The Reminders MenuBar Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Reminders MenuBar 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.
Reminders MenuBar
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source macOS menu bar app for Apple Reminders
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among to-do list apps, read from Reminders MenuBar’s own pages.
Made by Rafael Damasceno · 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 Reminders MenuBar’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Reminders MenuBar’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 48 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade
Reminders MenuBar is a free, open-source macOS app that puts Apple Reminders in the menu bar. It reads and writes the Mac's own reminders store, so everything stays in sync with Apple Reminders and iCloud, and new reminders can be typed in natural language with a due date, list and tags. It is built with SwiftUI and requires macOS Monterey 12 or later.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Reminders MenuBar, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Skip it if you don't already use Apple Reminders.
- 1
Best for Apple Reminders from your Mac's menu bar
Reminders MenuBar puts your Apple Reminders in the Mac menu bar, so you can add or tick off a reminder without opening the Reminders app.
- 2
It is free
Reminders MenuBar has no paid plan at all. The whole app is free and open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0, with no paid version. The developer accepts sponsorship through GitHub Sponsors and Ko-fi.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
Reminders in the menu bar
Every interaction happens in a popover opened from the macOS menu bar, which can show an icon, a counter or the title of the next upcoming reminder.
- 5
Natural-language entry
New reminders are typed in natural language that sets the due date, list and tags. Version 2.2.0 added typing shortcuts for flagged (!f) and urgent (!u) reminders.
- 6
Edit and complete reminders
Reminders can be marked as completed or edited in place, including their due dates, priorities, recurrence rules, lists and tags.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 48 of 123
That is against the other to-do list apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Reminders MenuBar is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Reminders MenuBar at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Rafael Damasceno, since 2021
- Category
- To-Do List Apps
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for Apple Reminders from your Mac's menu bar
Reminders MenuBar puts your Apple Reminders in the Mac menu bar, so you can add or tick off a reminder without opening the Reminders app. It's free and open source, but it only runs on macOS Monterey 12 or later, it has no task list of its own, and its README names no Mac App Store listing. Skip it if you don't already use Apple Reminders.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | A Mac app you download and run for nothing, open source under the GPL v3, with no paid version to graduate to. The rest of this category charges $2.42 to $5.00 a month; here there's only a Ko-fi link. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright, with no paid tier and so nothing held back for one. Install it with Homebrew or take the disk image from the GitHub releases page and that's the whole product. |
| Features | D | It needs another product to do anything: the tasks live in Apple Reminders, and this is the window onto them. It adds plain-language entry that sets the date, list and tags, in-place editing, search and filters, but on its own it holds nothing. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: grant access to your reminders once and your lists are there, with a global shortcut to open it from any app. Updates arrive inside the app through Sparkle. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | One operating system, and one window on it: macOS Monterey 12 or later, with no iPhone, iPad, Windows or web version. Your reminders do reach your phone, but that's Apple Reminders and iCloud doing it, not this app. |
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 Reminders MenuBar is for
- Fits if you already keep your tasks in Apple Reminders and work on a Mac
- Works for jotting a reminder mid-task with a global shortcut and plain typing
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you don't use Apple Reminders, because it has no task list of its own
- Not for you if you're on Windows or want it on your phone, as it's a Mac app only
- Watch out: it needs macOS Monterey 12 or later, and installs through Homebrew or a GitHub download, with no Mac App Store listing mentioned
- Too light for anything Apple Reminders can't hold, since it only shows what's stored there and relies on Apple's sync
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who keep their tasks in Apple Reminders
- Adding or checking off reminders without opening the Reminders app
- Keyboard users who want a global shortcut for quick capture
Worth knowing
- macOS only, and it requires macOS Monterey 12 or later; there is no iPhone, iPad, Windows or web version.
- It is a front end to Apple Reminders, not a separate task store: it needs permission to access reminders and relies on Apple's own sync.
- The README lists Homebrew and a direct download from GitHub as the install routes and mentions no Mac App Store listing.
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
Reminders MenuBar is free to use.
Free outright, with no paid tier and so nothing held back for one.
Free
$0
The complete app, installed with Homebrew or as a disk image or zip archive from the GitHub releases page.
The free plan
The whole app is free and open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0, with no paid version. The developer accepts sponsorship through GitHub Sponsors and Ko-fi.
Read from github.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
Open-source macOS menu bar app for Apple Reminders. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, tasks, natural-language input, menu bar app.
It needs another product to do anything: the tasks live in Apple Reminders, and this is the window onto them.
- Reminders in the menu bar
- Every interaction happens in a popover opened from the macOS menu bar, which can show an icon, a counter or the title of the next upcoming reminder.
- Natural-language entry
- New reminders are typed in natural language that sets the due date, list and tags. Version 2.2.0 added typing shortcuts for flagged (!f) and urgent (!u) reminders.
- Edit and complete reminders
- Reminders can be marked as completed or edited in place, including their due dates, priorities, recurrence rules, lists and tags.
- Upcoming view, search and filters
- An upcoming section shows reminders within a time interval you configure, a search covers all reminders, and lists and tags filter what is displayed.
- Sync through Apple Reminders
- The app uses Apple's EventKit store to access the reminders on the Mac, the same ones shown in Apple Reminders and synced through iCloud, after a one-time permission request.
- Global shortcut and in-app updates
- A global keyboard shortcut toggles the app from anywhere, and since version 2.0.0 updates are delivered inside the app through Sparkle.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Apple Reminders
- iCloud
Reminders MenuBar is made by Rafael Damasceno, and has been around since 2021.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
48/123
Other to-do list apps it is graded above
Reminders MenuBar's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 48 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade, and level with 43.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 87 of 123) and worst on features (D, above 0).
Reminders MenuBar 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 124 to-do list apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Reminders MenuBar’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 69 of 123
- AFree plan and trialAbove 87 of 123
- DFeaturesAbove 0 of 123
- BEase of useAbove 56 of 123
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 123
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 99 to-do list apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Reminders MenuBar 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
Reminders MenuBar is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could make
- Tasks and natural-language input: an app builder makes these well.
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. Reminders MenuBar’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
Apple Reminders, GoodTask, Due, Memento and Unforgetful
The 5 tools Reminders MenuBar is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.6GPA
Apple Reminders
Free
Apple's free to-do app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch.
- Only Apple Reminders lists a web app.
- Only Apple Reminders lists an iOS app.
- Reminders MenuBar is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
GoodTask
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
Task manager built on top of Apple Reminders and Calendar.
- Reminders MenuBar has a free plan. GoodTask does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only GoodTask lists an iOS app.
- Reminders MenuBar is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Due
From $7.99 one-time
Reminder app for Apple devices that nags until a task is done.
- Reminders MenuBar has a free plan. Due does not.
- Only Due lists an iOS app.
- Reminders MenuBar is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.0GPA
Memento
From $5.99 one-time
Alternative interface for Apple Reminders lists and alerts.
- Reminders MenuBar has a free plan. Memento does not.
- Only Memento lists an iOS app.
- Reminders MenuBar is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.2GPA
Unforgetful
Free trial · from $19.99/yr
Persistent to-do reminders built on Apple Reminders data.
- Reminders MenuBar has a free plan. Unforgetful does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Unforgetful lists an iOS app.
- Reminders MenuBar is open source, according to its own site.
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 Reminders MenuBar free?
Yes. Reminders MenuBar is free to use.
How much does Reminders MenuBar cost?
Reminders MenuBar lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Reminders MenuBar work on?
Reminders MenuBar is available on macOS.
Does Reminders MenuBar have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Reminders MenuBar is listed for macOS.
Does Reminders MenuBar have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Reminders MenuBar is listed for macOS.
Is Reminders MenuBar open source?
Yes. Reminders MenuBar is open source, according to its own site.
What does Reminders MenuBar integrate with?
Reminders MenuBar's listing names Apple Reminders and iCloud. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Reminders MenuBar?
Reminders MenuBar is made by Rafael Damasceno. It dates from 2021.
What are the alternatives to Reminders MenuBar?
The closest alternatives to Reminders MenuBar in our directory are Apple Reminders, GoodTask, Due, Memento and Unforgetful.
How does Reminders MenuBar compare with other to-do list apps?
Reminders MenuBar's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 48 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade, and level with 43.
Is Reminders MenuBar good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Reminders MenuBar A for value for money. Reminders MenuBar has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Reminders MenuBar?
Reminders MenuBar 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 Reminders MenuBar’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 Reminders MenuBar's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-02-18.
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 Rafael Damasceno. Prices change, so check github.com before you buy.
- github.com/DamascenoRafael/reminders-menubar
- raw.githubusercontent.com/DamascenoRafael/reminders-menubar/master/README.md
- raw.githubusercontent.com/DamascenoRafael/reminders-menubar/master/.github/FUNDING.yml
- api.github.com/repos/DamascenoRafael/reminders-menubar
- api.github.com/repos/DamascenoRafael/reminders-menubar/releases
- api.github.com/users/DamascenoRafael
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
- Reminders MenuBar, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/reminders-menubar
- 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, "Reminders MenuBar: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/reminders-menubar
Know someone choosing between to-do list apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/reminders-menubar/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded to-do list apps after Reminders MenuBar, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- To-Do List Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 124 to-do list apps we grade, compared
- Apple Reminders Insider's GuideApple's free to-do app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch3.6 GPA
- Microsoft To Do Insider's GuideFree to-do list from Microsoft that syncs with Outlook tasks3.6 GPA
- Google Tasks Insider's GuideGoogle's to-do list, built into Gmail, Calendar, Chat and Docs3.4 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 Reminders MenuBar’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. Reminders MenuBar is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Rafael Damasceno. Prices and plans change: check github.com before you buy.