Notes

Answers to questions I had to work out while building Ledge, a notch app for MacBooks. Each one says when it was last updated and links its sources. I make Ledge, so read what I say about it with that in mind.

Choosing a notch app

• Best notch apps for MacBook in 2026

  Ten notch apps, free and paid, with what each is best at, whether it is notarized, and whether it is ready for macOS 26 Tahoe.

• Free and open-source alternatives to Alcove and NotchNook (2026)

  Every notch app worth knowing, with price, license, macOS version and external-display support, and which to pick.

• boring.notch alternatives that are signed and notarized

  Why macOS blocks boring.notch, and which notch apps pass Gatekeeper without the xattr workaround. I checked each one.

• How to get a Dynamic Island on a MacBook

  macOS has no Dynamic Island. What the notch apps add, what they need, and what to check before installing one.

Head to head

• Ledge vs Alcove

  A polished paid notch app against a free, open-source one: what you get for US$13.99, and what you give up.

• Ledge vs NotchNook

  NotchNook runs on Intel Macs and every display and has to-dos and Shortcuts; Ledge is free, open source and macOS 26 only.

• Ledge vs Atoll

  Two free, notarized notch apps: Atoll does more and runs on more Macs, Ledge asks for less.

• Ledge vs boring.notch

  Two free, open-source notch apps, side by side.

By feature

• Show Spotify or Apple Music in the MacBook notch

  Which notch apps show what is playing, from which apps and browsers, and which ones listen to your audio to draw the visualizer.

• Join meetings from the MacBook notch

  Which notch apps show your next meeting with a one-click Join, which services they recognize, and the free menu bar alternative.

• How to see AirPods battery on a Mac

  The two built-in places, the menu bar apps (AirBuddy, ToothFairy, AirBattery) and the notch apps that show it.

Keeping a Mac awake

• Keep-awake apps for Mac compared

  Amphetamine, KeepingYouAwake, Lungo, Theine, Caffeinated, Raycast Coffee, caffeinate and Ledge: which keep a MacBook awake with the lid closed.

• How to keep a MacBook awake with the lid closed

  Closed-display mode, pmset, Amphetamine and Ledge: what each needs and what can go wrong.