Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to NPRbar

Listen to public radio in your menu bar

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. NPRbar launched in 2018; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   PodcastMenu▲233

   Listen to podcasts from your Mac menu bar

   2016 · github.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   RadioBar▲115

   Open source macOS menubar app to listen to streaming radio

   2019 · github.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Soundbar▲213

   A lightweight SoundCloud player for Mac

   2016 · its alternatives →

4. 4
   VOX Radio▲151

   Listen to the best radio stations from all over the world

   2016 · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Recast▲128

   Listen to radio stations' playlists with Rdio or Spotify

   2015 · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Skip Tunes▲115

   Control iTunes, Spotify, or Rdio from your Mac's menubar

   2015 · skiptunes.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   SoundMate▲107

   Enjoy SoundCloud from your Mac's menu bar

   2015 · icyarrow.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   NPR One▲190

   Public radio made personal.

   2014 · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Emcee▲63

   See what's playing on iTunes or Spotify in you Mac menubar

   2015 · ilyabirman.net · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Earbud.fm by NPR▲96

    Your friendly guide to great podcasts

    2015 · earbud.fm · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Heartbeat▲246

    Listen to music with your friends together, on Spotify

    2017 · getheartbeat.io · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Poolside FM for Mac▲231

    An infinity pool of summer sounds in your Mac menu bar

    2015 · poolsuite.net · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Heartbeat 3.0▲133

    Listen to Spotify with your friends

    2017 · its alternatives →

14. 14
    NPR One▲88

    Listen to podcasts from NPR now with CarPlay support

    2016 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Readit News▲67

    Read Reddit News from Mac menu bar

    2016 · appyogi.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Background Music▲218

    Control the audio on your Mac apps from the menu bar

    2016 · github.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Discover on Demand▲91

    Just like Spotify's Discover Weekly, but whenever you want.

    2016 · discoverondemand.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    AudioPriorityBar▲217

    Priority-based audio switching for macOS menu bar

    Dec 2025 · github.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Relay.fm▲93

    independent podcast network

    2015 · relay.fm · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Cumulus▲160

    A SoundCloud player that lives in your Mac menu bar

    2015 · gillesdemey.github.io · its alternatives →

21. 21
    mCast▲84

    Podcast player on the macOS menubar

    2019 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    TyCal▲205

    A peek at your Apple Calendar right from the menu bar

    2025 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

23. 23
    PortAura▲69

    See what’s listening on your Mac

    Sep 2026 · portaura.pages.dev · its alternatives →

24. 24
    SoundBar▲82

    Realtime audio level meter for mac menu bar

    2025 · macsoundbar.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →