The boring.notch Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about boring.notch in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
boring.notch
The Insider’s Guide
Turns the MacBook notch into a music player and file shelf
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from boring.notch’s own pages.
Made by TheBoredTeam · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from boring.notch’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on boring.notch’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
boring.notch is a free, open-source macOS app from TheBoredTeam that turns the MacBook's notch into an interactive panel. Hovering over the notch expands it to show music controls with a visualizer, a calendar, and a shelf that holds files for AirDrop and other sharing. It also replaces the system volume and brightness indicators. The code is licensed under GPL-3.0 and the project is funded by donations.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about boring.notch, taken from its own pages and our grades.
After that you only hover over the notch.
- 1
Best for music controls and a file shelf in the MacBook notch
The team has no Apple Developer account, so macOS blocks the first launch until you override it.
- 2
It is free
boring.notch has no paid plan at all. The whole app is free and open source under GPL-3.0, and the website says it always will be free. Donations through Ko-fi or Buy Me a Coffee are optional.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
Music controls in the notch
Shows what is playing with a visualizer and playback controls that can be rearranged, including 15-second skips, app volume and favorites, plus synchronized lyrics in beta.
- 5
File shelf with AirDrop
Dragging files to the notch opens a shelf that holds them for AirDrop and other sharing services, with multi-item selection and a right-click menu of file actions.
- 6
System HUD replacement
Replaces the macOS on-screen indicators for volume, screen brightness and keyboard backlight with its own display in the notch, with optional percentages.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 36 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
boring.notch is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
boring.notch at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- TheBoredTeam
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for music controls and a file shelf in the MacBook notch
boring.notch is a free, open-source Mac app that turns the MacBook notch into a panel with music controls, a calendar and a shelf for AirDrop files. The team has no Apple Developer account, so macOS blocks the first launch until you override it. Weather, layouts and lock screen widgets are still on the roadmap, lyrics are beta, and the README and website disagree on which macOS it needs.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | It costs nothing and it's a plain download. The whole app is free and open source under GPL-3.0, and the website says it always will be free. Donations through Ko-fi or Buy Me a Coffee are optional. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Every feature is free, with no account and no license key. You get a universal build for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs from GitHub Releases or Homebrew. |
| Features | C | Music controls with a visualizer, a file shelf for AirDrop, calendar and reminders, and its own volume and brightness indicators: that's the notch covered, and nothing else. The listing's own roadmap still has weather, customizable layouts, lock screen widgets and extensions not done, and lyrics are beta. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating is on record, and the first launch is a faff: macOS blocks the app because the team has no Apple Developer account, so you run a Terminal command or override it in System Settings. After that you only hover over the notch. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, one operating system, and built around the MacBook's notch. It works with Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music and AirDrop. The README asks for macOS 14 Sonoma or later, while the website's download card says macOS 13 Ventura. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who boring.notch is for
- Fits if you want music controls in your MacBook's notch
- Works for people who AirDrop files often and want a drop target at the top of the screen
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're not on a Mac, as it's macOS only and built around the MacBook notch
- Not for you if security warnings put you off, since macOS blocks the first launch until you override it
- Too light for weather or lock screen widgets, because those are on the roadmap and not done
- Watch out: the README asks for macOS 14 while the website says macOS 13, so check before you install
- Watch out: YouTube Music support needs version 3.11 or later of the Pear Desktop app
Good to know
Good for
- MacBook owners who want media controls in the notch area
- People who share files by AirDrop and want a drop target at the top of the screen
- Anyone looking for a free, open-source notch app
Worth knowing
- macOS only. The README requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later, while the website's download card says macOS 13 Ventura or later.
- The team has no Apple Developer account, so macOS blocks the first launch until a Terminal command or a System Settings override is used; the Homebrew install avoids this.
- Bluetooth live activities, weather, customizable layouts, lock screen widgets and an extension system are on the roadmap but not marked as done.
- YouTube Music support needs version 3.11 or later of the YouTube Music (Pear Desktop) app.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
boring.notch is free to use.
It costs nothing and it's a plain download.
boring.notch
$0
Every feature, as a universal build for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs from GitHub Releases or Homebrew. No account or license key.
The free plan
The whole app is free and open source under GPL-3.0, and the website says it always will be free. Donations through Ko-fi or Buy Me a Coffee are optional.
Read from theboring.name on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Turns the MacBook notch into a music player and file shelf. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, menu bar app.
The listing's own roadmap still has weather, customizable layouts, lock screen widgets and extensions not done, and lyrics are beta.
- Music controls in the notch
- Shows what is playing with a visualizer and playback controls that can be rearranged, including 15-second skips, app volume and favorites, plus synchronized lyrics in beta.
- File shelf with AirDrop
- Dragging files to the notch opens a shelf that holds them for AirDrop and other sharing services, with multi-item selection and a right-click menu of file actions.
- System HUD replacement
- Replaces the macOS on-screen indicators for volume, screen brightness and keyboard backlight with its own display in the notch, with optional percentages.
- Calendar and reminders
- Calendar and reminders integrations are built in, with settings to hide all-day events, scroll automatically to the current or next event and stop long event names being cut off.
- Mirror and battery indicator
- The project roadmap marks two further additions as done: a mirror, and a charging indicator that shows the current battery percentage.
- Lock screen and screenshot options
- The notch can appear on the lock screen, can be hidden from screenshots and recordings, and its size and gestures can be adjusted for different displays.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Apple Music
- Spotify
- YouTube Music
- AirDrop
boring.notch is made by TheBoredTeam.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
36/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
boring.notch's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 20.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 49 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
boring.notch has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. boring.notch’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- CEase of useAbove 6 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 55 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. boring.notch is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
boring.notch is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could not
- A native app living in the menu bar.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- Hooks into the device itself: the lock screen.
What this rests on. boring.notch’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Yoink, Dropzone, Thaw and Bartender
The 4 tools boring.notch is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Yoink
Free trial · from $8.99 one-time
Drag-and-drop shelf for files and snippets on the Mac.
- boring.notch has a free plan. Yoink does not, though it has a free trial.
- boring.notch is open source, according to its own site.
- Yoink can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Dropzone
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Drag-and-drop action grid and file shelf for the Mac menu bar.
- boring.notch is open source, according to its own site.
- Dropzone can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Dropzone also covers file sharing and file management.
- 2.6GPA
Thaw
Free
- 2.4GPA
Bartender
Free trial · from $19.99/yr
Menu bar manager for macOS that hides and organizes items.
- boring.notch has a free plan. Bartender does not, though it has a free trial.
- boring.notch is open source, according to its own site.
- Bartender can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is boring.notch free?
Yes. boring.notch is free to use. The whole app is free and open source under GPL-3.0, and the website says it always will be free.
How much does boring.notch cost?
boring.notch lists one plan. boring.notch: $0. Prices were read from theboring.name on Oct 9, 2026.
What platforms does boring.notch work on?
boring.notch is available on macOS.
Does boring.notch have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. boring.notch is listed for macOS.
Does boring.notch have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. boring.notch is listed for macOS.
Is boring.notch open source?
Yes. boring.notch is open source, according to its own site.
What does boring.notch integrate with?
boring.notch's listing names Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music and AirDrop.
Who makes boring.notch?
boring.notch is made by TheBoredTeam.
What are the alternatives to boring.notch?
The closest alternatives to boring.notch in our directory are Yoink, Dropzone, Thaw and Bartender.
How does boring.notch compare with other desktop utilities?
boring.notch's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 20.
Is boring.notch good value for money?
ToolGPA grades boring.notch A for value for money. boring.notch has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of boring.notch?
boring.notch is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: A native app living in the menu bar.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from boring.notch’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from TheBoredTeam's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-24.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by TheBoredTeam. Prices change, so check theboring.name before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- boring.notch, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/boring-notch
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "boring.notch: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/boring-notch
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/boring-notch/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
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- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what boring.notch’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. boring.notch is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by TheBoredTeam. Prices and plans change: check theboring.name before you buy.