Dato vs Itsycal

Dato

• Mac users who want their schedule one click away in the menu bar
• People who keep missing the start of video meetings
• Anyone working across time zones who wants several clocks in view
• Buyers who want a one-time purchase and no subscription

Itsycal

• Mac users who want a quick month view without opening a calendar app
• People who navigate by keyboard and like Vim-style keys
• Anyone looking for a free, open-source menu bar calendar

Dato

• Mac only. The current version requires macOS 26 or later; older macOS releases get older versions of the app.
• The vendor calls it a read-only view of your events: it can create events, but editing one or answering an invitation opens Apple's Calendar app.
• It has no sync of its own. Google, Outlook and other accounts must first be added to the built-in Calendar app.
• Natural-language entry is not supported yet, and the menus and settings are in English only.

Itsycal

• Mac only, and it depends on the Mac Calendar app: it shows only calendars already set up there.
• Events can be created and deleted but not edited; the project's README says editing is not supported.
• Only the Gregorian calendar is supported, and delegate calendars cannot be shown directly.
• The current download needs macOS 11 or later (macOS 27 has its own build); older versions cover earlier systems.

Dato

Menu bar calendar and event list

A month calendar with optional week numbers and event indicators sits above a list of upcoming events and reminders. How many days and events it shows is adjustable.

Fullscreen meeting notifications

A notification fills the screen when an event starts. It can be limited to video calls, events with an alert or accepted events, and paused with a Focus Filter.

Join video calls

Join the next call from a notification, the event details or a global keyboard shortcut. Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and more than 50 other services are recognized, and others can be added.

World clocks and time travel

Clocks for several time zones appear in the Dato menu or the menu bar, with custom names and offline search of 15,000 cities. A slider shows what time it will be elsewhere.

Upcoming event in the menu bar

The next event can be shown as its own menu bar item, next to a date and time display whose format, icon and color can be customized.

Shortcuts, widgets and quick entry

A global keyboard shortcut opens the new event window, which can also create reminders. Shortcuts actions switch calendars and notifications on or off, and widgets show the date, calendar and world clocks.

Itsycal

Month calendar with agenda

A compact month grid opens from the menu bar with an agenda of events below it. It can show up to two months at a time, ISO week numbers and three text sizes.

Events from the Mac Calendar app

Displays events from whichever calendars you tick among those set up in the Mac Calendar app. New events can be created and existing ones deleted from Itsycal.

Join virtual meetings

A meeting icon in the agenda turns into a Join button 15 minutes before the start. Zoom and Teams links open in their apps, and Command-J joins the first active meeting.

Keyboard navigation with Vim motions

Arrow keys or H, J, K and L move by day, week, month and year, with an optional repeat count. Other keys pin the window, toggle week numbers and jump to a given date.

Menu bar clock replacement

The menu bar item can show the day, month and weekday, plus text built from a date and time pattern in the system clock's font, with or without the icon.

URL scheme and global shortcut

A configurable keyboard shortcut opens Itsycal from anywhere, and the itsycal://date/ URL scheme opens it at today or at a specific date.

Dato

• Dato$18

  one-time purchase on the Mac App Store

  The full app. The App Store listing promises free upgrades and says Dato will never be subscription-based.

Itsycal

• Itsycal$0

  The complete app as a direct download for macOS 11 or later, with a separate build for macOS 27. Donations are optional.

Dato

• Other savings

  Menu bar bundle of three apps for $18.00

  The Mac App Store sells Sindre's Menu Bar Bundle, which contains Dato, Lungo and Battery Indicator, for $18.00, the same price as Dato alone.

• Education

  50% off for schools buying 20 or more copies

  For his App Store apps, Sindre Sorhus says educational institutions get a 50% discount when they buy 20 or more copies of one app through Apple School Manager.

• Other savings

  Also available through Setapp

  Dato is distributed through the Setapp app subscription as well as the App Store, and the vendor's page says Setapp can be tried free for 7 days.

• Other savings

  Older versions are free on older macOS

  Earlier releases for macOS 10.14 through macOS 15 are listed as free for everyone on the vendor's page. They will not run on newer macOS versions.

Itsycal

No public discounts listed.