Comparison
Brim vs Notchy, Free or $4.99
Brim vs Notchy is free against $4.99. Notchy is the strongest free notch app: clipboard, a shelf with AirDrop, Now Playing with lyrics, timers, AI usage meters, and Allow/Deny for Claude Code permission prompts. Brim goes further with agents: it starts Claude Code, Codex and 19 ACP agents from the notch, streams the transcript, and lets you pick model and effort. It also chats on your ChatGPT or Claude plan and shows your store sales.
Brim
$4.99 forever
Notchy
Free
Where they differ
| Feature | Brim | Notchy |
|---|---|---|
| Run coding agents from the notchClaude Code, Codex and 19 ACP agents | Included | Not offered |
| Approve or deny agent commands⌘Y / ⌘N, without switching windows | Included | Limited |
| Chat on your ChatGPT or Claude planNo API key, no extra bill | Included | Not offered |
| Bring your own API keyOpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, xAI, Llama, OpenRouter | Included | Not offered |
| Apple on‑device chat | Included | Not offered |
| Live AI usage limitsClaude, Codex, Cursor, Copilot and more | Included | Included |
| Drag‑and‑drop file shelf | Included | Included |
| AirDrop quick send | Included | Included |
| Clipboard history | Included | Included |
| Skips password‑manager clips | Included | Not offered |
| Store sales in the notchStripe, Shopify, Gumroad and four more | Included | Not offered |
| Weather, stocks & unit converter | Included | Limited |
| Timers, calendar, reminders & to‑dos | Included | Included |
| Teleprompter & camera mirror | Included | Limited |
| One‑time price, no subscription | Included | Included |
Based on publicly documented features as of October 2026. Competitor names and icons belong to their owners.
How to choose
- 1
Start free. If Notchy does your jobs, keep it.
- 2
Add up the gaps. Starting and driving agents, AI chat on your plans, store sales, a teleprompter.
- 3
Pay once. $4.99, with a 7-day refund.
- 4
Pick one. Two notch apps fight over the same strip.
When free stops being enough
Free is great until you want the notch to do more than hold things. Brim’s reason to exist is AI that works where you already look.
Why choose Brim
- Start and drive Claude Code, Codex and 19 ACP agents, not just answer prompts.
- AI chat on your ChatGPT or Claude plan, or six API providers.
- Store sales from seven providers.
- A teleprompter under the camera.
When Notchy still makes sense
- You only need usage meters and Claude Code approvals.
- Free is a hard requirement.
Verdict
Notchy is the best free notch app. Brim is the upgrade when you want the notch to run your agents and your AI.
FAQ
- Is Brim free?
- No. $4.99, once, with a 7-day refund.
- Does Notchy work with coding agents?
- It tracks usage and can answer Claude Code permission prompts through a hook. It doesn’t start agents or show their transcript; Brim does both, for Codex and 19 ACP agents too.
- Can I try Brim risk-free?
- Yes. Refunds within 7 days, no questions asked.
More comparisons
Prefer one table? See every app side by side.