JellyBar vs Lloyd
JellyBar
jellybar.appLloyd
benwbooth.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | JellyBar | Lloyd |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Menu Bar Customization Software | 7.5 (#15) | 7.9 (#6) |
| Distribution | The app is notarized by Apple and can be downloaded for Mac or installed with Homebrew. | Lloyd is signed but not notarized, uses private APIs, and is distributed directly rather than through the App Store. |
| Permissions | Accessibility permission is required; Screen Recording is optional and used to capture icon previews in settings. | Lloyd requests Screen Recording to capture hidden icons and Accessibility to move menu-bar items, forward clicks, and identify app names. |
| Purpose | JellyBar reorders, hides, and groups menu bar icons, keeping hidden icons one click away. | Lloyd brings menu-bar icons hidden behind a MacBook notch into a panel below the menu bar. |
Plans
In their own words
JellyBar
JellyBar is a free macOS utility for rearranging, hiding and grouping menu bar icons. Its editor has Active and Hidden sections; dragging an icon between them updates the menu bar automatically. Hidden icons can be shown by hovering after a configurable delay, set to one second by default, or by clicking the chevron. Spacers in three sizes and bullet dots help organize groups. JellyBar keeps the 30 newest automatic layout backups. Manual snapshots remain pinned indefinitely and can sync to iCloud Drive. Accessibility permission is required, while Screen Recording is optional for icon previews in settings. The maker says there is no analytics, telemetry or app-originated network traffic. It supports macOS 15 Sequoia and later on Apple Silicon, including desktops, external displays and clamshell MacBooks with an external monitor. Native support for notched MacBook screens remains in development.
Lloyd
Lloyd is a free, MIT-licensed macOS utility that brings menu-bar icons hidden behind a MacBook notch into a panel below the menu bar. The panel displays those icons as live images. Hovering identifies the app behind an icon, or gives the item name for system extras. Clicking an icon moves it to a visible menu-bar slot and opens its menu; right-clicks are forwarded too. Open the panel from Lloyd’s menu-bar icon or with ⌃⌥L. Lloyd places its own icon at the far right of the movable menu-bar area. To capture and operate the hidden items, it requests Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions. The app is signed but not notarized, uses private APIs, and is distributed directly rather than through the App Store. The maker provides a DMG download and Homebrew cask instructions. A revealed item stays visible because macOS provides no way for Lloyd to put it back into notch overflow; it can be hidden again by dragging it toward the notch.