boring.notch alternative

A boring.notch alternative for Mac.

boring.notch is a good free notch app: music with a visualizer, calendar, a file shelf and nicer volume pop-ups, all open source. It isn’t signed by Apple, so the first launch needs a workaround. Lynx Notch is narrower and notarized: your downloads beside the camera, free with Lynx; music, copied links and a file shelf with Pro.

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Lynx Notch and boring.notch

Lynx Notch compared with boring.notch
FeatureLynx Notchboring.notch
Price Free with Lynx · music, links and shelf: ProFree
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0)
Signed and notarized by Apple No (first launch needs a workaround)
Needs macOS 14+ · Apple siliconmacOS 14+ · Apple silicon or Intel
Download progress in the notch Not listed
Download a copied link from the notch Pro
Music controls ProYes, with a visualizer
File shelf ProYes, with AirDrop
Calendar and reminders
Volume and brightness pop-ups
CPU with a download running About 1% of one core (our test)Not tested by us

boring.notch facts from its GitHub README and releases, checked October 4, 2026. The CPU figure is our own measurement of Lynx Notch. Lynx Notch shares no code with boring.notch (sources). If something is out of date, tell us.

When to choose boring.notch or Lynx Notch

Stay with boring.notch if…

  • You want a free, open-source notch app and you’re fine approving it once in System Settings.
  • You use the calendar, reminders or the volume and brightness pop-ups. Lynx Notch has none of those.
  • You’re on an Intel Mac: Lynx needs Apple silicon.

Choose Lynx Notch if…

  • You want your downloads beside the camera, free with Lynx.
  • You’d rather install something signed and notarized by Apple, with no security workaround.
  • You’d like music, copied links and a file shelf there too. That’s Pro, free for 14 days when you install.
  • You also want a download manager: up to 32 connections, resume and browser catching.

How Lynx Notch works

Download progress

A thumbnail and a progress ring sit either side of the camera. Hover and the island opens with speed, time left, pause and stop. Free with Lynx.

Opens like any app

Lynx is signed with an Apple Developer ID and notarized by Apple, so it opens without a Terminal command or Open Anyway.

CPU use

About 1% of one CPU core with a download running, and about 0.4% with music playing and the island closed, in our measurements on an Apple silicon MacBook Air.

Questions

More in the Help Center.

Is boring.notch free?
Yes. boring.notch is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license, made by TheBoredTeam on GitHub. It needs macOS 14 or later and runs on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
Is boring.notch safe?
Its code is public on GitHub, which lets anyone read it. It isn’t signed with an Apple developer account, so macOS warns you on the first launch; its README explains how to approve it in System Settings › Privacy & Security, or to install it with Homebrew. Download it only from its GitHub page.
How do I install boring.notch?
Its README offers a Homebrew command (brew install --cask TheBoredTeam/boring-notch/boring-notch) or a .dmg from its GitHub releases, followed by a one-time approval because the app isn’t notarized.
Does boring.notch show download progress?
Its README doesn’t list it. Lynx Notch is built around that: your downloads’ progress beside the camera, free with Lynx.
Is Lynx Notch free?
Download progress in the notch is free with Lynx, and so is dragging a link onto the notch to download it. Copied links, music and the file shelf are part of Pro, which is on for everyone for the first 14 days.
Can I run Lynx Notch and boring.notch together?
Yes, but two notch apps draw in the same space. Choose what Lynx shows (downloads only, for example) or turn it off in Lynx › Settings › Notch. More options: the best notch apps for Mac.

Sources

Checked on October 4, 2026.

  1. boring.notch README on GitHub: features, GPL-3.0, macOS 14+, Homebrew install, first-launch approval (checked Oct 4, 2026)
  2. boring.notch releases: latest stable 2.7.3; 2.8 in release candidates

boring.notch is a project of TheBoredTeam. Lynx isn’t affiliated with it and shares no code with it.

Also: Best notch apps for MacNotchNook alternativeAlcove alternativeDownload large files on a Mac Lynx Notch All guides

Get Lynx for Mac

Free to download. Every Pro feature is free for 14 days, with no card or account needed.

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