The best Batteries alternatives

For most people the best alternative to Batteries is AlDente, and the best free one is Itsyhome.

The Useful TechResearched and written with AI under our rulesUpdated 14 Oct 2026

AlDentePick it if you keep your MacBook plugged in at a desk most days and want the battery healthy for years.Free to start

Best free alternative

ItsyhomePick it if you have Apple Home devices and want to control them from the Mac without opening another app.Free to start Also great

BartenderPick it if you have more menu bar icons than space, especially on a MacBook with a notch.From $20

Compare at a glance

Batteries is highlighted, so you can see what you give up and what you gain.

App	Price	How you pay	Rating
Batteries	$8.99 once	Pay once	Too few ratings
AlDente	Free to start	Free, with paid upgrades	Too few ratings
Bartender	From $20	Pay once	Too few ratings
Itsyhome	Free to start	Free, with paid upgrades	Too few ratings
Boring Notch	Free, open source	Free	Too few ratings
SideNotes	$19.99 once	Pay once	Too few ratings
Shoji	$14 once	Pay once	Too few ratings
Hidden Bar	Free, open source	Free	Too few ratings
TuningMac	$14 once	Pay once	Too few ratings

Swipe the table sideways to see more

The alternatives, in order

1
AlDente
Free to startBest alternative

Pick it if you keep your MacBook plugged in at a desk most days and want the battery healthy for years.

Pick a charge limit like 80% and stop a desk-bound MacBook from sitting at full charge all day, free for the basics.

Prices and full verdict Developer's site
2
Bartender
From $20

Pick it if you have more menu bar icons than space, especially on a MacBook with a notch.

Rescues menu bar icons lost behind the notch and shows each one only when you actually need it.

Prices and full verdict Developer's site
3
Itsyhome
Free to startBest free

Pick it if you have Apple Home devices and want to control them from the Mac without opening another app.

Apple Home and Home Assistant controls in the Mac menu bar, with a $12.99 Pro upgrade.

Prices and full verdict App Store
4
Boring Notch
Free, open source

Pick it if you have a MacBook with a notch and want that space to show your music, calendar and files.

A free, open-source app that turns the MacBook notch into music controls, a file shelf and a calendar.

Prices and full verdict Developer's site
5
SideNotes
$19.99 once

Pick it if you take quick notes during calls or while coding and hate hunting for the right window.

A notes drawer on the side of your screen, so writing something down never means switching apps.

Prices and full verdict Developer's site
6
Shoji
$14 once

Pick it if you work from cafes, coworking spaces or open offices and step away from your MacBook several times a day.

A soft blur over every screen with one shortcut, so nobody reads your messages while you grab a coffee.

Prices and full verdict Developer's site
7
Hidden Bar
Free, open source

Pick it if you have so many menu bar icons that some vanish behind your MacBook's notch.

A free, open source divider that tucks rarely used menu bar icons out of sight until you click.

Prices and full verdict Developer's site
8
TuningMac
$14 once

Pick it if you want to turn Zoom down, Spotify up and fix thin laptop speakers without paying SoundSource prices.

A real 10-band EQ, a volume slider per app and AirPods noise controls in the menu bar, with no driver to install.

Prices and full verdict Developer's site

When Batteries is still the right pick

You carry an iPhone, iPad and AirPods and keep finding one of them flat.

Batteries prices and verdict$8.99 once