Thaw vs Pelmet

TThaw9.4Visit Pelmet8.7Visit

Higher score T Thaw #1 in Menu Bar Customization Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 7 of 7 features Visit Thaw

vs

Pelmet #4 in Menu Bar Customization Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 7 features Visit Pelmet

• Thaw fits best

  Free power users needing deep customization

• Pelmet fits best

  Free users wanting advanced layout control

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Side by side

Feature	TThaw 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Pelmet 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	8.7
Ranking	#1 in Menu Bar Customization Software	#4 in Menu Bar Customization Software
Best for	Free power users needing deep customization	Free users wanting advanced layout control
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	macOS	macOS
Support	Community, Docs	Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business
Features Thaw 7/7 · Pelmet 5/7
Hide menu items	✓	✓
Rearrange items	✓	✓
Group menu items	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Custom menu items	✓	✓
Keyboard shortcuts	✓	✓
Multiple displays	✓	✓
Notch support	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Profiles can follow displays, Spaces, or Focus filters Conditional triggers support apps, networks, devices, schedules, and scripts Open-source and free to keep, with no purchase or subscription fee	Drag-and-drop editor and command-drag menu bar rearrangement Multiple reveal actions, shortcuts, and per-display behavior Free, open-source macOS utility with launchers and built-in items
Cons	Requires macOS 26 or later The latest listed alpha release is marked macOS 27 only Its extensive options may be more than simple menu bar users need	Requires macOS 27 (Golden Gate) or later Distributed outside the Mac App Store Uses a private Apple framework whose compatibility may change
Our verdict	Thaw is an open-source macOS menu bar manager for people who want more control over a crowded menu bar. It can hide items, arrange them with drag and drop, group related items, add adjustable spacers, and search for menu bar items from the… Read the review →	Pelmet is a native macOS menu bar manager for organizing, hiding, revealing, and rearranging menu bar icons. It is aimed at users who want more control than simple icon hiding, with Visible, Hidden, and Always Hidden sections, a layout… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Thaw — where it wins

  • Profiles can follow displays, Spaces, or Focus filters
  • Conditional triggers support apps, networks, devices, schedules, and scripts
  • Open-source and free to keep, with no purchase or subscription fee

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires macOS 26 or later
  • The latest listed alpha release is marked macOS 27 only
  • Its extensive options may be more than simple menu bar users need

• Pelmet — where it wins

  • Drag-and-drop editor and command-drag menu bar rearrangement
  • Multiple reveal actions, shortcuts, and per-display behavior
  • Free, open-source macOS utility with launchers and built-in items

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires macOS 27 (Golden Gate) or later
  • Distributed outside the Mac App Store
  • Uses a private Apple framework whose compatibility may change

• TThaw9.4/10 · Free plan

  A free, highly configurable way to organize, hide, and search macOS menu bar items.

  Visit ThawFull verdict →
• Pelmet8.7/10 · Free plan

  Advanced menu bar layout control without a paid tier.

  Visit PelmetFull verdict →