Ice vs Bartender
Ice says it does the job of Bartender for less. Here's the price, what you get, and what you give up.
The short answer
Free and open source
Pick Ice if you want
Hide, show and rearrange menu bar items.
Stay with Bartender if this is a deal-breaker
Fewer styling options and triggers than Bartender; maintained by a small open-source team.
| Ice | Bartender | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free and open source | — |
| Saving | — | — |
| Best for | Hide, show and rearrange menu bar items. | Teams that want the biggest, most complete option |
| Trade-off | Fewer styling options and triggers than Bartender; maintained by a small open-source team. | You pay more |
| Switching effort | Easy | — |
| Last checked | 2026-11-11 |
Questions people ask
Is Ice cheaper than Bartender?
Ice says it is: Free and open source. Check both pricing pages before you buy.
What do you give up switching from Bartender to Ice?
Fewer styling options and triggers than Bartender; maintained by a small open-source team.
What do you get with Ice?
Hide, show and rearrange menu bar items.
How do I switch from Bartender to Ice?
Export your data first, test a small import, run both side by side for a week, then cancel before your renewal date.