SwiftBar

SwiftBar is a macOS utility for turning custom scripts into menu-bar items and actions. It is best suited to people who want to build or adapt script-based plugins and tailor their menus. Its flexibility is the draw; the required plugin output format and macOS 12 minimum are meaningful constraints.

Overview

SwiftBar runs executable plugins from a local folder and builds menu items from their standard output. Scripts can be written in Bash, Python, Ruby, Swift, or JavaScript, with refreshes set to a schedule you define. That makes it a capable foundation for personal menu-bar tools, but not a plug-and-play collection of conventional settings: each plugin must produce output in SwiftBar’s required format.

Menus support icons, colors, dropdowns, submenus, and click actions. You can rearrange and group items, and add custom menu items. These controls provide useful room to shape a menu, though the underlying script requirement makes SwiftBar a better fit for users comfortable with executable plugins than for those seeking a purely visual organizer.

Key features

Plugin scheduling and actions

Refresh intervals can be set in plugin filenames or through cron syntax in metadata. Menu items can open URLs, run shell scripts, refresh plugins, or use assigned keyboard shortcuts. This combination lets a plugin present information and provide a relevant action from the same menu, with the cost that users need to manage the plugin logic and its schedule.

Repository and compatibility

SwiftBar’s Get Plugins menu provides access to a repository, and its product page describes hundreds of community-created plugins. Its API is adopted from BitBar, so existing BitBar and xbar plugins can run in SwiftBar. That gives users a starting point beyond writing everything themselves, while compatibility still depends on plugins fitting the expected format.

Shortcuts and packaged plugins

SwiftBar supports plugins made with the macOS Shortcuts app and provides a UI for configuring their refresh schedules. Plugins can also be packaged in .swiftbar directories with a main script and optional supporting files. These options broaden how plugins can be organized, but do not remove the central requirement that plugins are executable scripts.

Pricing

Free — free. The free plan is open source, runs plugins from a local folder, and requires macOS 12 or later. There is no paid tier or trial to weigh: SwiftBar is a straightforward choice for users willing to supply or adapt plugins, with the script and format requirements as its practical price of entry.

Platforms

SwiftBar runs on macOS Monterey (12) and later; the latest stable release, version 2.1.1, also requires macOS 12 or later. It is available as a direct download from GitHub Releases or through Homebrew. It is an open source project by Ameba, and its GitHub repository identifies it as MIT licensed.

Who it's for

Choose SwiftBar if you want scheduled, script-driven menu-bar tools and value control over menu layout, plugin behavior, and actions. Support for several scripting languages, existing BitBar and xbar plugins, and Shortcuts-based plugins makes it more adaptable than a single-purpose menu utility. Look elsewhere if you want to organize menu-bar items without handling executable scripts or if your Mac cannot run macOS 12 or later.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Supports Bash, Python, Ruby, Swift, and JavaScript, giving technically comfortable users several ways to build plugins.
• Pros: Plugin repository access and BitBar and xbar compatibility offer starting points beyond writing every plugin from scratch.
• Pros: Menus can combine formatting, submenus, custom items, rearrangement, grouping, and actions such as opening URLs or running shell scripts.
• Cons: Plugins must be executable scripts that emit SwiftBar-formatted output, which adds setup and maintenance work compared with menu-bar tools based on ordinary controls.
• Cons: The macOS 12 minimum rules out older macOS versions.

Alternatives

For other menu-bar customization tools, see Menu Bar Customization Software.

• Lloyd is another free macOS menu-bar utility.
• Overhang is free for macOS 14 Sonoma or later and supports Apple silicon and Intel.
• SaneBar is a free, fully open-source macOS option under the MIT License.
• Thaw is free, with no purchase, subscription, or upgrade fee for new macOS versions.
• Vanilla offers a free plan for hiding menu-bar icons and uses a freemium model.
• Cornice is free for macOS 26 (Tahoe) or later on Apple silicon.
• Dozer is free for macOS 10.13 and later.
• GreatBar is free for now and requires macOS 14.0 or later.

Verdict

SwiftBar is a strong free choice for Mac users who want to shape their menu bar with scheduled, script-based plugins, especially if they can reuse a BitBar or xbar plugin. Its broad menu controls and language support reward customization, but the executable-script format is a real barrier for anyone seeking a no-code setup. Choose it for flexibility; look elsewhere for simpler menu organization or support for older macOS versions.