Bartender
Bartender is a macOS app for deciding which menu bar items appear and when.
What Bartender is
Bartender is a macOS app for deciding which menu bar items appear and when. It can hide, rearrange, and group items, and lets users search for or reveal them with hotkeys and triggers. Profiles can be switched manually or according to display setups. Bartender 7’s Command Bar searches for and triggers menu bar items; clipboard history is available to Pro users. The app supports automation through built-in triggers, Shortcuts, AppleScript, hotkeys, and Siri. Users can also create menu bar items from built-in data sources or custom scripts without coding. Bartender 7 works without Screen Recording permission, showing app icons rather than snapshots when permission is off. The maker says captures stay on the device and app data is not sent to its servers. Bartender 7 is for macOS 27 Golden Gate; macOS 26 Tahoe users are directed to Bartender 6 while support for version 7 is pending. A license covers all Macs owned and personally used by its holder.
Good
- Hide, rearrange, and group menu bar items
- Switch profiles using hotkeys or display setups
- Create custom items without coding
- Works without Screen Recording permission
Watch out
- No free plan
- Bartender Pro costs $19.99 a year
- Bartender 7 support for macOS 26 Tahoe is pending
Who it suits
Bartender suits Mac users who want to organize menu bar items, switch layouts, or automate menu bar actions. Check the version guidance if you use macOS 26 Tahoe.
Verdict
Bartender offers several ways to organize and access macOS menu bar items, with automation and profile controls for different setups. Choose a plan based on whether you want a one-time purchase or Pro features by subscription.
Plans and prices
From Bartender's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Bartender Pro | $19.99 a year | All versions while subscribed · Top Shelf · future Pro tools and upgrades · Yearly subscription |
| Bartender 7 | $24.99, paid once | All updates for Bartender 7 · includes Bartender 6 for Tahoe and Bartender 7 for Golden Gate · One-time purchase |
| Mega Supporter | — | Everything in Pro · all future upgrades · every version of Bartender · Lifetime access; price not stated on the opened page |
The facts
Each one read from Bartender's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Automation
- Bartender supports built-in triggers, Shortcuts, AppleScript, hotkeys, and Siri; the maker says an official Raycast extension is planned.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Command Bar
- Bartender 7’s Command Bar can search and trigger menu bar items and includes clipboard history for Pro users.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Compatibility
- The support page says Bartender 7 is built for macOS 27 Golden Gate and directs macOS 26 Tahoe users to Bartender 6 while Bartender 7 support is pending.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Custom items
- Users can create menu bar items without coding using built-in data sources or custom scripts.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The maker lists Shortcuts, AppleScript, hotkeys, Siri, and agent control as ways to automate Bartender.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Licensing limit
- A license covers all Macs owned and personally used by the license holder.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Performance
- The maker says most users can expect Bartender 7 to use less than 100 MB of memory.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says menu bar captures remain on the device and are cached locally, and its privacy policy says app data is not transmitted to its servers.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Profiles
- Users can switch menu bar profiles with a hotkey, a trigger, or based on display setups.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Bartender manages macOS menu bar items, controlling which items appear and when.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Quick access
- Bartender offers quick reveal, search, custom hotkeys, and triggers for menu bar items.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Screen recording
- Bartender 7 works without Screen Recording permission and shows app icons instead of snapshots when permission is disabled.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can contact support by email or send feedback from within Bartender.checked 3 Oct 2026
The company
- Headquarters
- New York City, United Stateschecked 23 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Setapp
- The purchase page directs Setapp subscribers to check the available Bartender version in the Setapp app.checked 3 Oct 2026
