Bartender 9.2 -

For a menu bar utility, the bloat in 9.0 and 9.1 was a genuine concern. Version 9.2 is leaner than even the legendary Bartender 4. For those unaware, in mid-2024, the original developer sold Bartender to a company called Applause , which led to a panic over potential spyware (later proven false by independent audits, but trust was broken). Many users refused to update past Bartender 4.

In this comprehensive guide, we will dissect everything you need to know about Bartender 9.2: what’s new, how it compares to legacy versions, critical privacy updates, and why this specific point release matters more than a simple ".2" suggests. Before diving into version 9.2, let's set the stage. Bartender allows you to organize your Mac’s menu bar app icons. You can hide them, reorder them, show them only when you click the Bartender bar, or create complex rules based on time, battery status, or connected displays. bartender 9.2

| Feature | Bartender 9.2 | Hidden Bar (Free) | Ice (Open Source) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Per-app notch avoidance | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | | Location-based triggers | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ⚠️ Via shortcuts only | | Instant reveal (no lag) | ✅ Yes | ❌ 200ms lag | ⚠️ 150ms lag | | macOS Sequoia native | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Beta only | ❌ No | | Price | $16/year (or $39 lifetime) | Free | Free | For a menu bar utility, the bloat in 9