Freedom251 › Menu Bar Customization Software

Pelmet

Free plan Mac

What Pelmet is

Pelmet is a free macOS utility for organizing and hiding menu bar icons, then bringing them back when needed. Its layout editor sorts icons into Visible, Hidden and Always Hidden sections; you can also rearrange them with Command-drag. Hidden items can be revealed by hovering, clicking empty menu bar space, double-clicking for Always Hidden items or using the chevron, with Instant, Smooth and Fade styles. Pelmet supplies replacement menu bar items for media controls, AirDrop, camera and microphone indicators, a timer, Focus, fast user switching and Shortcuts. You can add app icons that launch apps when clicked and hide them like other items. Keyboard shortcuts and multiple displays are supported. Pelmet requires macOS 27 and does not support macOS 26 or earlier. Accessibility access is required; Screen Recording is optional for animation stills. The maker says those stills are not recorded or retained. It also says Pelmet has no account, analytics or telemetry, though it connects for updates and retrieves a GitHub star count for its Thanks pane.

Who it suits

Pelmet suits Mac users on macOS 27 who want to organize menu bar items, hide selected icons and restore them through different reveal options.

What it does well

Free and open source.
Arrange items in three visibility sections.
Several reveal triggers and animation styles.
Includes replacement items and app launchers.
Supports keyboard shortcuts and multiple displays.

What to know first

Requires macOS 27; older versions are unsupported.
Accessibility access is required.
Uses a private Apple framework that updates could change.
No vulnerability-reporting SLA is offered.

Limits

Pelmet requires macOS 27 and does not support macOS 26 or earlier. Accessibility access is required; Screen Recording is optional.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Free	Free and open source · Requires macOS 27	Free

As pelmet.fif7y.com lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the Pelmet website.
Confirm that the Mac runs macOS 27.
Install Pelmet using the route offered on its website.
Grant Accessibility access; enable Screen Recording only if you want animation stills.
Arrange icons in the layout editor or use Command-drag.

Verdict

Pelmet offers several ways to sort and reveal menu bar icons, along with replacement items and app launchers. Its macOS 27 requirement and reliance on a private Apple framework are important compatibility considerations.

Questions

How much does Pelmet cost?

Its listed Free plan costs nothing and is described as free and open source.

Which macOS versions does it support?

Pelmet requires macOS 27. It does not support macOS 26 or earlier.

What permissions does Pelmet require?

Accessibility access is required. Screen Recording is optional and used for animation stills that the maker says are not recorded or kept.

Does Pelmet collect analytics or require an account?

The maker says Pelmet has no account, analytics or telemetry. It connects to retrieve updates and fetches a GitHub star count for its Thanks pane.

What items can Pelmet add to the menu bar?

It offers media controls, AirDrop, camera and microphone indicators, a timer, Focus, fast user switching and Shortcuts. You can also add app icons that open their apps when clicked.

Who makes Pelmet, and what security details are stated?

The maker describes Pelmet as a one-person project. The maker says each DMG is Developer ID signed and Apple notarized, the app uses hardened runtime, and updates use EdDSA signatures.

Facts from Pelmet's own pages

App launchers: Users can add Pelmet icons for apps, which open the app when clicked and can be hidden like other items. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Audience: Pelmet is built for Mac users who want to manage and hide menu bar icons on macOS 27. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Built-in items: Pelmet offers replacement menu bar items including media controls, AirDrop, camera and microphone indicator, timer, Focus, fast user switching and Shortcuts. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Compatibility limit: Pelmet relies on a private Apple framework for hiding icons, and the maker says a macOS update could change or remove that mechanism. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Data and network: The maker says Pelmet has no account, analytics or telemetry; it connects to retrieve updates and fetches GitHub star count in its Thanks pane. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Layout: Icons can be arranged in Visible, Hidden and Always Hidden sections using a layout editor or Command-drag in the menu bar. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Permissions: Accessibility access is required; Screen Recording is optional and used for animation stills that Pelmet says are not recorded or kept. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Purpose: Pelmet hides menu bar icons and brings them back on hover, click or keyboard shortcut. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Reveal options: Reveal can be triggered by hover, clicking empty menu bar space, double-clicking for Always Hidden, or using the chevron, with Instant, Smooth and Fade styles. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Security: The maker says each DMG is Developer ID signed and Apple notarized, the app uses hardened runtime, and updates use EdDSA signatures. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Support: The maker describes Pelmet as a one-person project with no vulnerability-reporting SLA and says acknowledgements generally arrive within a few days. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
System requirement: Pelmet requires macOS 27 and does not support macOS 26 or earlier. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026

Where Pelmet stands on Freedom251

Menu Bar Customization Software#13 of 25