Notchware
Notchware is a native macOS app that transforms the MacBook notch into a functional live island.
Our verdict
Who it's for
Turn your MacBook notch into a dynamic live island
Who should look elsewhere
Requires macOS 14.6 Sonoma or later.
Pros
- +Native macOS app that feels fast and at home on the desktop.
- +Private by design: no account, no analytics, no cloud backend.
- +One-time purchase for Pro with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Cons
- −Requires macOS 14.6 Sonoma or later.
- −Pro features are limited to AI agent alerts and Lock Screen controls; some users may want more advanced customization.
Key features
- ✓Now Playing display with artwork, live equalizer, and playback controls for Spotify, Apple Music, and other media sources.
- ✓Battery status with charging and low-battery alerts at a user-defined threshold.
- ✓Volume and brightness indicators shown as a line or percentage in the notch.
- ✓Focus mode animation when a Focus mode turns on or off.
- ✓Network status notifications for Wi-Fi and Personal Hotspot connections.
- ✓AI agent alerts (Pro) for Codex, Claude Code, and Cursor with approval and completion sounds.
- ✓Lock Screen music controls and profile hiding (Pro).
- ✓Customizable settings: choose display, island width, and which indicators appear.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Billing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binzide Pro | $11.99 | month | Clean caches, logs, and leftovers, with removed files going to the Trash; Uninstall apps and command-line tools with their support files; Watch storage, CPU, memory, and network, plus 20 local developer tools |
| Notchware Pro | $3.99 | month | Now Playing with artwork and playback controls; Battery, volume, brightness, Focus, and Wi-Fi status; Pro: approval and completion alerts from Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor |
| Sideme Pro | $2.99 | month | Everything you copy, as color-coded cards that slide up with ⌘⇧V; Text, links, images, files, and colors, with search and ⌘1–⌘9 Quick Paste; Pro: full history, Pinboards, and sync through your own iCloud Drive |
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