FAQ
Questions? Email hello@healthynotch.com
What is HealthyNotch?
HealthyNotch is a macOS menu bar app that turns your MacBook's notch into a gentle health-nudge surface. It reminds you to drink water, take eye breaks, stand up, and check your posture, then rolls those habits into a daily Balance Score — all without a Dock icon or any window getting in your way.
Which Macs and macOS versions does HealthyNotch support?
HealthyNotch requires macOS Sonoma 14.0 or later. It's built for any Mac running that OS, and looks best on a MacBook with a physical notch — on external displays or notch-less Macs it falls back to a centered pill in the menu bar area.
Do I need a MacBook with a notch to use it?
No. A notched MacBook gives the most seamless look since the app's UI is hardware-matched to the notch shape, but HealthyNotch also works on Macs without a notch by displaying a centered pill in the same spot.
What health reminders does HealthyNotch include?
Four nudges ship today: Drink Water (with a quick-log intake ruler), Eye Break (the 20-20-20 rule — look at something 20 feet away every 20 minutes), Stand Up (a short movement break), and Posture Check (a reminder to sit up straight). Each has its own frequency, and you can enable, disable, or retime any of them.
What is the Balance Score?
The Balance Score is a 0–100 daily score computed from how consistently you complete your nudges, how much water you've logged against your goal, and how evenly spaced your breaks are through the day. It resolves into four tiers — Thriving, Balanced, Pushing it, and Running on empty — shown with a small animated mood face in the notch.
How does HealthyNotch compare to other Mac apps?
HealthyNotch is the health job in the Mac notch: water, 20-20-20, stand, and posture, plus a daily Balance Score. Other Mac apps in this space are break reminders that use overlays or the menu bar, or notch utilities with no health nudges. Side-by-side pages live at https://healthynotch.com/compare/.
Does HealthyNotch use Apple Health or need permissions?
HealthyNotch does not read from or write to Apple Health, and it does not require an account, sign-in, or network access to function. It only needs Accessibility permission so it can detect when your cursor hovers near the notch to expand it.
Is my health data private?
Yes. All tracked data — water intake, completed nudges, and your Balance Score history for the day — is stored locally on your Mac using standard app preferences. Nothing is uploaded, no account is created, and there are no servers involved.
Can I customize how often each reminder appears?
Yes. Every nudge has an adjustable frequency preset (from every 10 minutes up to every 3 hours) and can be turned off individually from Settings. Defaults are derived from your daily goals for water, breaks, and movement.
Does HealthyNotch slow down my Mac or drain the battery?
HealthyNotch is a small native SwiftUI menu bar agent with a single lightweight timer driving all reminders. It has no background network activity and no Dock icon, so its footprint is minimal.
How much does HealthyNotch cost?
HealthyNotch is a one-time purchase for Mac — no subscription. Launch pricing is $11.99 (regularly $19.99). After you pay, Polar shows your license key on the confirmation screen and emails it to you. Buy once, get free updates.
How do I get my license key?
After you pay, Polar shows your license key on the confirmation screen and emails it to you. Download HealthyNotch for Mac, then paste the key in the app to unlock it.
Why does checkout go to Polar?
Polar is the payment processor. Checkout happens on Polar so they can take payment, handle local tax, and deliver your license key. HealthyNotch still has no app account, and your health data stays on your Mac.
Why does Polar ask for my email?
Polar needs an email to send your receipt and license key. That is not a HealthyNotch account — the app itself never asks you to sign up, and Polar does not receive your health data.
Will tax be added at checkout?
The price on this site is before local tax. Polar may add VAT, GST, or sales tax depending on where you are. The total is shown on Polar’s checkout before you pay.
What do I do after I pay?
Copy the license key from Polar’s confirmation screen — it is also in your email. Download HealthyNotch for Mac, then paste the key in the app.
How do I get support?
Email support@healthynotch.com for installation issues, bugs, or app help. For general product or pricing questions, email hello@healthynotch.com.