NotchStar vs Boring Notch
Boring Notch is free and open source with a strong music and AirDrop focus; NotchStar is a paid app with more utility tools, such as clipboard history, timers and a teleprompter.
| NotchStar | Boring Notch | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Paid: $4 once, with a 7 day trial | Free |
| Open source | Not listed | Included |
| Minimum macOS | macOS 14 or later | macOS 14 or later |
| Signed and notarized by Apple | Not listed Version 1.0 is signed but not notarized; first launch needs two clicks, no Terminal | Not listed Not notarized, per its README; setup needs a Terminal command or Homebrew |
| Now playing with controls | Included | Included With a music visualizer |
| Calendar | Included | Included |
| Reminders | Included | Not listed Listed on its roadmap |
| File shelf with AirDrop | Included | Included |
| Camera mirror | Included | Not listed Listed on its roadmap |
| Clipboard history | Included | Not listed Not stated in its README |
| Timer, stopwatch, Pomodoro | Included | Not listed Not stated in its README |
| Teleprompter | Included | Not listed Not stated in its README |
| System volume and brightness HUD replacement | Not listed | Included |
Sources: Boring Notch README on GitHub (checked 7 October 2026). “Not listed” means the source does not mention it, which is not proof the feature is missing. Prices and features change, so check before you buy.
Choose Boring Notch if…
- You want a free app, or you want to read and modify the source.
- A volume and brightness HUD in the notch matters to you.
- You are comfortable approving an unsigned app the first time you open it.
Choose NotchStar if…
- You want clipboard history, timers and a teleprompter in the same notch.
- You want an app with a trial and email support, and do not mind paying $4.
- You like paying once for something maintained by a small team.
The verdict.
If free and open source decide it, pick Boring Notch; it is well loved and does music, calendar and AirDrop very well. If you want a wider set of everyday utilities and do not mind paying, NotchStar fits better.
Boring Notch is the best known free notch app. This page compares it with NotchStar using what Boring Notch’s own README says, on the date shown above. Features that its README does not mention are marked not stated, because absence from a README is not proof that a feature is missing.
Questions.
Is Boring Notch really free?
Its README presents it as a free, open source app with a donation link, and it can be installed manually or through Homebrew.
Can I run both apps at once?
You can, but two apps competing for the same strip of screen is a messy setup. Pick one.
Does NotchStar use the same Now Playing technique as Boring Notch?
Both read the system Now Playing state through the open source MediaRemoteAdapter project, which Boring Notch credits in its README. See our guide on how notch apps read now playing.
More comparisons.
- NotchStar vs Alcove
- Alcove aims for a Dynamic Island feel with live activities and lock screen widgets; NotchStar is a toolbox of everyday utilities and does not do live activities. Read it
- NotchStar vs MacNotch
- MacNotch is the broader app, with widgets, device batteries, file actions and profiles, sold through Setapp; NotchStar is smaller, native feeling and sold as a $4 once purchase. Read it
- NotchStar vs OmniNotch
- OmniNotch ships more tools today, including on device AI chat and live revenue tracking; NotchStar is narrower and focused on a native, restrained experience. Read it
- Best Mac notch apps
- A neutral roundup of the options. Read the guide
Put your notch to work.
Download NotchStar, open your first tool in seconds, and decide after 7 days whether it earns $4.