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Lloyd vs MenuBarDockX

Lloyd

benwbooth.github.io

MenuBarDockX

github.com

Side by side

FigureLloydMenuBarDockX
Price fromFreeFree
Free planYesYes
Free trial——
Open source——
macOSYesYes
Plans published11
Spec score · Menu Bar Customization Software7.9 (#6)7.3 (#19)
DistributionLloyd is signed but not notarized, uses private APIs, and is distributed directly rather than through the App Store.The project says its release builds are unsigned and not notarized, so macOS Gatekeeper may warn on first launch.
LicenseThe project is MIT-licensed.The repository states that the software is MIT licensed.
PermissionsLloyd requests Screen Recording to capture hidden icons and Accessibility to move menu-bar items, forward clicks, and identify app names.Accessibility permission is required to read and click menu bar items and use the global shortcut; Screen Recording permission may be used for icon images and panel background color sampling.
PurposeLloyd brings menu-bar icons hidden behind a MacBook notch into a panel below the menu bar.MenuBarDockX collects menu bar icons hidden behind the notch or pushed off-screen and displays them in a floating panel.

Plans

Lloyd

  • LloydFree

Lloyd pricing →

MenuBarDockX

  • FreeFree

MenuBarDockX pricing →

In their own words

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.

Visit benwbooth.github.io

MenuBarDockX

MenuBarDockX is a free macOS utility that gathers menu bar icons hidden behind the notch or pushed off-screen and places them in a floating panel. Open the panel by clicking its overflow indicator or pressing Control+Option+Command+M. Tabs cover All, System, Development, Cloud, Security, and Utility; icons can be reordered manually and assigned categories. Bundled rules classify icons from Docker, JetBrains, Dropbox, 1Password, and Raycast. The project says processing is local, with no telemetry or external server, and the Swift/AppKit app has no third-party dependencies. It requires macOS 14 or later on Apple Silicon or Intel, although Intel and Sonoma have not been formally tested. Accessibility permission is required; Screen Recording may support icon images and background sampling. Builds are unsigned and unnotarized, so Gatekeeper may warn. On macOS 15 or later, right-click forwarding falls back to Toggle/Quit.

Visit github.com