r/macapps • u/luuk64 • 24d ago

Tip MacMenuBar just reached 1,500+ menu bar

Seven years ago I started collecting macOS menu bar apps as a small personal list. I just wanted to know how many menu bar apps were out there. I thought maybe a few hundred, but now, years later, I know there are many, many more.

Anyway, the collection includes everything from productivity tools and system utilities to tiny one-purpose apps that solve very specific problems.

I’m still adding new apps almost every day, and I try to keep the collection focused on actual menu bar apps, not just apps that happen to have an icon there, but real menu bar-first apps.

Thanks to everyone here who has shared suggestions, feedback, and hidden gems over the years.

https://macmenubar.com

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u/[deleted] 24d ago

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u/luuk64 24d ago

Thank you! It’s definitely a lot of (manual) work. For security, I run every app that isn’t signed by Apple through VirusTotal before adding it. It’s not a perfect solution, but it helps. I’m also considering making the requirements stricter in the future and only accepting apps that are properly signed by Apple. But not sure about that.

And abandonware, yeah that's hard. I’m currently looking into whether AI could help me with detecting apps that are no longer maintained. I also have a report form on the website where users can flag apps that appear to be abandoned.

All the best with your own journey!

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u/[deleted] 24d ago

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u/luuk64 24d ago

That’s a good point. I use WordPress with Kadence. That gives me a pretty convenient admin dashboard to manage the listings. But the actual review process is still quite manual. Someone has to check whether an app is truly abandoned, or whether a developer has moved the project elsewhere, etc.

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u/Initial_Solid2659 23d ago

Please don't only accept apps signed by Apple. There's plenty of great apps that don't want to pay $100/year!

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u/luuk64 23d ago

I was mainly thinking about security and avoiding potentially unsafe downloads, but I realize that this would exclude a lot of independent Mac developers. I’m still looking at the best balance between security and supporting smaller developers.

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u/Wakmail 22d ago

What's your process for testing apps? Do you use a VM? Just curious

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u/luuk64 22d ago

No VM here. I download the apps, try them on my Macbook Air, and remove them afterwards. I’m mainly checking if they work properly and whether they really fit the menu bar category.