xbar review
A flexible, open-source menu-bar utility for script-driven content on macOS.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
xbar is an open-source macOS utility that runs scripts and programs, then displays their output as menu-bar items and dropdown menus. It is intended for users who want to create custom, script-driven menu content rather than manage the placement of existing macOS system items. A plugin browser supports discovering and managing plugins, while user-written plugins can be created in any language. xbar requires macOS Catalina or newer.
Its strongest area is plugin-driven customization. The published feature set supports nested submenus, grouped plugin output, links, shell actions, refresh actions, keyboard shortcuts, configurable plugin variables, and configurable refresh intervals. That combination gives technically inclined users several ways to turn scripts into compact menu-bar tools, including custom actions and scheduled refresh behavior. The plugin format also supports images and colors, adding presentation options alongside functional controls.
xbar is free and open source, with no paid tier structure to compare. Its focus is narrow: extending the macOS menu bar with script output and plugins. That makes it a good fit for users who want programmable menu items, reusable plugins, and grouped dropdown content. Users who need to hide or rearrange existing macOS menu-bar items should choose a different type of menu-bar customization tool instead. xbar is better suited to adding and controlling custom content than to reorganizing the system menu bar.
xbar pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free and open source with plugins in any language
- Supports nested submenus, grouped output, links, and actions
- Adds keyboard shortcuts, variables, and refresh controls
- Where it doesn't
- Runs on macOS only
- Requires macOS Catalina or newer
- Does not hide or rearrange existing menu-bar items
xbar fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update