Dozer vs Vanilla

Dozer is a free, open-source macOS utility for hiding menu bar icons and keeping the status area less crowded. A left click toggles one icon group, while option-left-click controls an optional second group. Dozer can hide status bar icons automatically, including when it launches. Its documented No Icon mode uses a keyboard shortcut to hide and show icons without clicking the menu bar. Users can set the delay before icons disappear and adjust icon size and padding. Right-clicking opens settings. The README provides Homebrew Cask and manual installation instructions, and lists macOS 10.13 or later as the requirement. The repository uses the Mozilla Public License 2.0. Dozer supports hiding, rearranging and grouping menu items, plus keyboard shortcuts, but does not provide custom menu items. Bug reports and feature requests go through GitHub issues, with the app version requested in bug reports.

Vanilla hides menu bar icons on macOS. Its free plan covers icon hiding; the $10.00 USD one-time Pro purchase adds shortcuts for toggling menu bar and desktop icons, automatic hiding five seconds after toggling, and the option to start at login. Pro can also place icons in a “Completely Removed” section, where they are visible only in Vanilla’s preferences window. A Pro activation code can be used up to 10 times by default. On macOS Catalina and later, hiding icons requires Screen Recording permission. The maker says Vanilla takes menu bar screenshots for this function, but does not save or transmit them. It says internet access is limited to checking for updates and validating Pro codes. Vanilla supports MacBooks with display notches, though setup may involve rearranging menu bar items. The maker offers email support and suggests including device and operating system details in help requests. Vanilla is identified as Matthew Palmer’s product, and the product site dates to 2017.