FavTray vs NotchNook
NotchNook made the Mac notch famous: a polished paid island for media and files. On 28 September 2026 its website didn't resolve, so this page sticks to what we could verify elsewhere. FavTray's FavShelf is a Dynamic Island with a free glance and a one-time $4.99 Lifetime licence for the full toolset.
FavShelf's notch moments
Feature comparison
| Feature | FavTray | NotchNook |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Glance free; full island with the $4.99 one-time Lifetime licence | $25 one-time on MacUpdate's listing, which also lists a subscription option |
| Free tier | Yes: media, weather, AI usage bars, volume and power HUDs | No free tier |
| Trial | 7-day full trial, no card | Couldn't verify: the official site was unreachable |
| Open source | No | No |
| macOS support | macOS 14 Sonoma and later | macOS 14 and later (Homebrew cask); MacUpdate lists 14.6 |
| Latest version | 2.0.2 (28 September 2026) | 1.6.2 (MacUpdate dates it 26 June 2026) |
| Site and licensing on 28 Sep 2026 | favtray.com up; licences checked by FavTray's own server | lo.cafe did not resolve; a 14 Sep 2026 MacUpdate review reports the licence server down |
| What it does | Media, TimeLens calendar with join, clipboard, file shelf + AirDrop, weather, camera check, Island Oracle, moments | Turns the space around the notch into a workspace with a widget dock and status bar extensions (MacUpdate's description) |
| Coding agents | Watch Claude Code and Codex; approve or deny Claude Code from the notch (Pro) | Not listed |
| AI usage | Claude and Codex usage bars in the free glance | Not listed |
| Beyond the notch | Eye rest, AI usage, system stats, ports, window snapping, meetings and more | Notch only |
| Apple Silicon and Intel | Both | Both (MacUpdate) |
Checked on 2026-09-28: lo.cafe/notchnook did not resolve (DNS) and Setapp's NotchNook page returned 404. NotchNook details are from the Homebrew cask and MacUpdate's listing. We'll update this page as soon as lo.cafe is back or the developer contacts us. FavTray details reflect version 2.0.2.
The verdict
NotchNook is a well-made app and, for most of its life, the default paid notch app. Today the question isn't features, it's whether you can buy and activate it: hold off until lo.cafe answers again, and keep any existing copy on 1.6.2.
Pick FavTray if you want an island you can use for free today (media, weather, AI usage bars, HUDs) and, for a one-time $4.99, a calendar with join buttons, clipboard history, a shelf with AirDrop, a camera check and Claude Code approvals, next to the rest of FavTray.
Want free instead? FavTray vs Boring Notch and free Dynamic Island apps cover the $0 options.
Frequently asked questions
Is NotchNook free?
No. NotchNook has no free tier; MacUpdate lists it at $25 as a one-time purchase, with a subscription option too. If you want a free notch app, Boring Notch and Notchy cost nothing, and FavTray's FavShelf glance (media, weather, AI usage bars, HUDs) is free on every install.
Is NotchNook worth it in 2026?
Check before you pay. NotchNook earned its reputation as a polished notch app, and its last version, 1.6.2, is still in Homebrew. But on 28 September 2026 its site, lo.cafe, did not resolve and its Setapp page returned 404, and a 14 September 2026 review on MacUpdate reports the licence server down. If a licence can't be activated, the app isn't worth any price; if lo.cafe comes back, it's a good buy for a media-and-files island.
What's a good NotchNook alternative?
Boring Notch if you want free and open source (media, calendar, AirDrop shelf, camera mirror, HUDs). Notchy if you want the broadest free island. Alcove ($14.99 once) or DynamicLake Pro ($13.99 once) for a paid one-time app. FavTray's FavShelf if you want a free glance plus a paid toolset for developers, for a one-time $4.99.
Does FavShelf do what NotchNook does?
The core, yes: now playing, a file shelf with AirDrop, a calendar and a camera check in the notch. FavShelf adds clipboard history, multi-city weather, Claude and Codex usage bars, moments from FavTray's other tools, and Claude Code approvals. We couldn't read NotchNook's current feature list from its own site on 28 September 2026, so we haven't listed its features beyond what MacUpdate describes.
Will my NotchNook licence move to FavTray?
No, they're separate products. FavTray has its own free tier and a 7-day full trial with no card, so you can try the island before paying anything.
More: Boring Notch vs NotchNook · Best Mac notch apps · FavShelf