Our take
Pick Bartender if mac users who will pay $24.99 once for Bartender 7 while they Activate a first Work preset — not Pro $19.99/yr first unless they want future majors + Top Shelf, and not Raycast’s Free launcher unless they only need a command palette. Pick Loopback if mac users who will buy US$99 after they route a first Zoom virtual mic — not SoundSource US$49 first unless they only need per-app volume / EQ /
Best for
Bartender A menu-bar layout you start at a public $
Loopback App-to-app routing you start at a public $
Free plan
Bartender No free plan
Loopback No free plan
Lowest paid
Bartender Bartender Pro $19.99
Loopback Loopback 2 upgrade $49
Next step up
Bartender Bartender 7 $24.99
Loopback Single-user license $99
Watch out
Bartender One-time v7 excludes future majors
Loopback macOS-only
Last checked
Bartender 2026-10-23 · macbartender.com/Bartender7/Blog/meet-bartender-7
Loopback 2026-10-23 · rogueamoeba.com/loopback/buy.php
mac users who will pay $24.99 once for Bartender 7 while they Activate a first Work preset — not Pro $19.99/yr first unless they want future majors + Top Shelf, and not Raycast’s Free launcher unless they only need a command palette.
Read the Bartender pagemac users who will buy US$99 after they route a first Zoom virtual mic — not SoundSource US$49 first unless they only need per-app volume / EQ / AirPlay, and not if they need Windows.
Read the Loopback page
