--- title: Apple OS X El Capitan Reviews meta\_title: 'Apple OS X El Capitan Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta\_description: Filter 265 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how Apple OS X El Capitan works for a business like yours. aggregate\_rating: rating\_value: 4.4 review\_count: 265 scale: '5' date\_modified: '2026-08-09' parent\_category: name: IT Infrastructure url: https://www.g2.com/categories/it-infrastructure --- # Apple OS X El Capitan Reviews & Product Details OS X El Capitan, version 10.11 of Apple's Mac operating system, was released on September 30, 2015. Named after the iconic rock formation in Yosemite National Park, this update focused on enhancing performance, stability, and security. It introduced features like Split View for multitasking, a redesigned Mission Control for better window management, and the Metal graphics API for improved graphics performance. El Capitan also brought refinements to built-in apps such as Safari, Mail, and Notes, and introduced the San Francisco system font for improved readability. Key Features and Functionality: - Split View: Allows users to work with two applications side by side in full-screen mode, enhancing multitasking capabilities. - Mission Control: Offers a streamlined view of all open windows and spaces, making it easier to organize and switch between tasks. - Metal Graphics API: Provides developers with a more efficient way to harness the GPU, resulting in faster and more responsive graphics performance. - Enhanced Built-in Apps: Improvements to Safari include Pinned Sites and a mute button for tabs; Mail introduces swipe gestures and improved full-screen support; Notes supports checklists, inline previews, and rich text formatting. - San Francisco Font: A new system font designed for better legibility and consistency across Apple devices. Primary Value and User Solutions: OS X El Capitan aimed to refine the Mac user experience by improving system performance and introducing features that enhance productivity. The addition of Split View and an improved Mission Control facilitated more efficient multitasking, while the Metal API provided a foundation for more powerful graphics applications. Enhancements to native apps and the introduction of the San Francisco font contributed to a more cohesive and user-friendly interface, addressing user needs for both functionality and aesthetics. * * * Seller [Apple](https://www.g2.com/sellers/apple) Discussions [Apple OS X El Capitan Community](https://www.g2.com/products/apple-os-x-el-capitan/discuss) Solution Type Best-of-Breed Show More ## Value at a Glance Averages based on real user reviews. ### Time to Implement 2 months ### Return on Investment 13 months [ View More Pricing Information ](https://www.g2.com/products/apple-os-x-el-capitan/pricing) ## Top-Rated Alternatives [ ![Ubuntu](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Ubuntu") Ubuntu 4.5/5(2,399) ](https://www.g2.com/products/ubuntu/reviews) [ ![Windows 7](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Windows 7") Windows 7 4.2/5(903) ](https://www.g2.com/products/windows-7/reviews) [ ![Android](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Android") Android 4.6/5(1,283) ](https://www.g2.com/products/android/reviews) [ View All Alternatives ](https://www.g2.com/products/apple-os-x-el-capitan/competitors/alternatives) ## User Insights Average based on 265 real user reviews. Implementation Time 2 months Perceived Cost $$$$$ [Log in to unlock pricing and user insights](/login) ## Apple OS X El Capitan Integrations (6) What do users say about integrations? Integration information sourced from real user reviews. [ ![Product Avatar Image](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Product Avatar Image") Chrome OS ](https://www.g2.com/products/chrome-os/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Product Avatar Image") Ekahau AI Pro ](https://www.g2.com/products/ekahau-ai-pro/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Product Avatar Image") Git ](https://www.g2.com/products/git/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Product Avatar Image") Visual Studio Code ](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio-code/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Product Avatar Image") Windows Server ](https://www.g2.com/products/tidal-media-inc-windows-server/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Product Avatar Image") Xcode ](https://www.g2.com/products/xcode/reviews) Show More ![Valesius K.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Valesius K.") VK Valesius K. IT Officer Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 8/24/2023 "Apple OS X El Capitan, a prominent member of the Apple operating system family." 2.5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? El Capitan's performance and efficiency stand out as some of its strongest points. The operating system introduces a refined interface that maintains the minimalist Apple design philosophy while incorporating helpful tweaks. The system responsiveness has noticeably improved, resulting in smoother multitasking and faster application launches. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? Compatibility with Older Hardware: El Capitan's hardware requirements may leave some older Mac devices unable to run the OS smoothly. This can lead to performance issues, slowdowns, and overall frustration for users with aging machines Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? Apple OS X El Capitan, released in 2015, was a popular operating system for Mac computers. Users employed it for a variety of purposes: Productivity and Creativity: Many users utilized El Capitan for tasks like word processing, creating presentations, and graphic design using software like Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and Apple's own suite of creative applications. Multimedia: El Capitan provided a platform for multimedia editing, including video and audio editing, making it a choice for professionals and hobbyists in the media and entertainment industry. Web Browsing and Communication: Everyday tasks like web browsing, emailing, and using various communication apps were common on El Capitan. Software Development: Developers used El Capitan for software and app development, taking advantage of Xcode, Apple's integrated development environment. Content Consumption: Users enjoyed media consumption, including streaming videos, listening to music, and reading ebooks, thanks to the system's user-friendly interface and media playback capabilities. System Stability: El Capitan was praised for its stability and performance improvements over its predecessor, making it a suitable choice for those who valued reliability in their computing environment. System Maintenance: El Capitan offered tools for system maintenance and troubleshooting, aiding users in keeping their Macs optimized and running smoothly. Virtualization: Some users utilized El Capitan to run virtual machines for software testing, running other operating systems, or experimenting with various applications. Security and Privacy: El Capitan introduced enhanced security features like System Integrity Protection, which made it an attractive choice for users who valued data security and privacy. Despite its advantages, there were also limitations to El Capitan. It reached its end of life in 2018, meaning it no longer received security updates from Apple. This could pose a security risk, especially for users who continued to use it after its support ended. Considering its age and lack of updates, if you're looking for an operating system for your Mac, you might want to consider using a more recent version like macOS Big Sur or the latest available version for the best security, compatibility, and features. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More 8/25/2023 Validated ReviewerSource: Organic ![Connor P.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Connor P.") CP Connor P. IT Assistant Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 8/17/2023 "BRILLIANT" 4/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? Once again modernising its operating systems in a way that delivers useful new capabilities without requiring users to navigate a steep learning curve. El Capitan looks somewhat different from Yosemite, but everything you know about using Yosemite still works in El Capitan—except that El Capitan is noticeably quicker in everything it does. If you own a Mac built in the last five years or so, the App Store will give you a free upgrade to El Capitan. That offer should almost probably be accepted. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? A few special-purpose apps may be broken by new security features. A few minor bugs remain in Maps. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? Safari's internet browser performance and integrated security features are genuinely excellent. The mail app has also been improved, and it is now more simplified. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerSource: Organic ![Paresh K.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Paresh K.") PK Paresh K. Junior Software Engineer Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 1/17/2023 "A review on the Apple's 5 years back MacOS" 3.5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? The best part of the El Capitan was that it was a very stable operating system then and we could totally rely upon it. Also, this is when they had finally introduced the split screen feature and had also optised the OS so well that it used open documents 2x to 3x times faster. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? As I said before it was a very stable and secure OS and all the new features that came with it were great but it had a few minor bugs like the laptop used to get a bit hotter and I used to face crases with my safari browser. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? The macOS El Capitan release had introduced lot of new features including which it made multitasking feasible because of the split screen. Also the graphics memory allotment was optimized too which made rendering the videos relatively faster. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More 1/18/2023 Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ZC Zack C. Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 4/23/2023 "Spilt view improved productivity" 5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? I think the greatest feature that was introduced was the Split View. It allows me to work on multiple app on a full screen without having to change the window. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? Compatibility issue. I hate it whenever there is an OS update the older apps just do not work anymore. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? It's just mainly productivity. The note app is easier to collaborate with colleagues Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Current UserValidated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Jim L.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Jim L.") JL Jim L. Director, Client Experience Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 1/17/2023 "Outdated operating system, but one that provided a game-changer for multi-tasking (January 2023)." 2.5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? The best part of this operating system for me was the introduction of the full-screen split screen. Being able to work in 2 windows simultaneously, or better yet, to compare 2 documents side-by-side, was game-changing. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? The biggest downside at this point is it is far outdated. I think it was first released like 6-7 years ago, so many of the newer applications are no longer supported on this Operating System as of January 2023. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? Multi-tasking. As mentioned in the "What do you like best?" section - being able to have a full-screen split-screen view. I work in an industry where I need to be able to visually compare 2 documents quickly and this was a huge benefit. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Verified User in Computer Software](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Computer Software") UC Verified User in Computer Software Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 6/7/2023 "The performance, stability, and security is just amazing." 5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? Honestly it is a 4.5/5.0, it focuses mainly on performance, stability, and security. Although nobody uses this anymore that much, I currently use macOS Monterey. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? At that time when it released it was really good but now it's just gotten outdated, now the current versions are obviously better. I don't really dislike it or anything. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? The split screen functionality, one of several new features included in the macOS El Capitan update, made multitasking possible. Additionally, the graphics memory allocation was improved, which made rendering the films somewhat quicker. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More 6/7/2024 Validated ReviewerSource: Organic ![Verified User in Alternative Medicine](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Alternative Medicine") UA Verified User in Alternative Medicine Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 1/22/2023 "Quick and snappy. Turned my old macbook air into a functional computer again" 5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? I have to say that I am absolutely in love with the Split View feature. It makes it so much easier to work on multiple tasks at once and increases my productivity. Additionally, the Spotlight Improvements have made searching for files and information on my computer a breeze. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? issues with Wi-Fi connectivity, slow performance, and app crashes. No longer supported. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? The Split View feature, for example, allows employees to work on multiple tasks at once, which can save time and increase productivity. The improved Spotlight feature also allows for faster searching and finding of files and information, which can also save time and increase efficiency. Additionally, the performance improvements in El Capitan can lead to faster app switching and launching, which can help employees to work more smoothly. Additionally, the improved security features of El Capitan can help protect sensitive business information and reduce the risk of data breaches. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite KU Kaushik Kumar U. Lead Developer Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4/19/2023 "Updated Version of OS X with Performance Enhancements" 5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? I like it's performance, stability and security Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? It is discontinued quickly with other upgarded OS X evaolutions which is disappointing. Atleast Apple should have continued till date for lower versions Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? It solved lot of security issues compared to the previous OS X Versions and also enhanced performance will give users to switch to this OS Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Lenix L.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Lenix L.") LL Lenix L. Research And Development Associate Engineer Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 1/18/2023 "My experience with the Apple OS X El Capitan" 5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? The ease of usability is drastically improved. There are quite some performance improvements as well, when it comes to navigating through applications. The personally found this release more immersive in minute details Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? The poor support for VPN. Not sure if a expected issue, but setting up VPN is a hassle. I also experienced slightly slower internet connectivity. Both of these were eventually addressed. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? Accessibility. For example, I use GarageBand on the Mac and I also have an IPad. The ease of sharing projects between GarageBand and IOS has made the music making workflow very seamless Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Verified User in Higher Education](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Higher Education") UH Verified User in Higher Education Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 1/17/2023 "Great software for Mac" 5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? OS X El Capitan was a significant improvement over the previous OS version. The speed of the internet browser, Safari, and its combined security features are truly exceptional. The improvement to the mail app are also appreciated, as it is more streamlined. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? There are times when the system hangs and you get the unfortunate spinning pinwheel of death, which is not good. Also, the OS seems a bit bloated and takes up a lot of system space on the hard disk. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? Overall, the system processes are streamlined and the user interface is much easier to use. The speed with which the system loads at startup is nice, and the Adobe apps I use regularly load quickly and don't crash often (if at all). Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ## Questions about Apple OS X El Capitan? Ask real users or explore answers from the community Get practical answers, real workflows, and honest pros and cons from the G2 community or share your insights. [ Ask about Apple OS X El Capitan ](https://www.g2.com/products/apple-os-x-el-capitan/discussions/new) ![Carlos F.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Carlos F.") CF Carlos Flores • Last activity about 5 years ago Why Photos app stuck the ram of my computer? 1 Upvote 1 [ Join the conversation ](https://www.g2.com/discussions/50838-why-photos-app-stuck-the-ram-of-my-computer) ![Ephan M.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Ephan M.") EM Ephan MonroeBrosen • Last activity over 4 years ago Eekekk 1 Upvote 1 [ Join the conversation ](https://www.g2.com/discussions/eekekk) [ View all Discussions ](https://www.g2.com/products/apple-os-x-el-capitan/discuss) ## Pricing Insights Averages based on real user reviews. ### Time to Implement 2 months ### Return on Investment 13 months ### Average Discount 13% [ View More Pricing Information ](https://www.g2.com/products/apple-os-x-el-capitan/pricing) Apple OS X El Capitan Comparisons ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/small_square/small_square_46bd9233d89c58c6dbdf99f99bd301dc/ubuntu.png "Product Avatar Image") Ubuntu 4.5/5(2,399) [ Compare Now ](https://www.g2.com/compare/apple-os-x-el-capitan-vs-ubuntu) ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/small_square/small_square_2d9d81fe278270b502df3c98a2bddf7f/apple-os-x-mavericks.png "Product Avatar Image") OS X Mavericks 4.2/5(90) [ Compare Now ](https://www.g2.com/compare/apple-os-x-el-capitan-vs-apple-os-x-mavericks) ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/small_square/small_square_4ddb35298c6a7401ccc094681b628910/apple-os-x-mountain-lion.jpeg "Product Avatar Image") Apple OS X 4.2/5(221) [ Compare Now ](https://www.g2.com/compare/apple-os-x-el-capitan-vs-apple-os-x-mountain-lion) ## Work at Apple? 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