ChocolateBar vs boring.notch: two different jobs for the notch
Last compared: 18 Oct 2026
These two get mentioned in the same breath, so it is worth being clear, they aim at completely different problems. One makes the notch fun, the other makes your menu bar icons reachable again.
boring.notch dresses up the notch
Let me clear this up first, because the two often come up together. boring.notch's README says the notch becomes a music control center, with calendar integration, a charging indicator and current percentage, a file shelf with AirDrop, and system HUD replacements for volume, brightness, and keyboard backlight. It requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later, on Apple Silicon or Intel. It is free to download from GitHub and open source under GPL-3.0. The latest GitHub release is v2.7.3, published 24 November 2025. The project file declares camera, calendar, reminders, and Apple Events usage. It does not declare Screen Recording. The README does not describe it as a menu bar manager.
ChocolateBar is about the menu bar
ChocolateBar cares about a different strip of screen, the row of status icons the notch shoves out of reach. It gives those icons a second row below the menu bar where you can see and click them. The row opens with ⇧⌘B or a click on the ChocolateBar icon. Running apps can join that row, one chip per app, but that section is off by default (Settings > General > Show running apps, or ⌃⌘S). The shelf in boring.notch holds files. The strip in ChocolateBar holds your menu bar items.
They are aimed at different jobs: boring.notch at the notch, ChocolateBar at the menu bar icons beside it. This page has not tested them side by side. If what brought you here was menu bar icons hidden behind the notch, that is the entire reason ChocolateBar exists. The longer version is the notch guide. ChocolateBar for Mac runs on Intel and Apple Silicon, from macOS 12 Monterey through 15 Sequoia. It is a native app, paid once, free for 48 hours, and it only goes online to check for updates.
Last compared: 18 Oct 2026
| Feature | ChocolateBar | boring.notch |
|---|---|---|
| Bring back hidden menu bar icons | Yes, the whole point | Not what its README describes |
| Second row for menu bar items | Yes | Not listed. It has a file shelf |
| Running apps in the row (optional) | Optional, off by default, one chip per app | Not listed |
| Notch media, calendar, file shelf | No | Yes. Music, calendar, charging indicator, file shelf |
| Price | $15 one-time | Free |
| Open source | No | Yes, GPL-3.0 |
Questions people ask
Is boring.notch a menu bar manager?
Its README describes a notch app for music, calendar, a charging indicator, a file shelf, and system HUDs. It does not describe managing menu bar icons. If your goal is getting hidden menu bar icons back, that is what ChocolateBar is for.
Can I run both at the same time?
They are built for different jobs. This page has not tested them together, so it does not claim they coexist cleanly. boring.notch's README is about the notch. ChocolateBar is about the menu bar icons around it.
I came here for my hidden icons. Which one do I want?
ChocolateBar. It puts the icons the notch ate into a second row, full size. The row opens with Shift-Command-B or a click on the ChocolateBar icon. Running apps are optional and off by default. There is a 48-hour free trial.
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).