Free Unclutter Alternative for Mac
Unclutter costs $20 for a drop shelf and notes. Notchy gives you the exact same features inside your notch for free.
Does Notchy include a file drop shelf?
Yes. You can drag files, images, and text into the notch to store them temporarily.
Quick Setup Guide
- 1Install Notchy
Download Notchy from notchy.dev. It installs in seconds and runs from your menu bar.
- 2Grant Accessibility Permissions
Allow Accessibility access so Notchy can handle keyboard shortcuts, window snapping, and notch interactions.
- 3Open the Island
Hover over the notch at the top of your screen to reveal the interactive island and its built-in widgets.
What you get with Notchy
- Drag-and-drop file drop shelf — persists across relaunches
- Zip & unzip files right from the shelf
- Image converter (HEIC, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, PDF) + video → GIF
- Screenshots auto-staged on the shelf, ready to drag
- Fluid Dynamic Island animations on the Mac notch
- Native SwiftUI, tuned for Apple silicon
- 134 languages, fully localized
- Command palette (⌃⌥K) — every action one keystroke away
- Mac clipboard history shelf (password-manager safe)
- Now Playing music controls (Apple Music & Spotify)
Why Notchy leads the pack
While single-purpose utilities charge expensive subscription fees or license costs, Notchy gives you a completely free, native SwiftUI Dynamic Island. It integrates window snapping, clipboard history, Pomodoro timers, file drop shelves, and AI usage tracking directly into your Mac's notch.
Notchy vs Unclutter
An honest look at how a free all-in-one notch app compares to a dedicated drop shelf app.
| Feature | Notchy | Unclutter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free forever | $20 one-time |
| File drop shelf | ✓ Included | ✓ Core feature |
| Zip & unzip | ✓ Included | Varies |
| Image conversion | ✓ Included | — |
| Clipboard history | ✓ Included | — |
| Notch widgets & HUDs | ✓ 20+ built in | — |
Where Unclutter shines: purpose-built shelf workflows with deep drag-and-drop action integrations — fair is fair. Notchy just happens to bundle drop shelf tools with 20+ other utilities, free forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Notchy include a file drop shelf?
Yes. You can drag files, images, and text into the notch to store them temporarily.
Is Notchy free to use?
Yes, Notchy is 100% free with no subscription, no ads, and no data tracking. It is supported purely by optional user coffee donations.
Does it drain my Mac's battery?
No. Because Notchy is built natively in SwiftUI, it stays light on CPU and battery. It runs no web views or Electron in the background.