Bartender was sold by its original developer to a new owner, Applause, in early 2024, a change that only became public that June after users noticed it themselves and asked questions about the lack of disclosure. The new release added analytics and, briefly, a Profile Sync feature that uploaded menu bar configurations to a remote server by default; that default was removed after users flagged it. Bartender is now on version 6, priced at $20 for new users, and development has continued under the new ownership since.
| Rank | App | Best For | Price | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Ice |
Free, open menu bar decluttering | Free | 28,000+ GitHub stars, GPL-3.0, actively maintained |
| 2 |  Bartender |
Established, feature-rich menu bar manager | $20 (Bartender 6, new users) | Long feature set built up over years, now under new ownership since 2024 |
1
Free
Ice
Your menu bar, decluttered and under control.
Ice covers the job Bartender is best known for: hiding and revealing menu bar icons on demand, plus a secondary bar, drag-to-rearrange spacing and menu bar restyling, all for nothing and under a GPL-3.0 licence with the code open for anyone to read.
- Hides and reveals menu bar icons on demand
- Adds a secondary bar for hidden items
- Drag to rearrange and space icons
- Free, open source and actively maintained
Frequently asked
Is Ice a good free replacement for Bartender?
Yes, for the core job. Ice hides, reveals and rearranges menu bar icons and adds a secondary bar for hidden items, all for free under an open source licence, though Bartender's paid version has built up more niche appearance options over a longer history.
What happened to Bartender in 2024?
Original developer Ben Surtees sold Bartender to a new owner, Applause, and the change only became public after users noticed it themselves. The new release also shipped with analytics and a Profile Sync feature that uploaded configurations to a server by default, which was reversed after user pushback.
Is Ice actually free, or is there a paid tier?
Ice is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 licence, with no paid tier, no account and no in-app purchases.
Who makes Ice?
Ice is written by developer Jordan Baird and has grown into the standard free answer to Mac menu bar clutter, passing 28,000 stars on GitHub by 2026.
Does Bartender still work well after the ownership change?
Yes, development has continued under the new owner and Bartender is now on version 6, though the 2024 disclosure issues led some long-time users to look at alternatives like Ice.
Can Ice restyle the menu bar itself, not just hide icons?
Yes, Ice can add tints, shadows and rounded corners to the menu bar itself, alongside spacing and rearranging individual icons.