Ledge vs boring.notch

By Ege Mert Balçık · Last updated 22 October 2026 · Disclosure: I make Ledge

Short answer: both are free, open-source (GPL-3.0) apps that turn the MacBook notch into a Dynamic Island. boring.notch reaches more Macs (macOS 14+, Intel, external and non-notch displays) and has a far larger community. Ledge needs a notched MacBook on macOS 26, but is signed and notarized, adds weather, notes, Keep Awake and AirPods, and captures no audio or screen. On macOS 14 or 15, or with an external monitor, use boring.notch.

Side by side

"Not in README" means the project's README does not list it; the app may still do it in some form.

	boring.notch	Ledge
Price	Free	Free
License	GPL-3.0	GPL-3.0
macOS	14 Sonoma or later	26 or later
Macs	Apple silicon or Intel	Notched MacBooks (all Apple silicon)
External / non-notch displays	Yes	No
Signed and notarized	No; README gives an `xattr` workaround	Yes
Install	DMG, or Homebrew tap	DMG from GitHub or ledgeapp.dev; Sparkle updates
Latest stable	2.7.3, 24 Nov 2025 (2.8 RCs since Sep 2026)	1.2.2, 21 Oct 2026
Public since	Aug 2024	Sep 2026
GitHub stars	~11,100	9
Translations	Yes (Crowdin)	English
Now playing	Yes, with visualizer	Yes: Music, Spotify, browser tabs; AirPlay output picker; animated equalizer that reads no audio
Calendar	Yes	Yes, with a camera mirror on Join
Reminders	Yes	No
Camera mirror	Yes	Yes, before meetings
Volume / brightness pop-up replacement	Yes, plus keyboard backlight	Yes, becomes a slider on hover
File shelf	Yes, with AirDrop	Yes; new screenshots land there
Battery	Yes	Yes, with a low-battery nudge
Custom gestures	Yes	Not in README
Weather	On roadmap	Yes
AirPods / Bluetooth	On roadmap	Yes, with battery
Timer	Not in README	Yes, countdown beside the notch
Notes	Not in README	Yes, plain files; send to Apple Notes
Keep Awake, incl. lid closed	Not in README	Yes, opt-in
Focus, Caps Lock, camera/mic in use	Not in README	Yes
Lock-screen widgets, notifications	On roadmap	No

boring.notch's 2.8 release candidates (September and October 2026, not yet a stable release) add joining meetings from calendar events, an audio-output picker and a real-time audio waveform that uses captured audio.

Choose boring.notch if

you are on macOS 14 Sonoma or macOS 15 Sequoia;
you use an external monitor, a Mac without a notch, or an Intel Mac;
you want reminders, AirDrop from the shelf, or custom gestures;
you want the app with the bigger community, more contributors and translations.

Choose Ledge if

you have a notched MacBook on macOS 26;
you would rather not bypass Gatekeeper to install an app;
you want weather, notes, a timer, AirPods and Keep Awake in the same place;
privacy is the deciding factor: Ledge records nothing, asks for each permission only when you turn on the feature that needs it, sends four kinds of network request (weather, place name, cover art, update check) and nothing else, and documents every private API it uses.

Honest caveat: Ledge is new, made by one person, and has a tiny user base next to boring.notch. If that matters to you, it is a fair reason to pick boring.notch.

FAQ

Should I use Ledge or boring.notch?

boring.notch on macOS 14 or 15, with an external monitor or an Intel Mac, or if you want the larger community. Ledge on a notched MacBook running macOS 26 if you want a notarized, privacy-focused app with weather, notes and Keep Awake.

Are Ledge and boring.notch free?

Yes, both are free and open source under GPL-3.0.

Why does macOS warn when opening boring.notch?

Its README says the team does not have an Apple Developer account yet, so the app is unsigned, and gives an xattr command to clear the quarantine flag. Ledge is signed and notarized.

Is Ledge based on boring.notch?

No. Ledge was written from scratch with no code from other projects. Atoll is the well-known app that started from boring.notch's codebase.

Sources

boring.notch: README (requirements, roadmap, install), releases, Crowdin project
Ledge: README at version 1.2.2
Atoll: README (credits boring.notch as its foundational codebase)