Mac notch apps that collect no data: what each one states

At a glance

Prices and availability were checked on 5 November 2026. Verify the linked product page before buying.

A few Mac notch apps state on their own pages that they collect no data, and the rest either list what they collect or say nothing. No app here promises zero network use, and a statement on a page is a claim, not a test. This guide sorts apps into three groups using only what each app’s own README, privacy page or Mac App Store listing says, read on 5 November 2026. “Not stated” means the page I read is silent. It does not mean the app collects data.

Apps that state they collect no data

• Tuneful. Its Mac App Store listing shows the privacy label “Data Not Collected” and says “The developer does not collect any data from this app.” Tuneful costs $4.99 and needs macOS 15.0. Its website says the Spotify and Last.fm features need your own accounts with those services, which is a connection between you and them, not Tuneful.
• NotchBox. Its listing says “The developer does not collect any data from this app.” Apple notes that such practices are not verified by Apple.
• Brow. Its privacy policy says the app includes no analytics tracking, crash reporting, usage telemetry, advertising identifiers or third party tracking SDKs. Clipboard history, screenshots, notes and preferences are stored on your device, per the policy. There is one catch: its grammar, dictation and translation features send text or audio to Brow’s own AI models when you trigger them, and the policy says that text is processed and not stored. The policy is dated January 2025.
• NotchNest. Its policy says “We do not use advertising identifiers, third party trackers, or analytics SDKs” and that it does not track behavior or usage. It also says it uses Google Firebase Crashlytics, which may collect anonymized diagnostics such as device model and crash logs, and a server that anonymously verifies purchase receipts with Apple. The policy is dated 30 July 2025.
• Droppy. Its privacy page says clipboard contents, files and captures are “not collected, transmitted or stored by us,” and that on device features such as Text Capture upload nothing. It does not mention analytics or accounts, so I cannot say more. Droppy Cloud is a separate path that sends only files you choose to share.

NotchStar

NotchStar states that nothing is sent unless you opt in. In the free trial it contacts no server. The first time you open the Home tab, it asks once whether to share anonymous version info, and the answer is no until you say yes. If you do, it sends the NotchStar version and build, macOS version, chip, license state and a random install ID once a day, with no name, email, license key, Mac name, files, clipboard, notes or calendar. If you buy, activating a license sends your key and Mac’s name to Dodo Payments, and the app checks about once a week. NotchStar is closed source, so you cannot read the code to confirm any of this. The checks are in the NotchStar safety guide.

Apps that state analytics or usage data

• Vibe Notch. The README says “Vibe Notch uses Mixpanel to collect anonymous usage data,” logging events such as “App Launched” and “Session Started,” and that “No personal data or conversation content is collected.” It also installs hooks into ~/.claude/hooks/.
• MediaMate. Its privacy policy lists four items: the app version and build number, whether a license is activated, the chosen theme and the macOS version. It gives the purpose as insight into usage, says the information is not shared with third parties, and says it is stored through iCloud, which you can turn off in System Settings. The policy shows no date.
• Notchi. The README does not describe analytics. It says that if you paste an Anthropic or OpenAI API key into Settings, the app analyzes the sentiment of your prompts through those services. Without a key, that feature is off. It also tracks daily cost and token usage over 30 days, and a keychain prompt appears for usage stats.

Apps whose pages say nothing about data

• Boring Notch and Atoll. The READMEs I read state licenses (GPL 3.0 for both) but nothing about analytics or data collection.
• NotchPop. Its page says no login and no subscription, and for file drops “No copies, no upload.” It mentions weather from a free outside service but does not say what is sent. Nothing about analytics is stated.
• NotchNook. Its FAQ says notes, files and camera content stay on your Mac, and that purchase and license data are processed for payments, activation and recovery. Other collection is not stated there.
• Alcove. The FAQ I read states nothing on privacy. It lists a $12.99 purchase price.

Silence is common for open source projects, where the code is the statement. It is a gap if you cannot or will not read the code.

How to check an app yourself

1. Find the app’s privacy statement and note its date.
2. Look for words such as analytics, telemetry, crash reports and diagnostics. Crash reporting is data leaving your Mac even when it is anonymous.
3. Watch the app with a network monitor for a day. A page cannot show you this.
4. Check the permission prompts against the tool you are using. See what permissions notch apps ask for.
5. Read the privacy checklist for the steps in full, and the no account comparison if accounts matter to you.

I dropped the Stats menu bar app from this guide because I did not read its own page for a statement on data. For the wider comparison, see the safest Mac notch apps.

Sources

All read on 5 November 2026.

• NotchStar privacy page and Is NotchStar safe.
• Tuneful on the Mac App Store and Tuneful.
• NotchBox on the Mac App Store.
• Brow privacy policy, NotchNest privacy policy, Droppy privacy and data and MediaMate privacy policy.
• Vibe Notch README, Notchi README, Boring Notch README and Atoll README.
• NotchPop, NotchNook FAQ and Alcove FAQ.