Media controls
Control playback, volume, and track progress from the notch or floating island for Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube tabs, and other audio sources.
NotchPop
NotchPop is a macOS productivity utility that turns a Mac’s notch—or a floating area on Macs and displays without one—into a hub for media controls, file handling, clipboard history, focus tools, alerts, and selected live dashboards. It is aimed at Mac users who want quick controls and status information without leaving their current task.
A top-edge workspace for Mac
NotchPop is a native macOS utility that turns the Mac's notch into an expandable control area, or uses a floating island on Macs and displays without a physical notch. Its tools place media controls, files, clipboard history, timers, calendar information, alerts, and selected live dashboards at the top edge of the screen.
The app is designed for quick status checks and short actions without switching away from the current work. It includes more than 20 native extensions that can be enabled, hidden, pinned, and reordered, while connected services and permissions are configured per feature. The site states that clipboard and file data stay on the Mac, and that API keys are masked and stored in the Mac Keychain.
Core features
File shelf
Drag files to the notch for temporary holding, then drop them where needed. Finder Services can also reveal files in Finder or send them through AirDrop.
Clipboard history
Search the last 50 copied items, pin frequently reused clippings, and copy a previous item back with a click.
Focus and utility timers
Run Pomodoro sessions, countdowns, stopwatches, hydration nudges, and Keep Awake periods without opening a separate window.
Live dashboards
Show selected live information in the top bar, including revenue from Stripe, Polar, Dodo, or AdSense; visitors from Google Analytics or DataFast; weather; calendar and reminders; and local development servers.
Developer activity
Track Claude, Codex, and Cursor activity, display coding-plan limits, receive alerts, and open connected local development servers from the notch.
Practical use cases
Staying in control of audio
Keep playback controls and track progress visible while writing, designing, or browsing, without bringing a music app to the foreground.
Moving files between tasks
Hold downloads or project assets at the top of the screen, then move them to their destination or send them through Finder and AirDrop workflows.
Structuring focused work
Use a top-edge Pomodoro countdown, break timer, hydration reminder, or stopwatch while keeping the active document or development environment unobstructed.
Monitoring live information
Check sales, ad earnings, website visitors, weather, calendar items, and reminders from connected services without opening each provider's dashboard.
Supporting development workflows
Follow Claude, Codex, or Cursor activity, inspect coding-plan limits, and reach local development servers while building software.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Works with Macs that have a physical notch and Macs or displays without one.
- Combines media, file handling, clipboard, focus, calendar, system, developer, and live-data tools in one interface.
- Supports more than 20 native extensions that can be enabled, hidden, pinned, and reordered.
- The site states that clipboard and file data remain on the Mac and that secrets are stored in Keychain rather than a plain settings file.
- Includes a seven-day trial and a one-time purchase option rather than a recurring subscription.
Cons
- Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or newer.
- Some capabilities depend on enabling individual extensions, connecting external services, or granting macOS permissions.
- The site provides limited detail about compatibility across specific Mac models and about team or multi-user licensing.
FAQ
What operating system does NotchPop require?
NotchPop requires macOS 14 Sonoma or newer and is downloaded for Mac.
Does NotchPop work on a Mac without a physical notch?
Yes. On an iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, external display, or older MacBook, it uses a floating-island presentation with the same general tools and interactions.
How is NotchPop licensed?
The product includes a seven-day free trial. The site lists a $3.99 one-time purchase, with no subscription, and says free updates are included. It also presents options for one, two, or five Macs.
What data and permissions does NotchPop use?
NotchPop keeps clipboard history and files on the Mac according to the product site. Connected services can be enabled individually, and permissions such as Calendar, Contacts, Accessibility, Messages, and Full Disk Access are requested only when a feature needs them.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Mac productivity utility
- Platform
- macOS 14 Sonoma or newer
- Interface
- Physical-notch mode or floating-island mode
- Extensions
- More than 20 native extensions
- Trial
- Seven-day free trial
- License
- $3.99 one-time purchase; site lists 1-, 2-, and 5-Mac options
Alternativas a NotchPop
Goldfish
Goldfish is an AI memory app for macOS that helps you reply, write, summarize, and continue using the context already on your Mac. It stores memory locally and writes in your tone.
ArtDeck
ArtDeck is a visual reference board app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that lets artists collect mixed reference material on one canvas and study it with ToolBox lenses. It works offline, supports optional iCloud sync, and is sold as a one-time purchase with no account required.
Biji
Biji es una plataforma versátil diseñada para mejorar la productividad a través de herramientas y características innovadoras.
Malyatko
Malyatko is a baby tracker for logging feeding, sleep, growth, teething, and milestones in one app. It works on iPhone, Apple Watch, and widgets, with no sign-up, offline use, and family sharing through iCloud.
Redline
Redline is a budgeting tool for Claude Code that paces sessions to stay within time, token, cost, or plan-percentage limits. It uses Claude Code’s native hooks and statusline to help sessions finish with a usable result instead of stopping abruptly.
Claude Overlay
Claude Overlay is a Windows desktop overlay for Claude Code that reads your screen so you can ask questions, inspect content, and request edits without leaving the current app. It runs on your existing Claude subscription through the Claude CLI, so no separate API key is required.