ChocolateBar vs Dozer: hide the icons, or surface them
Dozer and ChocolateBar both exist because the menu bar runs out of room. They just answer it in opposite directions, one tucks the icons away, the other puts them back where you can see them.
Same problem, two answers
Dozer and ChocolateBar both exist because the menu bar fills up. Dozer's answer is the classic one, a set of dots that hide the icons to their left and bring them back on a click. It is free, it is open source, and it is light. If a simple hide is what you are after, it gets the job done without any ceremony.
What ChocolateBar adds on top
ChocolateBar can hide that overflow as well, but its main move is to show it. The icons that would slip behind a Dozer dot, or behind the notch, can sit in a second row under the menu bar at full size. Your open apps can join them there for one-click switching, and that row is optional if you would rather keep it lean. More controls for that row are on the way as I refine it, so it grows with you.
Then there is everything you can tune. Where the row sits and how far it is nudged from the edge, mini against verbose, themes and translucency, filters for what shows, and profiles you can flip between as the day changes. Dozer keeps things minimal on purpose, which is a perfectly good reason to choose it. ChocolateBar is the pick for when you would rather see and arrange your icons than tuck them away. It is a native app, paid once, free for 48 hours, and it only reaches the network to check for a new version.
| Feature | ChocolateBar | Dozer |
|---|---|---|
| Hide menu bar overflow | Yes | Yes |
| Show hidden icons in a second row | Yes, full size | No, hidden until clicked |
| Open app windows in the row | Yes, optional | No |
| Customization and profiles | Yes | Minimal |
| Price | $15 one-time | Free |
| Open source | No | Yes |
Questions people ask
Dozer is free. Why would I pay for ChocolateBar?
If a plain hide is all you want, Dozer covers it for nothing. ChocolateBar earns its keep when you want those icons shown rather than hidden, your apps in the same row, and control over the layout and look.
Can ChocolateBar hide icons the way Dozer does?
Yes. It can tuck the overflow behind a chevron just like Dozer's dots. The extra is that it can also surface those icons in the second row.
What do I get for the price?
A native app for Apple Silicon and Intel, a 48-hour trial, direct email support, and networking that only checks for updates.
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.