Best Mac notch apps for older Macs: macOS 13 and earlier
At a glance
| App | Price | Requirements | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| NotchBox | Free; NotchBox Pro $4.99 in app | macOS 13.0 or later | Clipboard, file shelf with AirDrop, timers, a camera mirror, calendar, system monitor and notes, from the Mac App Store. |
| Notchy | $24.99 once, 1 Mac, 7 day trial, 14 day refund | macOS 13 or later | The longest tool list of the group, with media, clipboard, timers and a screenshot shelf. |
| DropNotch | Free; Pro $15 once | macOS 13.0 or later; background removal needs macOS 14.0 | A notch shelf with one click actions. Clipboard history is a Pro feature. |
| MediaMate | 6.99 euros, 1 license for 5 devices, 14 day money back | macOS 13 or later | Replaces the volume, brightness and keyboard backlight overlays and adds a now playing view. |
| Notchmeister | Free | macOS 11.0 or later | Decorative effects around the notch such as Glow, Cylon and Plasma Leak. No utility features. |
| ChocolateBar | $15 once, 48 hour trial, 7 day refund | macOS 12 to 15; Tahoe support listed as coming soon | A menu bar manager that hides icons or shows them in a second row, including icons the notch hides. |
| TopNotch | Free | macOS 11 or later; last release 1.3.2 on 25 June 2023 | Makes the menu bar black so the camera housing blends in. Adds no tools. |
Prices and availability were checked on 4 November 2026. Verify the linked product page before buying.
NotchBox, Notchy, DropNotch and MediaMate list macOS 13 as their minimum, and Notchmeister, TopNotch and ChocolateBar go lower. NotchStar needs macOS 14 or later, so it is not an option on macOS 13 or earlier. Checked 4 November 2026.
How we checked
The minimum macOS version was read from each official page or Mac App Store listing on 4 November 2026. A minimum is what the developer states, not a promise that every feature works well on that version. Only apps with a stated floor of macOS 13 or lower are included, and every other app in the research was left out. Nothing is ranked. Prices as of 4 November 2026.
This is a short list because most active notch apps have moved up to macOS 14 or later. Boring Notch, MewNotch, Atoll, Droppy, Crest and NotchStar need macOS 14, NotchNook macOS 14.6, and Alcove macOS 15.
The entries
NotchBox: best for a full toolbox on macOS 13
NotchBox lists Apple Music and Spotify playback, a file shelf with AirDrop, Pomodoro, countdown and stopwatch, a camera mirror, a clipboard manager, a calendar with a month view, a system monitor, notes and more. It is free to download with an in app purchase, NotchBox Pro at $4.99. The listing does not say which features need Pro, and it shows no ratings yet.
Notchy: best for the longest tool list on macOS 13
Notchy includes media, clipboard, timers, a teleprompter called Cuely and a screenshot shelf. It is $24.99 once for one Mac, with a 7 day trial and a 14 day refund. That is the highest price on this page.
DropNotch: best for a shelf with a small paid upgrade
Its shelf holds files with one click actions. It runs on macOS Ventura 13.0, although background removal needs macOS Sonoma 14.0. Clipboard history requires Pro, which is $15 once. No account is needed.
MediaMate: best for compact volume overlays and now playing
MediaMate replaces the volume, brightness and keyboard backlight overlays and shows now playing in the notch or in a bubble. Its price is 6.99 euros for 1 license on 5 devices. External display control works only with Lunar or BetterDisplay. Its privacy policy lists app version, license state, theme and macOS version as collected.
Notchmeister: best for decoration only
Free on the Mac App Store, macOS 11.0, with effects including Glow, Cylon, Plasma Leak and Nano Radar. It has no utility features, and the developer says it collects no data.
ChocolateBar: best for a crowded menu bar on macOS 12 to 15
ChocolateBar hides third party menu bar icons or shows them in a second row, and it includes icons the notch hides. It is $15 once with one year of updates. It lists macOS 12 to 15, so it does not yet cover macOS 26 or macOS 27 by its own page.
TopNotch: best for hiding the notch rather than using it
TopNotch is free and makes the menu bar black. Its newest release is 1.3.2 from 25 June 2023, so the site does not say whether it supports macOS 15 or 26.
Minimum versions side by side
| App | Minimum macOS | Price | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| NotchBox | 13.0 | Free, Pro $4.99 | Toolbox |
| Notchy | 13 | $24.99 once | Toolbox |
| DropNotch | 13.0 (14.0 for background removal) | Free, Pro $15 once | Shelf |
| MediaMate | 13 | 6.99 euros | Overlays and now playing |
| Notchmeister | 11.0 | Free | Decoration |
| ChocolateBar | 12, up to 15 | $15 once | Menu bar manager |
| TopNotch | 11 | Free | Hides the notch |
| NotchStar | 14 | $4 once | Toolbox |
NotchStar is in the last row for comparison only. It is not a macOS 13 option.
What to know about older systems
An older Mac usually means an older macOS cap too. ChocolateBar lists support up to macOS 15, and TopNotch’s last update is from 2023, so check that an app supports the version you actually run as well as the minimum. If you are on macOS 14 or later, the wider best Mac notch apps list has more choice, and NotchStar is one of them at $4 once. Whether a Mac has a notch at all depends on the model, so check Apple’s specifications for yours first. For which Macs have one, see the MacBook notch explained.
Price against age
Older Macs are often a reason to spend little, and the choice here is stark. NotchBox is free with a $4.99 upgrade, MediaMate is 6.99 euros, DropNotch’s Pro is $15 once and Notchy is $24.99 once for a single Mac. Notchmeister and TopNotch are free but do not add tools. If you are unsure, start with the free NotchBox download or MediaMate’s tryout mode before paying for anything.
How to choose
- You want a toolbox on macOS 13: NotchBox if you want to try it first, Notchy if you want the longest list and accept the price.
- You want a shelf only: DropNotch.
- You want nicer volume overlays and now playing: MediaMate.
- Your menu bar is crowded: ChocolateBar.
- You want to try NotchStar: update to macOS 14 first, or choose one of the apps above.
Sources
All read on 4 November 2026.
