Mac notch apps compared
We make Top Notch, so read this as the maker's view. We've tried to be fair: prices and requirements come from each vendor's own page where we could reach it, and the table says “reported” where we couldn't.
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Which one fits you
- You want it from the Mac App Store, sandboxed, with no account and refunds handled by Apple
- Top Notch. It's the only app in this table sold there.
- You want YouTube in the notch, with a floating window you can keep on top
- Top Notch.
- You want a file shelf or AirDrop in the notch
- NotchNook, Boring Notch, DynamicLake Pro or Droppy. Top Notch doesn't have one.
- You want new volume and brightness pop-ups
- Alcove, MediaMate or Boring Notch. The Mac App Store sandbox doesn't allow Top Notch to replace them.
- You want free and open source
- Boring Notch or Atoll.
- You want to try before you pay
- Alcove (72 hours) or Droppy (3 days). Top Notch has no trial; Apple handles refund requests.
Side by side
Top Notch
- Price
- $9.99 once
- Where
- Mac App Store (sandboxed)
- macOS
- 14 or later
- Intel Macs
- Yes
- Known for
- Music and lyrics, YouTube in the notch and a floating window, weather, focus timer, calendar, clipboard history
- Price
- Reported $25 once or $3 a month
- Where
- Direct download
- macOS
- Reported 14.6 or later
- Intel Macs
- Not stated
- Known for
- File tray, AirDrop, Shortcuts, calendar, camera mirror
- Price
- $14.99 once
- Where
- Direct download, 72-hour trial
- macOS
- Reported 15 or later
- Intel Macs
- Not stated
- Known for
- Now playing, volume and brightness HUDs, Live Activities, Lock Screen widgets
- Price
- Free, open source (GPL-3.0)
- Where
- GitHub
- macOS
- Not stated
- Intel Macs
- Yes (universal build)
- Known for
- Now playing, visualizer, file tray, AirDrop, HUDs, calendar
- Price
- From $13.99, pay what you want
- Where
- Direct download (Gumroad)
- macOS
- 14 or later
- Intel Macs
- Yes
- Known for
- Notifications, file shelf, AirDrop, calls, timer, weather, app switcher
- Price
- Reported $9.99 once, 3-day trial
- Where
- Direct download
- macOS
- 14 or later
- Intel Macs
- Yes
- Known for
- File shelf, clipboard history, lyrics, Up Next queue, extensions
- Price
- Reported about €7 once
- Where
- Direct download
- macOS
- 13 or later
- Intel Macs
- Yes
- Known for
- Replaces the volume, brightness and keyboard HUDs, plus now playing
- Price
- Free, open source (GPL-3.0)
- Where
- GitHub, Homebrew
- macOS
- Reported 14 or later
- Intel Macs
- Reported no (needs Apple silicon and a notch)
- Known for
- System stats, clipboard, timers, camera mirror
| App | Price | Where you get it | macOS | Intel Macs | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Notch | $9.99 once | Mac App Store (sandboxed) | 14 or later | Yes | Music and lyrics, YouTube in the notch and a floating window, weather, focus timer, calendar, clipboard history |
| NotchNook | Reported $25 once or $3 a month | Direct download | Reported 14.6 or later | Not stated | File tray, AirDrop, Shortcuts, calendar, camera mirror |
| Alcove | $14.99 once | Direct download, 72-hour trial | Reported 15 or later | Not stated | Now playing, volume and brightness HUDs, Live Activities, Lock Screen widgets |
| Boring Notch | Free, open source (GPL-3.0) | GitHub | Not stated | Yes (universal build) | Now playing, visualizer, file tray, AirDrop, HUDs, calendar |
| DynamicLake Pro | From $13.99, pay what you want | Direct download (Gumroad) | 14 or later | Yes | Notifications, file shelf, AirDrop, calls, timer, weather, app switcher |
| Droppy | Reported $9.99 once, 3-day trial | Direct download | 14 or later | Yes | File shelf, clipboard history, lyrics, Up Next queue, extensions |
| MediaMate | Reported about €7 once | Direct download | 13 or later | Yes | Replaces the volume, brightness and keyboard HUDs, plus now playing |
| Atoll | Free, open source (GPL-3.0) | GitHub, Homebrew | Reported 14 or later | Reported no (needs Apple silicon and a notch) | System stats, clipboard, timers, camera mirror |
“Reported” means a third-party source, because the vendor's page was unreachable or silent on September 23, 2026. Spot something out of date? Email contact@startupstartup.app.
Why the App Store part matters
Every other app in this table is a direct download. That's fine, but the App Store changes a few things: Apple reviews the app, it runs in the sandbox, and it updates through the App Store. You don't manage a license key. Refunds go through Apple rather than the developer's inbox.
The sandbox also limits what Top Notch can reach. It asks for permission to control Music and Spotify, and for your calendar if you use the calendar. It never asks for Accessibility, Screen Recording, the camera or the microphone. The same limits are why it can't replace system pop-ups or add global shortcuts.
Looking for a NotchNook alternative?
If you like NotchNook's idea and would rather pay once through the App Store, Top Notch covers music and calendar, along with YouTube, weather, a focus timer and clipboard history. It doesn't have NotchNook's file tray, AirDrop or camera mirror. If those are why you use NotchNook, stay with it, or look at Boring Notch or Droppy.
See what each Top Notch panel looks like, or read the FAQ.
$9.99 once · macOS 14 or later · Apple silicon or Intel