SaneBar

SaneBar is a free, open-source macOS utility for hiding and organizing menu bar icons. It suits Mac users who want more than a simple hide-and-reveal control, particularly those who rely on shortcuts, automation, or multiple Macs. Its breadth is compelling at no cost, though it requires Accessibility permission and supports Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 14 or later.

Overview

SaneBar gives hidden menu bar items two ways back into reach: a floating Icon Panel and a full-width Second Menu Bar. You can also rearrange and group items, search for icons, and use a one-click hide-and-show toggle. That combination makes it a strong fit for busy menu bars where hiding icons should not mean losing quick access to them.

The app keeps menu bar contents and personal files on the Mac. Its privacy policy describes limited update requests and anonymous aggregate app counts. Normal use does not require Screen Recording, but SaneBar does need macOS Accessibility permission. Its source is public under the MIT License, and the maker directs privacy questions and issue reports to GitHub.

For other apps in this category, see Menu Bar Customization Software.

Key features

• Flexible access: Browse hidden icons in either the Icon Panel or Second Menu Bar, then search for a specific icon or use keyboard shortcuts and per-icon hotkeys. This gives frequent controls a faster route than opening a panel and scanning it.
• Organization and display support: SaneBar can hide, rearrange, and group menu items, and supports multiple displays and notches. That is useful for tailoring a crowded bar to different screen setups, rather than treating hiding as the only organizational tool.
• Automation: AppleScript, Shortcuts, and smart triggers can respond to battery level, Wi-Fi, Focus, app launches, schedules, or scripts. Users who want menu bar visibility to follow their context have meaningful options; those who only need occasional manual hiding may not need this extra reach.
• Migration and protection: Import layouts from Bartender or Ice, and export or import settings between Macs. Touch ID and password locks can protect selected icons, adding control for users who want some menu bar items restricted.

Pricing

Free — free. The free plan includes all features, is MIT-licensed and open source, and requires macOS 14.0 Sonoma or later on Apple Silicon. There is no trial or paid tier to unlock the app's listed capabilities, so it is the natural choice for anyone who meets those system requirements.

The Everything Bundle (SaneApps) costs $49.99, paid once, billed once, and includes all current direct Mac Pro apps. SaneBar itself remains free, so the bundle is relevant to buyers who also want those other apps, not a required upgrade for SaneBar users.

Platforms

SaneBar is for macOS 14.0 Sonoma or later and Apple Silicon. It requires Accessibility permission and says Screen Recording is not needed for normal use. The maker says most Apple menu extras and ordinary third-party menu bar apps work, but a small number of apps with unusual custom behavior may be edge cases; users dependent on such an app should account for that compatibility risk.

Who it's for

SaneBar is best for Apple Silicon Mac users with crowded menu bars who value search, hotkeys, automation, layout migration, or icon locks alongside hiding. Its free, all-features plan and public MIT-licensed source make it an especially straightforward option for users who want these capabilities without a subscription. It is less suitable for Intel Macs, older macOS versions, or anyone whose essential menu bar app relies on unusual behavior.

Pros and cons

• Pro: All features are free, including automation, icon locks, and migration tools, so core capabilities are not split across paid tiers.
• Pro: Two hidden-icon views, search, and per-icon hotkeys provide several ways to recover controls without keeping every icon visible.
• Pro: Open-source MIT licensing and on-device handling of menu bar contents and personal files offer transparency and local data handling.
• Con: Apple Silicon and macOS 14 or later are mandatory, excluding Intel Macs and older systems.
• Con: Accessibility permission is required, and unusual custom behavior in a small number of menu bar apps can cause edge cases.

Alternatives

Choose Thaw if you want a free macOS alternative whose stated terms explicitly rule out subscriptions and upgrade fees for new macOS versions. Pelmet is another free, open-source option, but it requires macOS 27. Ice 2 is worth considering if you want a free and open-source macOS app. Hidden Bar is a free open-source alternative that supports macOS 13 Ventura or later, including macOS 10.13–12.x.

Bartender is the paid alternative, with a yearly Pro subscription at $19.99 a year or a Bartender 7 one-time plan at $24.99, paid once; choose it if you prefer one of those paid purchase options. Vanilla offers a free plan for hiding menu bar icons. iBar-Menubar is a freemium macOS option with in-app purchases. GreatBar is free for now and requires macOS 14.0 or later.

Verdict

SaneBar is an easy recommendation for Apple Silicon Mac users on macOS 14 or later who want a free menu bar organizer with search, automation, migration, and icon protection in one open-source app. Its main reason to choose it is the unusually broad feature set without a paid unlock; its main reasons to look elsewhere are the system requirements and the possibility of edge cases with unusual menu bar apps.