Softset Bar vs Bartender
Last verified · Written by Softset, the makers of Softset Bar
In short
Bartender is the long-established, most complete menu bar manager, with a second bar, widgets, per-item hotkeys, and a Pro subscription tier. Softset Bar is a smaller, focused tool: hide and reveal, rules, profiles, and search, as a one-time purchase.
Both work on macOS 27 Golden Gate. Bartender 7 requires macOS 27; Softset Bar runs on macOS 14 and later.
Who each is for
Choose Softset Bar if…
- You mainly want to hide the icons you choose and reveal them by click, hover, shortcut, or rules.
- You'd rather pay once, and you're on macOS 14 through 27.
- You want an app with no analytics that doesn't need Accessibility or Screen Recording for its core features.
Choose Bartender if…
- You want a secondary bar for hidden items, live widgets, or a hotkey for every individual menu bar item.
- You want fine-grained layout editing and years of feature depth.
- You're happy with a subscription tier, or Bartender through Setapp.
Side by side
| Feature | Softset Bar | Bartender |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase model | One-time purchase. Free updates including new major versions. | Bartender 7 one-time (updates for version 7), Bartender Pro yearly subscription, or lifetime Mega Supporter. source |
| Price | $9.99 for one Mac, $14.99 for three. | Shown in your local currency at checkout; see macbartender.com/purchase for current prices. source |
| Free trial | 14 days, everything unlocked. | Free trial; Bartender Pro has a 14-day trial and 14-day refund. source |
| Macs per license | One (or three with the 3-Mac license). | All your Macs. source |
| macOS | macOS 14 Sonoma or later, including macOS 27. | Bartender 7 requires macOS 27; Bartender 6 is for macOS 26 Tahoe. source |
| Hide and always-hide | Yes. | Yes, plus the Bartender Bar, a second bar for hidden items. source |
| Rules / triggers | App in front, battery, charging, display, network, time. | Triggers, e.g. battery, Wi-Fi, and more, plus widgets. source |
| Profiles | Yes. | Yes. source |
| Search menu bar items | Yes (optional, uses Accessibility). | Yes, with the Command Bar. source |
| Hotkeys | Global shortcut to reveal and to search. | Hotkeys for features and for individual menu bar items. source |
| Spacing | Four spacing presets, from macOS default to tightest. | Adjustable spacing presets. source |
| Account | None. | License key; no account needed to use the app. source |
| Analytics in the app | None. | See Bartender's privacy policy. source |
Differences
Feature range
Bartender does more: a second bar, widgets, per-item hotkeys, and detailed layout control. Softset Bar covers deciding what's hidden and when it comes back, plus spacing, spacers, and a menu bar tint, and leaves out the rest.
How they hide icons on macOS 27
macOS 27 draws the menu bar as one window, which broke most menu bar managers in the first betas. Softset Bar hides icons using only public status item APIs, sized to each connected display. Bartender released a dedicated version 7 for macOS 27.
Paying for it
Softset Bar is a one-time purchase with free updates, including future major versions. Bartender offers a one-time Bartender 7 license covering updates to version 7, a yearly Pro subscription that includes future major versions, and a lifetime option.
Looking for a Bartender alternative?
If you’re searching for “bartender alternative for mac” or “bartender alternative without subscription”, the table above covers what changes when you switch. Softset Bar’s own page has the full details, including its privacy and permissions trust card.
Softset Bar
Choose which menu bar icons stay visible and which stay hidden until you click, hover, press a shortcut, or a rule brings them back. Works with the new menu bar in macOS 27.
Coming soon. Planned price: $9.99 once, with a 14-day free trial.