AppBreakup
Submit an app

iStat Menus alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave iStat Menus: paid licence, with weather an extra after the included period, and mac only, recent macOS required. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces iStat Menus, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Stats currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Stats logoStatsOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 466.5
2Bartender logoBartenderPaidNomacOS4 of 452.2
3Ice logoIceOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 450.3
  1. Stats logo

    1. StatsTop pick

    Best for: Mac users who want free menu bar readouts of CPU, memory, network and temperatures

    Open sourcemacOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from iStat Menus

    Free and open source, covering CPU, memory, disk, network and sensors.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Modules can be enabled one by one
    • Covers CPU, GPU, memory, disk, network, sensors and battery

    Cons

    • Fan control is no longer maintained
    • Fewer alerts and options than iStat Menus
    • Does not support beta macOS releases
    Visit Stats Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Stats a good iStat Menus alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Requirements
    macOS 12 Monterey or newer
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Install
    Download or Homebrew
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Sensors
    Temperature, voltage and power
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Bartender logo

    2. Bartender

    Best for: Mac users with crowded menu bars who want automatic, rule-based icon hiding

    PaidmacOS

    52.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from iStat Menus

    Hide or group menu bar icons if space, not stats, is the problem.

    Pros

    • Triggers show icons only when they matter
    • Handles the notch with a separate bar
    • Keyboard search of menu bar items
    • Four-week free trial

    Cons

    • Paid, with subscription options for the Pro tier
    • Ownership change in 2024 dented trust for some users
    • Each licence covers one major version
    Visit Bartender Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.352
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Bartender a good iStat Menus alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free trial
    4 weeks
    Checked Oct 25, 2026macbartender.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro free trial
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026macbartender.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Screen Recording
    Optional
    Checked Oct 25, 2026macbartender.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Setapp
    Included
    Checked Oct 25, 2026macbartender.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Ice logo

    3. Ice

    Best for: Mac users who want to hide menu bar icons for free

    Open sourcemacOS

    50.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from iStat Menus

    Free way to hide extra menu bar icons, including monitor readouts.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Separate bar for items hidden by the notch
    • Drag-and-drop arrangement and item search
    • Menu bar styling options

    Cons

    • Some roadmap features are still unimplemented
    • Smaller team than commercial rivals
    • Can break after major macOS updates
    Visit Ice Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.346
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Ice a good iStat Menus alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Install
    GitHub release or Homebrew
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Notch support
    Separate Ice Bar
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Development status
    Active, some features unfinished
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best iStat Menus alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Stats logo

Best iStat Menus alternative for most people

Stats

Free and open source, covering CPU, memory, disk, network and sensors.

Ice logo

Best iStat Menus alternative for a free option

Ice

Free way to hide extra menu bar icons, including monitor readouts.

Stats logo

Best iStat Menus alternative for open source

Stats

Free and open source, covering CPU, memory, disk, network and sensors.

Bartender logo

Best iStat Menus alternative for Mac

Bartender

Hide or group menu bar icons if space, not stats, is the problem.

iStat Menus alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to iStat Menus?

Stats ranks first right now. Free and open source, covering CPU, memory, disk, network and sensors. Bartender and Ice follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to iStat Menus?

Yes. Stats (open source) and Ice (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to iStat Menus?

Yes: Stats and Ice.

Why do people switch from iStat Menus?

The complaints we hear most: paid licence, with weather an extra after the included period; mac only, recent macOS required; can crowd the menu bar if every item is enabled.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces iStat Menus, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.