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Head-to-head · Menu Bar Apps

Raycast vs Hidden Bar

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score Raycast #3 in Menu Bar Apps 8.7/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Raycast
Hidden Bar #6 in Menu Bar Apps 8.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Hidden Bar

Raycast leads on 0 checks, Hidden Bar on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreRaycast · 8.7/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Raycast

Raycast scores higher on our rubric for menu bar apps: 8.7 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #6.

Raycast is the better fit for cross-platform launcher and menu-bar productivity users. Hidden Bar is the better fit for free users who only need menu-bar hiding.

  • Raycast fits best

    Cross-platform launcher and menu-bar productivity users

  • Hidden Bar fits best

    Free users who only need menu-bar hiding

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Side by side

Feature Raycast 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Hidden Bar 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.0
Ranking #3 in Menu Bar Apps #6 in Menu Bar Apps
Best for Cross-platform launcher and menu-bar productivity users Free users who only need menu-bar hiding
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $10/mo Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 7 days —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Desktop
Platforms macOS, Windows, iOS macOS
Features Raycast 0/3 · Hidden Bar 0/3
Keyboard shortcuts Not checked yet Not checked yet
Automation support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Intel Mac support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
macOS versions Not checked yet Not checked yet
Primary function Not checked yet Not checked yet
Menu bar items Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Searches applications and files, and launches URLs and tools with Quicklinks.
  • Combines clipboard history, snippets, hotkeys, scripts, and window management.
  • Runs on macOS, Windows, and iOS, with thousands of extensions.
  • 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
Cons
  • Free has no AI features and limits Notes to five.
  • Cloud Sync is available only on paid plans.
  • Its broad launcher toolkit is less specialized as a menu-bar app.
  • 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
Our verdict

Raycast is a keyboard-first productivity launcher for people who want to reach apps, files, commands, and tools from one place. It combines search and Quicklinks with snippets, clipboard history, window management, notes, hotkeys, command…

Read the review →

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 →
  1. RaycastMenu Bar Apps 8.7Free plan · 7-day trial
  2. Hidden BarMenu Bar Apps 8.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Raycast — where it wins

    • Searches applications and files, and launches URLs and tools with Quicklinks.
    • Combines clipboard history, snippets, hotkeys, scripts, and window management.
    • Runs on macOS, Windows, and iOS, with thousands of extensions.

    Where it doesn't

    • Free has no AI features and limits Notes to five.
    • Cloud Sync is available only on paid plans.
    • Its broad launcher toolkit is less specialized as a menu-bar app.

  • 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

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