Thaw
- Android app
- Not listed
- Free plan
- Yes
- Runs on
- Mac
Summary
Thaw is a free, open-source macOS menu bar manager for hiding, revealing, and arranging menu bar items. Users can save arrangements as profiles associated with a display, Space, or Focus filter. Conditions such as battery level, Wi-Fi network, active Focus, or a script result can determine when items appear or are hidden. Appearance controls include tint, gradients, shadows, borders, custom shapes, and light and dark mode settings. Thaw supports macOS 26 and 27 and requires macOS 26 or later to install. It includes a Raycast extension and thaw:// deep links that can be used with tools such as Alfred, Shortcuts, Keyboard Maestro, and BetterTouchTool. Thaw says it requires no account and has no tracking, analytics, or telemetry. Accessibility permission is requested on first launch; Screen Recording is optional for live item previews and wallpaper-derived tinting. The app is licensed under GPL-3.0 and can be installed with Homebrew or downloaded as a DMG from the latest GitHub release. Only the latest stable release is supported for security fixes.
Who it is for
Thaw suits a Mac user who wants to organize menu bar items with profiles and conditional visibility. It is intended as a local utility for one interactive user on their own Mac.
What is good
- Saves layouts as profiles tied to displays or Focus filters.
- Triggers can use battery, Wi-Fi, Focus, or scripts.
- Offers appearance controls including gradients and custom shapes.
- Requires no account and says it has no telemetry.
- Available through Homebrew or a DMG download.
What to know first
- Requires macOS 26 or later.
- Accessibility permission is requested at first launch.
- Screen Recording is needed for some optional features.
- Only the latest stable release receives security fixes.
Verdict
Thaw offers conditional menu bar organization and a range of appearance settings for supported macOS versions. Note the macOS 26 minimum and the permissions associated with its features.
Thaw plans and pricing
All plansCompared on menu bar customization software
- Free plan
- Yesgithub.com
- Hide menu items
- Yesgithub.com
- Rearrange items
- Yesgithub.com
- Group menu items
- Yesgithub.com
- Custom menu items
- Yesgithub.com
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Yesgithub.com
- Multiple displays
- Yesgithub.com
- Notch support
- Yesgithub.com
Facts
- Purpose
- Thaw is an open-source macOS menu bar manager that hides, reveals, and arranges menu bar items.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Layouts
- Users can save configurations as profiles and bind them to a display, Space, or Focus filter.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Triggers
- Triggers can reveal or hide items based on conditions such as battery level, Wi-Fi network, active Focus, or a script result.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Appearance
- Thaw supports menu bar tint, gradients, shadows, borders, custom shapes, and appearance settings for light and dark mode.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- macOS support
- The project says Thaw supports macOS 26 and 27 and requires macOS 26 or later to install.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Thaw supports a Raycast extension and thaw:// deep links that can be used with tools including Alfred, Shortcuts, Keyboard Maestro, and BetterTouchTool.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Privacy
- Thaw says it requires no account and has no tracking, analytics, or telemetry.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Permissions
- Accessibility is requested on first launch; Screen Recording is optional for live item previews and wallpaper-derived tinting.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Security
- The project says release builds are Developer ID-signed and notarized, and in-app updates use HTTPS and Sparkle EdDSA authentication.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Security support
- Only the latest stable release is supported for security fixes, and the project aims to acknowledge vulnerability reports within 48 hours.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- License
- Thaw is available under the GPL-3.0 license.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Installation
- Thaw can be installed with Homebrew or downloaded as a DMG from the latest GitHub release.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Intended user
- The security assurance document describes Thaw as a local macOS utility for a single interactive user on their own Mac.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
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Sources
- github.com/thaw-app/Thaw· checked 30 Sept 2026
- github.com/thaw-app/Thaw/blob/development/.github/· checked 30 Sept 2026
- github.com/thaw-app/Thaw/blob/development/docs/ASS· checked 30 Sept 2026