KakuchiThe short version
Kakuchi is for what they don't do. Its widgets can live in the notch and the menu bar, float on top of full-screen apps, dock to the screen edge, and be any size. There are 50+ of them, including developer and system tools Apple doesn't make, and you can describe a new one and have it built.
You can use both. Kakuchi places its starter widgets around Apple's on first launch.
Apple's built-in widgets is the widgets that come with macOS, on the desktop and in Notification Center, including iPhone widgets on the Mac.
Side by side
| Feature | Kakuchi | Apple's built-in widgets |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 one-time at launch (regular $24) | Free with macOS |
| Desktop widgets | Yes | Yes |
| Notch and menu bar | Yes | No |
| Keep on top of full-screen apps | Yes | No |
| Sizes | Any size | Small, medium, large, extra large |
| Make your own | Describe it and AI builds it, with your own key or a local model | Only by writing an app |
| Developer and system widgets | Yes: system pulse, pull requests, containers, localhost ports, AI usage and more | Not built in |
Checked October 2026 from Apple: Add and customize widgets on Mac. “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 Apple's built-in widgets.
Choose Apple's built-in widgets if
- You want free and nothing to install.
- You mainly want iPhone widgets on your Mac.
Choose Kakuchi if
- You want widgets in the notch or menu bar, or above full-screen apps.
- You want a widget Apple doesn't make.
- You want to size and place widgets freely.
Questions
- Can I use Kakuchi and Apple's widgets together?
- Yes. They live side by side, and Kakuchi's first-run widgets are placed in the free space around Apple's.