Bartender vs SaneBar

Bartender9.2Visit SaneBar8.9Visit

Higher score Bartender #2 in Menu Bar Customization Software 9.2/10 Paid ✓ 7 of 7 features Visit Bartender

vs

SaneBar #3 in Menu Bar Customization Software 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 6 of 7 features Visit SaneBar

• Bartender fits best

  Power users wanting the fullest Mac toolkit

• SaneBar fits best

  Free users wanting polished organization

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Side by side

Feature	Bartender 9.2/10 Visit ↗	SaneBar 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.9
Ranking	#2 in Menu Bar Customization Software	#3 in Menu Bar Customization Software
Best for	Power users wanting the fullest Mac toolkit	Free users wanting polished organization
Pricing model	Paid	Free
Starting price	—	Free
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	macOS	macOS
Support	Email	Email
Integrations	3 integrations	3 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business
Features Bartender 7/7 · SaneBar 6/7
Hide menu items	✓	✓
Rearrange items	✓	✓
Group menu items	✓	✓
Custom menu items	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Keyboard shortcuts	✓	✓
Multiple displays	✓	✓
Notch support	✓	✓
Our review
Pros	Hides, groups, rearranges, and reveals menu bar items on demand Adds profiles, triggers, widgets, hotkeys, and monitor-specific layouts Supports MacBook notches, Apple Shortcuts, AppleScript, and Siri	Hides, reveals, searches, and organizes menu bar icons Includes profiles, triggers, hotkeys, protection, and automation Free, MIT licensed, with no subscription or license key
Cons	Available only for macOS No free plan is offered Advanced tiers are needed for lifetime access and future upgrades	Designed for macOS rather than cross-platform use Focuses on menu bar organization, not broader desktop customization Its integrations center on Apple Shortcuts, Bartender, and Ice
Our verdict	Bartender is a paid macOS application for controlling how menu bar items appear and behave. It suits Mac users who want more than basic hiding: the app can rearrange item order and spacing, group several items into one customizable item,… Read the review →	SaneBar is a free, open-source menu bar manager for macOS users who want more control over crowded menu bars. It hides and reveals selected icons, keeps chosen items visible, and provides an Icon Panel or second menu bar view for accessing… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Bartender — where it wins

  • Hides, groups, rearranges, and reveals menu bar items on demand
  • Adds profiles, triggers, widgets, hotkeys, and monitor-specific layouts
  • Supports MacBook notches, Apple Shortcuts, AppleScript, and Siri

  Where it doesn't

  • Available only for macOS
  • No free plan is offered
  • Advanced tiers are needed for lifetime access and future upgrades

• SaneBar — where it wins

  • Hides, reveals, searches, and organizes menu bar icons
  • Includes profiles, triggers, hotkeys, protection, and automation
  • Free, MIT licensed, with no subscription or license key

  Where it doesn't

  • Designed for macOS rather than cross-platform use
  • Focuses on menu bar organization, not broader desktop customization
  • Its integrations center on Apple Shortcuts, Bartender, and Ice

• Bartender9.2/10 · Paid

  A broad Mac menu bar toolkit for users who need profiles, triggers, widgets, and layouts.

  Visit BartenderFull verdict →
• SaneBar8.9/10 · Free plan

  A capable free option for organizing crowded Mac menu bars.

  Visit SaneBarFull verdict →