Bartender

What Bartender is

Bartender manages macOS menu bar items, giving users control over which items appear and when. It can hide, rearrange, or group items, reveal them quickly, and find them through search, custom hotkeys, or triggers. Users can switch menu bar profiles with a hotkey or trigger, or based on display setups, and create custom items without coding using built-in data sources or scripts. Bartender 7 adds a Command Bar for searching and triggering menu bar items; clipboard history is available to Pro users. Automation can use built-in triggers, Shortcuts, AppleScript, hotkeys, Siri, or agent control. The maker says an official Raycast extension is planned.

Bartender 7 works without Screen Recording permission, showing app icons rather than snapshots when permission is off. The maker says menu bar captures are cached locally and app data is not transmitted to its servers. Its support page identifies Bartender 7 for macOS 27 Golden Gate and directs macOS 26 Tahoe users to Bartender 6 while support for version 7 is pending. The maker says most users can expect Bartender 7 to use less than 100 MB of memory. A license covers all Macs the holder owns and personally uses. Bartender is paid software for macOS, with a free trial. Support is available by email or through in-app feedback.

Who it suits

Bartender suits macOS users who want to control a crowded menu bar, switch item layouts, and automate menu bar actions. It may also suit people who use multiple displays or want custom menu bar items without coding.

Limits

There is no free plan. Bartender Pro costs $19.99 a year; Bartender 7 costs 24.99 USD as a one-time purchase and includes updates for Bartender 7. Pro includes clipboard history, while the listed Bartender 7 one-time plan does not specify it.

Getting started

1. Visit https://www.macbartender.com/.
2. Check the available version for your macOS; Bartender 7 is for macOS 27 Golden Gate, while Tahoe users are directed to Bartender 6.
3. Start with the free trial.
4. Choose Bartender Pro at $19.99 a year or Bartender 7 at 24.99 USD one-time.
5. Install on Macs you own and personally use under the license.

Verdict

Choose Bartender if you want to shape what appears in the macOS menu bar and control it through profiles, search, and automation. Look elsewhere if you need a free plan or need Bartender 7 support on macOS 26 Tahoe now.