SponsorSign inSubmit
Best of MacPip

Best one-time purchase menu bar apps for Mac

Updated Nov 8, 2026, from what MacPip lists today.

Short answer

MacPip lists 12 one-time purchase menu bar apps for Mac, and a person has checked 4 of them.4 of them have a free version.All of them sell a one-time license.1 of them is paid by subscription.There is no single best one-time purchase menu bar app for everyone, so MacPip does not rank them.If you want it free, start with Seedlore.

Apps a person checked come first, newest check first. Never ordered by payment.

What these 12 apps offer, by their listings. An app can offer several, so the bars do not add up to 12.
Free version4 of 12
Pay once12 of 12
Subscription1 of 12
Native to Apple silicon9 of 12
Open source1 of 12
Works offline5 of 12
Checked by a person4 of 12
One-time price in US dollars, as each listing states it, lowest first. 4 apps have no plain dollar one-time price and are left out. Launch prices count where the listing says so.
Switchy$4.99
Seiton$6.99
MouseUp$7.99
Kofe Flow$14.99
Bass Plus$14.99

Compared

AppWhat it doesPriceFree or paidApple siliconOpen sourceMade byChecked
SeitonMenu bar manager for Mac that hides, sorts and searches your menu bar iconsFrom $6.99 once (launch), 14-day trialOne-timeNot statedNoCanonForgeNov 3
SeedloreWatch your love grow into a living treeFree, Premium monthly, yearly or onceFree versionOne-timeSubscriptionYes, and Intel, its maker saysNoixl21sNov 3
Kofe FlowA calm Pomodoro timer for your Mac menu bar, with an iPhone app that stays in sync.Free, Lifetime Pro $14.99 one-timeFree versionOne-timeNot statedNoNot statedNov 3
AtticScreenshots and downloads put themselves away.$5 once (launch), then $9 and $15One-timeYes, and Intel, its maker saysNoPablo Fernández JiménezNov 3
CatPod |⁠ Pixel Cat CompanionA pixel-art cat companion for macOS with a built-in focus timer and desktop roaming.$3.99One-timeYes, and Intel, its maker saysNoGalip OZTURKPending
Keystone | Habit TrackerProductivity app for Mac$3.99One-timeYes, and Intel, its maker saysNoGalip OZTURKPending
Bass PlusBass Plus is a bass booster and equalizer for Mac with software volume boost.$14.99 once, 7-day free trialOne-timeYes, and Intel, its maker saysNoCLIDECK LLCPending
MouseUpFix ghost double-clicks and get trackpad-smooth scrolling on any mouse.$7.99 once, free trialOne-timeYes, and Intel, its maker saysNoDavid TranPending
SwitchyMac controls, deploys, 2FA codes and Claude/Codex limits in your menu bar.$4.99 once, 7-day free trialOne-timeYes, Apple silicon only, its maker saysNoVladimir BabicPending
Super High FivesAn open-source colour picker app for macOSFree and open sourceFree versionOne-timeNot statedYesNot statedPending
Keep Mac AwakeKeeps your MacBook awake with the lid closed, so agents and long jobs keep going$9 onceOne-timeYes, Apple silicon only, its maker saysNoKeep Mac AwakePending
BeckonA Mac app that puts your Dock in a ring around the pointerFree, Pro $24 once, 14-day trialFree versionOne-timeYes, and Intel, its maker saysNoNot statedPending

The apps, one by one

Seiton

Menu bar manager for Mac that hides, sorts and searches your menu bar icons

Pay onceChecked Nov 3
Seiton on a Mac

Seiton keeps a crowded menu bar under control. Icons you rarely use go behind a divider and come back with one click, you can sort everything into three sections, and there is a search for menu bar items. It works fully offline. One-time purchase with a 14-day trial, from $6.99 at its launch price. It needs macOS 26 or later, and its maker names Bartender as the app it replaces.

Price
From $6.99 once (launch), 14-day trial
Needs
macOS 26 or later
Its maker says it replaces
Bartender

Seiton on MacPip More Menu Bar apps

Seedlore

Watch your love grow into a living tree

Free versionPay onceSubscriptionApple siliconWorks offlineChecked Nov 3
Seedlore on a Mac

From its maker: Your relationship as a living tree. Journal, shared calendar, pinboard and bucket list for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch.

Price
Free, Premium monthly, yearly or once
Needs
macOS 26 Tahoe oder neuer

Seedlore on MacPip More Fun and Delight apps

Kofe Flow

A calm Pomodoro timer for your Mac menu bar, with an iPhone app that stays in sync.

Free versionPay onceChecked Nov 3
Kofe Flow on a Mac

Kofe Flow is a calm Pomodoro timer in the menu bar, with an iPhone app that stays in sync. Focus analytics stay on your Mac, and timer sync is optional and anonymous. It is free, with Lifetime Pro at $14.99 once.

Price
Free, Lifetime Pro $14.99 one-time

Kofe Flow on MacPip More Menu Bar apps

Attic

Screenshots and downloads put themselves away.

Pay onceApple siliconChecked Nov 3
Attic on a Mac

Attic tidies up after you. Old screenshots and downloads move to a folder on your Mac by themselves, and nothing is ever deleted. No cloud and no account. It is $5 once at its launch price, then $9 and $15.

Price
$5 once (launch), then $9 and $15
Needs
macOS 14 Sonoma or later

Attic on MacPip More Menu Bar apps

CatPod |⁠ Pixel Cat Companion

A pixel-art cat companion for macOS with a built-in focus timer and desktop roaming.

Pay onceApple siliconWorks offline
CatPod |⁠ Pixel Cat Companion on a Mac

From its maker: CATPOD | PIXEL CAT COMPANION CatPod is a native macOS desktop pet: a pixel-art cat that roams the display you are working on, curls up beside you while a focus session runs, and naps when you leave the desk. FOCUS KEEPS THE CAT PURRING.

Price
$3.99
Needs
macOS 14 Sonoma or later

CatPod |⁠ Pixel Cat Companion on MacPip More Menu Bar apps

Bass Plus

Bass Plus is a bass booster and equalizer for Mac with software volume boost.

Pay onceApple silicon
Bass Plus on a Mac

From its maker: Bass Plus is a bass booster and equalizer for Mac with software volume boost. Add more bass to everyday music, adjust sound for your headphones, or fine-tune your MacBook speakers.

Price
$14.99 once, 7-day free trial
Needs
macOS 14 Sonoma or later

Bass Plus on MacPip More Audio and Video apps

MouseUp

Fix ghost double-clicks and get trackpad-smooth scrolling on any mouse.

Pay onceApple silicon
MouseUp on a Mac

From its maker: MouseUp (formerly Mac Mouse Fixer) makes any external mouse feel at home on macOS. It blocks the ghost double-clicks that worn switches cause, so one click is one click again, and turns every wheel notch into one smooth, trackpad-like glide.

Deal
50% off Lifetime, until Dec 5
Price
$7.99 once, free trial
Needs
macOS 12 Monterey or later
Its maker says it replaces
Mac Mouse Fix, SteerMouse, Mos, Logi Options+

MouseUp on MacPip More Utilities apps

Switchy

Mac controls, deploys, 2FA codes and Claude/Codex limits in your menu bar.

Pay onceApple silicon
Switchy on a Mac

Switchy gathers everyday Mac switches into one menu bar panel: Dark Mode, Keep Awake, mic mute, Do Not Disturb and DNS. It also follows deployments on Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare and Railway, keeps 2FA codes behind Touch ID, and shows when Claude and Codex limits reset. It is $4.99 once for up to 3 Macs, with a 7-day trial, on Apple silicon with macOS 14 or later.

Price
$4.99 once, 7-day free trial
Needs
macOS 14 Sonoma or later
Its maker says it replaces
One Switch

Switchy on MacPip More Menu Bar apps

Keep Mac Awake

Keeps your MacBook awake with the lid closed, so agents and long jobs keep going

Pay onceApple silicon
Keep Mac Awake on a Mac

Keep Mac Awake keeps a MacBook with Apple silicon awake with the lid closed, with no external display, so builds, downloads and AI coding agents keep running while you are away. Sessions start from the menu bar or a command and end on time, and a watchdog restores normal sleep if something stops. No account and no analytics. It is $9 once and needs macOS 26 Tahoe or later.

Price
$9 once
Needs
macOS 26 Tahoe or later
Its maker says it replaces
Amphetamine, KeepingYouAwake

Keep Mac Awake on MacPip More Menu Bar apps

Beckon

A Mac app that puts your Dock in a ring around the pointer

Free versionPay onceApple siliconWorks offline
Beckon on a Mac

Beckon puts your Dock in a ring around the pointer. Hold Option-Space, flick toward an app and let go. The ring holds windows with live thumbnails, pinned apps, folders, websites, Shortcuts and files, and the real Dock can stay hidden. It is free, with Pro at $24 once and a 14-day trial.

Price
Free, Pro $24 once, 14-day trial
Needs
macOS 14 Sonoma or later
Its maker says it replaces
Outpost launcher

Beckon on MacPip More Files and Storage apps

Which one to pick

What to look for

Look for low memory use, a way to hide it when it is not needed, and whether it still fits on a MacBook with a notch.

Questions

What is the best one-time purchase menu bar app for Mac?

There is no single best one for everyone. MacPip lists 12: Seiton, Seedlore, Kofe Flow, Attic, CatPod |⁠ Pixel Cat Companion, Keystone | Habit Tracker, Bass Plus, MouseUp, Switchy, Super High Fives, Keep Mac Awake, Beckon. If you want it free, look at Seedlore. If you would rather pay once than subscribe, look at Seiton. If you want it to run natively on Apple silicon, look at Seedlore. If you need it to work offline, as its maker says it does, look at Seedlore.

Are there free one-time purchase menu bar apps for Mac?

Yes. With a free version on MacPip: Seedlore, Kofe Flow, Super High Fives, Beckon.

Which one-time purchase menu bar apps run natively on Apple silicon?

By their makers' word or by our check: Seedlore, Attic, CatPod |⁠ Pixel Cat Companion, Keystone | Habit Tracker, Bass Plus, MouseUp, Switchy, Keep Mac Awake, Beckon.

Which one-time purchase menu bar apps has a person checked?

Each has a dated report on its page: Seiton, Seedlore, Kofe Flow, Attic.

How does MacPip order these apps?

Apps a person has checked come first, newest check first, then the rest by when they were added. Payment never changes the order, and sponsored rows are labeled and kept apart.

Related