Most of the well-known notch apps cost money: Alcove is $14.99, NotchNook is $25 or $3 a month, and Droppy lists at $9.99. There are free options, though, and two of them are open source. This guide lists the genuinely free notch apps for Mac, what each one gives you, and what the catch is.
Quick disclosure: we make OneNotch, one of the apps below. We have tried to be fair to every app, including where a free alternative is the better pick. Prices and features were checked against each app's own pages on September 30, 2026; check them again before you install.
What "free" means for a notch app
Not every free notch app is free in the same way, so it helps to separate three kinds:
- Free and open source. The app costs nothing and the code is public. The price is usually polish, support and sometimes an unsigned install.
- A free tier with a paid upgrade. The app is useful on its own, and a paid plan unlocks more.
- A free trial. The app works for a short time, then asks you to pay. This is not a free app, but it lets you test before buying.
Quick comparison
| App | Free how | Needs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boring Notch | Free, open source (GPL-3.0) | macOS 14+, Apple Silicon or Intel | Media controls, file shelf, HUDs |
| Atoll | Free, open source (GPL v3) | macOS 14+, MacBook with a notch | Clipboard history and system stats |
| OneNotch | Free tier, optional Pro | macOS 15+, Apple Silicon | Clipboard, screenshots, file actions, AI agents |
| TopNotch | Free | macOS 11+ | Hiding the notch |
The best free notch apps for Mac
1. Boring Notch: the best fully free option
Boring Notch has a passionate following and around 10,900 stars on GitHub. It is open source under GPL-3.0 and brings a Dynamic Island feel for nothing: music controls with a visualizer, a file shelf with AirDrop, calendar, weather and replacement volume and brightness HUDs. It runs on macOS 14 Sonoma or later, on Apple Silicon and Intel.
The catch: it is not notarized by Apple, so you allow it manually on first launch, and some users report occasional bugs and higher memory use with the visualizer on.
Best for: anyone who wants a free notch app and is happy with media, a shelf and HUDs. See our Boring Notch alternatives if you hit its limits.
2. Atoll: free, with clipboard history and system stats
Atoll is built on the Boring Notch code and adds clipboard history, a color picker, timers, live CPU, GPU, memory and network stats, and lock-screen widgets. It is GPL v3, with around 4,800 stars.
The catch: it only runs on a MacBook with a physical notch (14-inch and 16-inch models with Apple silicon, per its README), so it is not an option on a Mac mini or an older MacBook without a notch.
Best for: owners of a notched MacBook Pro who want a free dashboard with system monitoring.
3. OneNotch: a free tier with a deep clipboard
OneNotch is free to use, with an optional Pro upgrade. The free tier includes clipboard history with Copy Stack, boards and OCR, file actions such as resize, convert, compress and remove background, everyday screenshot capture with the full annotation toolbox, core translation, Now Playing with lyrics, Live Activities, a calendar, a Focus Timer, Snap Zones (three layout slots) and AI-agent status for Claude Code and Codex.
The limits of the free tier: 50 clipboard items kept for 24 hours and one board with 10 pins. Pro is a one-time purchase at $9.99 lifetime, or $6.99 with code LAUNCH30 for two Macs, and lifts that to 1,000 items kept as long as you like and 20 boards, adds iCloud sync between Macs, and unlocks the advanced screenshot and translation tools.
The catch: it needs macOS 15 on Apple Silicon, it is not open source, and it does not keep a persistent file shelf. It works on Macs without a notch through Pill mode.
Best for: people who copy and paste constantly or use AI coding agents, and want a free start.
4. TopNotch: free, if you just want the notch gone
TopNotch is not a productivity app. It is a tiny free utility that makes the menu bar black so the notch blends into the display, with a rounded-corners option and multiple-display support. It runs on macOS 11 and later.
The catch: it only hides the notch, it adds no functionality. See our OneNotch vs TopNotch comparison.
Best for: people who dislike how the notch looks.
Paid notch apps with a free trial
If you are open to paying after a test, these all let you try before you buy:
- Droppy: $9.99 list price once (lower in many countries), 3-day trial, macOS 14+. A drop shelf with a clipboard manager and extensions.
- Alcove: $14.99 once, 72-hour trial. The polished Dynamic Island look, reported to need macOS 15.
- NotchNook: $25 once or $3 a month, short trial, macOS 14.6+. The most established dashboard.
- MacNotch: $22.99 once or $3.99 a month, 14-day trial. A modular hub that also monitors AI coding tools.
Which free notch app should you pick?
- You want free, open source and a file shelf. Boring Notch.
- You have a notched MacBook Pro and want system stats. Atoll.
- You want clipboard, screenshots and AI agents for free. OneNotch, if you are on macOS 15 with Apple Silicon.
- You only want the notch to disappear. TopNotch.
- You would rather test a polished paid app first. Alcove or Droppy, both with a short trial. Our Alcove alternatives list and the full best Mac notch apps guide compare them in detail.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free notch app for Mac?
Boring Notch is the best fully free, open-source notch app for media controls, a file shelf and system HUDs. If you want clipboard history too, Atoll (needs a notched MacBook) or OneNotch (macOS 15 on Apple Silicon) add it for free.
Is there a free Dynamic Island for Mac?
Yes. Boring Notch and Atoll bring a Dynamic Island-style experience for free and are open source. OneNotch also has a free tier. Alcove is the paid app closest to the iPhone feel.
Are free notch apps safe?
Open-source apps such as Boring Notch and Atoll let anyone read the code. Boring Notch is not notarized by Apple, so macOS shows a warning you have to allow manually. Install any app only from its official site or GitHub releases.
Do free notch apps work on Macs without a notch?
Boring Notch and OneNotch do: Boring Notch simulates a notch area, and OneNotch uses Pill mode. Atoll needs a MacBook with a physical notch.
Does OneNotch have a free version?
Yes. OneNotch is free to use, with no account needed. The free tier keeps 50 clipboard items for 24 hours and includes file actions, screenshots with annotation, core translation and AI-agent status. Pro is an optional one-time upgrade.
