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Build Mode vs Notchy

A side-by-side comparison built from both listings. Blank cells mean the company has not given that detail; we never guess.

Build Mode compared with Notchy
DetailBuild Mode logo Build ModeNotchy logo Notchy
What it doesPrivate time tracker for Mac that records focused work with one button Dynamic Island for your Mac
StageNot given Not given
FoundedNot given Not given
Based inNot given IN
Pricing modelPaid Paid
Pricing$29 one-time payment (early builder price, will rise to $49). Includes one-button time tracking, daily/weekly/all-time totals, automatic app tracking, custom categories, long-term hour goals, weekly visual reflections, and local data storage. No subscription, no account. $24.99 once for one Mac (plus applicable tax), lifetime license with all updates included. 7-day free trial, no card required.
Key features
  • One-button keyboard shortcut to start and stop sessions
  • Live session clock in MacBook notch
  • Automatic mode suggestions from active app
  • Pauses idle time and display sleep
  • Dashboard with daily, weekly, and all-time totals
  • Wrapped weekly visual recap shareable as image
  • Custom categories or skills
  • All data stored locally on Mac
  • Face Unlock - Look at Mac to unlock with on-device Vision and liveness check
  • Now Playing - Music controls with album art, scrubbing, shuffle and repeat from collapsed island
  • AI Usage Tracker - Track Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and Copilot rate limits and tokens
  • Clipboard History with OCR - Search past copies including text recognized from images
  • Window Snapping - Rectangle-style tiling with notch as drop target
  • Command Palette - Press ⌃⌥K to jump to tabs, toggle features, or run Shortcuts
  • Pomodoro Timer - Focus sessions with streaks and 7-day chart
  • System HUDs - Volume, brightness, and caffeine toggles animate from notch
  • App Launcher - Pin and open apps directly from notch
  • File Shelf - Drag files to stash and retrieve them later
What makes it different
  • No screen recording or access to browser history
  • One-time lifetime purchase with no subscription
  • Built by a solo founder for their own use
  • 78 features in one lightweight native app with zero subscriptions
  • Built natively in SwiftUI with near-zero CPU idle usage
  • Works on any Mac including notchless displays as floating pill
  • One-time $24.99 purchase with lifetime license and updates included
  • Privacy-first with no accounts, ads, or data sales
Free planNot given Not given
Open sourceNot given Not given
PlatformsNot given Not given
Public APINot given Not given
Community votes00
DR (Domain Rating by Ahrefs)27 no change since last check25 no change since last check
Trust Flow (Majestic)224
Citation Flow (Majestic)2730
Referring domains (Majestic)7676

5 details filled in for both companies.

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