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 SoundSource if mac users who will buy the US$49 license after they route a first Safari 75% / Spotify→HomePod row — not Bartender $24.99 first unless they only
Best for
Bartender A menu-bar layout you start at a public $
SoundSource Routing you start at a public $
Free plan
Bartender No free plan
SoundSource No free plan
Lowest paid
Bartender Bartender Pro $19.99
SoundSource Upgrade from SoundSource 4/5 $25
Next step up
Bartender Bartender 7 $24.99
SoundSource Single-user license $49
Watch out
Bartender One-time v7 excludes future majors
SoundSource macOS-only
Last checked
Bartender 2026-10-23 · macbartender.com/Bartender7/Blog/meet-bartender-7
SoundSource 2026-10-23 · rogueamoeba.com/soundsource/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 the US$49 license after they route a first Safari 75% / Spotify→HomePod row — not Bartender $24.99 first unless they only need menu-bar hiding, and not if they need Windows or a full DAW.
Read the SoundSource page
