iBar-Menubar vs Vanilla

iBar-Menubar helps Mac users reduce menu bar clutter by hiding icons and bringing them back when needed. Its standard mode folds hidden items, while aggregation mode displays them in a panel below the menu bar. The maker says this panel can help reveal icons obscured by a MacBook notch. In aggregation mode, users can temporarily place a hidden icon in the menu bar to use its app menu, then hide it again after an optional delay. The app also lets users adjust icon spacing and reorder icons in its menu bar layout settings. It supports Apple M-series and Intel Macs. The App Store listing requires macOS 10.12 or later and describes the app as Mac only. A free download is available with in-app purchases; the listed annual subscription costs 18 CNY a year. The developer reports that the app collects no data, though Apple says this developer-provided privacy information has not been verified by Apple.

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.