UnixTime · iOS & macOS

Apple time meets Unix time. Keep them in sync.

Your app and your backend may count from different epochs. UnixTime supports Cocoa/NSDate and Unix formats so you can translate individual values into a common date.

Convert Cocoa, NSDate and Unix timestamps on Mac. Preserve numeric fractional seconds without rounding.

See how it works ↓

macOS 14.6+ · One-time purchase · Local to your Mac

OfflinePrivacy without uploadsNo account requiredOn all your Macs

Sound familiar?

Less friction when working with time.

Two epochs, one instant

Interpret a value from Apple’s reference epoch explicitly as Cocoa/NSDate.

A server value needs to match

Switch to a Unix default format for the server value and compare the readable results.

You need a different representation

Enable the time and date formats you need, then copy the appropriate representation from the format list.

Your next time value

Three steps to a readable result.

Set the source format
Choose Cocoa / NSDate if your value counts seconds from Apple’s reference epoch.
Copy the Apple value
Copy the individual value, then click the UnixTime menu bar icon or press ⌘⌃U.
Compare the shared date
Compare the UTC result with the converted server time.

The example uses UTC. Your output follows your selected default formats. Direct insertion via a shortcut requires macOS Accessibility permission.

Formats and keyboard shortcuts explained →

UnixTime on Mac: The format list: show, reorder and copy the representations you need. — The format list: show, reorder and copy the representations you need. App screenshot; values may differ from the example.

Precision for log analysis & forensics

Does not round. Down to the nanosecond.

Convert Unix timestamps with nanosecond precision. UnixTime preserves fractional seconds from numeric input timestamps. No floating-point rounding. No zeros recreated from whole seconds.

17908128001234567892026-10-01 00:00:00.123456789 UTC

Example: Unix nanoseconds, a custom date format and the UTC time zone. Source accuracy still matters; conversion does not invent extra measurement precision.

Custom formats: 3, 6 or 9 digits.

Pattern	Display precision	Example
`SSS`	Milliseconds (3 digits)	`.123`
`SSSSSS`	Microseconds (6 digits)	`.123456`
`SSSSSSSSS`	Nanoseconds (9 digits)	`.123456789`

Use, for example yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss.SSSSSSSSS. Nine digits display the full nanosecond fraction. Three or six display only the leading digits, without rounding up. A pattern without S does not display fractional seconds.

Keyboard shortcuts on your Mac

Keep typing. Your timestamp is ready.

Copy your time value and click the menu bar icon — or press ⌘⌃U. Reassign any of the four shortcuts to suit your workflow.

⌘⌃U: Convert the clipboard
⌘⌃V: Convert and replace your selection
⌘⌃⌥V: Append the conversion to the original
⌘⌃N: Insert the current timestamp

⌘ = Command · ⌃ = Control · ⌥ = Option. Inserting, replacing and appending text require macOS Accessibility permission and an editable text field. Clipboard conversion does not require that permission.

Keyboard shortcuts explained →

UnixTime settings: four global keyboard shortcuts and custom separators for appended results — Your shortcuts, your separators. Customise them in Settings.

Before you start

Your questions, answered.

Is every NSDate value a Cocoa timestamp?

It depends on how the number was produced. timeIntervalSinceReferenceDate counts from 2001; timeIntervalSince1970 counts from 1970. Select the matching input format.

Are special formats detected automatically?

Ambiguous numbers require an explicitly selected default format. Choose Cocoa / NSDate for a Cocoa value, then switch back for Unix values.

How do I display fractional seconds?

Use a custom date format: SSS for milliseconds (3 digits), SSSSSS for microseconds (6 digits), or SSSSSSSSS for nanoseconds (9 digits). Choose nine digits to display all available nanoseconds. Shorter patterns show only the leading digits, without rounding up.

What do I need to use keyboard shortcuts?

UnixTime must be running on your Mac. All shortcuts can be reassigned. Replacing, inserting and appending text require macOS Accessibility permission and an editable destination. Converting the clipboard with the menu bar icon or ⌘⌃U does not require that permission. ⌘ means Command, ⌃ means Control and ⌥ means Option (Alt).

Does it work offline?

Yes. Conversion, the date generator and history run locally. They need neither an account nor an internet connection. UnixTime is a one-time purchase without a subscription; see the Mac App Store for the current price.

For your next timestamp