Unclutter alternative
Tuckaroo or Unclutter?
Both slide down from the top of the screen when you scroll. I wanted more in that panel, so I made Tuckaroo. Here are the two side by side, including when Unclutter is the better choice.
I'm Robin, and I make Tuckaroo, so I'm not neutral. I like what Unclutter does: one scroll at the top of the screen and your clipboard, your files and your notes are there. I needed more in that same place: my calendar, the web apps I keep open, and notes as Markdown files. Tuckaroo is the alternative I built for that, and maybe you're looking for the same.
If Unclutter already does what you need, there's no reason to switch. Everything I say about it here comes from its own website, its Mac App Store page and Setapp, linked under the table.
In short
Unclutter has been around since 2012, and people like it: 98% of 651 ratings on Setapp are positive. It keeps three things at hand: a clipboard history, a drop zone for files and quick notes. It costs less and runs on Mac computers with macOS as old as 10.13 High Sierra. Tuckaroo opens the same way and adds your calendar and your web apps, with notes that are formatted Markdown files. It needs macOS 15 and is still in beta.
Side by side
| Tuckaroo | Unclutter | |
|---|---|---|
| The panel | ||
| Opens | Scroll down on the menu bar, a shortcut you pick, or drag files onto the menu bar | Point at the top of the screen and scroll down, or drag files to the top edge |
| In the panel | Five tools: Files, Notes, Clipboard, Calendar and Pages (websites), side by side or arranged freely | Three panels: Clipboard, Files and Notes |
| Layout | Free layout, tools that float and fade, and profiles | Panels move, resize and turn off; one taken out stays on top |
| Sync | Notes and folders live where you choose, so iCloud Drive, Dropbox or another service syncs them | Files and notes live in a folder you choose, so iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox or another service syncs them |
| What's in it | ||
| Files | A shelf folder, plus any folder as a tab; Quick Look, rename, compress and undo | One drop zone, searchable; drop to move, copy or make an alias |
| Notes | Formatted as you type, with checklists, headings and tables; each note a Markdown file in a folder you choose | Quick notes like sticky notes, with full-text search |
| Clipboard | Text, links, colours, pictures and files; favourites that stay; hold ⇧⌘V to pick one and paste | The last 10, 25 or 50 clips, pictures and files too; favourites that stay; text clips can be edited before pasting |
| Passwords | Copies from password managers are never kept; copies marked secret are hidden and never written to disk | Sensitive copies are concealed and never saved; 1Password built in, other apps can be added |
| Calendar | The next meeting in the menu bar, and a Join card a minute before | Not included |
| Web apps | Any website in the panel, with its own sign-in if you need a second account | Not included |
| Buying it | ||
| Price | $29 once, taxes included | $19.99 once on the US Mac App Store; also sold on its own site |
| Free trial | 14 days, on the direct download | 10 days, no card needed |
| Money back | 30 days, on the direct download | 30 days, on the direct download |
| Where | Direct download | Direct download, the Mac App Store and Setapp |
| Needs | macOS 15 Sequoia or later | macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later |
| Languages | English | 11 languages |
| Since | 2026, now in beta | 2012 (its copyright line) |
About Unclutter, as read on 30 October 2026: its website, features, Clipboard, Files, Notes, release notes, Mac App Store, Setapp. Prices can differ by country.
When Unclutter is the better choice
- Your Mac runs an older macOS. Unclutter works back to macOS 10.13 High Sierra; Tuckaroo needs macOS 15 Sequoia.
- You want to spend less. Unclutter is $19.99 on the Mac App Store; Tuckaroo is $29.
- You have Setapp. Unclutter is part of it; Tuckaroo isn't.
- You'd like it in your own language. Unclutter is translated into 11 languages; Tuckaroo is in English.
- You want a long track record. Unclutter has been around for years; Tuckaroo is new and still in beta.
- You want just those three. A clipboard history, a drop zone and quick notes, without anything else in the panel.
When Tuckaroo is the better choice
- You want notes formatted as you type. Checklists, headings, tables and code. Each note is a Markdown file in a folder you choose, so it opens in any app.
- You want your day in the same place. The next meeting shows next to the menu bar icon, and a card a minute before offers Join for Zoom, Meet, Teams and more.
- You keep web apps open all day. Mail, a dashboard or a chat side by side in the panel, each with its own sign-in if you need a second account.
- You work from several folders. Downloads, screenshots or a project as tabs, with Quick Look and undo.
- You paste from the history a lot. Hold ⇧⌘V anywhere, pick a clip and let go to paste.
- You want more than one setup. Profiles for work and home, and tools that float above your work and fade when you don't need them.
What they have in common
Both live in the menu bar and open with the same scroll at the top of the screen, or when you drag files up there. Both are paid once, with no subscription. Both keep your notes and files in a folder you choose, so iCloud Drive, Dropbox or any other sync service can carry them to your other Mac computers. Both keep favourite clips for good, keep copies from password managers out of the saved history, let you take a panel out so it stays on top, and follow light and dark mode.
How I compared
I read Unclutter's website, its page for each panel, its release notes, its Mac App Store listing and its Setapp page on 30 October 2026, and describe only what they say. Its latest version then was 2.2.18, from 25 May 2026. Prices change and differ by country: the links above show today's. If something here is wrong, out of date or unfair to Unclutter, email me at [email protected] and I'll correct it.
Unclutter belongs to its makers; Tuckaroo is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Mac and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions.
The same scroll, five tools.
- One panel, not five apps
- Pay once, no subscription
- No account, nothing sent to us
Free for 14 daysmacOS 15 Sequoia or later