Hidden Bar vs ice.js
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A free, lightweight macOS app that hides menu bar icons behind a toggle to keep the bar tidy.
Open source · MIT
A React-based framework for building web apps, with routing, SSR/SSG and a plugin system.
The short answer
Choose Hidden Bar if you need…
- Mac users with a crowded menu bar who want a cleaner look
- People who want a simple, single-purpose utility
- Users on macOS 13 Ventura or later
- Users who prefer installing via Homebrew or a direct download
Choose ice.js if you need…
- Developers who already know React and want a ready-made project structure
- Teams building sites that need server-side or build-time rendering
- Developers who want TypeScript, Less, Sass and CSS Modules supported without manual setup
Side-by-side
| Hidden Bar | ice.js | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | Framework |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 15.3k | 18.6k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Swift | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 5 days ago | 7 months ago |
What each one is
Hidden Bar
Hidden Bar is a small macOS app that lets you tuck away menu bar icons so they don't clutter the top of your screen. You click an arrow icon to show or hide the items you choose. It is open source under the MIT license and is also listed on the Mac App Store.
ice.js
ice.js is an open-source framework built on React for building web applications. It comes with features such as file-system routing, state management and data requests, and it can pre-render pages at build time (SSG) or on each request (SSR). It is aimed at developers who want a React setup that works with minimal configuration.
Best for
Hidden Bar
- Mac users with a crowded menu bar who want a cleaner look
- People who want a simple, single-purpose utility
- Users on macOS 13 Ventura or later
- Users who prefer installing via Homebrew or a direct download
ice.js
- Developers who already know React and want a ready-made project structure
- Teams building sites that need server-side or build-time rendering
- Developers who want TypeScript, Less, Sass and CSS Modules supported without manual setup
Strengths
Hidden Bar
- Simple, focused purpose with a small footprint according to its description
- Free and open source under the MIT license
- Available through the App Store, Homebrew, or a notarized manual download
ice.js
- Zero-config support for TypeScript, Less, Sass and CSS Modules, per the README
- Supports both build-time (SSG) and request-time (SSR) rendering
- Released under the permissive MIT license
Not ideal for
Hidden Bar
- People on macOS 12 or older, since current versions require macOS 13; the README points them to v1.10 instead
- Users who need a full menu bar manager with many advanced layout options, since the README describes only basic hide and show behavior
ice.js
- Complete beginners to React, since the README gives little introductory guidance and assumes familiarity with the stack
- Projects that need only a static page or a very small script, where a framework adds unnecessary weight
- Teams needing a mobile or miniapp target, since the README mentions these only briefly and the details are unclear from it
Trade-offs
Hidden Bar
- Requires macOS 13 Ventura or later for current versions
- The README mentions Terminal-only options and known limits, which are documented separately and not summarized here
- Scope is narrow compared with broader menu bar managers
ice.js
- The README is short and truncated, so many details must be checked in the official docs
- Multi-end support (web, miniapp, Weex) is listed in the features but not explained
- Documentation is hosted externally at ice.work
Getting started
Hidden Bar
Install with Homebrew
brew install --cask hiddenbarice.js
Create a new project from the lite scaffold
npm init ice ice-app --template @ice/lite-scaffoldInstall dependencies
cd ice-app && npm installFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Hidden Bar and ice.js?
Hidden Bar: A free, lightweight macOS app that hides menu bar icons behind a toggle to keep the bar tidy. ice.js: A React-based framework for building web apps, with routing, SSR/SSG and a plugin system. Hidden Bar suits mac users with a crowded menu bar who want a cleaner look, while ice.js suits developers who already know react and want a ready-made project structure.
Are Hidden Bar and ice.js free?
Hidden Bar: Free and open source. ice.js: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Hidden Bar or ice.js?
Hidden Bar is easier to get started with (rated beginner); ice.js is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Hidden Bar or ice.js more popular?
ice.js has more GitHub stars (18.6k) than Hidden Bar (15.3k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Hidden Bar and ice.js?
Other options people compare them with include Next.js, Remix, umi, Gatsby, Aurelia.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.