ChocolateBar vs Barbee: a Mac App Store menu bar manager
Last compared: 18 Oct 2026
Barbee is a Mac App Store menu bar manager. This page sticks to what the current App Store listing says, and leaves off anything that listing does not describe.
What the App Store listing says
The current Mac App Store listing, version 5.0, updated 10 September 2026, calls Barbee a menu bar manager. It says the app hides and shows menu bar items, can auto-hide or auto-show them, offers custom shortcuts, and can replace icons with emoji, SF Symbols, text, or images. It says Barbee is notch-compatible, can reduce spacing, and can hide app menus. VIP, after a 3-day trial, adds unlimited show and hide, notch support, cloud backup and sync for profiles, scripts or shortcuts, and menu appearance styles. The listing says macOS 11.0 or later. It does not mention Screen Recording. It also does not describe a second menu bar row, a spotlight-style search, or a running-apps row, so this page does not claim those.
The yearly subscription is written as USD $2.99 for 12 months. The lifetime purchase is named, and its price is not.
What ChocolateBar does differently
ChocolateBar can show your running apps next to your menu bar icons, one chip per app. It is off by default: Settings > General > Show running apps, or ⌃⌘S. The row itself is for menu bar items first.
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 is a strong pick when you want a Mac App Store menu bar manager. ChocolateBar's bet is a second row for the menu bar apps the notch hid, one shortcut away. Try both and keep whichever one you stop thinking about.
ChocolateBar for Mac is a direct download, a universal binary for Intel and Apple Silicon, and it runs on macOS 12 Monterey through 15 Sequoia, including Ventura. macOS 26 Tahoe support is coming soon. $15 once, or $12 for the next 20 buyers with code LAUNCH30. If the search was specifically icons hidden behind the notch, the notch guide is the longer answer.
Last compared: 18 Oct 2026
| Feature | ChocolateBar | Barbee |
|---|---|---|
| Second menu bar row | Yes | Not listed on the current App Store description |
| Running apps in the row (optional) | Optional, off by default, one chip per app | Not listed |
| Notch aware | Yes | Yes. The listing says notch-compatible |
| Switchable profiles | Yes | Profiles, with cloud backup and sync |
| Spotlight-style item search | No | Not listed on the current App Store description |
| How it ships | Direct download, notarized | Mac App Store |
| Price | $15 one-time | Free download. 3-day trial, then a lifetime purchase or USD $2.99 a year. Lifetime price not stated |
Questions people ask
How does Barbee's price compare?
The Mac App Store listing shows a free download, a 3-day trial for each Apple ID, a lifetime in-app purchase whose price is not written in the description, and a yearly subscription listed as USD $2.99. Prices vary by region. ChocolateBar is $15 once. ChocolateBar clicks your real menus through the Accessibility API, and can list running apps in the row if you turn that on. Run the trial and see which one 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.
Runs on macOS 12 Monterey through 15 Sequoia · macOS 26 Tahoe support coming soon. Universal binary for Apple Silicon and Intel. $15 one-time (next 20 buyers pay $12 with code LAUNCH30). 1 year of updates, 7-day refund, 48-hour free trial (no card).