# ctrlhq vs the Mac apps it replaces

> One native app in your notch instead of a notch app, a time tracker, a cleaner, a display tool, a recorder, a meeting note-taker, a clipboard manager and a file shelf. $19 once (launch price, regular $49), no subscription, 14-day money-back guarantee.

Bought separately, the paid apps below come to about $124 up front plus $374 a year (one app per job, cheapest paid plans, checked September 2026). ctrlhq is about 12 MB, native Swift, and doesn't run background daemons.

## Notch apps

| App | What it is | Price | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| NotchNook | notch app | $25 once (5 Macs) or $3/month | [ctrlhq vs NotchNook](https://ctrlhq.app/compare/notchnook) |
| Boring Notch | open-source notch app | Free, open source | [ctrlhq vs Boring Notch](https://ctrlhq.app/compare/boring-notch) |
| Alcove | Dynamic Island app | $14.99 once | [ctrlhq vs Alcove](https://ctrlhq.app/compare/alcove) |

## Your Mac

| App | What it is | Price | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| CleanMyMac | Mac cleaner | $80 a year | [ctrlhq vs CleanMyMac](https://ctrlhq.app/compare/cleanmymac) |
| BetterDisplay | display utility | Free, Pro $21.99 once | [ctrlhq vs BetterDisplay](https://ctrlhq.app/compare/betterdisplay) |
| Amphetamine | keep-awake app | Free | [ctrlhq vs Amphetamine](https://ctrlhq.app/compare/amphetamine) |

## Calls & video

| App | What it is | Price | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| CleanShot X | screenshot and screen recording app | $29 once (1 year of updates), Pro $8/month | [ctrlhq vs CleanShot X](https://ctrlhq.app/compare/cleanshot-x) |
| Granola | AI meeting notes app | Free (30 days of history), Business $14/user/month | [ctrlhq vs Granola](https://ctrlhq.app/compare/granola) |
| Moody | notch teleprompter | $39 once | [ctrlhq vs Moody](https://ctrlhq.app/compare/moody) |

## Time tracking

| App | What it is | Price | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing | automatic time tracker | From $10/month | [ctrlhq vs Timing](https://ctrlhq.app/compare/timing) |
| Toggl Track | time tracker | Free (up to 5 users), Starter $9/user/month | [ctrlhq vs Toggl Track](https://ctrlhq.app/compare/toggl-track) |

## Clipboard & files

| App | What it is | Price | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paste | clipboard manager | $29.99/year, or $89.99 lifetime | [ctrlhq vs Paste](https://ctrlhq.app/compare/paste) |
| Yoink | file shelf | $8.99 once | [ctrlhq vs Yoink](https://ctrlhq.app/compare/yoink) |