peeq vs NotchNook, Alcove, Boring Notch and DynamicLake
An honest comparison of the Mac notch apps in 2026: NotchNook, Alcove, Boring Notch, DynamicLake Pro and peeq. Price, focus, and which one fits how you work.
Now playingNeon BloomThe Drift · Long Light
1:24−2:10
Now playingNeon BloomThe Drift · Long Light
1:24−2:10
ScreenshotDrag to share
Screenshot
CopyCopiedSaveMarkupDelete
KayiPhone · Mobile
Remind MeMessage
KayAre we still on for tonight?
KayMessages · Just now
Are we still on for dinner tonight?
Yes, see you there!Running a bit late
Reply…
SentYes, see you there!
Ana RuizMail · Just now
Final cover files
Here are the exports for launch day.
Open
Timer
24:58Focus · 25 min
Timer doneFocus · 25 min
Drop here
AirDropSend to nearby devices
File TrayHold it in the notch
File Tray
PDFBrief.pdf
Cover.png
Drag a file out to drop it anywhereAirDrop allClear
AirDropSent to Kay’s iPhone
ClipboardEarlierClear
- Dinner at 8 — table for two?2 min agoCopyCopied
- #5E8FD614 min agoCopy
The notch, made alive.
Peeq turns your MacBook’s notch into a quiet home for the few things you actually use.
01 — Music
Your music, right up there.
Whatever’s playing lives in the notch. Click it for the player.
- Album art and a live level beside the notch
- Play, pause, skip and scrub
- Up Next for Apple Music
- Pull the player out to float it
Now playingNeon BloomThe Drift · Long Light
1:24−2:10
Up Next
- Golden HourSunfield
- Night SwimMarlowe
- AfterglowThe Drift
Neon BloomThe Drift
02 — Calls
Calls that don’t interrupt.
FaceTime and iPhone calls ring in the notch, not in a box over your work.
- Accept and Decline
- Remind Me or reply with a Message
- Call time beside the notch
- Missed calls wait in Activity
KayiPhone · Mobile
Remind MeMessage
KayiPhone · Mobile
Remind MeMessage
0:02
ActivityEarlierClear All
- Missed callKay · iPhone
- KayCall me back when you’re free
03 — Notifications
Read it. Reply right there.
Banners land in the notch. Answer without switching apps.
- Banners drop out of the notch
- Reply to Messages and WhatsApp
- Reply suggestions made on your Mac
- Everything else waits in Activity
KayAre we still on for tonight?
KayAre we still on for tonight?
KayMessages · Just now
Are we still on for dinner tonight?
Yes, see you there!Running a bit late
Reply…
SentYes, see you there!
Ana RuizMail · Just now
Final cover files
Here are the exports for launch day.
Open
ActivityEarlierClear All
- KayAre we still on for tonight?
- Screenshot capturedTap to preview
04 — Timer
Focus, quietly counted.
Slide to set it, then forget it. The notch keeps count.
- Slide to set, or tap a preset
- Pause, reset or add a minute
- A ring ticks beside the notch
- A pill when time’s up
10:00Slide to set
051015202530354045505560
5 min10 min15 min25 minStart
10:00Slide to set
051015202530354045505560
5 min10 min15 min25 minStart
Timer
24:58Focus · 25 min
24:58
Timer doneFocus · 25 min
05 — Screenshots
Snap it. Sort it in a second.
Every screenshot drops out of the notch, ready to use.
- A preview you can drag to share
- Copy, Save, Markup or Delete
- Screen recording with a live clock
- A pill when the recording’s saved
ScreenshotDrag to share
ScreenshotDrag to share
Screenshot
CopyCopiedSaveMarkupDelete
0:12
Screen recordingSaved to Desktop
06 — File tray
Drop it in the notch.
Drag files up to the notch to keep them close, or send them on.
- Drag a file up to the notch
- Keep it in the File Tray
- A count beside the notch
- AirDrop in one move
Drop here
AirDropSend to nearby devices
File TrayHold it in the notch
Drop here
AirDropSend to nearby devices
File TrayHold it in the notch
File Tray
PDFBrief.pdf
Cover.png
Drag a file out to drop it anywhereAirDrop allClear
2
AirDropSent to Kay’s iPhone
Fewer features. A better notch.
No widgets, no weather, no dashboards to arrange. Just the things you reach for every day.
And the small things
Little things, handled.
-
Clipboard history
Today’s copies in Home. Copy one again in a tap.
-
Volume
A slim level beside the notch when you change the volume.
-
Downloads
A blue ring fills as it downloads, then a pill says it’s done.
-
Battery
A pill when you plug in, and when you’re running low.
-
Screen recording
Watch the clock in the notch. Stop it from Activity.
-
Notch Home
Click the empty notch: music, timer, activity, clipboard.
No account
Open it and go. No sign-up inside the app.
No peeq servers
peeq has no backend and no analytics. It only goes online to fetch album art and site icons.
Smart replies stay on your Mac
Reply suggestions use Apple’s on-device model. Your messages never leave the Mac.
Light on battery
0.3 % CPU and 37 MB of memory at idle. Everything pauses while your display sleeps.
Private beta
Want in? Here’s how.
Join the testlist
Leave your email. It takes ten seconds.
Get your build
We invite testers in small batches and email you the app and a short guide.
Tell us everything
Use Report a Problem in the menu bar, or just reply to the email.
What is peeq?
peeq is a free Mac app that turns the notch on your MacBook into a small, living space. Music, calls, notifications, timers, screenshots and files show up in the notch and go back in when you’re done. Think of it as a Dynamic Island for your Mac.
Which Macs does peeq work on?
peeq needs macOS 15 Sequoia or later and is made for a MacBook with a notch (MacBook Pro 14″ and 16″ from 2021, MacBook Air from M2). External displays aren’t supported yet. Reply suggestions also need macOS 26 and Apple Intelligence.
How do I get peeq?
peeq is in a private beta. Join the testlist and we’ll email you a build when your spot opens. We’re inviting testers in small batches.
Is peeq free?
Yes. The beta is free for testers. There’s no account, no trial and no ads.
How is peeq different from NotchNook, Alcove or Boring Notch?
Those apps aim to do a lot: widgets, calendars, weather, shortcuts and deep customisation. peeq does less on purpose. It covers the things you reach for every day (music, calls, messages, timers, screenshots, files) and stays out of the way the rest of the time. Read the full comparison.
Is peeq a Dynamic Island for Mac?
That’s the idea. Like the Dynamic Island on iPhone, peeq uses the black cut-out at the top of the screen as a home for live activity: what’s playing, who’s calling, how long is left on a timer. It’s designed for the Mac, with a click-to-open Home, a file tray and trackpad swipes.
Blog
From the notch.
How to get a Dynamic Island on your Mac
Macs don't have a Dynamic Island, but the MacBook notch can work like one. Here's how to set one up with peeq in a few minutes, and what you can do with it.
“Apple could not verify” — how to open a beta Mac app
Why macOS warns that it can't verify a beta app like peeq, and how to open it with Open Anyway in System Settings on macOS Sequoia and later.
