8 Mac Menu Bar Apps That Will Massively Improve Your Day

Are you only using the menu bar to check time? 😂

The menu bar in macOS is probably one of the unique features of the Mac, and sadly, most people underutilize it a lot.

If you think you are not one of those people, you probably are. Because most people think the menu bar is just a place to show the menu items in your apps and the time or your battery percentage.

However, like any device, the right set of apps can supercharge the menu bar on your Mac and help you manage your work better, save time, and eliminate any distractions to make your overall workflow ridiculously smooth.

So, if you haven’t taken advantage of your Mac's menu bar, you are in luck. In this post, I will introduce you to 8 Mac menu bar apps that will turn your Mac into a productivity beast and drastically improve your daily workflow.

Quick Note: Some of the apps in this list require a subscription. But don’t worry; I have got you covered with my exclusive Setapp affiliate link. Setapp is a popular Mac app store with over 200 premium macOS and iOS apps available for a single monthly price. Use the code ‘usefultech’ to try Setapp (and some of the apps I love) for free for 30 days.

Now, let’s get started!

Backtrack — Record the Past 👽

I don’t know about you, but I have been there when an amazing idea struck in a meeting, the crucial details someone mentioned on a call, the brainwave I had but promptly forgot to write down 😢

It is enough to make you want a do-over button for those important moments, and that is exactly where Backtrack comes into play.

This menu bar app is like your personal time machine for audio. It is always quietly recording in the background (locally on your Mac, so no privacy worries), letting you rewind and grab those golden nuggets of wisdom you would have otherwise missed.

Why you should use Backtrack

→ Never miss anything: Whether it is an important client call, an internal meeting with your team, or a critical presentation, those genius moments that vanish into thin air — Backtrack has got your back, or rather, your past!

→ Ditch the note-taking panic: Focus on the conversation, not frantically scribbling notes.

→ Zero pressure to record: Forget hitting ‘start’ — Backtrack captures everything automatically. Just rewind when you need it.

Think of Backtrack as the ultimate insurance policy for your ears. Whether it is team meetings, client calls, or your own flashes of brilliance, Backtrack makes sure nothing slips through the cracks.

Batteries — No More Uncertainty 🔋

Batteries is a great app for anyone in the Apple ecosystem who is constantly panicking about when and where the devices might run out of juice.

I know you can check out the percentage, but that does not tell you with exact precision when your Mac is going to give up on you, and the Batteries app does.

Batteries for Mac displays your device’s battery level right on your Mac’s menu bar. You can view the battery levels of your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and AirPods, as well as the battery levels of any Bluetooth device connected to your Mac.

Why you should use Batteries

→ Glanceable info: It is super convenient to be able to see the battery percentages of all of your devices in one place without fumbling to find them.

→ Notifications: You can get timely reminders to recharge before any of your devices die.

→ Bluetooth Support: Thanks to Bluetooth connectivity, even if you have a non-Apple device, Batteries can also show their battery levels.

The initial setup process might be a bit tricky for some devices; however, once you are past that, it is all smooth sailing from there.

Batteries is a niche app, and if you are in the Apple ecosystem and would prefer being aware of all of your device’s charging levels rather than constantly juggling through multiple devices to check them, you should definitely start using the app.

Folder Peek — A filing cabinet for your menu bar 🗄

Folder Peek is a convenient utility app that lets you have important folders and files just one click away in your Mac’s menu bar. This is a great tool for anyone who loves organization and quick access to the things they use the most.

Folder Peek lets you add individual folders as separate menu bar icons. Each icon can be fully customized to show only the list of files or subfolders you want. As the name suggests, you can also peek at the folders to view and even copy the file details.

My favorite part is that you can also use a folder to drag and drop links to your web browser, making it a quick way to store and access links to the sites you visit the most.

Why you should use Folder Peek

→ Fine-grained customization: You can add any numbers you want to your menu bar for quick access and fully customize it by changing its icon, position, and folder contents.

→ Previews and more: You can quickly preview any file, grab image dimensions from file properties, and even choose to open items in specific apps, all from the menu bar folder.

→ Flexible: Folder Peek is also heavily flexible, allowing you to tweak the sorting options, set visibility with the Shortcuts app, and even add a folder with all the contents of your desktop.

One gripe I have with Folder Peek is that they don’t yet support adding smart folders, but if you are ok with that, it is a great app. If you want fine-grained control over your menu bar folders and don’t mind a bit of initial setup, it offers a lot of practical convenience.

Looking Glass — Music Remote 🎵

If you are as annoyed as I am of constantly switching app windows when I am on a productivity spree just to pause a song or find a new playlist, Looking Glass is an app you should start using.

Looking Glass aims to make controlling Apple Music or Spotify on your Mac a breeze from your menu bar or with handy shortcuts.

Why you should use Looking Glass

→ Search and Play instantly: You can type right in the menu to search your library, get recommendations, and start the music flowing.

→ Mini-Player Power: The mini-player from the menu bar allows you to easily pause, skip tracks, and even ‘love’ them with ease.

→ Customizable Shortcuts: You can customize the keyboard shortcuts to exactly how you like to work.

While this app also works with Spotify and Last.fm, it might work best if you are an Apple Music user. So, if you are an Apple Music user and want that extra layer of control, the search function and mini-player alone could save you tons of clicks and window juggling.

Menu Bar X — Browser that lives on your Menu bar 🌐

Imagine checking the news, scrolling through your Twitter or Instagram feed, catching a quick video, or even doing some light work, all without leaving your current app.

That is the idea behind Menu Bar X, a lightweight browser built into your Mac’s menu bar.

Why you should use Menu Bar X?

→ Multitasking Made Easy: The app is perfect for quick reference checks and keeping a social feed open without disruptive window switching.

→ Lightning Fast: Forget those memory-hogging traditional browsers like Chrome. Menu Bar X is designed to be lean and snappy and can be used without switching over from your current app.

→ Tailor It to You: You can adjust window sizes, pin your favorite sites, and even try different device simulators to customize it to match your style fully.

Remember that the app is designed for shorter browsing sessions, not to replace a full-featured browser for complex tasks.

So, if you often find yourself sidetracked by opening a whole browser window ‘just for a minute,’ then Menu Bar X's easy access and lightweight design are perfect for staying focused on your main task.

Noize — A peaceful workspace ☮️

If you work in a crowded workspace or have a bunch of coworkers who keep interrupting or distracting your flow, I am sure you have wished multiple times that you could have someone block them out.

The most obvious choice is listening to music or songs. However, we often get distracted by those as well, making it counterproductive.

The Noize app aims to solve this problem for you right from your Mac’s menu bar. The app lets you create your perfect soundscape by mixing and matching a bunch of sounds like rain, sea, forest, city traffic, a shop, etc.

This allows you to create an ideal combination of ambient sounds to help you concentrate and focus better on your work.

Why you should use Noize

→ Find your Zone: Mix and match sounds — gentle rain, a crackling fire, calming waves — to create the ideal backdrop for whatever you are doing.

→ Simple and Sleek: No clunky windows to get in your way. The app’s minimal design blends perfectly into your menu bar.

→ Custom Combos: Layer different sounds to craft a soundscape that is uniquely yours for focus, relaxation, or whatever mood you are chasing.

If you are sensitive to your sound environment, Noize is a lifesaver. It puts the power to mask noise, boost concentration, or unwind right at your fingertips and in your menu bar. While the app lacks a variety of ambient sounds, it is still a great, free app that lets you take control of your atmosphere.

One Thing — Your Focus, Front, and Center 🧘🏽

Most of us would start our days thinking that we should accomplish that one major thing we set out the day with.

However, due to things beyond our control, we might not be able to achieve that, and end up feeling disappointed or frustrated.

If you can relate to this, you should check out One Thing, a simple menu bar app for your Mac that puts your top priority for the day directly in your Mac’s menu bar, keeping it front of mind without breaking your workflow.

Why you should use One Thing

→ Laser-Like Focus: You will no longer forget that key task as One Thing’s simple presence is a powerful reminder.

→ Uncluttered Simplicity: The app focuses on just your goal with no distracting windows or menus, seamlessly blending into your menu bar.

→ Adapts to You: You can either use basic text to display your goals or get fancy with formatting and links; one Thing puts you in control.

One Thing to keep in mind is that One Thing is designed for a singular focus, not managing a whole to-do list. The app also offers powerful Shortcuts integration to automatically update your goal, sync with your Reminders app, and more, but it does have a slight learning curve.

Timemator — Track Your Time, Not the Clock ⏲

Have you ever felt that you are busy all day, constantly jumping from one task and meeting to another, but not sure where the hours actually go?

If your answer is yes, you should check out Timemator, a time-tracking app for your Mac that lives in your menu bar, effortlessly capturing what you do so you can focus on the work itself.

You can either manually start tracking your time by clicking on the start icon in the menu bar whenever you start a meeting or start working on something, or you can also set up automatic tasks in the app, and it will automatically start tracking your time when you are using a certain app or visiting a certain website.

Why you should use Timemator

→ Reclaim Lost Time: Timemator provides you with a detailed timeline of every app and file you work with. You can assign those chunks of time to projects with a few clicks — no more hazy workdays.

→ Automation that Works: Timemator will intelligently start and stop the timer for you once you define your projects — perfect for multitaskers.

→ Tailored for Pros: Whether you design, code, or manage, Timemator recognizes common apps and tasks for streamlined tracking.

A slight caveat with Timemator is that to get the most out of its automation features, you must spend a good amount of time defining your projects and rules. However, if you prefer total control, you can always use it like a traditional start/stop timer.

Timemator is an investment in understanding your workflow. If forgotten billable hours or a fuzzy sense of productivity are a problem, it's detailed tracking and smart automation can bring welcome clarity. It is particularly powerful for those working across many tools and client projects.

Bonus: CleanMyMac X — A Swiss Army Knife for Your Mac 🔪

CleanMyMac X is the most powerful menu bar app for your Mac in this list. It allows you to monitor and control almost every aspect of your Mac, including its storage, RAM, battery, network, background apps, temperature, CPU performance, connected devices, and more.

It is basically an all-in-one solution to optimize, protect, and breathe new life into your Mac, all from the comfort of your menu bar.

CleanMyMac X has a real-time malware monitor that constantly scans your Mac for the presence of any malicious files or apps, alerting you when any suspicious activity is detected. You can also view the results and run a malware scan any time you want, right from the app's menu bar icon.

Why you should use CleanMyMac X

→ Reclaim your space: CleanMyMac X helps you to easily ditch system junk, old files, and hidden app leftovers, letting you get the most from that precious limited storage on your Mac.

→ Fight the Slowdown: CleanMyMac X is filled with useful tools like maintenance scripts and RAM freeing to get your Mac feeling responsive again. Most of these tools can be directly run from the menu bar as well.

→ Protection Plus: The app is equipped with Malware scans and privacy cleanup features that give you peace of mind in addition to the performance boost.

Some advanced features, like ‘Space Lens,’ might require some initial tinkering and careful management to benefit from them effectively.

CleanMyMac X shines if you face a cluttered, underperforming Mac and want a powerful tool to tackle it. It is not just a cleaner but also offers security and optimization features.

Those who want a quick cleanup might be okay with using system-level features in macOS, but it could be a worthwhile investment for a comprehensive overhaul and real-time protection from malware.

The menu bar on your Mac is probably a bit boring right now. These apps prove that the menu bar does not have to be just for system icons. They might seem small, but they pack a major productivity punch.

These apps can save you significant time and mental energy by streamlining tasks, keeping you focused, and automating annoying little things. Give these apps a try, and you might be surprised how much easier your workday can be!

If you like discovering and adding new and useful apps to your workflow, you will definitely like Setapp, a Mac and iPhone App Store with over 200+ premium apps that can be used with a single monthly fee of $9.99.

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