The best notch apps for Mac in 2026.
The notch on a MacBook can do more than hold the camera. Here are six apps that put it to work, what each one is for, and what it costs.
The short answer
- Free music controls and a file shelf: The Boring Notch. Free and open source.
- The most widgets: NotchNook, $25 once or $3 a month.
- An iPhone-style Dynamic Island: Alcove, $13.99.
- Better volume and brightness pop-ups: MediaMate.
- Hide the notch completely: TopNotch. Free.
- Help getting your day’s work done: Papa. Free, with a one-time Pro upgrade.
| App | Best for | Price | Needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Boring Notch | Music controls, file shelf, calendar | Free, open source | macOS 14 |
| NotchNook | Widgets, file tray, shortcuts | $25 once, or $3/month | See its site |
| Alcove | Dynamic Island look, Live Activities | $13.99 | macOS 15 |
| MediaMate | Volume and brightness pop-ups, now playing | Paid | macOS 13 |
| TopNotch | Hiding the notch | Free | macOS 11 |
| Papa | Daily plan, site time limits, sales alerts | Free; Pro $9.99 once | macOS 14 |
What is a notch app?
Since 2021, MacBook screens have a black cut-out at the top for the camera. macOS mostly leaves it empty. A notch app uses that space: most turn it into a small panel that opens when you hover over it, with music controls, files or widgets inside. A few hide the notch instead, and some use it to show you things at the right moment.
1. The Boring Notch
Best free pick for music and files. The Boring Notch turns the notch into a music player with a visualiser and playback controls. It also has a shelf you can drop files onto and AirDrop from, your calendar, and replacements for the macOS volume and brightness pop-ups.
- Price: free and open source (GPL-3.0).
- Needs: macOS 14 Sonoma or later, Apple silicon or Intel.
- Good to know: install it with Homebrew to skip the “unidentified developer” warning the direct download shows.
2. NotchNook
Best for the most features. NotchNook surrounds the notch with a panel of widgets: media controls, a file tray, a calendar and shortcuts to other apps. It also works on Macs and displays without a notch, where it draws its own panel at the top of the screen.
- Price: $25 once for up to five Macs, or $3 a month for two. There’s a free trial.
3. Alcove
Best if you want the iPhone’s Dynamic Island. Alcove leans into the look of the iPhone: smooth animations, Live Activities for things in progress, notifications, swipe gestures and lock screen widgets.
- Price: $13.99.
- Needs: macOS 15 or later.
4. MediaMate
Best for one small job done well. MediaMate replaces the big macOS volume and brightness pop-ups with smaller ones, adds one for keyboard brightness, and shows what’s playing inside the notch.
- Price: paid, sold through Gumroad.
- Needs: macOS 13 or later.
5. TopNotch
Best if you’d rather not see the notch at all. TopNotch makes the menu bar black so the notch disappears into it. It works with dynamic wallpapers, multiple displays and Spaces, and can round the corners of the screen.
- Price: free.
- Needs: macOS 11 or later.
6. Papa
Best for getting your day’s work done. Papa is the one I make, and it does a different job from the rest. Instead of widgets, there’s a character in the notch: an Indian dad who keeps an eye on your day.
- Morning plan: the first time you open your Mac each day, he asks for up to three things you’ll do.
- Evening check: at the time you pick, he asks which ones got done.
- Site time limits: give YouTube or any site a daily limit in Safari or Chrome. Go over and he brings up Sharma ji’s son.
- Sales alerts (Pro): connect Stripe or Dodo Payments with a read-only key and he reacts to every sale. No sales by evening and the belt comes out, at most once a day, and you can turn it off.
- English or Hinglish, streaks, battery reminders, quiet hours and a daily cap on how often he speaks.
- Price: free. Pro is $9.99 once, no subscription.
- Needs: macOS 14 Sonoma or later. Works on Macs without a notch too.
How to pick
Decide what you want the notch to do. For music and quick file drops, start with The Boring Notch, since it’s free, and move to NotchNook or Alcove if you want more polish or more widgets. If you just want the notch gone, TopNotch. If you want something in the notch that cares whether you shipped today, try Papa.
Questions
Are there free notch apps for Mac?
Yes. The Boring Notch is free and open source, TopNotch is free, and Papa is free with an optional one-time Pro upgrade.
Do notch apps work on Macs without a notch?
Some do. NotchNook and Papa both draw a small panel at the top centre of the screen on Macs and external displays without a notch. Check each app before buying if your Mac has no notch.
Which notch app helps you get work done?
Papa is built for that. He asks for three tasks every morning, checks which got done in the evening, puts daily time limits on sites like YouTube, and reacts to your Stripe or Dodo Payments sales.