Head-to-head · Menu Bar Apps
Hidden Bar vs Ice
Hidden Bar leads on 0 checks, Ice 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 scoreHidden Bar · 8.0/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresIce · 1 of 3
Hidden Bar scores higher on our rubric for menu bar apps: 8.0 against 7.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #8.
Hidden Bar is the better fit for free users who only need menu-bar hiding. Ice is the better fit for solo Mac users wanting open-source menu-bar control.
- Hidden Bar fits best
Free users who only need menu-bar hiding
- Ice fits best
Solo Mac users wanting open-source menu-bar control
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Side by side
| Feature | Hidden Bar 8.0/10 Visit ↗ | Ice 7.8/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.0 | 7.8 |
| Ranking | #6 in Menu Bar Apps | #8 in Menu Bar Apps |
| Best for | Free users who only need menu-bar hiding | Solo Mac users wanting open-source menu-bar control |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Platforms | macOS | macOS |
| Built for | Solo, Small business | Solo |
| Features Hidden Bar 0/3 · Ice 1/3 | ||
| Keyboard shortcuts | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Automation support | Not checked yet | — |
| Intel Mac support | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| macOS versions | Not checked yet | macOS 14 and later |
| Primary function | Not checked yet | Other |
| Menu bar items | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Hidden Bar is a free, open-source macOS utility for reducing menu bar clutter. It suits solo users and small teams who want to hide selected icons, rather than add custom menu items or other menu-bar features. Icons can sit on either side… 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
Hidden Bar — where it wins
- Hide selected icons and keep some always hidden, even when expanded
- Rearrange icons across the divider with Command-dragging
- Use a global shortcut and automatic collapse to manage visibility
Where it doesn't
- Only available for macOS
- Does not offer custom menu items or notch support
- App Store and direct-download builds may differ on newer macOS versions
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
- Hidden Bar8.0/10 · Free plan
A free, open-source macOS utility for hiding and organizing menu bar icons.
Visit Hidden BarFull 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