Side by side
Bartender vs iStat Menus
Both stand on menu bar apps. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial Mac
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.
Visit Bartender
Free trial Mac
iStat Menus combines broad Mac monitoring with configurable menu displays, alerts, disk details and fan controls. Its paid model, macOS requirement and unspecified single-license price are the main points to check before choosing it.
Visit iStat MenusThe facts
| Bartender | iStat Menus | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Mac | Mac |
| Lowest paid plan | Bartender Pro: $19.99 a year | Setapp subscription: $9.99 a month |
| Plans published | 3 | 3 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | macbartender.com | bjango.com |
| On menu bar apps | #12 of 23 | #16 of 23 |
Bartender: what it does well
- Hide, rearrange, and group menu bar items.
- Switch profiles by hotkey, trigger, or display setup.
- Create custom items from data sources or scripts.
- Automate with Shortcuts, AppleScript, hotkeys, Siri, and triggers.
- Bartender 7 works without Screen Recording permission.
What to know first
- Paid software with no free plan.
- Bartender 7 is built for macOS 27 Golden Gate.
- Bartender 7 support for macOS 26 Tahoe is pending.
iStat Menus: what it does well
- Tracks CPU, GPU, memory, disks, network and sensors
- Alerts cover metrics, power and weather events
- Disk tools include S.M.A.R.T. and per-app usage
- Fan speeds can follow temperature and battery state
- 14-day free trial available
What to know first
- macOS only
- No free plan
- Requires macOS 13 or later
- Single and family prices shown as “$?”
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