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Head-to-head · Menu Bar Apps

Bartender vs Dato

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Bartender #1 in Menu Bar Apps 8.9/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Bartender
Dato #5 in Menu Bar Apps 8.2/10 Paid ✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Dato

Bartender leads on 0 checks, Dato on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreBartender · 8.9/10
  • Most featuresDato · 2 of 3

Bartender scores higher on our rubric for menu bar apps: 8.9 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #5.

Bartender is the better fit for power users managing a crowded Mac menu bar. Dato is the better fit for mac users who want calendar and meeting tools at a glance.

  • Bartender fits best

    Power users managing a crowded Mac menu bar

  • Dato fits best

    Mac users who want calendar and meeting tools at a glance

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Side by side

Feature Bartender 8.9/10 Visit ↗ Dato 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.2
Ranking #1 in Menu Bar Apps #5 in Menu Bar Apps
Best for Power users managing a crowded Mac menu bar Mac users who want calendar and meeting tools at a glance
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price — —
Free plan — —
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms macOS macOS
Support Email Docs
Integrations 3 integrations 50+ integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features Bartender 0/3 · Dato 2/3
Keyboard shortcuts Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Automation support Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Intel Mac support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
macOS versions Not checked yet macOS 26 and later
Primary function Not checked yet Other
Menu bar items Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Hide, reveal, rearrange, and group menu bar items.
  • Use profiles, triggers, and monitor-based layouts for different workflows.
  • Create custom items and invoke menu bar actions with shortcuts or search.
  • Shows upcoming events, week numbers and calendar indicators in the menu bar
  • Combines multiple named world clocks with time-zone search
  • Fullscreen meeting alerts can open or join supported video calls
Cons
  • It is a paid macOS desktop app with no free plan.
  • Its focus is menu bar management rather than broader Mac customization.
  • The three purchase tiers differ in access to upgrades and future tools.
  • Requires a paid purchase; there is no free plan
  • Calendar access depends on services configured through macOS Calendar
  • Available for macOS only
Our verdict

A packed menu bar can make it harder to find the controls and status items you need. Bartender is a macOS desktop app for hiding selected items, revealing them on demand, rearranging order and spacing, and grouping related items. It is…

Read the review →

Dato is a macOS menu bar utility for people who want their calendar, upcoming events and local time close at hand. Alongside calendar views and event indicators, it can show multiple world clocks, create reminders and display meeting…

Read the review →
  1. BartenderMenu Bar Apps 8.9Paid
  2. DatoMenu Bar Apps 8.2Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Bartender — where it wins

    • Hide, reveal, rearrange, and group menu bar items.
    • Use profiles, triggers, and monitor-based layouts for different workflows.
    • Create custom items and invoke menu bar actions with shortcuts or search.

    Where it doesn't

    • It is a paid macOS desktop app with no free plan.
    • Its focus is menu bar management rather than broader Mac customization.
    • The three purchase tiers differ in access to upgrades and future tools.

  • Dato — where it wins

    • Shows upcoming events, week numbers and calendar indicators in the menu bar
    • Combines multiple named world clocks with time-zone search
    • Fullscreen meeting alerts can open or join supported video calls

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires a paid purchase; there is no free plan
    • Calendar access depends on services configured through macOS Calendar
    • Available for macOS only

More comparisons

All menu bar apps comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update