Glance for Mac

Glance for Mac is a free open source dynamic island for macOS providing live scores cinema lighting media controls and productivity tools.

Glance for Mac is a free open source native macOS application that turns the top of the screen into an interactive dynamic island. It supports ten distinct modes including cinema lighting that matches video playback, live football scores, Claude Code command approvals, a private teleprompter, music controls with lyrics, a file shelf, clipboard history, and a sleep prevention timer. The app works on Macs with or without a notch by floating as a pill shape on older displays and includes Touch Bar integration. It processes data locally without requiring accounts or cloud storage, using a Chrome extension to read video colours and a public feed for sports scores. It is distributed under the MIT licence and built for Apple silicon.

Glance for Mac at a glance

Best for: Software engineer, Designer
Runs on: macOS, Chrome extension
Pricing: Free forever; open source under MIT licence
Released: October 2026
Category: AI productivity tool
Website: glanceformac.vercel.app

Key features

Cinema glow lighting for videos
Live football scores and goal celebrations
Claude Code command approvals and usage tracking
Private voice-tracking teleprompter hidden from screen sharing
Music playback controls and current lyric display
File and text storage shelf
Clipboard history storing recent copies locally
Sleep prevention timer

Use it for

Following football scores while working
Approving coding commands directly from the menu bar
Presenting hidden teleprompter notes during video calls
Controlling music playback and viewing lyrics
Storing temporary files and links on a drop shelf

Alternatives to Glance for Mac

NotchDodo — It keeps timers, calendars, files, and AI agent usage accessible right from the menu bar.
Halo — It adds a dynamic island and external monitor controls to any Mac.
SupaYatta — Tracks Claude Code, Cowork, and Codex sessions in the Mac notch with instant alerts.
Macaroni — Tracks folder changes made by AI agents without writing to files.
NotchSub — It runs fully on-device using Apple Silicon acceleration without using the cloud or microphone.
Whytap — Runs locally with zero telemetry and lets users bring their own API keys.
Apple Notes MCP — Lets AI agents read and edit Apple Notes in place without losing native styling
ScreenSnapAI — Automatically renames and tags screenshots while offering AI screen analysis.
Copse — Private, native clipboard manager with local storage and a one-time price.
Tidzy — Find any screenshot or document by its text and clean up storage with full undo support.
CoolDock — It runs locally, protects privacy, and provides live widgets alongside the standard dock.
Ida — Controls your Mac and apps using voice or text commands with one key.

All Glance for Mac alternatives