Bartender 6 vs Ice
Both tidy a crowded menu bar by hiding icons until you need them. Bartender is the long-running paid option, with groups, triggers that show icons when something changes, and deep customisation; it changed owners in 2024. Ice is free and open source and covers hiding icons, a separate bar for hidden items and menu bar styling.
Facts checked · No paid placements
Bartender 6
Organize and hide menu bar icons.
Ice
A powerful, free menu bar manager.
Pick by what you need
Choose Bartender 6 if
- You want rules that reveal icons automatically, such as when the battery runs low.
- You want icon groups and detailed layout control.
- You're happy to pay for a polished, supported app.
Choose Ice if
- You want it free and open source.
- You mainly need to hide icons and keep the notch area clear.
- You'd like to read the code that runs in your menu bar.
The facts, side by side
| Fact | Bartender 6 | Ice |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Paid up front | Free and open source |
| Developer | Applause Group | Jordan Baird |
| Mac App Store | No | No |
| Homebrew cask | bartender | jordanbaird-ice |
| Open source | No | GPL-3.0 |
| Last commit | – | October 2026 |
| GitHub stars | – | 30k |
Facts checked . Prices can change; each developer's site is the final word.
Bartender 6 or Ice?
Is Bartender 6 better than Ice?
Neither is better for everyone. Both tidy a crowded menu bar by hiding icons until you need them. Bartender is the long-running paid option, with groups, triggers that show icons when something changes, and deep customisation; it changed owners in 2024. Ice is free and open source and covers hiding icons, a separate bar for hidden items and menu bar styling.
How much does Bartender 6 cost?
Bartender 6 is paid software, bought up front from macbartender.com.
Is Ice free?
Yes. Ice is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license. The source code is on GitHub at jordanbaird/Ice.
What else is like Bartender 6 and Ice?
Other utilities apps on MacWorthy worth a look are iStat Menus (one-time purchase), Amphetamine (free) and Klack (one-time purchase).