Ice 2

Overview

Ice 2 is a free, open-source utility for controlling the macOS menu bar. It is best for Mac users who want seldom-used icons out of the way but still reachable through several reveal methods. The main buying decision is not price, but whether your macOS version supports the controls you expect.

Key features

Ice 2 places rarely used menu bar icons behind a divider, keeping the primary bar less crowded without removing access. Hidden items can appear after a click, keyboard shortcut, or hover at the screen edge. That variety suits users with different working styles, while the shortcut is especially useful when a precise pointer target would be inconvenient.

Its Ice Bar puts hidden icons in a separate bar that appears when requested. This gives users a distinct home for concealed items rather than making them share the main bar. However, the Ice Bar is unavailable on macOS 27, so that advantage applies only on supported earlier versions.

The layout editor divides apps into Visible, Hidden, and Always-Hidden sections. On macOS 27, changes are saved as they are made, which makes ongoing organization more deliberate than simply dragging icons around. Ice 2 also supports rearranging and grouping items, keyboard shortcuts, and multiple displays, making it suitable for setups where menu bar control must extend beyond a single screen.

macOS 27 introduces important trade-offs. Ice 2 cannot provide its separate Ice Bar, search for one individual menu bar icon, or temporarily show a single icon on that system. It identifies menu bar apps through Accessibility and asks macOS to hide them, so an Accessibility permission prompt may be part of setup. Users who avoid granting that permission, or who depend on one-icon-at-a-time revealing, should look elsewhere.

Pricing

The Ice 2 plan costs nothing and includes the free, open-source macOS app. There is no paid tier and no free trial, so there are no subscriptions, renewal terms, seat limits, or paid-feature upgrades to weigh. Its GPLv3 license and published source on GitHub make it a strong fit for readers who value inspectable software as well as zero cost.

Distribution is through GitHub releases and Homebrew. The Mac App Store is marked as coming soon, so readers who prefer that storefront may need to use one of the current channels. Questions, bug reports, and feature requests go to the project's GitHub issue tracker, with email support also offered.

Platforms

Ice 2 is a macOS app requiring a Mac running macOS 26 or later. The macOS 27 feature restrictions are substantial enough that users should check their system version before choosing it. No Windows, Linux, mobile, or cross-platform edition is described.

Who it's for

Choose Ice 2 if you want a no-cost way to hide, rearrange, group, and reveal menu bar items, especially across multiple displays, and you are comfortable installing from GitHub or Homebrew. It is also a logical choice for users who prefer open-source software maintained independently by Teddy Chan as a rebuild of Jordan Baird's Ice.

It is less suitable for anyone who requires the Ice Bar, single-icon search, or temporary single-icon display on macOS 27, or who wants an App Store installation immediately. Readers seeking a utility that works below macOS 26 will need another option.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Free and open source: The app costs nothing, uses the GPLv3 license, and publishes its source on GitHub.
• Several reveal methods: Click, hotkey, and edge hover cover both pointer-driven and keyboard-focused workflows.
• Fine-grained organization: Visible, Hidden, and Always-Hidden sections, plus rearranging and grouping, provide more control than a single hide/show switch.
• Multi-display support: Users with more than one monitor can manage menu bar items across that setup.

Cons

• macOS 27 restrictions: Ice Bar, individual-icon search, and temporary one-icon display are unavailable.
• Accessibility permission may be required: The app uses macOS Accessibility to find menu bar apps and request hiding.
• High system requirement: Macs running older than macOS 26 cannot use Ice 2.
• No current Mac App Store release: Installation is presently through GitHub releases or Homebrew.

Alternatives

Menu Bar Customization Software is the broader category to browse when you want to compare several menu bar utilities.

Pick Cornice for another free macOS 26 (Tahoe) or later option designed for Apple Silicon. Dozer is the better fit for Macs running macOS 10.13 or later. GreatBar suits users on macOS 14 or later who want a free app while its introductory availability lasts.

Hidden Bar is a free, open-source choice supporting macOS 13 Ventura and later, with older macOS 10.13–12.x versions also supported. iBar-Menubar is worth considering if you accept a freemium model with in-app purchases. JellyBar targets Apple Silicon Macs on macOS 15 Sequoia or later.

Lloyd is a free MIT-licensed menu-bar utility. MenuBarDockX fits users who want a free, no-subscription app on macOS 14 or later, with Apple Silicon and Intel support.

Verdict

Ice 2 is a strong choice for Mac users on macOS 26 or later who want open-source, zero-cost control over a busy menu bar, including grouping, shortcuts, and multi-display organization. Look elsewhere if you run an older macOS release or use macOS 27 and depend on the Ice Bar, single-icon search, or temporary one-icon reveals.