution 3: Use a Microsoft Access Alternative that suits your business needs

Although powerful, Microsoft Access is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. The developer-oriented design gives it a steeper learning curve that may require months of rigorous learning to become adept, not to mention the amount of time needed to teach employees how to adopt the tool in their work.

More often than not, users would need to have some VBA knowledge to enable functions that are not integrated within the application. This includes setting reminders, scheduling reports, and other automations. If you’re looking to deploy a database software for your day to day activities, you might want to consider other options, particularly no code database alternatives.

No code database applications usually have a number of functions and features that are already integrated into their system, making it easier for users to simply drag, drop, and click to get things done.

The Problem with using Parallels and Virtual Machines

Perhaps the most obvious downside of using virtual machines is the heaping amount of additional costs you’ll need to shell out just to be able to use Microsoft Access. Parallels’ Standard Edition costs $99.99 per year, or $129.99 for a one-time purchase. In order to get the full Windows experience, you must also purchase a Windows license. The basic Windows 11 Home costs $139, while Microsoft Access itself costs $99.99 per user, per year as part of Microsoft 365 Personal, or $179.99 for a one-time purchase.

Summing it all together, that’s at least $99.99 + $139 + $99.99 = $338.98 upfront investment, with a recurring yearly cost of $199.98. If you opt for the one-time purchase options, that would amount to $448.98.

Virtual machines also take up a substantial amount of disk space and memory. Parallels take up about 600MB to 1.5GB disk space, while a fresh Windows 11 installation takes up 27GB, increasing over time through usage. That’s at least 30GB of disk space, excluding Microsoft Access itself, which has a 2GB total storage limit.

We haven’t even dived deep into RAM, which can essentially vary depending on the concurrent applications you have open. The more you have going on, the slower your computer will run and the more likely you are to experience system crashes and freezing. This is especially true if you’re working on multiple memory-intensive tasks at the same time, or using an older Macbook with limited memory capacity. As your computer slows down, your work efficiency will also slow down along with it.

Getting Microsoft Access installed on your Macbook definitely is a lot of hard work and money. What if we tell you that there’s a better solution available right at your fingertips?

How is Ragic a Good Substitute for Microsoft Access?

What Ex-Access Users Had to Say:

Many of Ragic’s users started from Microsoft Access, struggled with the software, and fell in love with Ragic instead. Here are some of what they have to say about Ragic:

Discovering the joy of using Ragic, Artistic Stone Design openly shared about their experience automating the company, the tools they used, and how quickly they jumped right into Ragic.

A Database You Can Access from Anywhere

To have a universally accessible database is a dream for Microsoft Access, but we’ve made it into a reality with Ragic. How are we so confident about our product? We at Ragic use Ragic for nearly everything in our daily work. Composed of a diverse workforce with team members all over the world, employees can access their work anytime, anywhere through any web browser, on any device. Although some of our team members are on Windows devices while others are on Apple Macbooks, we are still able to work seamlessly with each other.

Aside from personal computers, the Ragic mobile app is also available on both Android and Apple app stores. Field employees are able to check and maintain data records on the go, making real-time collaboration even easier.

Other than being a cloud-based software, Ragic also provides local, on-premise solutions for companies who need to operate the application locally. That means companies with more stringent compliance requirements can also use Ragic for their daily operations.

A No Code Database With All the Integrations You Need

Ragic’s user-friendly interface allows you to simply click, drag, and drop when building databases. It is simple and easy to use for every individual regardless of coding experience. Our user-centric design allows you to build exactly what you need, whenever you need it. This is opposed to the VBA and SQL knowledge needed for users to utilize Microsoft Access efficiently. For instance, you can set permission controls, approval workflows, scheduled reports, and email reminders right from Ragic with a few simple clicks, but these functions will require multiple steps of complex coding to achieve similar results on Microsoft Access– and this is just scratching the surface of what you can achieve on Ragic without a single line of code!

“Why would I want to build my own database? I can just ask IT to code and build it for me.” Perhaps this is your thought process, and it is a valid point. In fact, many large enterprises operate using this method. However, we have also experienced firsthand how long and tedious this process can be. From explaining the features to IT, to IT designing these functions, to testing and revisions, to deployment– this simple flow alone may take months (sometimes even years) to complete. Imagine the number of meetings you would need to attend and materials you need to prepare for every little update and function on your database. It can make matters worse if the software did not work as intended, or when you decide to add or remove certain features based on the constantly changing market dynamics.

While IT is trying to figure out how to fix things, you’re either left to continue doing things manually or using a faulty database that doesn’t seem to get things right. Meanwhile, budgets that could have been used for marketing campaigns or sales events are flowing out towards your recurring subscriptions. Yikes!

Empowering users to design what they need can speed up your entire business process, save on costs, and produce faster results.

Ok, but where’s the catch?

As a fully transparent software and company, there is no “catch.”

Ragic’s Free forever plan is absolutely free with no strings attached. If you need something more, Ragic has multiple pricing options that you can seamlessly upgrade to as your business grows, starting at just $5/month. You can also cancel your subscription anytime. That’s substantial savings! Compared to using Microsoft Access on your Macbook, you don’t need to purchase a virtual machine, a separate operating system, or a new device with Ragic.

If you’d like to experience the full benefits of Ragic Professional and see how we can help your business, we offer a 30-day free trial with no credit card information required.

👉 Try Ragic here!