Free, open-source alternatives to Alcove and NotchNook (2026)
Short answer: three free, open-source (GPL-3.0) notch apps are worth knowing. boring.notch is the most popular and the safest default: macOS 14+, works on external displays, about 11,000 GitHub stars. Atoll grew out of boring.notch and adds system stats, clipboard history and lock-screen widgets, on macOS 14.6+, and it is notarized. Ledge (mine) is for notched MacBooks on macOS 26+, ships signed and notarized, and puts weight on privacy: no account, no telemetry, no audio or screen capture.
If you want other apps' notifications in the notch, or a polished paid app with a trial, Alcove and NotchNook are still good choices.
The free, open-source notch apps
| App | License | macOS | External / non-notch displays | Install | Latest stable | GitHub stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| boring.notch | GPL-3.0 | 14+, Apple silicon or Intel | Yes | Unsigned DMG (README gives an xattr workaround), or its own Homebrew tap | 2.7.3, Nov 2025 (2.8 release candidates since Sep 2026) | ~11,100 |
| Atoll | GPL-3.0 | 14.6+ | Built for the notch; has settings for all displays | Notarized DMG, or brew install --cask atoll | 2.3.3, Jul 2026 | ~5,000 |
| Ledge | GPL-3.0 | 26+ | No, notched MacBooks only | Signed, notarized DMG; updates via Sparkle | 1.2.2, Oct 2026 | 9 |
| DynamicNotch | GPL-3.0 | 14+ | Yes (floating capsule) | Zip from GitHub releases; not notarized | 1.6.3, Oct 2026 | ~600 |
| MewNotch | GPL-3.0 | 14+ | Yes, incl. BetterDisplay | Homebrew tap or DMG; not notarized (README gives an xattr step) | 2.4.0, Oct 2026 | ~550 |
The paid apps they replace
| App | Price (22 Oct 2026) | Trial | macOS | External / non-notch displays | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcove | US$13.99 one-time, 3 Macs | 72 hours | 15+ | Yes (pill shape for notchless displays, "show notch on all displays" since 1.7) | Closed |
| NotchNook | US$15 lifetime or US$2/month as a "special price" (regular US$25 / US$3), 2 Macs | 48 hours | 14.6+, Apple silicon and Intel | Yes ("every display gets its own") | Closed |
| DynamicLake Pro | US$13.99 one-time (Gumroad) | not verified | not verified | Yes (per its changelog) | Closed |
| Droppy | US$9.99 once | 3 days | 14+ | Yes | Closed |
| MediaMate | US$6.99 one-time (Gumroad) | not verified | 13+ | "All macs are supported" | Closed |
Prices change often in this category; roundups from earlier in 2026 list Alcove at US$14.99 and NotchNook at US$25. Check the developer's site before buying.
What each free app is good at
boring.notch
The best-known free notch app, and the codebase several others started from. Its README lists playback controls with a music visualizer, calendar and reminders, a camera mirror, a battery indicator, a file shelf with AirDrop, and replacements for the volume, brightness and keyboard-backlight pop-ups. Weather, Bluetooth activity and lock-screen widgets are on its roadmap, not shipped. It works on displays without a notch, and on Intel Macs as well as Apple silicon. The catch: the team has no Apple Developer account yet, so the app is unsigned and macOS warns on first launch; the README tells you to clear the quarantine flag with xattr.
Choose it if you are on macOS 14 or 15, use an external monitor or an Intel Mac, or want the app with the largest community.
If you only want a drop zone for files, NotchDrop (MIT, about 2,100 stars) is a free file shelf with AirDrop and nothing else.
Atoll
Atoll credits boring.notch as its foundation and goes further on information density: CPU, GPU, memory, network and disk stats, clipboard history, a color picker, timers, lock-screen widgets, and live activities for Focus, screen recording and downloads. Its README describes it as for MacBooks with a notch, but the app has settings for showing on all displays and on non-notch screens. It is notarized and installs with Homebrew.
Choose it if you want the most features in a free app and you are on a notched MacBook with macOS 14.6 or later.
Ledge
Ledge is the newest and smallest of the three; I started it in 2026 and it has nine GitHub stars, so weigh that. It covers now playing (Music, Spotify and browser tabs, with AirPlay output), a timer, calendar with a camera mirror on the Join button, weather, notes, Keep Awake (including with the lid closed), AirPods and Bluetooth, battery, Focus, Caps Lock, a file shelf, and volume and brightness readouts. It does not do clipboard history, system stats, reminders, lock-screen widgets, or other apps' notifications.
Where it differs: like Atoll, it is signed and notarized, so there is no Gatekeeper workaround; it asks for each permission only when you turn on the feature that needs it; it records no audio or screen (its equalizer is an animation, not an audio analyzer); and its README lists every private API it uses. The trade-off is reach: macOS 26 or later, notched built-in display only.
Choose it if you have a notched MacBook on macOS 26 and care most about privacy and a calm, signed app. More on the Ledge page.
When a paid app is the better choice
- Other apps' notifications or calls in the notch: DynamicLake Pro advertises notifications and calls; Alcove has notifications and lock-screen widgets. None of the free apps here ships notifications.
- A file tray with cloud share links, a clipboard manager and extensions: Droppy.
- Only want nicer volume and brightness pop-ups: MediaMate is small, cheap and runs on macOS 13 and on any Mac.
FAQ
Is there a free alternative to Alcove or NotchNook?
Yes: boring.notch, Atoll and Ledge are free and open source under GPL-3.0. boring.notch is the most widely used; Atoll has the most features and is notarized; Ledge is notarized and privacy-focused but needs macOS 26.
Which free notch app works on an external monitor?
boring.notch, MewNotch and DynamicNotch. Atoll has settings for them as well. Ledge draws only on a MacBook's notched built-in display.
How much do Alcove and NotchNook cost?
On 22 October 2026: Alcove US$13.99 one-time with a 72-hour trial (macOS 15+). NotchNook US$15 lifetime or US$2/month as a special price, regularly US$25 or US$3, with a 48-hour trial (macOS 14.6+).
Is NotchNook still available?
Yes, from getnotchnook.com, which says "NotchNook is back." Its old home at lo.cafe/notchnook was unreachable when I checked, and the NotchNook Homebrew cask was removed on 17 October 2026, so older install guides may point to dead links.
Are notch apps safe?
Most use private macOS APIs to read what is playing or to replace system pop-ups; Alcove's FAQ says so plainly. That means a macOS update can break features. Open-source apps let you check what they do; whichever you pick, look at which permissions it asks for and why.
Related
- Best notch apps for MacBook in 2026
- Ledge vs Alcove
- Ledge vs NotchNook
- boring.notch alternatives that are signed and notarized
- Ledge: a free, open-source notch app for MacBook
Sources
- boring.notch: README and LICENSE, releases
- Atoll: README, Homebrew cask
- Minimum macOS for Atoll, DynamicNotch and MewNotch read from each app bundle; notarization from my own Gatekeeper (
spctl) checks, October 2026 (results) - DynamicNotch: README; MewNotch: README; NotchDrop: repository
- Alcove: tryalcove.com, FAQ, Homebrew cask (macOS ≥ 15), changelog
- NotchNook: getnotchnook.com; Homebrew cask removal, 17 October 2026
- DynamicLake Pro: dynamiclake.com, changelog, Gumroad listing
- Droppy: getdroppy.app; MediaMate: site, Gumroad listing
- Ledge: repository, version 1.2.2