ChocolateBar vs Vanilla: simple hiding, or a row you can see
Vanilla is the light, no-fuss way to quiet a menu bar, and that simplicity is the whole point. ChocolateBar sits at the other end of the dial, for when hiding alone is not what you are after.
Vanilla keeps it simple
Vanilla has been around a long time and it is loved for one reason. It is simple. Drag a divider, hide the icons to the right of it, click to peek. Vanilla Pro adds a little more for a small one-time price. If what you want is a quieter menu bar with almost no setup, Vanilla is a clean, light choice and there is nothing wrong with stopping there.
ChocolateBar is the bigger toolbox
ChocolateBar can do that plain hide too, but it is built for the moment when hiding is not enough. The icons the notch ate can sit in a second row, full size, where you can actually use them. Your open apps can ride along in that row, which turns it into a quick switcher, and that part switches off if you would rather keep things spare. It is getting more options as I keep polishing it, all included once you have bought in.
There is also a lot more to shape. Horizontal or vertical. Mini or verbose. Positions and offsets, themes and translucency, filters for what appears, and profiles you can flip between. Some people want exactly that much control. Others just want Vanilla's one divider, and that is a perfectly good reason to pick Vanilla.
So it comes down to appetite. Vanilla is the minimal, set-and-forget option. ChocolateBar is the one to reach for when you want your hidden icons and your apps in view and laid out your way. It is a native app, paid once, free for the first 48 hours, and it only goes online to check for updates.
| Feature | ChocolateBar | Vanilla |
|---|---|---|
| Hide menu bar overflow | Yes | Yes |
| See hidden icons full size in a row | Yes | Shown on click |
| Open app windows in the row | Yes, optional | No |
| Customization (themes, layout, profiles) | Extensive | Minimal |
| Price | $15 one-time | Free, Pro $10 one-time |
| Open source | No | No |
Questions people ask
Is ChocolateBar overkill if I like how simple Vanilla is?
Possibly, and that is fine. If a single divider that hides a few icons is all you need, Vanilla is hard to beat. ChocolateBar is for when you want those icons visible and arranged, not just hidden.
Does ChocolateBar have a free version like Vanilla?
There is a 48-hour free trial, then it is $15 once. There is no permanent free tier, but there is also no subscription.
Can it still do the plain hide if that is all I use?
Yes. You can run it purely as a hider and ignore the second row entirely if you like.
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.