ClearBar hides third-party application icons from the menu bar while leaving Apple’s system icons visible. Hidden apps remain accessible through a single-click panel, and each hidden app displays its current memory usage with visual indicators for high consumption.
The approach focuses on the distinction between third-party and Apple-native menu bar items. ClearBar preserves the system clock, battery indicator, control center, and other Apple-provided items while consolidating third-party app icons behind its interface. Users can pin frequently used apps for faster access and designate rarely used apps for deeper hiding.
Memory usage indicators display next to each hidden app, with apps consuming more than 1 GB highlighted in orange. This makes ClearBar’s hidden panel serve as both an icon manager and a lightweight process monitor. Force-quit capability allows terminating problematic apps directly from the hidden apps panel.
The Accessibility-only permission model avoids the privacy implications of Screen Recording permission, which some competing menu bar managers require to detect and capture icon images.
System requirements: Requires macOS 27 on Apple Silicon. (Note: at time of writing, macOS 27 details are not yet publicly disclosed—confirm system requirements at the app’s website before purchasing.)
Pricing: Launch price $5, regular price $12 as a one-time purchase per Mac. 14-day refund policy.
Limitations: Per-Mac licensing means separate purchases for multiple Macs. The macOS version requirement limits compatibility. Pinning and categorization options may be less flexible than feature-rich alternatives like Bartender or Ice. The memory indicator is informational only and does not replace dedicated system monitoring tools.
Alternatives: Ice provides free menu bar management with grouping and autohide. Bartender and Bartender Pro offer comprehensive paid management with additional features. Tiidy offers card-based organization with smart visibility rules.
Suitable for users wanting to reduce menu bar clutter without granting Screen Recording permission, particularly those who prefer a simple approach to hiding third-party icons rather than complex configuration.
