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.

Checked 4 November 2026

Feature comparison between NotchStar and Session
NotchStarSession
Price $4 once, with a 7 day trial, up to 3 Macs, 7 day refund Free with in app purchases: $4.99 monthly or $39.99 yearly. Trial and refund wording is not on the page
Minimum macOS macOS 14 or later, Apple silicon and Intel macOS 10.15; Apple silicon support is not stated
Latest release 1.0.5, 12 October 2026 2.13.48, shown as Jul 16 with no year
Countdown focus sessions Included Timers with Pomodoro presets Included Time blocks such as 25 or 45 minutes
Website and app blocking Not listed Included During sessions, Mac only
Mutes chosen Slack teams Not listed Included
Automation Not listed Included AppleScript on Mac
Calendar sync Not listed Reads today and tomorrow, read only Partly One way sync of sessions to Apple Calendar
Session review notes Partly Quick notes are a separate tool Included
Lives in the notch Included Not listed Not listed on its App Store page
Account and data collection Included No account; analytics only if you opt in Partly Developer labels: email, user content, user ID, device ID and crash data linked to you. Not verified by Apple

Sources: Session on the App Store (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.

Session at a glance.

Made by
Translucent LLC (copyright Philip Young)
Who it suits
A knowledge worker who wants a Pomodoro style timer with blocking.
Price
Free tier and paid plans. Free with in app purchases: monthly $4.99, yearly $39.99. Trial and refund wording is not on the App Store page.
Needs
macOS 10.15 or later. Not stated.
License
Closed source

Session is one of the 62 apps counted in our pricing statistics and requirements statistics.

Strengths

  • Website and app blocking during sessions, on Mac only.
  • Muting of chosen Slack teams and automation through AppleScript on Mac.
  • One way sync of sessions to Apple Calendar.
  • Session review notes, and time blocks such as 25 or 45 minutes.

Limits

  • The extras are a subscription.
  • Developer labels list email and IDs linked to you; Apple has not verified them.
  • The only source read is its App Store page, so its own website is unchecked.
  • Apple silicon support, trial and refund terms are not stated.

Choose Session if…

  • You want website and app blocking during focus sessions.
  • You want sessions synced to Apple Calendar, review notes and AppleScript automation.
  • You want the dedicated focus app, which does this job in more depth.

Choose NotchStar if…

  • You want a simple Pomodoro timer in the notch alongside nine other tools.
  • You want one $4 payment instead of a $4.99 monthly or $39.99 yearly plan.
  • You want no account and no analytics unless you opt in.

The verdict.

Session is a fuller focus app with blocking and calendar sync. NotchStar's Timers are simpler: Pomodoro presets in the notch. Choose Session if you want to block distractions. Choose NotchStar if a quick timer inside a toolbox is enough.

What Session is

Session, from Translucent LLC, is a focus timer for Mac and iPhone. Its App Store page lists time blocks, website and app blocking on Mac, Slack team muting, AppleScript, one way sync to Apple Calendar and review notes.

What NotchStar’s Timers do

Timers with Pomodoro presets in the notch. They do not block apps or log sessions.

What we could not verify

We have not tested Session. We read only its App Store page on 4 November 2026. The release date shows no year.

Questions.

How much does Session cost?

Its App Store listing shows it free with in app purchases: $4.99 monthly or $39.99 yearly. It does not state trial or refund wording.

Does NotchStar block apps or websites?

No. NotchStar's Timers count down with Pomodoro presets but do not block anything.

What data does Session collect?

Its developer labels list email, user content, user ID, device ID and crash data linked to you, and coarse location for analytics not linked. Apple has not verified these labels.

Where can I read about Session?

We only read its App Store page. We did not read its own website.

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 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 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
Session alternatives
Every option next to Session, with price and macOS support. See the alternatives
Best Mac notch apps
A neutral roundup of the options. Read the guide
NotchStar app icon

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.