The best Bartender alternatives fall into three groups: free and open source tools that hide menu bar icons, fuller menu bar managers for power users, and apps that add useful things to the menu bar such as system stats, toggles and your own plugins. Ten apps follow, several free, and many Mac users only need a simple hider plus the built-in tidy tricks.
A crowded menu bar is one of those small annoyances that builds up. Every app wants a little icon, and on a MacBook with a notch, some of them simply disappear behind it.
The ten apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the developer's own website or project page, read this week. If you're setting up a new machine, my guide to setting up your Mac for marketing work covers the rest.
Bartender alternatives side by side
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free account or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free, so check the provider's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dozer | Open source menu bar icon hider | A tiny free way to hide icons | Yes |
| Hidden Bar | Open source menu bar utility | An ultra-light hider | Yes |
| Ice | Menu bar manager | Fine control over every icon | Not stated |
| iStat Menus | System monitor for the menu bar | Watching CPU, memory and network | Trial only |
| One Switch | Menu bar switches for macOS | Quick toggles like hiding desktop icons | Trial only |
| Stats | Open source system monitor | A free system monitor in the menu bar | Yes |
| SwiftBar | Menu bar customisation tool | Running your own scripts in the menu bar | Not stated |
| TopNotch | Notch-hiding utility | MacBook owners who dislike the notch | Yes |
| Vanilla | Menu bar icon hider | Hiding icons for free | Yes |
| xbar | Menu bar plugin runner | Showing your own information at a glance | Not stated |
Ten menu bar apps for Mac
Dozer
Best for: Minimalists who want a tiny, free tool from GitHub that does one job: hide menu bar icons until they're needed.
Hidden Bar
Best for: Anyone who wants an ultra-light, open source utility that hides menu bar icons with a single click.
Ice
Best for: Power users who want a full menu bar management tool with more control than a simple hide-and-show button.
iStat Menus
Best for: Mac owners who want detailed system stats in the menu bar, with a 14-day free trial before buying.
One Switch
Best for: People who want handy switches in one place, such as hiding desktop icons with one click, after a 7-day free trial.
Stats
Best for: Anyone curious about their Mac who wants a free, open source system monitor that sits in the menu bar and shows CPU, memory and more.
SwiftBar
Best for: Tinkerers who want to customise the menu bar with their own scripts and plugins.
TopNotch
Best for: MacBook owners who want the notch to blend into a black menu bar, with rounded corners added to the wallpaper, free to download.
Vanilla
Best for: Mac users who want a simple way to hide menu bar icons for free, with a Pro version if they need more.
xbar
Best for: Developers who want information they care about at a glance by writing menu bar plugins in any language.
Pick by the job you want done
- Hiding icons for free: Hidden Bar, Dozer or Vanilla.
- Fine control over every icon: Ice.
- Hiding the notch: TopNotch.
- System stats in the menu bar: Stats or iStat Menus.
- Handy toggles in one place: One Switch.
- Your own scripts and plugins: SwiftBar or xbar.
Try the built-in tidy first
Apple Support says you can rearrange status menus by holding the Command key while you drag an icon, and remove one by Command-dragging it out of the menu bar.
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That's worth doing before you install anything. You may find you only need an app for the stubborn icons you can't move that way, or for hiding what's left behind the notch.
Hide, manage or add?
Simple hiders collapse icons behind one click, which is all many people want. They're light, and several are free and open source.
Managers give you rules, groups and more control, while add-on apps put new information in the menu bar. Mixing a hider with a stats app is a common combination.
If you install several menu bar apps, check they don't fight each other over the same space. Start with one, live with it for a week, and only add another if there's a clear gap.
Questions before you install
- Does it support my version of macOS?
- Is it free, open source or a one-off purchase?
- Does it work with the notch on my MacBook?
- Can I choose which icons always show?
- Will it slow my Mac down?
- Is the developer still updating it?
Signs your menu bar needs help
- Icons vanish behind the notch. Hide the extras.
- You can't find the icon you need. Group or reorder them.
- You check Activity Monitor often. Add a stats app.
- You want quick toggles. Put them in the menu bar.
Do you make Mac menu bar apps? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on tidying your Mac menu bar
Start with the Command-drag trick, then add one free hider and live with it for a week. Most people find that's enough, and you've spent nothing.
If you want more, add a stats app or a plugin tool rather than a heavier manager, and check each one's still being updated. For AI on your Mac, my guide to using ChatGPT on a Mac is a handy next step.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Bartender?
It depends on what you want. Free hiders suit most people, while menu bar managers and plugin tools suit power users.
Is there a free Bartender alternative?
Yes. Several menu bar apps are free or open source. Check each developer's page for the current version.
Can I hide menu bar icons without an app?
Partly. Apple Support says you can Command-drag status menus to rearrange them or drag them out of the menu bar to remove them.
Do menu bar apps work with the MacBook notch?
Some are designed with the notch in mind. Check each app's page before you install.
Will menu bar apps slow my Mac?
Most are light, but running several can add up. Install one at a time and see how it feels.
Can I add my own information to the menu bar?
Yes. Plugin tools let you show your own scripts and information in the menu bar.
