IsleIsle NotchNook vs boring.notch vs Alcove
NotchNook vs boring.notch vs Alcove: which notch app fits you
Three of the best-known apps for the MacBook notch, compared on what decides the choice: what you pay, which macOS you need, how it installs and what it does.
We make Isle, a fourth notch app, so read this knowing that. It is at the end, not in the ranking. Every fact about the three apps comes from the source linked in its column, as of October 9, 2026. Spot an error? Write to contact@islenotch.com.
The three side by side
As of October 2026.
| NotchNook | boring.notch | Alcove | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | US$ 3 a month, or US$ 25 one-time; each license activates on 2 Macs | Free, with donations | US$ 14.99 one-time |
| Trial | 48 hours, every feature | Not needed | Not stated |
| Open source | Not stated | Yes, GPL-3.0 | Not stated |
| macOS | macOS 14.6 or later, Apple silicon or Intel | macOS 14 or later, Apple silicon or Intel | macOS 15 or later |
| Install | Download from getnotchnook.com (relaunched in October 2026, after weeks when the old site and license server were down) | DMG or Homebrew. Not notarized: macOS warns on first launch, and the README gives a Terminal workaround | Download from tryalcove.com |
| Music | Yes | Yes, with a visualizer | Yes, as a live activity |
| File shelf | Yes | Yes, with AirDrop | Not stated |
| Calendar | Yes, plus notes and tasks | Yes | Not stated |
| Volume and brightness HUD | Not stated | Yes, replaces it | Yes, customizable |
| Lock screen widgets | Not stated | On the roadmap | Yes |
| Source | getnotchnook.com, iMore, MacStories | GitHub | tryalcove.com |
NotchNook vs boring.notch
This is the choice most people search for, and it comes down to money against polish. boring.notch is free and open source, and covers the basics well: music with a visualizer, a calendar, a file shelf with AirDrop and a new volume HUD. The catch is the install: it isn’t notarized, so macOS blocks it on first launch until you approve it (Homebrew installs reportedly skip that). NotchNook is the one the press reviewed (MacStories, iMore), installs like any app, and you either rent it monthly or buy it for 2 Macs. It was offline for weeks before relaunching in October 2026, so check that checkout works before you count on it.
NotchNook vs Alcove
Both are paid. Alcove is a one-time US$ 14.99 and leans on looks: fluid transitions, live activities, customizable HUDs and lock screen widgets. It needs macOS 15. NotchNook leans on utility, with its file shelf and shortcuts, and costs more up front (US$ 25 for 2 Macs) unless you rent it at US$ 3 a month. It runs on macOS 14.6.
boring.notch vs Alcove
Free against paid, again. If lock screen widgets or a polished HUD matter, Alcove has them today; boring.notch lists lock screen widgets on its roadmap. If you would rather read the code, or you are on macOS 14, boring.notch is the one that runs.
Quick picks
- Spend nothing: boring.notch.
- Rent instead of buy: NotchNook, at US$ 3 a month.
- Looks and lock screen widgets: Alcove.
- Still on macOS 14: boring.notch (14.0 or later) or NotchNook (14.6 or later).
A fourth option: Isle (ours)
If you use Claude Code, Codex or other AI coding tools, none of the three shows them. Isle does: rings for how much of each AI usage limit is left, what each session is doing, and a way to answer it from the notch. It also has music, a timer and Pomodoro, a file shelf with AirDrop and screenshot annotation. US$ 14.99 once for 3 Macs, after a 3-day trial. It needs macOS 26, which leaves it out for anyone on 14 or 15. For a five-app table, see NotchNook alternatives compared; on a Mac without a notch, see which Macs have one.
Try Isle free for 3 days
Every feature works for 3 days, no account needed. Then US$ 14.99 once, for up to 3 Macs. Requires macOS 26.