ChocolateBar vs Dozer: hide the icons, or surface them
Last compared: 18 Oct 2026
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 README describes two or three dots. Icons to the left of the second dot hide and return when you click a Dozer icon. It is free and open source under the Mozilla Public License 2.0. The README says macOS 10.13 or later, which matches the Info.plist. The latest GitHub release is 4.2.0, published 13 July 2020 as a pre-release. That Info.plist does not declare Screen Recording.
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. The row opens with ⇧⌘B or a click on the ChocolateBar icon. Running apps can join them there, one chip per app, and that section is off by default (Settings > General > Show running apps, or ⌃⌘S).
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's release notes for 4.2.0 add hide timing, icon size, and padding, and stop there. That 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.
A Dozer alternative is usually the question when a Mac menu bar has too many icons. ChocolateBar for Mac answers that on Intel and Apple Silicon, from macOS 12 Monterey through 15 Sequoia, including Ventura. The too many icons guide is the longer version. $15 once, or $12 for the next 20 buyers with code LAUNCH30.
Last compared: 18 Oct 2026
| Feature | ChocolateBar | Dozer |
|---|---|---|
| Hide menu bar overflow | Yes | Yes |
| Show hidden icons in a second row | Yes, full size | No, hidden until clicked |
| Running apps in the row (optional) | Optional, off by default, one chip per app | Not listed |
| Customization and profiles | Yes | Timing, icon size, and padding in the 4.2.0 notes |
| Price | $15 one-time | Free |
| Open source | No | Yes, MPL-2.0 |
Questions people ask
Dozer is free. Why would I pay for ChocolateBar?
If a plain hide is all you want, that is the job Dozer's README describes, and the app is free. 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. The latest Dozer release on GitHub is 4.2.0 from 13 July 2020.
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.
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).