Tuck
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Considering a Bartender alternative?

Tuck is a free menu bar manager for macOS 26. Here is who should switch, who should not, and how to do it without losing your layout.

Updated

Short answer. If Bartender already works for your Mac and workflow, there may be no reason to switch. Tuck needs macOS 26, has no importer, and its first build is launching soon. Switch only if the signs below match your Mac.

Signs it may be time to look

  • A licence or upgrade price you no longer want to pay.
  • Icons that end up in the wrong place after a macOS update.
  • A wish to read the code of an app that has Accessibility access.

Try the built-in controls first

macOS already lets you choose which items appear in the menu bar, and you can Command-drag an item to reorder it. If that covers your needs, you can skip third-party apps. A manager helps when you want hidden sections, search or a separate bar.

Where Tuck fits, and where it does not

Tuck fits if

  • You want free GPL-3.0 software, where anyone who receives Tuck is entitled to its source.
  • You want to decide for yourself whether to grant Screen Recording.
  • You are on macOS 26 and want keyboard search and a separate Tuck Bar.

Stay with Bartender if

  • You run a macOS version older than 26.
  • You want a paid product with vendor support and have already confirmed it works on your Mac.
  • Your current setup works and you have no reason to change it.

Switch without losing your layout

Tuck cannot read Bartender’s settings, so the switch is manual. Keep a screenshot of your existing layout to guide the change.

  1. Reveal every icon Bartender hides, then take a screenshot of the full menu bar.
  2. Write down the reveal method you use (click, hover or hotkey) and any hotkeys.
  3. Install Tuck when the first build is out, and grant Accessibility.
  4. Turn off Bartender’s hiding and launch at login, then quit it. Keep it installed for now.
  5. Open Layout in Tuck’s Settings and drag icons into Visible, Hidden and Always-Hidden to match your screenshot.
  6. Check each icon, then test after sleep and restart. Keep your original screenshot; profile export is planned for Pro.

How to roll back

Quit Tuck and open Bartender again. Nothing in Tuck deletes a menu bar item: a missing icon is usually sitting in the Hidden or Always-Hidden section, and Option-click on the Tuck icon shows the Always-Hidden section. Delete Tuck only after Bartender looks right again.

Compare the details

See the dated side-by-side table for Tuck vs Bartender, the Tuck feature list and the macOS 27 status page (support is in development).

Questions people ask

Can I import my Bartender or Ice layout?

There is no importer for other apps. Importing and exporting Tuck profiles is planned for Pro. Write down your old layout, then recreate it in Tuck by dragging items into Visible, Hidden and Always-Hidden.

Which macOS versions does Tuck support?

Tuck requires macOS 26. It does not support macOS 14 or 15. Support for macOS 27 is in development and is covered on its own page.

Will Tuck keep my icon order after a macOS update?

Tuck saves the order of your items, but no app can promise it survives every macOS or app update. Keep a screenshot of your layout before you update macOS, and check the changelog for compatibility notes.