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Best Free Alternatives to Bartender 6
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Category: Menu Bar ManagementVerified for 2025
Top Recommended Replacements
Ice
FREETop Professional Alternative
Why we like it
100% free and open-source; the breakout star of 2025; offers nearly all Bartender features including menu bar styling (borders, shadows, tints), 'hover to reveal,' and exceptional support for MacBooks with notches.
Keep in mind
Slightly higher memory footprint (~42MB) compared to more minimalist tools; configuration can be more complex than Bartender.
Barbee
Best Paid Alternative
Why we like it
A 2025 favorite for those who want a 'Bartender-like' interface; features a secondary floating bar for hidden icons; supports widgets as a replacement for GeekTool; very stable on macOS Tahoe.
Keep in mind
Not open-source; lacks the deep 'Smart Triggers' found in Bartender 6.
Hidden Bar
FREEBest for Simplicity
Why we like it
Completely free; available on the Mac App Store for automatic updates; uses a simple 'divider' logic to hide icons; extremely lightweight (~18MB).
Keep in mind
Development is slower; lacks advanced styling options and specialized 'notch' handling for newer MacBooks.
OnlySwitch
FREEBest Multi-Tool
Why we like it
A Swiss-army knife that hides menu bar icons while adding dozens of 'switches' (dark mode, mute microphone, hide desktop icons); 100% free and updated for 2025.
Keep in mind
The UI is busier than a dedicated menu bar manager; can be overkill if you only want to hide icons.
iBar
FREEBest for Notch Support
Why we like it
Free; specifically designed to show hidden icons in a floating bar *below* the notch, solving the issue where icons disappear behind the camera housing.
Keep in mind
Closed source; fewer customization options for menu bar aesthetics compared to Ice.
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