Side by side
Crowny’s column is ours. Alcove’s column comes from its own pages (sources below), checked on 1 October 2026. A dash means the source does not mention it, not that the app lacks it.
| Feature | Crowny | Alcove |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5 one-time (list $15) | $14.99 one-time |
| How you pay | Pay once, 14-day refund, every version 1 update | One-time, up to 3 Macs, 72-hour trial, 14-day refund |
| Open source | No | Not stated |
| macOS | 15+, Apple Silicon | 15+ |
| Latest version | 0.1.0 | 1.7.9 (30 Jun 2026) |
| AI coding agent sessions | YesClaude Code, Codex, Grok | — (not listed) |
| Approve agent prompts in the notch | YesClaude Code; Codex shows when it waits | — (not listed) |
| AI plan usage limits | YesClaude 5-hour and weekly | — (not listed) |
| Music / now playing | YesSpotify, Apple Music, YouTube | YesNow playing, per reviews |
| Calendar | YesGoogle, iCloud, Outlook | — (not listed) |
| Meetings | YesOne-tap Join | — (not listed) |
| File shelf | Yes | — (not listed) |
| Clipboard history | Yes | — (not listed) |
| Timers / focus | YesFocus, timer, stopwatch, alarms | — (not listed) |
| Games | YesSnake, Tetris, 2048, Flappy | — (not listed) |
| Weather | Yes | — (not listed) |
| Volume / brightness HUD | No | YesCustomizable HUDs |
| Works without a notch | YesA pill under the menu bar | — (not listed) |
| Also | Reminders, notes, GitHub graph, Gmail and Apple Mail, pinned sites; Water, stand and eye-break nudges, held during focus; AirPods and Mac battery; Always on or Minimal mode; Colourful or Black & white; About 0.1% CPU at rest | Lock Screen widgets; Notifications; Swipe gestures |
| Privacy | No account, no analytics; your data stays on the Mac | “No data or personal information is collected” |
Who should pick which
Pick Alcove if
- You want the notch to stay minimal and close to the iPhone’s Dynamic Island.
- You want customizable HUDs and Lock Screen widgets. Crowny has neither.
- You want one licence for up to three Macs.
- You want to try it free first: Alcove has a 72-hour trial.
Pick Crowny if
- You work with Claude Code, Codex or Grok and want each session in the notch, with Claude Code’s approvals right there.
- You want your Claude usage limits, the next meeting with Join, and focus timers one glance up.
- You want a file shelf, clipboard history, weather and games, which Alcove’s site does not list.
- You want it for less: $5 against $14.99.
Why people switch to Crowny
Alcove’s own pitch is the Dynamic Island for Mac: fluid transitions, live activities, notifications, swipe gestures, customizable HUDs and Lock Screen widgets. It is a deliberately focused app, and that restraint is the point.
People who switch usually want the notch to do more of their work. Crowny is built for long days at a MacBook: coding agents with a face each and their questions answered in place, your Claude limits, the next meeting with Join, timers and focus sessions that hold the water and stand nudges until you are done. The shelf and clipboard history mean fewer separate menu bar utilities.
Both apps say they collect no data. Crowny also needs no account.
Pricing
Alcove is $14.99 once, for up to three Macs, with all future updates, a 72-hour trial and a 14-day refund. Crowny is $5 once for one Mac (list price $15), with every version 1 update and a 14-day refund.
Crowny’s licence and what it includes are on the pricing page. Already have it? Download Crowny.
Questions
Is Alcove a one-time purchase?
Yes. Alcove’s FAQ says it is a one-time purchase with all future updates included, usable on up to three devices.
Which macOS do Alcove and Crowny need?
Alcove’s current download lists macOS 15 Sequoia as the minimum. Crowny also needs macOS 15, on Apple Silicon.
Does Crowny have Lock Screen widgets like Alcove?
No. Crowny lives in the notch and its panel while you work; it does not add Lock Screen widgets.
Does Crowny show my coding agents?
Yes. Every Claude Code, Codex and Grok session gets a face in the notch, and Claude Code’s permission prompts appear there with Approve and Deny.
Sources
Checked on 1 October 2026. Apps change; if something here is out of date, write to us and we will fix it.
- tryalcove.com
- Alcove FAQs
- NotchBay roundup (now playing) (third-party)
NotchNook, Boring Notch, Alcove, DynamicLake, MediaMate, Atoll, Droppy, AgentNotch, TopNotch and the other names here belong to their owners. Crowny is not affiliated with any of them.