--- 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 ![Verified User in Computer & Network Security](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Computer & Network Security") UC Verified User in Computer & Network Security Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 7/14/2022 "El Capitan is kind of faster but not for old Mac books" 2.5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? El Capitan was bit faster compared to older version of yesomite only if you use new mac books. Hoever catalina and mojave are the best ones they have released. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? If we are using old mac books, performance has a significant issue and OS is very slow. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Recommendations to others considering Apple OS X El Capitan: I would strongly recommend upgrading your apple OS to the latest versions in order to have bug-free and performance factors Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? So far I was little disappointed with Capitan, hence I switched to Mojave lately. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Ruth E.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Ruth E.") RE Ruth E. Coordinator Of Volunteers Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 12/2/2021 "One of the best OS for Apple compare to Microsoft Windows." 5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? The EI Capitan is much cleaner and neater and easy to work with. All the apps user interface (UI) are attractive too. Not to be mention if you use on a brand new mac machine. I love the new design and layout and how fast it loaded and launched applications. This is what we look for in all operating system (OS) installed on any computer machines, By default, the desktop display is a nice mountain view with the sun setting shadow over it. Its a perfect view and I lke to see when the computer loads. DId I say also that the computer loads very fast too. It is so much better to have and use. Simple and so user friendly. I can go on and on but apple did a fabolous job in designing and launching this product. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? There is no negativity about this OS. Apart from the fact that the size of it might be too much but to me it is acceptable. But regardless, it will worth it in my opinion. Remember it is a different platform so it will take sometimes to use to. One thing though, you would need to keep it updated all the time for security reasons. But don't worry about hackers hacking the system since apple engineers are very good to design a very robust system / operation systems. Hackers know this and they stay away from it. BUt hey, that does not mean that it is not possible so it is best to install one of those virus proection software like avast or norton k. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Recommendations to others considering Apple OS X El Capitan: It will take sometime to use to but that's ok. Take your time and you will get the hand of it. It is worth the effort. Just so you know, most wwindows applications will not work with it so you might have to purchae apple version of the software or use third party. FOr example, get apple microsoft office or use LIbreoffice which is fully integrated with apple mac machine and this opertion system. Apple microsfot office might be expensive but for flawless use it is worth it. I love it and you know what they say, once you turn to macbook machine and the OS, you can not turn back . Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? Just the feel of it and the navigation of it make it so flawless to use and much more easier than a microsoft PC. The benefits I am realizing is the fast connectivity and fast loading of the operating system (OS). Before this, we were using microsft PC and it was taking so much to load up. Even opening applications were taking so long to open and work with. It was causing us headaches and frustration with these computers. Apple OS solve these issues and others. Work gets done faster since everything load so much faaster to work with. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite BF Bruce F. S Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 11/23/2021 "Apple brings new shine" 5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? Overall operating system has become faster and more efficient. I find opening apps and using them to my require as much RAM too. There is more integration with spotlight to give more information than before to help find files. Improvement to Safari with being faster and offers features that it was lacking before, for example, add ons. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? The update is very large and takes a long time to download. It takes a little more space than before with the additional apps like maps which I don't use on the desktop. Minimal improvement to older systems made before 2012. Not much help on games. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Recommendations to others considering Apple OS X El Capitan: Stay on Yosemite or buy a new system. Staying on Yosemite has very few benefits as there are no more updates to it. Buying a new system is expensive when this update is free. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? Getting the newest security updates installed for the apps and operating system. Make the old systems still useful by having them run faster. It saves money from having to buy new hardware. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More 5/23/2022 Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Adam L.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Adam L.") AL Adam L. Design Engineer Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 11/23/2021 "Great OS! Easy to use!" 5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? I like how with each update, the minimal nature of the mobile experience is brought to the desktop format without losing the benefits of a laptop over a phone. Really smooth to use. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? It can be somewhat limiting once you get past basic functionality. What I mean is that the general usability is straightforward and smooth but trying to do any gaming, customization, or support of a wide range of applications can be limited and annoying. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? My creative pursuits have been more easily accomplished by using Apple OS. I have used this software to continue working remotely or locally on the mac while I am traveling. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Current UserValidated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Kelli M J.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Kelli M J.") KJ Kelli M J. Digital Media Specialist Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 7/28/2021 "Secure, Intuitive, Easy Navigation...but still buggy on occasion" 3.5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? I had El Capitan for my 2015 Macbook Pro and liked the improvements to security and the immediate availability for updated security and bug fixes. It was easy to navigate, didn't slow down my processor too much, and was an overall upgrade from the previous release. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? While the updates were nice and much needed, I did notice an increase in application and system freezes. That was particularly annoying because it would freeze and I would have to restart my projects becuase I would lose the progress on the my work. It primarily happened when the computer was running low on memory and storage (like in video / photo editing). But for the most part, it didn't freeze too much. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Recommendations to others considering Apple OS X El Capitan: If you want a free OS upgrade, El Capitan is great to use for the short term. However, I would recommend upgrading to MacOS Big Sur when you can as it is more up-to-date, secure, and stable. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? Benefits: It was more secure, easy to navigate, and mostly reliable for my creative needs and projects. It also lasted longer than any PC. With El Capitan, I was mostly able work on and export projects faster, until the system overloaded itself. The extra speed helped streamline my projects more than before. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More 10/31/2021 Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Gary G.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Gary G.") GG Gary G. Concierge Technology Consultant Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 1/12/2022 "El Capitan - still running stable on older Macs" 3.5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? Often with older Macs, El Cap is the maximum installable OS. In those cases, there aren't any other options, so El Cap it is. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, certain apps will not run on the older OS, and certain websites don't play well with the older version of Safari. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? Trying to squeeze the last bit of life out of some older Macs, and El Cap is the most modern update those devices can run. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Current UserValidated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Zachary M.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Zachary M.") ZM Zachary M. Academy trainer Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 12/7/2021 "Useful and seemless" 5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? I love the seemless configuration of the software and ease of access when collaborating with both Mac and pc users, this software allowed more access to tools that would help with product design and project fluidity Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? Buggy occasionally with updates but still gets the job done , the updates during the day slowed production but when we learned to set them at night it helped out Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Recommendations to others considering Apple OS X El Capitan: Make sure you do the updates but back up information in case of a corrupt update Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? The ability to edit and produce quality content for my users and projects from my clients , produced very intricate design and built websites that looked great . Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More 12/9/2021 Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Verified User in Computer Software](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Computer Software") AC Verified User in Computer Software Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 1/9/2022 "A dependable workhorse, which laid the foundation of later OS revisions" 2.5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? The improved performance and security features made the OS a dependable productivity system. The low hardware requirements for the speed and responsiveness of the Operating system was the envy of other Operating Systems. System Integrity Protection was a great step forward in securing the OS Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? At the time an excellent Operating System but is now unsupported as of October 2018. Apple recommends the Monterey version (12.01 as of this writing) of the Operating System. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? At the time, we were looking to ensure our users were working in the most secure production environment we could offer with a range of solutions include Antivirus and System Integrity Protection. OS X El Capitan benefited from a deeper integration with our Active Directory authentication and security. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Verified User in Retail](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Retail") UR Verified User in Retail Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 3/21/2022 "Software works very well" 5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? Very easy user interface, nice aesthetic and lots of helpful shortcuts make the process easier. I use Microsoft word, excel, tableau, teams with this Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? Sometimes it can be hard sharing files between Mac and Windows. Also when I airdrop files from my phone to my laptop they automatically download as HEIC files which are hard to open. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? No real problems are specifically solved however it has improved our efficiency and made things more streamlined. We are more productive as a result and the team gives good feedback. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerSource: Organic ![David C.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "David C.") DC David C. Technical Consultant Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 12/14/2021 "El Capitan gets the job done" 5/5 What do you like best about Apple OS X El Capitan? It's easy to search in Finder. Photos sync through iCloud seamlessly and moving files between devices is simple. I Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Apple OS X El Capitan? I don't like that the scroll bars aren't as intuitive as they used to be. I keep resetting to put it back the old way. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Apple OS X El Capitan solving and how is that benefiting you? I'm a working musician and El Capitan runs MainStage and Logic ProX very well. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Current UserValidated 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? Claim this profile to respond to reviews, update product info, and reach in-market buyers. [ Claim this profile ](https://www.g2.com/products/apple-os-x-el-capitan/claim_requests/new?utm_medium=profile-footer-claim-cta&utm_source=g2) ##### Categories on G2 [Operating System](https://www.g2.com/categories/operating-system) ##### Explore More [What are some enterprise information archiving platforms supporting seamless capture from Teams, email, and social media?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-are-some-enterprise-information-archiving-platforms-supporting-seamless-capture-from-teams-email-and-social-media%20)[Best online community management software for tech startups](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-s-the-best-online-community-management-software)[Which salary benchmarking software is actually reliable enough for an enterprise HR team to use as the basis for a full compensation review cycle?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/which-salary-benchmarking-software-is-actually-reliable-enough-for-an-enterprise-hr-team-to-use-as-the-basis-for-a-full-compensation-review-cycle) [Which load balancing solutions actually minimize server downtime and latency during traffic spikes rather than just theoretically handling load under ideal conditions?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/which-load-balancing-solutions-actually-minimize-server-downtime-and-latency-during-traffic-spikes-rather-than-just-theoretically-handling-load-under-ideal-conditions)[What salary benchmarking software is easiest to set up for an HR team that wants clean dashboards without a lengthy onboarding process?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-salary-benchmarking-software-is-easiest-to-set-up-for-an-hr-team-that-wants-clean-dashboards-without-a-lengthy-onboarding-process)[Pros and Cons Details](https://www.g2.com/products/apple-os-x-el-capitan/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) [Show MoreShow Less](javascript:void(0);)