KakuchiThe short version
Kakuchi has a notch shelf too (Settings › Notch, with a Dynamic Island option), but it's one of several places. The same widgets can live on the desktop, in the menu bar and on the lock screen.
If the notch is all you want, Alcove is focused and costs about the same.
Alcove is a Dynamic Island for the Mac notch, with media controls and lock screen widgets. Its own headline: “Dynamic Island for Mac”
Side by side
| Feature | Kakuchi | Alcove |
|---|---|---|
| Notch | A shelf of your widgets, plus Now Playing | Dynamic Island with media controls |
| Desktop widgets | Yes, 50+ | No |
| Menu bar widgets | Yes | Not stated |
| Lock screen widgets | Yes | Yes |
| Make your own | Describe it and AI builds it, with your own key or a local model | No |
| Price | $14.99 one-time at launch (regular $24) | $14.99 one-time |
| Runs on | macOS 14 or later, Apple Silicon and Intel | macOS 15 or later |
Checked October 2026 from tryalcove.com, Alcove on AlternativeTo. “Not stated” means we couldn’t find it on their pages, not that it’s missing. Products change, so check before you decide. Kakuchi isn’t affiliated with Alcove.
Choose Alcove if
- You only want the notch, done as a Dynamic Island.
- You want the most polished notch-only app.
Choose Kakuchi if
- You want widgets on the desktop and menu bar as well as the notch.
- Your Mac has no notch: Kakuchi's shelf opens from the same spot at the top of the screen.
- You're on macOS 14.
Questions
- Does Kakuchi work on a Mac without a notch?
- Yes. The shelf opens from the top centre of the screen whether or not there's a notch.