ChocolateBar vs Barbee: two takes on a second menu bar
Of every app on this list, Barbee is the closest to what ChocolateBar does, so this is less a contrast and more a question of which second row fits how you work.
Barbee already does the second-bar thing
Of all the apps here, Barbee is the closest cousin. It has an enhanced mode that adds a second menu bar row, it understands the notch, and it bundles in a lot for the money, including a spotlight-style search and automations that reshape your layout by context. Funnily enough, Barbee is part of why I landed on the name ChocolateBar, because I wanted rows. Credit where it is due, it got there with a deep feature set and a price that is genuinely hard to argue with.
What ChocolateBar does differently
Two things, mostly.
The first is the open-apps row. ChocolateBar's strip can hold your open app windows right next to your menu bar icons, so it doubles as a quick switcher. Barbee's second bar is about menu bar items. ChocolateBar's is about menu bar items and your running apps in one place. If the apps make it feel busy, that row toggles off and the icons stay. I am actively giving that row more layout options, so it only gets calmer to live with over time.
The second is how it reaches your Mac. ChocolateBar is a direct, notarized download rather than an App Store app. It clicks your real menu items through the Accessibility API, so it asks for that permission the first time you open it. You trade a slightly more hands-on install for a strip that talks straight to your actual menus.
The familiar stuff is all there too: layout you can shape, positions and offsets, themes, profiles to switch between, and filters to keep clutter out of the strip. It is paid once, it reaches the network only to check for updates, and the first 48 hours are free.
Barbee's search and automations make it a strong, inexpensive pick. ChocolateBar's bet is that your open apps and your hidden icons belong in the same row. Try both and keep whichever one you stop thinking about.
| Feature | ChocolateBar | Barbee |
|---|---|---|
| Second menu bar row | Yes | Yes, enhanced mode |
| Open app windows in the row | Yes, optional | No |
| Notch aware | Yes | Yes |
| Switchable profiles | Yes | Yes |
| Spotlight-style item search | No | Yes |
| How it ships | Direct download, notarized | Mac App Store |
| Price | $15 one-time | Free trial, then paid |
Questions people ask
Barbee is cheaper. Is ChocolateBar worth more?
They lean different ways. Barbee gives you item search and context automations at a very friendly App Store price. ChocolateBar puts your open apps in the row and clicks your real menus through the Accessibility API. Run the trial and see which row suits you.
Why a direct download instead of the App Store?
ChocolateBar uses the Accessibility API to click your actual menu bar items, which fits a direct, notarized download better than the App Store sandbox. The trade is that it asks for Accessibility permission when you first launch it.
Does ChocolateBar have profiles like Barbee?
Yes. You can save setups, including positions, and cycle between them. You can also filter out items you do not want in the strip.
Try it on your own menu bar.
ChocolateBar is a native Mac app for Apple Silicon and Intel, Monterey or later. $15, one-time. Free for 48 hours, no account needed.