Ice
Ice: Free, open-source menu bar control for Mac users who want to organize visible items. Ranked #8 of 23 in Menu Bar Apps by our editors (7.8/10); pricing: Free plan; best for solo Mac users wanting open-source menu-bar control.
At a glance
- Editor score7.8 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forSolo Mac users wanting open-source menu-bar control
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Primary functionOther
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
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
Our verdict on Ice
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. Search and keyboard hotkeys add ways to find and control items beyond direct rearrangement. The project is open source and free, making it a fit for users who prefer an inspectable, no-cost utility over a broader paid workspace tool.
Its feature set stays close to that core job: users can customize menu bar appearance and item spacing, search items, and use hotkeys for menu bar controls. Ice is distributed as downloadable releases and through Homebrew, giving Mac users two stated ways to obtain it. The project describes itself as actively developed. It does not offer automation support, so users seeking rules or automated menu bar behavior should look elsewhere; the listed controls are oriented toward direct organization and visibility management.
Ice requires macOS 14 or later, which limits its fit for Macs that cannot run that version. There are no integrations listed, and the app is designed for desktop use on macOS rather than cross-platform menu management. Choose Ice if your priority is arranging, hiding, and styling menu bar items with open-source software. It is less suited to users who need automation, a wider integration ecosystem, or support for older macOS versions.
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Ice pricing
Ice fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| macOS versions | macOS 14 and later |
| Primary function | Other |
| Menu bar items | Not verified |
| Keyboard shortcuts | Yes |
| Automation support | No |
| Intel Mac support | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | macOS |
| Built for | Solo (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | icemenubar.app |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Ice
- BartenderA focused macOS utility for shaping a crowded menu bar around different workflows.8.9
- AlfredA broad Mac launcher with search, commands, workflows, clipboard history, and snippets.8.8
- RaycastA broad launcher with search, commands, extensions, and optional AI and cloud sync.8.7
Ice vs the competition
Compare Ice with any tool side by side →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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