Bartender vs ChocolateBar
Bartender
macbartender.com
ChocolateBar
chocolatebar.appSide by side
| Figure | Bartender | ChocolateBar |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $1.67/mo | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Spec score · Menu Bar Customization Software | 8.2 (#3) | 8.0 (#4) |
| Compatibility | The support page says Bartender 7 is built for macOS 27 Golden Gate and directs macOS 26 Tahoe users to Bartender 6 while Bartender 7 support is pending. | The app is a universal binary for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs and supports macOS Monterey through Sequoia; Tahoe is described as coming soon. |
| Integrations | The maker lists Shortcuts, AppleScript, hotkeys, Siri, and agent control as ways to automate Bartender. | The maker lists compatibility examples including 1Password, Slack, Linear, Tailscale, NordVPN, Dropbox, Notion Calendar, Raycast, Fantastical, Things, Bitwarden, iStat Menus, CleanShot X, and Discord. |
| Privacy | The maker says menu bar captures remain on the device and are cached locally, and its privacy policy says app data is not transmitted to its servers. | The maker says the app only contacts its servers when checking for updates and that nothing leaves the Mac during its menu bar and window functions. |
| Purpose | Bartender manages macOS menu bar items, controlling which items appear and when. | ChocolateBar manages a crowded Mac menu bar by hiding third-party icons or displaying them in a second row with open app windows. |
| Screen recording | Bartender 7 works without Screen Recording permission and shows app icons instead of snapshots when permission is disabled. | ChocolateBar does not request Screen Recording permission; its mirrored menus may omit original icons or custom behavior. |
Plans
Bartender
- Bartender Pro$19.99 a year
- Bartender 7$24.99, paid once
- Mega SupporterPrice not published
In their own words
Bartender
Bartender manages macOS menu bar items, controlling which ones appear and when. It can reveal items quickly, search them, and use custom hotkeys and triggers. Users can hide, rearrange, and group items, create custom items from built-in data sources or scripts without coding, and switch profiles by hotkey, trigger, or display setup. Bartender 7’s Command Bar searches for and triggers menu bar items; clipboard history is included for Pro users. Automation options include built-in triggers, Shortcuts, AppleScript, hotkeys, and Siri. The app works without Screen Recording permission, showing app icons rather than snapshots when permission is disabled. The maker says captures remain cached locally on the device and app data is not transmitted to its servers. Bartender 7 is built for macOS 27 Golden Gate; users on macOS 26 Tahoe are directed to Bartender 6 while Bartender 7 support is pending. Bartender 7 costs 24.99 USD as a one-time purchase, and Pro costs $19.99 a year. A license covers all Macs owned and personally used by its holder.
ChocolateBar
ChocolateBar has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.