As our Mac menu bars become increasingly crowded, menu bar managers have become essential tools. Let's compare two popular solutions - Bartender 5 and Ice - to help you decide which one better suits your needs.
Interface & Design
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Bartender 5: Professional and refined interface with seamless macOS integration. Offers multiple view options and sophisticated menu bar management.
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Ice: Modern, minimalist approach with a clean interface focused on simplicity and visual organization. Being open-source, it's actively developed on GitHub with community contributions.
Core Features Comparison
| Feature | Bartender 5 | Ice |
|---|---|---|
| Hide Menu Bar Items | ✓ | ✓ |
| Show/Hide Triggers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Search Menu Bar Items | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom Spacers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple Layouts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hot Corners Support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Quick Reveal | ✓ | ✓ |
| Keyboard Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom Scripts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Menu Bar Themes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Group Organization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto-Hide Rules | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quick Settings Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Menu Bar Icons Customization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple Display Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✓ |
Detailed Feature Breakdown
Bartender 5
- Organization Features:
- Multiple layout profiles
- Customizable groups
- Smart auto-hide rules
- Quick search functionality
- Flexible spacing options
- Menu bar item reordering
- Advanced Controls:
- Trigger-based showing/hiding
- Custom scripts support
- Hot corner activation
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Mouse hover reveals
- Display Options:
- Show for updates only
- Show for notifications
- Timed showing
- Custom transitions
- Multiple display management
- Customization:
- Icon opacity control
- Custom spacing
- Individual item settings
- Profile switching
- Import/export settings
Ice
- Core Features:
- Simple hide/show controls
- Basic grouping
- Quick reveal options
- Search functionality
- Show hidden items below menu bar (Ice Bar)
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Visual Features:
- Menu bar themes
- Icon customization
- Group colors
- Visual separators
- Clean animations
- Menu bar tint (solid and gradient)
- Menu bar shadow and border options
- Custom menu bar shapes
- Management Options:
- Basic auto-hide rules
- Group management
- Quick settings access
- Display preferences
- Drag-and-drop organization
- Automatic rehide options
- Show on hover functionality
Pricing
Bartender 5
- One-time purchase
- Free trial available
- Family sharing supported
- Available on Setapp and direct purchase
Ice
- Open-source and free to download
- Available on GitHub
- Homebrew installation supported
- Requires macOS 14 or later
- Optional donations accepted
Use Case Recommendations
Choose Bartender 5 if you:
- Want powerful customization options
- Need multiple layout profiles
- Require advanced scripting capabilities
- Prefer a one-time purchase
- Need sophisticated auto-hide rules
- Want extensive keyboard control
Go with Ice if you:
- Prefer a modern, minimal interface
- Want built-in themes
- Need basic menu bar management
- Want a free, open-source solution
- Want simpler configuration
- Prioritize visual organization
Getting Started
- Download from respective websites or Mac App Store
- Grant necessary permissions
- Configure initial preferences
- Start organizing menu bar items
- Set up auto-hide rules (optional)
Final Verdict
Bartender 5 stands out as the more mature and feature-rich solution, offering advanced customization options and powerful scripting capabilities that power users will appreciate. Its one-time purchase model and family sharing support make it an attractive long-term investment for users who want complete control over their menu bar.
Ice, while newer to the market, brings a fresh perspective with its modern interface and theme support. It's an excellent choice for users who want a simpler, more visually-oriented approach to menu bar management without the complexity of advanced features.
For professional users and power users who need granular control and multiple profiles, Bartender 5 is the clear winner. However, if you're looking for a straightforward solution with modern aesthetics and don't mind a subscription model, Ice provides a capable alternative.
Having said that, I personally do not find Bartender 5 as polished as Ice. I've been using Ice for a while now and it's been a breeze to use. I've Setapp membership so I have access to both apps but I use Ice on my personal computer.
Updates and Support
Both applications receive regular updates and offer responsive customer support. Bartender 5's longer market presence has resulted in a more established support community and extensive documentation.
Note: Features and pricing mentioned are current as of January 2025 and may be subject to change. Always verify current offerings on the official websites and check out apps.deals for the best app deals throughout the year.