ChocolateBar vs Hidden Bar: collapse the clutter, or show it
Last compared: 18 Oct 2026
Hidden Bar does one thing and does it cleanly, for free. ChocolateBar starts from the same clutter problem but answers it by showing your icons rather than collapsing them out of sight.
Hidden Bar does one job, for free
Hidden Bar is about as direct as these apps get. Its README says you click the arrow to hide menu bar items, and you Command-drag icons to either side of that divider. It is free, it is open source under MIT, and the copyright line names the Dwarves Foundation. The current GitHub release is v1.11.1, published 18 September 2026. That release requires macOS 13 or later, and it says the App Store build cannot hide icons on macOS 27. v1.10 is the last release the README lists for macOS 10.13 through 12. The v1.11.1 notes say Accessibility is needed on macOS 27. They do not mention Screen Recording. The Info.plist on the develop branch does not declare it either.
When you want more than collapse and expand
ChocolateBar picks up where that stops. It can collapse the clutter the same way, but it can also bring those icons up into a second row below the menu bar, full size, instead of leaving them tucked behind a divider. The row opens with ⇧⌘B or a click on the ChocolateBar icon. Running apps can share that row, one chip per app, and that section is off by default (Settings > General > Show running apps, or ⌃⌘S).
Layered on top is customization Hidden Bar's docs do not list. Position and layout, mini or verbose, themes and translucency, filters, and profiles you can switch between. That is the trade in a sentence. Hidden Bar is the tidy, free, no-fuss option. ChocolateBar is for when "hidden" is not really what you want, you want to see them, just with more room to put them. It is a native app, paid once, with a 48-hour trial and networking limited to update checks.
Looking for a Hidden Bar alternative on an Intel Mac, on macOS Ventura, or because the notch is hiding icons? ChocolateBar for Mac runs on Intel and Apple Silicon from macOS 12 Monterey through 15 Sequoia. The notch guide, the Intel page, and the too many icons page cover those cases. $15 once, or $12 for the next 20 buyers with code LAUNCH30.
Last compared: 18 Oct 2026
| Feature | ChocolateBar | Hidden Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Collapse menu bar clutter | Yes | Yes |
| Show hidden icons in a second row | Yes, full size | No, kept behind a divider |
| Running apps in the row (optional) | Optional, off by default, one chip per app | Not listed |
| Customization (layout, themes, profiles) | Extensive | A few settings. No themes or profiles listed |
| Price | $15 one-time | Free |
| Open source | No | Yes, MIT |
Questions people ask
Hidden Bar is free and open source. Why pay for ChocolateBar?
If collapse and expand is the whole job, Hidden Bar is great and you should keep it. ChocolateBar earns its keep when you want those icons surfaced in a row, your apps alongside them, and control over how it all looks.
Can ChocolateBar just collapse icons the way Hidden Bar does?
Yes. It can hide the overflow behind a chevron exactly like that. The difference is that it can also show those same icons in the second row instead of only hiding them.
Is there a trial?
Yes, 48 hours, no account required.
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).