NotchStar vs DropNotch
DropNotch is a free notch file shelf with live status displays and a $15 one time Pro upgrade for clipboard history; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten tools.
| NotchStar | DropNotch | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4 once, with a 7 day trial, up to 3 Macs and a 7 day refund | Free to download; Pro is $15 once, or a $10 launch offer until 9 November, which its FAQ says applies per Mac for two or more |
| Minimum macOS | macOS 14 or later | macOS Ventura 13.0; background removal needs Sonoma 14.0 |
| Apple silicon and Intel | Both | Both |
| Account | No account | No account needed |
| Clipboard history | Included 50 items, kept in memory only, skips concealed copies | Partly A Pro feature |
| File shelf | Included With an AirDrop zone | Included Holds files with one click actions and wings |
| AirDrop | Included | Not listed Not mentioned on the page we read |
| Live status displays | Not listed | Included Listed on its page |
| Smart rules and action chains | Not listed | Partly Pro features |
| Text recognition and background removal | Not listed | Included Run locally, per its page |
| Now playing and calendar | Included Calendar shows today and tomorrow, read only | Not listed Not mentioned on the page we read |
| Timers, teleprompter, camera mirror, system stats | Included | Not listed Not mentioned on the page we read |
| Screenshots | Included A tray that holds the latest 12 screenshots | Not listed Not mentioned on the page we read |
Sources: DropNotch website (checked 4 November 2026). “Not listed” means the source does not mention it, which is not proof the feature is missing. Prices and features change, so check before you buy.
DropNotch at a glance.
- Made by
- Junebytes Software
- Who it suits
- A user who wants a file shelf in the notch with a small one time Pro upgrade.
- Price
- Free tier and paid plans. Free to download. Pro is $15 once, or a $10 launch offer until 9 November, which its FAQ says applies per Mac for two or more. Pro adds clipboard history, smart rules and action chains.
- Needs
- macOS 13 or later. Apple silicon and Intel.
- License
- Closed source
- Release history
- Its page shows no version or date. A What's New page is linked, and we did not read it.. Latest listed: Not stated, Not stated. Source
DropNotch is one of the 62 apps counted in our pricing statistics and requirements statistics.
Strengths
- No account is needed.
- Text recognition and background removal run locally, per its page.
- It runs on Apple silicon and Intel, and Pro is a $15 one time purchase.
Limits
- Clipboard history is Pro only.
- AirDrop is not stated on the page we read.
- Its page shows no version or date.
- The $10 launch offer ends 9 November, and the price may rise to $15 afterwards.
Choose DropNotch if…
- A file shelf with one click actions is the main thing you want, and a free tier is enough to start.
- You want smart rules, action chains, text recognition or background removal that run on your Mac.
- You want live status displays, and you are on macOS 13 Ventura, which NotchStar does not support.
Choose NotchStar if…
- You want clipboard history without a paid tier: it is part of the $4 price.
- You want music, calendar, timers, a teleprompter, a camera mirror and system stats too, which its page does not list.
- You want an AirDrop zone on the file shelf, and a 7 day trial with a 7 day refund.
The verdict.
DropNotch is a file shelf with a free tier and a $15 one time Pro upgrade for clipboard history, smart rules and action chains. NotchStar has no automation rules and includes clipboard history in its $4 price. Choose DropNotch for shelf automation or macOS 13. Choose NotchStar for the broader toolbox.
What DropNotch is
DropNotch is a notch app from Junebytes Software. Its core is a file shelf that holds files with one click actions and wings. It lists live status displays, and it runs text recognition and background removal locally. It is free to download. Pro is $15 once, or $10 during a launch offer that ends 9 November, and adds clipboard history, smart rules and action chains. No account is needed, and it runs on Apple silicon and Intel on macOS 13.0 or later. Prices as of 4 November 2026.
Who it suits
Someone who wants a file shelf first and is happy to pay a small one time price for the extras.
What DropNotch does that NotchStar does not
Smart rules, action chains, text recognition and background removal, and live status displays. It also supports macOS 13. NotchStar has none of those.
What NotchStar does that DropNotch does not list
Clipboard history is included at $4, where DropNotch keeps it in Pro. NotchStar adds now playing, calendar and reminders, timers, a teleprompter, a camera mirror, system stats, quick notes, disk tools and the Screenshot Tray, none of which the page we read lists. Its shelf has an AirDrop zone, which DropNotch’s page does not mention.
Switching from DropNotch to NotchStar
Both have a notch file shelf, so the main habit carries over. You give up rules and chains.
What we could not verify
We have not tested DropNotch ourselves. Everything here comes from its website, read on 4 November 2026. We could not confirm its AirDrop support, version or release date, and we did not read its What’s New page. Features not mentioned on the page we read are marked unknown rather than no. The launch offer may have ended by the time you read this.
Questions.
Is DropNotch free?
It is free to download. Its Pro tier adds clipboard history, smart rules and action chains for $15 once, with a $10 launch offer until 9 November, per its page. Prices as of 4 November 2026.
Does DropNotch support AirDrop?
The page we read does not mention it, though a news site does. NotchStar's shelf has an AirDrop zone.
Does NotchStar charge extra for clipboard history?
No. Clipboard history is one of NotchStar's ten tools at $4 once, kept to 50 items in memory only.
More comparisons.
- NotchStar vs AgentNotch
- AgentNotch is an MIT licensed app that shows Claude Code and Codex tool calls, tokens and cost in the notch; NotchStar has no agent monitoring. Read it
- NotchStar vs Alcove
- Alcove is a $12.99 one time purchase for macOS 15 or later built around live activities, lock screen widgets and HUDs; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten utilities with none of those three. Read it
- NotchStar vs Alfred
- Alfred is a launcher whose clipboard history needs the Powerpack at 34 GBP and keeps up to 3 months; NotchStar is a $4 once app where clipboard history is one of ten notch tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Atoll
- Atoll is an open source GPL 3.0 notch app with live activities, lock screen widgets and a very wide feature list; NotchStar is a $4 signed toolbox with neither, and with tools Atoll does not list. Read it
- NotchStar vs Avocado
- Avocado is a teleprompter with a free tier and a Pro tier for voice scrolling, AI access and a Recording Studio; NotchStar's teleprompter scrolls at a set speed inside a $4 toolbox. Read it
- NotchStar vs Bartender
- Bartender is a dedicated menu bar manager that handles items the notch hides; NotchStar does not organize menu bar icons and instead puts ten tools in the notch for $4 once. Read it
- NotchStar vs Be Focused
- Be Focused pairs a Pomodoro timer with tasks, reports, sync and blocking behind a Pro tier; NotchStar has simpler Pomodoro timers in a $4 once toolbox. Read it
- NotchStar vs Boring Notch
- Boring Notch is free, open source and replaces the volume and brightness HUDs; NotchStar is a $4 signed and notarized app with more utility tools, such as clipboard history, timers, a teleprompter and disk tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Brow
- Brow is a broad Mac toolkit with a launcher and window management, free with a Pro tier at $4.99 a month for AI features; NotchStar is a smaller notch app at $4 once. Read it
- NotchStar vs ChocolateBar
- ChocolateBar is a $15 menu bar manager that hides crowded icons or shows them in a second row under the bar, on macOS 12 to 15. NotchStar is a $4 notch toolbox that does not manage menu bar icons. Read it
- NotchStar vs CleanShot X
- CleanShot X captures, annotates and records, from $35 with a year of updates; NotchStar does not capture, and its $4 Screenshot Tray only holds screenshots macOS already took. Read it
- NotchStar vs Crest
- Crest is a larger notch control room at $14.99 once, with Claude Code and Codex approvals, passwords, a 2FA authenticator and encrypted file sending; NotchStar is $4 once and sticks to everyday utilities. Read it
- NotchStar vs CueNotch
- CueNotch is a feature rich notch teleprompter with voice following and Ghost Mode, free with a $29.99 lifetime or $7.99 weekly Pro; NotchStar's teleprompter scrolls at a set speed inside a $4 toolbox. Read it
- NotchStar vs DaisyDisk
- DaisyDisk is the dedicated visual disk analyzer at $9.99 once with a 30 day money back guarantee; NotchStar's Disk tool finds large files, duplicates and leftovers inside a $4 toolbox. Read it
- NotchStar vs Dropover
- Dropover is a dedicated drag and drop shelf that opens on a shake, with cloud uploads and actions, free with a $7.99 Pro; NotchStar is a $4 app whose shelf is one of ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Droppy
- Droppy is a larger modular suite with 41 free extensions, live activities, window snapping and a teleprompter at $9.99 once; NotchStar is a smaller $4 toolbox of ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Dropzone
- Dropzone 5 is a $35 action launcher with grids, scripting and a Drop Bar; NotchStar is a $4 app whose file shelf overlaps only with that Drop Bar. Read it
- NotchStar vs Dynamic Notch
- Dynamic Notch is a free GPL 3.0 app that brings iPhone style live activities to the Mac notch, with a release on 3 November 2026; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten tools with no live activities. Read it
- NotchStar vs DynamicHorizon
- DynamicHorizon sells 20 or more notch modules with lock screen media and lyrics for $11.99 lifetime; NotchStar is $4 once with ten tools and a clear Mac count. Read it
- NotchStar vs DynamicLake
- DynamicLake adds a Dynamic Island style layer with message and call notifications, plugins, weather and file conversion for $13.99, with 89 changelog entries since June 2024; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten utilities that stays quiet until you open it. Read it
- NotchStar vs Gojo
- Gojo sells clipboard, shelf, window snapping, camera mirror and on device dictation from $9.99 lifetime for one Mac, or $19.99 for up to three; NotchStar is $4 once for up to three Macs. Read it
- NotchStar vs Hidden Bar
- Hidden Bar is a free, open source app that tucks menu bar icons behind an arrow; NotchStar does not organize menu bar icons and offers ten notch tools for $4 once. Read it
- NotchStar vs Ice
- Ice is a free, open source menu bar manager with an Ice Bar, profiles and hotkeys; NotchStar does not organize menu bar icons and is a $4 toolbox of ten notch tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs iStat Menus
- iStat Menus is the deeper dedicated monitor, with sensors, fan control, clocks and weather; NotchStar shows five basic readouts as one of ten tools for $4 once. Read it
- NotchStar vs Korinotch
- Korinotch lists $11.50 lifetime, a 14 day trial and a required account; NotchStar is $4 once with no account, a 7 day trial and ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Maccy
- Maccy is a free MIT clipboard manager you search by typing; NotchStar's clipboard history is one of ten notch tools for $4 and keeps 50 items in memory only. Read it
- NotchStar vs MacNotch
- MacNotch, sold through Setapp, does more: a widget grid, device batteries, file actions and live activities in the closed notch. NotchStar is smaller and costs $4 once, where MacNotch is a subscription from $4.99 a month. Read it
- NotchStar vs MediaMate
- MediaMate replaces the volume, brightness and keyboard backlight HUDs and adds a now playing view for 6.99 euros on 5 devices; NotchStar adds ten utilities in the notch for $4 on 3 Macs. Read it
- NotchStar vs MewNotch
- MewNotch is a free GPL 3.0 app that replaces volume and brightness HUDs and adds a shelf with AirDrop, now playing and a mirror; NotchStar is $4 once, signed and notarized, with ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Notch Buddy
- Notch Buddy adds live revenue and visitor numbers to a notch toolbox at $5.99 for the first 100 customers, then $19.99; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs NotchBar
- NotchBar is a pre release AGPL 3.0 widget bar with media playback, system monitor and active app widgets; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs NotchBox
- NotchBox is free with a $4.99 Pro purchase, runs on macOS 13 and has shipped 25 listed updates since October 2025; NotchStar is $4 once with a 7 day trial and needs macOS 14, with a similar set of notch tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs NotchDrop
- NotchDrop does one job, a temporary file shelf with AirDrop in the notch, and is open source under the MIT license; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten tools that includes a shelf with an AirDrop zone. Read it
- NotchStar vs Notchet
- Notchet is a notch clipboard manager with search, text inside images and a shelf for $9.99 once; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox where clipboard history is one of ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Notchi
- Notchi is a free GPL 3.0 app that shows Claude Code and Codex sessions, usage and cost in the notch; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox with no agent monitoring. Read it
- NotchStar vs Notchie
- Notchie is a teleprompter in the notch for $29.99 once that hides during screen sharing in supported apps and pauses when you hover; NotchStar's teleprompter is one tool in a $4 toolbox. Read it
- NotchStar vs Notchmeister
- Notchmeister is a free Mac App Store app from The Iconfactory that adds decorative effects around the notch; NotchStar adds ten working tools instead. Read it
- NotchStar vs NotchNest
- NotchNest is a free Mac App Store download with capped free use, $2.99 a month or $14.99 once, and on device AI helpers; NotchStar is a $4 one time toolbox of ten tools with no caps. Read it
- NotchStar vs NotchNook
- NotchNook Pro (28 October 2026) adds live activities, AI agent approvals, clipboard and a teleprompter for $19 lifetime or $3 a month on Apple silicon; NotchStar is a $4 one time toolbox with none of the live features. Read it
- NotchStar vs NotchPop
- NotchPop is a free, open source notch app covering clipboard, shelf, music, calendar, timers and system stats; NotchStar costs $4 once and adds a teleprompter, camera mirror, quick notes, disk tools and a screenshot tray. Read it
- NotchStar vs NotchPrompter
- NotchPrompter is a single purpose open source teleprompter that follows your voice and hides from screen sharing; NotchStar's teleprompter scrolls at a set speed inside a $4 toolbox. Read it
- NotchStar vs NotchSpace
- NotchSpace is a free notch shelf, app launch bar and menu bar manager on the Mac App Store, and it says it is not a clipboard tool; NotchStar does not manage menu bar icons but adds ten tools for $4. Read it
- NotchStar vs NotchThings
- NotchThings has more modules, live indicators in the notch and AI usage tracking, and needs macOS 15.6 and a $6.99 unlock; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten tools for macOS 14. Read it
- NotchStar vs OmniNotch
- OmniNotch ships twenty tools, including on device AI chat, AI usage meters and live sales totals, and has a timer countdown in the closed notch. NotchStar is narrower, with ten tools, and costs $4 once against OmniNotch's $5 flash sale and $19.99 regular price. Read it
- NotchStar vs OneNotch
- OneNotch is a free to start notch app with deep clipboard boards, capture tools and window snapping for Apple silicon on macOS 15; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox that runs on macOS 14 and Intel. Read it
- NotchStar vs Paste
- Paste is a subscription clipboard manager with unlimited history, pinboards and iCloud sync; NotchStar's clipboard keeps 50 items in memory for a $4 one time price. Read it
- NotchStar vs PastePal
- PastePal is a dedicated clipboard manager with iCloud sync and 75+ text transforms, free with a $14.99 Pro; NotchStar is a $4 app where clipboard history is one of ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs PromptSmart
- PromptSmart Pro is a full window teleprompter that follows your voice and imports many file types for $29.99; NotchStar's Teleprompter is a fixed speed scroll in the notch within a $4 toolbox. Read it
- NotchStar vs QuackScreen
- QuackScreen is a capture app for the notch with screen recording, screenshots and an annotation editor, for EUR 20 on macOS 26; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox that catches screenshots but does not capture. Read it
- NotchStar vs Raycast
- Raycast is a launcher whose clipboard history keeps 3 months on the free plan and is unlimited on Pro at $10 a month; NotchStar is a $4 once app where clipboard history is one of ten notch tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Sapphire
- Sapphire is a free, AGPL licensed notch app with Face ID, window snapping, a lock screen and a big free feature set, plus monthly AI and live data plans from $15.99; NotchStar is a $4 one time toolbox with none of those. Read it
- NotchStar vs Seam
- Seam is a Dynamic Island style surface with live activities, a lock screen display, coding agent progress and on device voice dictation for $19.90 on Apple silicon; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten tools you open on purpose. Read it
- NotchStar vs Session
- Session is the dedicated focus timer, with website and app blocking, calendar sync and AppleScript, on a $4.99 monthly or $39.99 yearly plan; NotchStar has simpler Pomodoro timers for $4 once. Read it
- NotchStar vs Shottr
- Shottr captures and annotates screenshots with OCR and scrolling capture at a pay what you want price; NotchStar does not capture, and its $4 Screenshot Tray only holds macOS screenshots. Read it
- NotchStar vs Stats
- Stats is a free, open source menu bar monitor with sensors, GPU, Bluetooth and a clock; NotchStar is a $4 closed source toolbox where system stats is one of ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs SuperIsland
- SuperIsland is a free app with live activities, a JavaScript extension SDK and store, and meeting join links, but it needs a physical notch and has had no release since June 2026; NotchStar is $4 once with ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs TopNotch
- TopNotch, a free app from the CleanShot team, makes the camera housing blend into a black menu bar; its last release was June 2023. NotchStar keeps the notch visible and puts ten tools around it. Read it
- NotchStar vs Tuneful
- Tuneful is a focused $4.99 music controller for Spotify and Apple Music that needs macOS 15; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten tools with Now Playing as one of them. Read it
- NotchStar vs Vibe Notch
- Vibe Notch, formerly Claude Island, is an Apache 2.0 open source app for monitoring Claude Code and approving permissions from the notch; NotchStar has no agent monitoring. Read it
- NotchStar vs Xnapper
- Xnapper beautifies and redacts screenshots from $29.99 with a year of updates; NotchStar does not capture, and its $4 Screenshot Tray only holds screenshots macOS already took. Read it
- NotchStar vs Yoink
- Yoink is a long established drag shelf with clipboard history and an iOS companion at $8.99 once with a 28 day trial; NotchStar is a $4 app whose shelf is one of ten tools. Read it
- DropNotch alternatives
- Every option next to DropNotch, with price and macOS support. See the alternatives
- Best Mac notch apps
- A neutral roundup of the options. Read the guide
Put your notch to work.
Buy it once for $4, activate it in a minute, and keep it. Not sure yet? Try every tool in the browser on the home page, or install the 7 day trial.