The Hidden Bar Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Hidden Bar 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.
Hidden Bar
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source utility that hides macOS menu bar icons
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Hidden Bar’s own pages.
Made by Dwarves Foundation · 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 Hidden Bar’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Hidden Bar’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
2.8
GPA, above 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
Hidden Bar is a free, open-source macOS utility from Dwarves Foundation that hides menu bar icons behind a collapsible arrow. Icons are Command-dragged to one side of a separator, then hidden or shown with a click or a global shortcut, and can be set to hide again automatically after a delay. It is available on the Mac App Store, through Homebrew and as a direct download.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Hidden Bar, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating is on record, but there's nothing to set up: Command-drag icons past the separator and click the arrow.
- 1
Best for hiding spare menu bar icons for free
Hidden Bar is a free, open-source Mac app that hides menu bar icons behind an arrow you click or open with a shortcut.
- 2
It is free
Hidden Bar has no paid plan at all. The whole app is free on the Mac App Store, through Homebrew or as a direct download, and is open source under the MIT license.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
Collapsible hidden section
Command-drag icons to the left of the separator, then click the arrow to collapse or expand that part of the menu bar.
- 5
Auto collapse
Hidden icons are tucked away again after a chosen delay. The countdown pauses while the pointer is in the menu bar.
- 6
Global shortcut
A system-wide hotkey set in Preferences expands or collapses the hidden section from any app.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 57 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
Hidden Bar is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Hidden Bar at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Dwarves Foundation
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for hiding spare menu bar icons for free
Hidden Bar is a free, open-source Mac app that hides menu bar icons behind an arrow you click or open with a shortcut. That's all it does: there's no full menu bar management, two settings exist only as terminal commands, and the manual lists known problems, like always-hidden icons that still appear. The Mac App Store copy still shows version 1.8 from June 2021, so you'd need GitHub or Homebrew for a current build.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under the MIT licence, whether you get it from the Mac App Store, Homebrew or a direct download. There's nothing to buy. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole app is free, and it's listed as Free on the US Mac App Store. Auto collapse, the global shortcut and the always-hidden section all come with it. |
| Features | C | Hiding icons is about as small as a job gets, and this is all of it: a collapsible section, auto collapse after a delay, a global hotkey and an always-hidden zone. The manual admits always-hidden icons can still appear unless you hide the separators too, and two settings exist only as terminal commands. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating is on record, but there's nothing to set up: Command-drag icons past the separator and click the arrow. A newly installed app's icon can start out in the hidden zone, so you drag it out once. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, a single operating system. Current GitHub releases need macOS 13 or later, while the Mac App Store listing still shows version 1.8 from June 2021. No integrations are listed. |
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 Hidden Bar is for
- Fits if you only want to tuck away the menu bar icons you rarely click
- Works for Macs on macOS 13 or later, installed from GitHub or Homebrew
Who it is not for
- Too light for anyone after a full menu bar manager, since it's one arrow and a hidden section
- Skip it if you're on Windows or Linux, or want it from the Mac App Store, which still shows version 1.8 from June 2021
- Watch out: always-hidden icons can still show after expanding unless you hide the separators too
- Watch out: a new app's icon can start out hidden, and options like a custom collapse delay need the terminal
- Skip it if you run macOS betas: the manual lists a hiding failure on a macOS 27 beta, and macOS 27 needs Accessibility permission
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who only want to tuck away rarely used menu bar icons
- People who want a free, open-source menu bar hider
- Those who prefer one arrow to click over a larger menu bar manager
Worth knowing
- macOS only. Current GitHub releases need macOS 13 or later, while the Mac App Store listing shows version 1.8 from June 2021.
- The manual says always-hidden icons can still appear after expanding unless the separators are hidden too, a known limitation.
- A newly installed app's icon can start out in the hidden zone and has to be Command-dragged out once.
- On macOS 27 the direct-download build needs Accessibility permission, and the manual lists a hiding failure on a macOS 27 beta as a known issue.
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
Hidden Bar is free to use.
Free and open source under the MIT licence, whether you get it from the Mac App Store, Homebrew or a direct download.
Hidden Bar
$0
Collapsible hidden section, auto collapse, global shortcut, always-hidden section and launch at login. Listed as Free on the US Mac App Store.
The free plan
The whole app is free on the Mac App Store, through Homebrew or as a direct download, and is open source under the MIT license.
Read from apps.apple.com 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
Free, open-source utility that hides macOS menu bar icons. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, menu bar app.
The manual admits always-hidden icons can still appear unless you hide the separators too, and two settings exist only as terminal commands.
- Collapsible hidden section
- Command-drag icons to the left of the separator, then click the arrow to collapse or expand that part of the menu bar.
- Auto collapse
- Hidden icons are tucked away again after a chosen delay. The countdown pauses while the pointer is in the menu bar.
- Global shortcut
- A system-wide hotkey set in Preferences expands or collapses the hidden section from any app.
- Always-hidden section
- An optional second zone holds icons that stay hidden even when the bar is expanded. Option-clicking the arrow reveals it.
- Full menu bar on expanding
- A preference lets the expanded icons use the whole menu bar for a moment, which the manual says helps when the menu bar is tight on space.
- Terminal-only options
- Settings with no interface, changed with the defaults command, include expanding on hover and a custom auto-collapse delay.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Hidden Bar is made by Dwarves Foundation.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
57/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Hidden Bar's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 49 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Hidden Bar has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 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. Hidden Bar’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 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. Hidden Bar 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
Hidden Bar 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.
What this rests on. Hidden Bar’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
Bartender, Thaw, SwiftBar and boring.notch
The 4 tools Hidden Bar is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Bartender
Free trial · from $19.99/yr
Menu bar manager for macOS that hides and organizes items.
- Hidden Bar has a free plan. Bartender does not, though it has a free trial.
- Hidden Bar is open source, according to its own site.
- Bartender can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Thaw
Free
- 2.4GPA
SwiftBar
Free
Open-source tool that puts script output in the Mac menu bar.
- 2.6GPA
boring.notch
Free
Turns the MacBook notch into a music player and file shelf.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 Hidden Bar free?
Yes. Hidden Bar is free to use.
How much does Hidden Bar cost?
Hidden Bar lists one plan. Hidden Bar: $0.
What platforms does Hidden Bar work on?
Hidden Bar is available on macOS.
Does Hidden Bar have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Hidden Bar is listed for macOS.
Does Hidden Bar have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Hidden Bar is listed for macOS.
Is Hidden Bar open source?
Yes. Hidden Bar is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Hidden Bar?
Hidden Bar is made by Dwarves Foundation.
What are the alternatives to Hidden Bar?
The closest alternatives to Hidden Bar in our directory are Bartender, Thaw, SwiftBar and boring.notch.
How does Hidden Bar compare with other desktop utilities?
Hidden Bar's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
Is Hidden Bar good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Hidden Bar A for value for money. Hidden Bar has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Hidden Bar?
Hidden Bar 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 Hidden Bar’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 Hidden Bar's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-03-27.
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 Dwarves Foundation. Prices change, so check github.com 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
- Hidden Bar, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/hidden-bar
- 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, "Hidden Bar: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/hidden-bar
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/hidden-bar/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after Hidden Bar, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- 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 Hidden Bar’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. Hidden Bar is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Dwarves Foundation. Prices and plans change: check github.com before you buy.