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.
| NotchStar | NotchBox | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4 once, with a 7 day trial | Free, with an in app purchase: NotchBox Pro, $4.99 |
| Minimum macOS | macOS 14 or later | macOS 13.0 or later |
| Now playing | Included | Included Apple Music and Spotify, plus Safari playback |
| File shelf with AirDrop | Included | Included Drag files in, drag them out, share by AirDrop |
| Timers and Pomodoro | Included | Included Pomodoro, countdown and stopwatch |
| Camera mirror | Included | Included |
| Clipboard history | Included | Included Clipboard manager |
| Calendar | Included | Included Includes a month view |
| System stats | Included | Included System monitor and network speed charts |
| Notes | Included One plain text note | Included Notes and bookmarks |
| Browser, app shortcuts, water tracker, day counter | Not listed | Included |
| Teleprompter | Included | Not listed Not stated on its website |
| Disk tools and screenshot tray | Included | Not listed Not stated on its website |
| Live activities in the collapsed notch | Not listed | Not listed Not stated on its website |
Sources: NotchBox on the Mac App Store (checked 4 November 2026), NotchBox App Store lookup (Apple iTunes Search API) (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.
NotchBox at a glance.
- Made by
- 裕涛 兰 (the seller name on the Mac App Store); the copyright line reads TinFine
- Who it suits
- A Mac user on macOS 13 or later who wants many small widgets in the notch, including a browser, water tracker and app shortcuts, and prefers to try an app free and buy later through the Mac App Store.
- Price
- Free tier and paid plans. The Mac App Store lists NotchBox as Free with in app purchases and shows one purchase, NotchBox Pro, at $4.99. The listing does not say which features are free and which need Pro. No trial, device count or refund terms are stated on the listing; App Store purchases follow Apple's own terms.
- Needs
- macOS 13 or later. Not stated.
- License
- Not stated
- Release history
- First released 25 Oct 2024. Its version history lists 25 versions from 1.1.47 on 15 Oct 2025 to 1.1.71 on 12 Sep 2026: 22 in the 75 days to 28 Dec 2025, then 3 in 2026 (10 May, 8 Sep and 12 Sep). The last three show a month and day without a year, read here as 2026.. Latest listed: 1.1.71, 12 September 2026. Source
NotchBox is one of the 62 apps counted in our pricing statistics and requirements statistics.
Strengths
- Free to download, with a single listed purchase, NotchBox Pro at $4.99.
- Runs on macOS 13.0 or later, one major version below NotchStar's macOS 14.
- A long tool list: browser, Pomodoro, countdown and stopwatch, camera mirror, network speed charts, clipboard manager, calendar, app shortcuts, daily water, notes and bookmarks, and a counter.
- Now playing with album art and beat synced animations for Apple Music and Spotify, plus Safari playback for YouTube Music, YouTube, Spotify and Amazon Music.
- The interface is available in English plus 16 languages, and the app is 4.7 MB.
Limits
- The listing does not say which features need NotchBox Pro.
- No ratings are shown: the page says the app has not received enough ratings or reviews for an overview.
- The version notes are mostly Bug fixes and improvements, so the listing says little about what changed.
- The listing says more features are coming soon, which is a roadmap, not a list of what exists.
- No chip, license or source information is stated, so Apple silicon and Intel support is not confirmed on the page.
Choose NotchBox if…
- You are on macOS 13 and NotchStar does not run there.
- You want to start free and pay later, instead of a 7 day trial.
- You want extras such as a built in browser, a daily water tracker, bookmarks, a day counter or app shortcuts in the notch, or an interface in one of 17 languages.
Choose NotchStar if…
- You want a teleprompter, disk tools and a screenshot tray alongside the shelf, clipboard and timers.
- You want the terms written down: $4 once, up to 3 Macs, a 7 day trial and a 7 day refund, instead of a Pro purchase whose contents the listing does not name.
- You want an app with no account and no analytics unless you opt in, outside the Mac App Store.
The verdict.
These two overlap more than most notch apps: music, a file shelf with AirDrop, Pomodoro, camera mirror, clipboard and calendar. NotchBox lists more small widgets, runs on macOS 13 and costs nothing to start; NotchStar has the teleprompter, disk tools and screenshot tray and plain, written terms. Choose NotchBox for macOS 13 support and a free start, NotchStar for the extra tools.
What NotchBox is
NotchBox is a notch app sold through the Mac App Store, titled “NotchBox, Easier Drag and Drop”. The seller name on the store is 裕涛 兰, and the copyright line reads TinFine. It is free to download with one in app purchase, NotchBox Pro, at $4.99. The listing does not say what Pro adds, what stays free, or whether Pro is a one time purchase. The app is 4.7 MB, needs macOS 13.0 or later and, per its listing, comes in English plus 16 languages including Arabic, Hindi, Japanese and Turkish.
Apple’s lookup data gives a first release date of 25 October 2024 and a current version, 1.1.71, released on 12 September 2026. The visible version history covers 25 versions from 1.1.47 on 15 October 2025 to 1.1.71. It is lopsided. Versions 1.1.47 to 1.1.68 arrived in 75 days, up to 28 December 2025, so about one every 3.4 days. Then 1.1.69 on 10 May, 1.1.70 on 8 September and 1.1.71 on 12 September, which the store shows without a year; we read them as 2026. So there were no listed releases for about four months, from 28 December to 10 May. Almost every note says “Bug fixes and improvements”, with a few that name a change: a system monitor in 1.1.49, a calendar month view in 1.1.50, configurable clipboard position in 1.1.53. The listing shows no ratings, because the page says there are not enough for an overview.
Who it suits
It suits someone on macOS 13, the one group NotchStar cannot serve. It suits a person who wants to try before paying anything: the download is free. It suits people who want many small widgets in one place, since the listing names a browser, countdown and stopwatch, network speed charts, app shortcuts, a daily water tracker, notes and bookmarks, and a counter for habits or days left. And it suits people who prefer the Mac App Store for installing, updating and paying, because everything goes through their Apple account.
What NotchBox does that NotchStar does not
The extra widgets are the clearest difference. NotchBox lists a browser “to quickly look up information without switching windows”, app shortcuts that launch favourite apps with one click, a daily water tracker, bookmarks and a counter and days left tracker. NotchStar has none of these.
Now playing is where NotchBox gives more detail: “album art with beat synced animations”, direct support for Apple Music and Spotify, and Safari playback for YouTube Music, YouTube, Spotify and Amazon Music. NotchStar reads the system Now Playing service for real artwork and controls, and does not list beat synced animation.
It runs on macOS 13, supports 17 languages, and it starts free. NotchStar needs macOS 14 and charges $4 after a 7 day trial. That is a real barrier for a person who has an older Mac or who wants to see the app before spending anything.
What NotchStar does that NotchBox does not list
The NotchBox listing does not name a teleprompter, disk tools or a screenshot tray. That is not proof it lacks them, only that it does not claim them. NotchStar’s teleprompter puts a script beside the camera, with speed and size sliders. The disk tab shows free space for each drive and finds duplicate files by comparing contents byte for byte, keeping the oldest copy and moving the rest to the Trash. The screenshot tray holds your latest 12 screenshots for five minutes and lets you drag several at once.
Where both apps have a feature, NotchStar documents its limits, which helps you judge it. The clipboard keeps 50 items in memory and clears on quit. Timers reset when NotchStar quits. The shelf holds references to files, not copies. The calendar tab shows events and reminders and cannot create them. NotchBox’s listing does not give limits at all, so we cannot compare like for like.
On terms, NotchStar prices everything on one page: $4 once, up to 3 Macs, a 7 day trial, a 7 day refund, no account, and no analytics unless you opt in to anonymous version info. NotchBox’s store page states a similar privacy position, that the developer does not collect any data, and notes Apple has not verified it. Both claims are self reported.
Switching from NotchBox to NotchStar
On day one you will find the same core: a shelf with AirDrop, music, timers with Pomodoro, a camera mirror, clipboard history, calendar and system stats. Dragging a file toward the notch opens the shelf. NotchStar needs macOS 14, so check About This Mac first. It is a direct download, not an App Store install.
You give up the browser, app shortcuts, water tracker, bookmarks, counters and the extra interface languages, if you use them. NotchStar keeps one plain text note. Nothing in the NotchBox listing describes an export, so notes, bookmarks and counters must be copied by hand, and any files you stored in its shelf should go back into a normal folder first. NotchStar’s shelf holds references to your files, so it will not take them over. You can run both for a week: the trial is free and the refund lasts 7 days.
What we could not verify
We have not tested NotchBox ourselves. Everything here comes from its Mac App Store listing and Apple’s own lookup data on 4 November 2026.
- Which features need NotchBox Pro, and whether Pro is a one time purchase. The listing does not say.
- Whether it runs on Apple silicon and Intel. The chip is not specified.
- The year on the three newest version dates. The store shows a month and day only, and we assumed 2026.
- Whether it is open source or what license it uses. Nothing is stated.
- Its ratings, since the page shows none, and how its beat synced animations or browser behave.
- Whether the developer’s no data collection statement holds. Apple has not verified it, and neither have we.
Questions.
Is NotchBox free?
Its Mac App Store listing says free with in app purchases and shows one purchase, NotchBox Pro, at $4.99. The listing does not say which features need Pro, so check it before relying on a feature.
Which one supports older Macs?
NotchBox lists macOS 13.0 or later. NotchStar needs macOS 14 or later.
Do both have a file shelf with AirDrop?
Yes. NotchBox's listing describes keeping files in the notch and sharing them by AirDrop with drag and drop. NotchStar has a file shelf with AirDrop as well.
How often is NotchBox updated?
Its version history lists 25 versions, from 1.1.47 on 15 Oct 2025 to 1.1.71 on 12 Sep 2026, and the notes say little beyond bug fixes. Most arrived in the first 75 days.
Does NotchBox collect data?
Its listing says the developer does not collect any data from the app, a statement Apple says it has not verified.
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 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. 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 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
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- NotchStar vs NotchThings
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- 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
- NotchBox alternatives
- Every option next to NotchBox, 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.