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

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Hammerspoon	Open source	Yes	macOS	4 of 4	54.5
2	Stats	Open source	Yes	macOS	4 of 4	50.3

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. 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Fan control is no longer maintained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)

The best SwiftBar alternative for…

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

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.

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.

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.

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.