NotchPop vsAlcove.
Alcove is $14.99 (one-time). NotchPop is $3.99 once and has 19 features from our comparison that Alcove doesn't list. Here is the side-by-side.
At a glance
Where NotchPop and Alcove differ, from the feature matrix on our comparison page.
Only in NotchPop
- File shelf / drag-drop trayParks files right in the notch
- AirDrop quick send
- Clipboard managerOpt-in, stays on your Mac
- Clipboard search and pinned items
- Image conversionPNG, JPEG, HEIC and PDF, on-device
- Audio output switcherSpeakers, AirPods, AirPlay and more
- Ambient soundscapesRain, ocean, café, forest, white noise
- System statsCPU, memory, disk, network, battery
- Focus timer / PomodoroLive countdown while collapsed
- Reminders and tasksNatural-language reminders
- Notes and scratchpad
- Hydration reminders
- Emoji picker
- Unit and currency converter
- AI coding activityClaude Code, Codex, Cursor, Grok
- Revenue dashboardStripe, Polar, Dodo Payments, AdSense
- Website analyticsGoogle Analytics 4
- Screen time
- Message alerts + replyiMessage and WhatsApp
Limited in Alcove
- Join meetings from the notchZoom, Google Meet and Teams, one click
Only in Alcove
Nothing in our comparison that NotchPop lacks.
Both apps
9 features in common, including Now Playing controls, volume and brightness HUD, weather widget, calendar and events.
Feature by feature
| Feature | NotchPop$3.99 | Alcove$14.99 |
|---|---|---|
| Files and sharing | ||
| File shelf / drag-drop tray | IncludedParks files right in the notch | Not included |
| AirDrop quick send | Included | Not included |
| Clipboard manager | IncludedOpt-in, stays on your Mac | Not included |
| Clipboard search and pinned items | Included | Not included |
| Image conversion | IncludedPNG, JPEG, HEIC and PDF, on-device | Not included |
| Media and audio | ||
| Now Playing controls | IncludedApple Music and Spotify | Included |
| Audio output switcher | IncludedSpeakers, AirPods, AirPlay and more | Not included |
| Ambient soundscapes | IncludedRain, ocean, café, forest, white noise | Not included |
| System HUDs and glanceables | ||
| Volume and brightness HUD | Included | Included |
| Weather widget | IncludedHourly and daily forecasts | Included |
| System stats | IncludedCPU, memory, disk, network, battery | Not included |
| Productivity | ||
| Calendar and events | IncludedMonth view and day agenda | Included |
| Join meetings from the notch | IncludedZoom, Google Meet and Teams, one click | Limited support |
| Focus timer / Pomodoro | IncludedLive countdown while collapsed | Not included |
| Reminders and tasks | IncludedNatural-language reminders | Not included |
| Notes and scratchpad | Included | Not included |
| Hydration reminders | Included | Not included |
| Emoji picker | Included | Not included |
| Unit and currency converter | Included | Not included |
| Developers and makers | ||
| AI coding activity | IncludedClaude Code, Codex, Cursor, Grok | Not included |
| Revenue dashboard | IncludedStripe, Polar, Dodo Payments, AdSense | Not included |
| Website analytics | IncludedGoogle Analytics 4 | Not included |
| Screen time | Included | Not included |
| Notifications | ||
| Message alerts + reply | IncludediMessage and WhatsApp | Not included |
| Platform | ||
| Works without a notch | IncludedFloating island on any display | Included |
| External display support | Included | Included |
| Runs on Intel Macs | IncludedUniversal: Apple Silicon and Intel | Included |
| Notarized download / Mac App Store | Included | Included |
| Value | ||
| Free or one-time purchase available | Included$3.99 once, 7-day free trial | Included |
| Open source | Not included | Not included |
Which should you choose?
Both are Mac notch apps. Here's who each one suits, based on the comparison above.
Choose NotchPop if
- You want file shelf / drag-drop tray, AirDrop quick send and clipboard manager in the same app.
- You want full join meetings from the notch, not limited versions.
- You'd rather pay $3.99 once than $14.99.
- You want to try everything free for 7 days before you pay.
Choose Alcove if
- Media controls and live activities are all you want from your notch.
Other Alcove alternatives
Every Mac notch app we compared, by how many of the 30 features in our table it includes. Or see them all in one table on the Mac notch app comparison.
Frequently asked
questions
Try NotchPop instead of Alcove
Try every feature free for 7 days. Keep it for a one-time $3.99, no subscription, ever.
macOS 14 Sonoma or later, Apple Silicon and Intel, notched and non-notch Macs.
Reviewed September 23, 2026 using Alcove's own site and published materials. Gray dashes mean a capability isn't in the app's published feature set; closed-source apps have not been exhaustively tested. Prices are listed US prices unless another currency is shown.
This is NotchPop's own comparison. Send a correction. Product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners.