Hidden Bar

Hidden Bar is a free, open-source macOS utility for hiding and organizing menu bar icons. It is best for Mac users who want a focused way to reduce menu bar clutter without paying for the app. Its controls are flexible, though macOS 27 imposes important permissions and compatibility limits.

Overview

Hidden Bar splits menu bar icons into visible and hidden sections. Clicking the arrow toggles the hidden section, while Command-dragging icons across the separator changes which section they occupy. That direct approach suits people who want to keep selected icons close at hand without leaving every menu bar item visible.

An optional second section stays hidden even when the main section is expanded; Option-clicking the arrow reveals it. This provides a place for icons that rarely need attention, at the cost of remembering a separate gesture to reach them.

Key features

• Automatic collapse and shortcut: Choose a delay for re-collapsing the hidden section, or use a system-wide shortcut to expand or collapse it. Automatic re-collapse helps keep the menu bar tidy after access; the shortcut is useful for people who prefer keyboard control.
• Organization and displays: Hidden Bar supports hiding, rearranging, and grouping menu bar items across multiple displays. On macOS 27, however, built-in macOS items remain visible, limiting how thoroughly users of that version can clean up the bar.
• Login launch: On macOS 13 or later, the app can start at login through the SMAppService login item. This avoids needing to launch it manually each time.
• Setup and privacy: Installation is available through Homebrew or a notarized direct download. The project says the app does not use third-party services that may collect information used to identify users. Its manual covers settings, Terminal-only options, and troubleshooting.

Pricing

Hidden Bar costs nothing. There is no free trial because the app is free, and no paid plan is described. The plan supports macOS 13 Ventura or later; macOS 10.13–12.x is supported by v1.10, so users on older systems need that version rather than the current plan's stated compatibility range.

The free plan includes hiding, rearranging, and grouping menu items, keyboard shortcuts, and multiple-display support. There is no paid tier to unlock these capabilities, making it a straightforward fit for someone seeking these controls without a subscription or purchase.

Platforms

Hidden Bar is for macOS. On macOS 27, the direct download build requires Accessibility permission to detect icon positions; without permission, the menu bar stays expanded. Hiding on that system is per app, built-in macOS items remain visible, and Hidden Bar must run from /Applications. Its hiding feature also relies on a private Apple framework, which a macOS update could break. These constraints make it a less dependable choice for macOS 27 users who need comprehensive hiding or want to avoid granting Accessibility access.

Who it's for

Hidden Bar suits Mac users who want a no-cost, configurable way to tuck away selected menu bar items, especially those who value automatic re-collapse, a second hidden section, or keyboard control. It is a weaker fit for macOS 27 users who need built-in items hidden or want a feature insulated from changes to private Apple frameworks.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free and open source, with hiding, rearranging, grouping, shortcuts, and multiple-display support in one focused utility.
• Pros: Automatic re-collapse and an optional always-hidden section give users more control over how much of the menu bar is exposed.
• Cons: macOS 27 requires Accessibility permission for the direct download build, and the menu bar stays expanded without it.
• Cons: On macOS 27, hiding is per app, built-in items cannot be hidden, and a private framework dependency leaves the feature vulnerable to macOS updates.

Alternatives

Menu Bar Customization Software is a useful starting point for comparing more options in this category.

• iBar-Menubar is another macOS option with a free plan; its pricing model is freemium, so consider it if you want to compare against an app that also offers in-app purchases.
• Ice 2 is a free, open-source macOS alternative if you want another no-cost project with public source code.
• SaneBar is free and open source under the MIT License, making it a candidate if that specific license matters to you.
• Thaw is free with no purchase, subscription, or upgrade fee for new macOS versions, a useful distinction if you want those terms explicitly.
• Vanilla offers a free plan for hiding menu bar icons and uses a freemium model, so compare it if you want that narrower stated free-plan capability.
• Cornice is another free macOS option.
• GreatBar is free for now and supports macOS 14.0 or later, worth considering if that minimum version fits your Mac.
• JellyBar is another free macOS option.

Verdict

Choose Hidden Bar if you want a free, open-source Mac utility with direct controls for hiding, grouping, and retrieving menu bar icons. Its extra hidden section and automatic collapse are useful refinements. Look elsewhere if you use macOS 27 and need built-in items hidden, cannot grant Accessibility permission to the direct build, or want to avoid reliance on a private framework.