Displays · 7 min read
Top Menu Bar Utilities vs Tegaro
Tegaro is better if you want several everyday tools under one icon. Specialist menu-bar apps are stronger when one advanced feature is all you need.
How to choose menu bar apps for macOS without filling the bar and losing icons behind the MacBook notch.
The best Mac menu bar apps give you quick access to the controls you use daily without filling the bar. On a MacBook with a notch, macOS hides icons that do not fit. Tegaro puts ten tools behind one menu-bar icon: Dictation, Screenshots, Clipboard, Layout, Displays, Power, Critter, AI usage limits and Disk. That can replace several single-purpose apps.
One menu-bar app
Tegaro groups several everyday Mac utilities under one icon.
Local core workflows
Typing, clipboard and downloaded-model dictation have local core workflows.
Module-specific access
Choose Tegaro for the modules you use rather than a blanket replacement claim.
At a glance
| Capability | Top Menu Bar Utilities | Tegaro |
|---|---|---|
| MonitorControl / BetterDisplay Saves 1 menu bar slot | Controls external monitor brightness (DDC/CI): MonitorControl is free; BetterDisplay Pro is $21.99 / €19.99 | Displays tool: brightness control for external monitors, resolution switching for each display, and a Dock copy on every screen; free after the trial |
| Maccy / Paste Saves 1 menu bar slot | Keeps recent text and image clips: Maccy is free on GitHub or $9.99 on the Mac App Store; Paste is $2.49/month or $29.99/year | Clipboard tool with search inside screenshots; needs Pro after the trial |
| coconutBattery / AlDente Saves 1 menu bar slot; Tegaro does not cap charging | Battery health and charging tools: coconutBattery’s current Plus amount was not displayed; AlDente Pro is €11.49/year or €23.99 lifetime | Power tool: charge, charging wattage, time left, battery health, cycles, temperature and CPU, memory and disk load; readings are read-only, does not limit charging; free after the trial |
| Shottr / CleanShot X Saves 1 menu bar slot | Captures and annotates screenshots: Shottr core use is free; CleanShot Basic is $35 one-time | Screenshots tool: area, window or full screen, markup, blur private info, text from the screen; needs Pro after the trial |
| Punto / Caramba Switcher Saves 1 menu bar slot | Fixes text typed in the wrong keyboard layout: Punto Switcher is free; Caramba Switcher Pro is $4.99/year | Layout tool that fixes EN↔RU wrong-layout text on Space or by hotkey |
| RunCat Included for fun | Animated menu bar companion that shows CPU activity; RunCat is free and its current runner-pack price was not displayed | Critter: an animated character in the menu bar; extra Critters need Pro |
When to Choose Top Menu Bar Utilities
People who like picking a separate app for each job and are happy to manage each app's settings and updates.
When to Choose Tegaro
People who want one menu-bar icon for monitor controls, a Dock copy on every screen, clipboard history, battery info, screenshots and typing fixes instead of several.
Tegaro tools, one icon
Typing · Clipboard · Screenshots · Dictation · Displays · Power · Disk · Sound · AI Usage · Critter
Current Tegaro access
Try every Pro tool for 14 days without a card or account. Afterward, Free keeps Classic, Cat and Dog, Power, Sound, AI Usage, normal Displays and Disk analysis; it includes 100 successful automatic layout fixes per calendar month and 2,000 delivered dictation words per Monday-starting week. Pro unlocks Clipboard, Screenshots, Disk cleanup and app removal, unlimited layout automation and dictation, more critters and compatible EDR brightness. A $100 lifetime license covers one person on up to three Macs.
Pricing and terms: Top Menu Bar Utilities
Prices and licensing differ by app; see the individual comparisons and official product pages for current terms.
Tegaro: 14-day trial; Pro is $1.99 for the first month, then $4.99/month, $29.99/year, or $100 lifetime for one license on up to three Macs. Post-trial module access varies by module. Check Top Menu Bar Utilities's official page for its current price and regional terms.
Offers: Top Menu Bar Utilities
No public promotion is asserted here; check the official checkout for current offers.
Tegaro trial offer
Eligible trial users may receive a one-time 30% annual or lifetime offer valid for 48 hours. It is optional, not a promised public price.
Privacy and footprint
Tegaro runs its core typing, clipboard and downloaded-model dictation workflows locally. AI usage may query Claude or Codex providers using existing authentication; licensing checks, downloads, updates and opted-in email have separate network behaviour. Review each product’s privacy documentation for the feature you use.
Native macOS app built with Swift.
Core typing, copied-content and downloaded-model dictation workflows stay local. Licensing, optional renewal lookups, model downloads, opted-in diagnostics and direct AI-provider checks are separate network actions. AI Usage uses existing provider sign-in and does not send provider credentials to Tegaro.
How to Switch from Top Menu Bar Utilities to Tegaro
- Look at your menu bar and note which icons disappear when an app with large menus, such as Photoshop or Xcode, is in front.
- List the single-purpose apps Tegaro can replace, such as display brightness, clipboard, power info and screenshots.
- Install Tegaro and turn on the tools you want.
- Quit the apps you no longer need and enjoy the free space in your menu bar.
Frequently asked questions
Why do menu bar icons disappear on MacBooks with notches?
macOS keeps the right side of the menu bar clear of the camera notch. If you have more icons than fit, macOS hides the extra ones. Fewer apps means fewer hidden icons.
What does Tegaro cost compared with separate apps?
After a 14-day trial with everything unlocked, Displays, Power, Sound, the Mac load panel, AI usage and Disk analysis stay free. Pro costs $1.99 the first month, then $4.99/month, $29.99/year, or $100 lifetime for up to 3 Macs.
Does Tegaro include menu bar pets like RunCat?
Yes. Critter is an animated character in your menu bar. One Critter is included, and extra Critters need Pro.
Sources and disclosure
Published by Tegaro. App information is checked against the linked official pages on the date shown. Checked: 2026-10-07.