The best Mac notch apps in 2026, compared fairly
There is no single best notch app. There is the one that matches what you want from the notch. This guide uses each app’s own page, checked on 7 October 2026, and says when we could not check something. We make NotchStar, so we have put it in the same table as the others and kept its limits in plain view.
At a glance
| App | Price (per its own page) | Minimum macOS | Best at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boring Notch | Free, open source | 14 | Music, calendar and AirDrop, for free |
| Alcove | $14.99 purchase | 15 | Dynamic Island feel, live activities, lock screen widgets |
| MacNotch | From $4.99 a month alone, or in a $14.99 a month Setapp membership | 14 | The widest range of widgets and actions |
| OmniNotch | $19.99 one time (after a sale that ended 5 October) | 14 | The most tools, including on device AI chat |
| NotchStar | $4 once, 7 day trial | 14 | A focused, native feeling set of utilities |
NotchNook is another well known name. Its website was unreachable when we checked (it showed a paused deployment), so we have not stated its price or features here.
How to choose
You want free. Boring Notch. It is open source and covers music, calendar and a file shelf. Its README notes it is not notarized, so you approve it manually the first time.
You want it to feel like the iPhone. Alcove, if you are on macOS 15 or later. It is built around live activities and widgets.
You want everything. MacNotch or OmniNotch, depending on whether you prefer a subscription through Setapp or a one time purchase, and whether on device AI chat matters to you.
You want a small set of utilities that feels like part of macOS. That is what NotchStar is: clipboard history, a file shelf with AirDrop, now playing, calendar and reminders, timers, a teleprompter, a camera mirror and system stats.
Detailed comparisons
Prices and features change. Verify on each app’s own site before you buy.
