The feature-maximal island: file shelf, widgets, live activities, and deep customization.
Our take
The power-user pick from lo.cafe. Custom colors, widget layouts, animation speeds — you can tweak it for hours, which is either the appeal or the warning depending on who you are.
- Price
- $25 one-time (or $3/mo)
- License
- Proprietary
- Version
- 1.6.2
- Requires
- macOS 14.6 or later
- Get it via
- Direct · Setapp
- Developer
- lo.cafe
Do you use NotchNook?
Who made this
lo.cafe ✓
lo.cafe is a studio, not a solo developer — the team behind NotchNook publishes under the brand name across X and Discord.
What it does
Widgets
A widget layer around the notch you can rearrange and restyle, rather than a fixed set of panels.
Live actions
System events surface as live activities at the notch as they happen.
Files shelf
A drop zone at the notch for staging files mid-drag between apps or folders.
Scroll and swipe
Trackpad gestures drive the island — scroll and swipe to move between widgets.
Multi-monitor support
Works across more than one display rather than locking to the built-in screen.
Notchless handler
On a Mac without a notch, NotchNook turns into a menu bar handler with the same functions, per the developer.
The deal
- One-time purchase $25 — covers 5 devices
- Or $3/month subscription — covers 2 devices
- Also sold through Setapp
- 15-day refund window
NotchNook — questions people ask
How many devices does a NotchNook license cover?
The one-time $25 purchase covers 5 devices; the $3/month subscription covers 2.
What happens on a Mac without a notch?
NotchNook turns into a menu bar handler with the same functions, per the developer.
Is there a refund policy?
Yes — lo.cafe offers a 15-day refund window.
Is NotchNook sold anywhere besides the direct site?
Yes, it’s also available through Setapp.
Is NotchNook free?
NotchNook costs $25 one-time (or $3/mo).
Can I run NotchNook together with another notch app?
No — NotchNook draws at the notch, so it takes the place of any other notch app (hubs included). Apps that live in the menu bar or on screen stack alongside it fine.
Where can I download NotchNook?
NotchNook is available via Direct, Setapp.
Reviews
No public ratings yet. Reader reviews are coming to Kitsmith soon.
Listing hand-verified July 27, 2026 from the developer's site and public sources.
How NotchNook compares
Not sold on NotchNook? These swap in
Notch apps run one at a time — pick one of these instead, not as well.
Alcove
$14.99 one-timeLive activities and widgets around the notch, with the most polished animations in the category.
boring.notch
FreeFree, open-source island with media controls and small utilities — the no-commitment entry point.
DynamicLake
$13.99 one-timeIsland platform covering music, notifications, calendar, and utilities — with an explicit Liquid Glass design option.
Seam
$19.90 one-timeA middle-path island: polished information display without the file-shelf kitchen sink.
Keep NotchNook — stack these next to it
These live in the menu bar or on screen, so they run happily alongside any notch app.
