NotchBuddyNotchBuddy vs Notchy
Notchy, at notchy.dev and on Homebrew, is listed in October 2026 comparisons at $24.99 once for one Mac. It offers an island, clipboard, a shelf, Pomodoro and Face Unlock, with a 7-day trial and no card. An earlier check of notchy.dev in September 2026 described a free build, so the two sources disagree. Prices come from comparison posts dated October 2026 and can change. Confirm on the other app's site before you buy.
Checked on . Last updated Oct 2026. We make NotchBuddy, so we’ve marked where it falls short too.
At a glance
| Feature | NotchBuddy | Notchy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10 once, 1 Mac | $24.99 once, 1 Mac (Oct 2026; confirm) |
| Where it's sold | notchbuddy.app via Dodo; also the Mac App Store | notchy.dev and Homebrew |
| Refund | 14-day refund | 7-day try-before-you-buy, no card |
| Notch / island UI | Yes | Yes |
| Clipboard | Yes | Yes |
| File shelf | Yes | Yes |
| Pomodoro | Yes | Yes |
| Face Unlock | No | Yes |
| Sales alerts | 8 platforms | Not listed |
| Desk pet | 5 pets | Not listed |
The short version
Pick Notchy if you want its island, clipboard, shelf and Pomodoro together with Face Unlock, and the 7-day trial with no card is what you want to start with. Pick NotchBuddy if $10 for one Mac, sales alerts and a pet matter more, and you don't need Face Unlock.
Where Notchy is ahead
- Face Unlock, which NotchBuddy doesn't have.
- A 7-day try-before-you-buy period with no card. NotchBuddy is $10 once, with a 14-day refund after you buy.
- Search. In a November 2026 search check, Notchy ranked first for "dynamic island for mac".
Where NotchBuddy is ahead
- Price, if the $24.99 listing is current. NotchBuddy is $10 once for one Mac. If Notchy is still the free build from September, this point doesn't hold. Check notchy.dev.
- Sales alerts from eight payment platforms.
- A desk pet.
Questions, answered.
Is Notchy free?
It depends which source you read. notchy.dev, checked for NotchBuddy's September 2026 guide, described a free app. October 2026 comparison posts list $24.99 once for one Mac, with a 7-day trial and no card. Confirm on notchy.dev.
Does NotchBuddy have Face Unlock?
No. Notchy lists Face Unlock. NotchBuddy doesn't.