# What a Mac notch app really costs over 1, 3 and 5 years

> Total cost of 24 one time and 10 subscription Mac notch app plans over 1, 3 and 5 years, sorted by 3 year cost, from each app's own page, 4 November 2026.

Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/best/best-mac-notch-app-cost-over-1-3-5-years/
Last updated: 2026-11-05

Published 2026-11-05.

Over three years, a Mac notch app that you pay for once costs between $4 and $29.99, while the subscriptions in this table cost between $44.97 and $179.64, apart from one weekly plan. NotchStar is the lowest at $4 once, for up to 3 Macs, and it stays $4 at year 1, year 3 and year 5. NotchNook Pro at $3 a month reaches $108 by year 3 and $180 by year 5. Prices as of 4 November 2026.

## How the sums work

Every figure is a payment the app's own page lists, read on 4 November 2026. The sums were done in a Python script with exact decimals, not by hand.

- A one time price is counted once, whatever the period.
- A monthly plan is multiplied by 12, 36 and 60. A yearly plan is multiplied by 1, 3 and 5. A weekly plan is multiplied by 52, 156 and 260.
- Prices stay the same for the whole period. In real life they can change.
- Tax is left out. OmniNotch and Notch Buddy say their prices exclude tax, Crest says its prices include tax outside the US and Canada, and most pages do not say.
- The cost of one Mac is shown, so apps that cover several Macs are not credited here. See [the multi Mac comparison](https://www.notchstar.com/best/cheapest-mac-notch-app-for-several-macs/) for that.

## The full table, sorted by 3 year cost

| Rank | App and plan | Billing | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NotchStar | $4 once | $4 | $4 | $4 |
| 2 | NotchBox Pro | $4.99 once | $4.99 | $4.99 | $4.99 |
| 3 | Tuneful | $4.99 once | $4.99 | $4.99 | $4.99 |
| 4 | NotchThings | $6.99 once | $6.99 | $6.99 | $6.99 |
| 5 | OneNotch Pro | $6.99 once | $6.99 | $6.99 | $6.99 |
| 6 | Droppy | $9.99 once | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 |
| 7 | Gojo Personal | $9.99 once | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 |
| 8 | Notchet | $9.99 once | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 |
| 9 | Korinotch | $11.50 once | $11.50 | $11.50 | $11.50 |
| 10 | DynamicHorizon | $11.99 once | $11.99 | $11.99 | $11.99 |
| 11 | Alcove | $12.99 once | $12.99 | $12.99 | $12.99 |
| 12 | DynamicLake | $13.99 once | $13.99 | $13.99 | $13.99 |
| 13 | Crest Pro | $14.99 once | $14.99 | $14.99 | $14.99 |
| 14 | NotchNest Lifetime | $14.99 once | $14.99 | $14.99 | $14.99 |
| 15 | ChocolateBar | $15 once | $15 | $15 | $15 |
| 16 | DropNotch Pro | $15 once | $15 | $15 | $15 |
| 17 | NotchNook Classic | $15 once | $15 | $15 | $15 |
| 18 | NotchNook Pro | $19 once | $19 | $19 | $19 |
| 19 | Seam | $19.90 once | $19.90 | $19.90 | $19.90 |
| 20 | Gojo Multi Mac | $19.99 once | $19.99 | $19.99 | $19.99 |
| 21 | OmniNotch | $19.99 once | $19.99 | $19.99 | $19.99 |
| 22 | Notchy | $24.99 once | $24.99 | $24.99 | $24.99 |
| 23 | CueNotch Pro Lifetime | $29.99 once | $29.99 | $29.99 | $29.99 |
| 24 | Notchie | $29.99 once | $29.99 | $29.99 | $29.99 |
| 25 | NotchNest yearly | $14.99 a year | $14.99 | $44.97 | $74.95 |
| 26 | NotchNook Classic monthly | $2 a month | $24 | $72 | $120 |
| 27 | Gojo Personal monthly | $2.99 a month | $35.88 | $107.64 | $179.40 |
| 28 | NotchNest monthly | $2.99 a month | $35.88 | $107.64 | $179.40 |
| 29 | NotchNook Pro monthly | $3 a month | $36 | $108 | $180 |
| 30 | Brow Pro yearly | $49 a year | $49 | $147 | $245 |
| 31 | Brow Pro monthly | $4.99 a month | $59.88 | $179.64 | $299.40 |
| 32 | Gojo Multi Mac monthly | $4.99 a month | $59.88 | $179.64 | $299.40 |
| 33 | MacNotch on Setapp | from $4.99 a month | $59.88 | $179.64 | $299.40 |
| 34 | CueNotch Pro weekly | $7.99 a week | $415.48 | $1,246.44 | $2,077.40 |

Gojo Multi Mac and OmniNotch tie at $19.99, and Seam sits just below at $19.90. The two Gojo rows are different plans: Personal covers one Mac and Multi Mac covers up to three.

## What the table shows

**The cheapest 24 plans are all one time.** The most expensive one time plan here, at $29.99, is still below the cheapest subscription at 3 years, NotchNest yearly at $44.97. The cheapest monthly plan is NotchNook Classic at $2, which costs $24 in a year and $72 in three.

**Subscriptions are cheaper only if you stop.** The yearly plan on NotchNest is $14.99, the same as its lifetime price, so it ties after year 1 and costs double after year 2. At $3 a month, NotchNook Pro is $36 in the first year, which is nine times the NotchStar price. By year 5 the multiple is 45. At 5 years NotchNest monthly is about 45 times and Brow Pro monthly about 75 times the NotchStar price.

**Free tiers change the answer.** Brow, NotchNest, NotchBox and OneNotch have free tiers, so a person who stays within the free limits pays nothing. The table prices the paid plan.

## Where NotchStar is not the cheapest

NotchStar is the lowest priced app with a stated price in this table, but it is not the cheapest option overall. Boring Notch, Atoll and NotchPop are free, and [the free apps page](https://www.notchstar.com/best/best-free-mac-notch-apps/) lists more. MediaMate is 6.99 euros once, shown in its own currency because it is not converted here. NotchStar is closed source, needs macOS 14 and has no live activities.

## Notes on the one time rows

- **Updates can end.** Crest Pro says updates run through Crest 7. ChocolateBar lists one year of updates, and the installed version keeps working afterwards. Seam lists at least a year of free updates. These rows are counted once, which assumes you do not buy an upgrade.
- **Launch prices can change.** OneNotch Pro is $6.99 on one page and $9.99 on another, with a launch code valid until 19 November 2026. OmniNotch showed a flash sale at $5 against a normal $19.99, and the table uses $19.99. DropNotch showed a $10 launch offer until 9 November, and the table uses $15.
- **Trials differ.** NotchStar gives 7 days and a 7 day refund. Droppy gives 3 days and a 14 day refund, and NotchNook gives 48 hours.

Some apps are left out because their price is not stated or not in dollars. Notch Buddy lists $5.99 for the first 100 buyers, 89 of which had sold when its page was read, then $19.99. Avocado lists no price for Pro. Boring Notch and the other free apps have no price to total.

## How to use this

1. Count how long you will keep the app. For under a year a $2 monthly plan can be close to a one time price. For three years or more the one time prices win.
2. Check whether the paid plan is the one you need. Free tiers cover a lot.
3. Read [the one time price guide](https://www.notchstar.com/guides/best-one-time-purchase-mac-notch-apps/) for Mac counts and trials, and [the under $5 page](https://www.notchstar.com/best/best-mac-notch-app-under-5-dollars/) for the cheapest group. NotchStar's own terms are on the [pricing page](https://www.notchstar.com/pricing/).

## How we checked

Each price was read from the app's own website, Mac App Store listing or GitHub page on 4 November 2026. Notchy's price comes from the page recorded in our one time price guide. Where a field was not stated, the app is left out or the gap is noted. Confirm on the app's page before you buy.

## Sources

- [NotchStar pricing](https://www.notchstar.com/pricing/)
- [NotchNook](https://lo.cafe/notchnook) and [NotchNook FAQ](https://getnotchnook.com/faq)
- [NotchNest](https://notchnest.app/) and [NotchNest on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/notchnest-dynamic-notch-bar/id6747612321)
- [Brow](https://brow-app.com/), [Gojo](https://trygojo.com), [Droppy](https://getdroppy.app/), [Notchet](https://aqibjaved.dev/apps/notchet) and [Korinotch](https://korinotch.com)
- [Tuneful on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tuneful/id6739804295?mt=12) and [NotchBox on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/notchbox-easier-drag-drop/id6737410946)
- [NotchThings pricing](https://notchthings.yigitcicekci.com/pricing), [OneNotch](https://www.tryonenotch.com/), [DynamicHorizon](https://dynamichorizon.app), [DynamicLake](https://dynamiclake.com/) and [Alcove](https://tryalcove.com/faq)
- [Crest pricing](https://crestnotch.app/pricing), [ChocolateBar](https://chocolatebar.app/), [Seam pricing](https://getseam.app/pricing), [OmniNotch](https://omninotch.app/) and [DropNotch](https://junebytes.com/dropnotch)
- [Notchy pricing](https://notchy.dev/pricing), [Notchie on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6756745307), [CueNotch on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/cuenotch/id6760926058) and [MacNotch on Setapp](https://setapp.com/apps/macnotch)

## Quick answers.

### How much does a Mac notch app cost over 3 years?

A one time app costs the same on day one and in year 3: NotchStar is $4 once, Droppy $9.99 once. A monthly plan repeats, so NotchNook Pro at $3 a month is $108 over 3 years and Brow Pro at $4.99 a month is $179.64. Prices as of 4 November 2026.

### Do one time notch apps ever charge again?

Some limit free updates. Crest Pro lists updates through Crest 7, ChocolateBar lists one year of updates, and Seam lists at least a year. The version you bought keeps working, but a later major version may cost money.

## Keep reading.

- [The best Mac notch app for $5 or less](https://www.notchstar.com/best/best-mac-notch-app-under-5-dollars/): Which Mac notch apps cost $5 or less? One time prices, free apps and small monthly plans, from each app's own page, checked 4 November 2026.
- [Mac notch apps you can buy once, with no subscription, priced](https://www.notchstar.com/guides/best-one-time-purchase-mac-notch-apps/): Which Mac notch apps cost one payment instead of a subscription? Prices, Mac counts, trials and macOS versions from official pages, checked 4 November 2026.
- [The best free Mac notch apps, and what free really means](https://www.notchstar.com/best/best-free-mac-notch-apps/): Ten free Mac notch apps, from fully free open source to free tiers with paid upgrades, with macOS versions and limits from official pages, 4 November 2026.
- [NotchStar vs NotchNook](https://www.notchstar.com/vs/notchnook/): NotchStar and NotchNook compared: price, macOS and Intel support, trial, release history and features, from NotchNook’s own website.
- [NotchStar vs Brow](https://www.notchstar.com/vs/brow/): Brow is a free Mac toolkit with a launcher, clipboard, window management and notch widgets, plus an AI Pro tier. Compare it with NotchStar on price, features.

## More in Price.

- [The best Mac notch app for $5 or less](https://www.notchstar.com/best/best-mac-notch-app-under-5-dollars/): Which Mac notch apps cost $5 or less? One time prices, free apps and small monthly plans, from each app's own page, checked 4 November 2026.
- [Mac notch apps for $10 or less, and what the extra $5 buys](https://www.notchstar.com/best/best-mac-notch-apps-under-10-dollars/): Which Mac notch apps cost $10 or less? What Droppy, Notchet and Gojo add over a $4 app, with trials, Mac counts and requirements, checked 4 November 2026.
- [The cheapest Mac notch app with a file shelf](https://www.notchstar.com/best/cheapest-mac-notch-app-with-a-file-shelf/): Mac notch apps with a file shelf, ranked by price: free apps first, then NotchStar at $4 once, then the rest. Checked on each app's own page, 4 November 2026.
- [Mac notch apps for $15 or less, compared by price per Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/best/best-mac-notch-apps-under-15-dollars/): Mac notch apps at $15 or less: NotchNook Classic, Crest Pro, Alcove, DynamicLake and more, with price per Mac, trials and what each adds. 4 November 2026.
- [Notch app lifetime or monthly: when the one time price wins](https://www.notchstar.com/best/mac-notch-app-lifetime-vs-monthly-break-even/): Lifetime or monthly Mac notch app? The month a one time price becomes cheaper: NotchNook month 7 or 8, NotchNest month 6, Gojo month 4 or 5. Checked 4 Nov 2026.
- [The cheapest Mac notch app with clipboard history](https://www.notchstar.com/best/cheapest-mac-notch-app-with-clipboard-history/): Mac notch apps with clipboard history, ranked by price: free ones, NotchStar at $4 once, then the paid rest, with limits stated. Checked 4 November 2026.