Apple places the legendary menu bar at the top in macOS. It’s not because Apple wants macOS to look the opposite of Windows. The menu bar continues to play a vital role in macOS, especially when you want to install apps that don’t consume a lot of system resources. So, whether you want to run task management apps or just check system status, the menu bar can really help to give you a quick snapshot.
You don’t need to install all other apps under the sun for simpler to medium tasks. Thanks to the macOS developer community, there are plenty of macOS menu bar apps to perform simple tasks. However, some apps really make the most of the menu bar without putting a strain on the system. That’s why we’re compiling the list of the best menu bar app for your Mac that you should try and use.
Note: You get 190+ macOS apps for free with a $9.99 monthly SetApp subscription, and the store is also adding support for iOS apps.
1. iStat Menus
It can be a little tedious to monitor your system status while you work. You may want to know the status of detailed components such as CPU, GPU, network, sensors and others. Thus, iStat Menu provides more comprehensive details of components such as system information. Also, the application does not consume a lot of resources to gather information, and for this, you can view them all by clicking the application icon in the menu bar.
iStat Menus can also help you identify if any app is suspiciously consuming more resources than it should. In my case, I found that the RPM (revolutions per minute) of the fan on my MacBook Air suddenly dropped with a humming sound. After a quick SMC Reset it was back to normal and helped prevent potential permanent damage. From temperature to sound levels, it displays information pretty neatly in the menu bar. An absolute must for anyone who cares about their Mac. iStat Menus comes with a 14-day trial. If you like the app, you can buy it from the developer’s website for $14.15. Or you can get it for free with a SetApp subscription.
2. A Key
One Switch is like the reincarnated version of Control Center on iOS. True to its name, One Switch offers several toggles to turn various services and settings that are otherwise deeply intertwined on or off. It can be as simple as clearing your desktop view or disconnecting the Bluetooth headset/speaker.
You can use it for some nifty tasks like showing or hiding hidden files or activating a screen saver. I like the Do Not Disturb mode, which can come in handy when working on fully focused tasks. The One Switch app comes with a 7-day free trial and then you have to pay $4.99 to purchase it from the site. Alternatively, you can get it for free if you have a SetApp subscription.
3. Bit Bar
You can run snippets for things like weather information to the currently playing track. With BitBar, you can put and generate any string of information in the macOS menu bar. The real champions behind this app are the contributors who have written several ready-to-use plugins for BitBar. All you have to do is install the app, get the plugin and drop it in a folder.
From your network speed to shuffling songs on Spotify, you can accomplish most things using the different plugins in the plugin directory. With BitBar, you can enhance your Mac’s menu bar with various plug-ins. The best part is that the app and add-ons are available for free. If you don’t mind fiddling with the code a bit, you can further customize the plugins to suit your needs.
The official site was under maintenance at the time of this writing. Run the BitBar application to create a folder called Plugins. Copy the code of the plugin you like from the Plugin directory, save the file with the name of the plugin (ends with .sh), and then run the BitBar application.
4. Magnet
Task View in Windows 10 and Split View in iPadOS will make you want a similar feature in macOS. Fortunately, the Magnet app exists to let you snap and stack app windows in different directions on your screen. Click the app in the menu bar and choose a direction from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can memorize shortcuts to quickly snap and sort windows.
The magnet is extremely useful for work and leisure. As you work, you can capture and sort windows to quickly reference reports and documents. Likewise, you can enjoy YouTube or Netflix while catching up on emails or chatting with friends. The magnet works best if you tend to connect your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air to a suitable monitor. You can purchase Magnet for $2.99 from the Mac App Store.
5. Bartender
Bartender 3 is an effective tool to manage all the application icons that will appear after installing the applications in this list. You can cleverly distribute this menu bar area and arrange the application icons in an expandable but invisible stack that is automatically hidden. You can also manually reorder the icons based on your usage and preference.
If you tend to run multiple apps, you can even use the keyboard shortcut to switch between these app icons. Alternatively, you can search for the application using the search box. Hiding certain apps protects your privacy from other people and also clears the menu bar.
You can enjoy a 3-week trial of Bartender 3 if you download it from the official site or pay a one-time license fee of $15. Alternatively, you can get it for free with a monthly subscription from SetApp.
Clear Bar
A neatly organized menu bar using the bartender app looks much more appealing than just letting all the icons show up there. You can also make the menu bar your new spot to try small apps that probably don’t require a full installation via the Applications folder. Take the menu bar as an opportunity to try small programs to free up your system resources and save them for important tasks later. What are your favorite menu bar apps? I bet there are many other menu bar apps you’ll want to share with others in the comments.
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