Head-to-head · Menu Bar Apps
Dato vs Ice
Dato leads on 1 check, Ice on 1, and 1 is 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 scoreDato · 8.2/10
- Free planonly Ice
- Most featuresDato · 2 of 3
Dato scores higher on our rubric for menu bar apps: 8.2 against 7.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #8.
Ice offers free plan; Dato doesn't. Dato offers automation support; Ice doesn't.
Dato is the better fit for mac users who want calendar and meeting tools at a glance. Ice is the better fit for solo Mac users wanting open-source menu-bar control.
- Dato fits best
Mac users who want calendar and meeting tools at a glance
- Ice fits best
Solo Mac users wanting open-source menu-bar control
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Side by side
| Feature | Dato 8.2/10 Visit ↗ | Ice 7.8/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.2 | 7.8 |
| Ranking | #5 in Menu Bar Apps | #8 in Menu Bar Apps |
| Best for | Mac users who want calendar and meeting tools at a glance | Solo Mac users wanting open-source menu-bar control |
| Pricing model | Paid | Free |
| Starting price | — | Free plan |
| Free plan | — | ✓ (best) |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Platforms | macOS | macOS |
| Built for | Solo, Small business | Solo |
| Features Dato 2/3 · Ice 1/3 | ||
| Keyboard shortcuts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automation support | ✓ (best) | — |
| Intel Mac support | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| macOS versions | macOS 26 and later | macOS 14 and later |
| Primary function | Other | Other |
| Menu bar items | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | 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 → |
Ice is a macOS menu bar management app from Jordan Baird for solo Mac users who want control over which menu bar items stay visible. It can hide and show items, rearrange them with drag and drop, and display hidden items in a separate bar.… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
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
Ice — where it wins
- Hide and show menu bar items, with hidden items in a separate bar
- Arrange items by drag and drop and adjust spacing and appearance
- Search menu bar items and control them with keyboard hotkeys
Where it doesn't
- Requires macOS 14 or later
- Does not include automation support
- Focused on menu bar management rather than integrations or broader workflows
- Dato8.2/10 · Paid
Dato brings calendar events, time zones, reminders and meeting controls to the macOS menu bar.
Visit DatoFull verdict → - Ice7.8/10 · Free plan
Free, open-source menu bar control for Mac users who want to organize visible items.
Visit IceFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update