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SwiftBar alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave SwiftBar: you need to write or adapt scripts; there is no visual editor, and macOS only. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces SwiftBar, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Hammerspoon currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Hammerspoon logoHammerspoonOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 454.5
2BetterTouchTool logoBetterTouchToolPaidNomacOS5 of 552.2
3Stats logoStatsOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 450.3
4iStat Menus logoiStat MenusPaidNomacOS5 of 548.9
  1. Hammerspoon logo

    1. HammerspoonTop pick

    Best for: Developers who want to script their own Mac utilities instead of buying several

    Open sourcemacOS

    54.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from SwiftBar

    Free and scriptable in Lua, with menu bar items plus window, hotkey and system automation in one tool.

    Pros

    • Can replace many small utilities with code
    • Broad APIs across windows, input, network and devices
    • Spoons provide ready-made modules
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • Requires writing Lua
    • No graphical editor for automations
    • Debugging configs can be fiddly
    Visit Hammerspoon Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.360
    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 Hammerspoon a good SwiftBar alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Scripting language
    Lua
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Default behaviour
    Does nothing until configured
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Plugins
    Spoons
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. BetterTouchTool logo

    2. BetterTouchTool

    Best for: Mac power users who want to remap gestures, mice and keys and automate with them

    PaidmacOS

    52.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from SwiftBar

    Paid app that can add script-driven menu bar items alongside gestures and shortcuts, configured in a GUI.

    Pros

    • Huge range of triggers and actions
    • Window snapping, clipboard and launcher included
    • Low one-off price with a lifetime option
    • Long free trial

    Cons

    • Dense, complicated settings
    • Mac only
    • Standard licence only covers two years of updates
    Visit BetterTouchTool 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 BetterTouchTool a good SwiftBar alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Standard licence
    $15, 2 years of updates
    Checked Oct 25, 2026folivora.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Lifetime licence
    $25
    Checked Oct 25, 2026folivora.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    45 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026folivora.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Built-in actions
    600+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026folivora.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Setapp
    Included
    Checked Oct 25, 2026folivora.ai(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Stats logo

    3. Stats

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

    Open sourcemacOS

    50.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from SwiftBar

    Free, open-source system monitor for the menu bar, if CPU, memory and network readouts were the main use.

    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 ×0.346
    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 Stats a good SwiftBar 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)
  4. iStat Menus logo

    4. iStat Menus

    Best for: Mac users who want detailed system stats and alerts in the menu bar

    PaidmacOS

    48.9

    score / 100

    Why switch from SwiftBar

    Polished paid menu bar monitor for hardware stats and weather, with no scripting needed.

    Pros

    • Very detailed, customisable menu bar stats
    • Rules and notifications for system events
    • Combined mode saves menu bar space
    • No ads, analytics or tracking

    Cons

    • 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
    Visit iStat Menus Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.341
    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 iStat Menus a good SwiftBar alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Weather
    6 months included with licences
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bjango.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Family licence
    Up to 5 family members
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bjango.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Requirements
    macOS 13.5 or later
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bjango.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Setapp
    Included
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bjango.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Tracking
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bjango.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best SwiftBar alternative for…

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

Hammerspoon logo

Best SwiftBar alternative for most people

Hammerspoon

Free and scriptable in Lua, with menu bar items plus window, hotkey and system automation in one tool.

Stats logo

Best SwiftBar alternative for a free option

Stats

Free, open-source system monitor for the menu bar, if CPU, memory and network readouts were the main use.

Hammerspoon logo

Best SwiftBar alternative for open source

Hammerspoon

Free and scriptable in Lua, with menu bar items plus window, hotkey and system automation in one tool.

BetterTouchTool logo

Best SwiftBar alternative for Mac

BetterTouchTool

Paid app that can add script-driven menu bar items alongside gestures and shortcuts, configured in a GUI.

SwiftBar alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to SwiftBar?

Hammerspoon ranks first right now. Free and scriptable in Lua, with menu bar items plus window, hotkey and system automation in one tool. BetterTouchTool and Stats follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to SwiftBar?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to SwiftBar?

Yes: Hammerspoon and Stats.

Why do people switch from SwiftBar?

The complaints we hear most: you need to write or adapt scripts; there is no visual editor; macOS only; plugins from the community vary in quality and upkeep.

How is this list ranked?

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