CommuteBar

CommuteBar is a macOS menu bar app that shows live commute times, traffic delays, and when it is time to leave. It uses Apple Maps on your Mac, so you can check your commute without opening another Maps app.

Nope. No account, or login necessary. Just install and use.

Apple Maps provides helpful estimates, but they can occasionally be inaccurate, outdated, incomplete, or unavailable. Leave-by times and alerts rely on this information too, so they may not always be reliable. They're great for a quick glance, but for anything time-sensitive, it's best not to rely on them alone. Please also see our Terms of Use.

Nope. It stays on your Mac. Apple Maps uses it there to calculate routes; we never see it.

CommuteBar is a menu bar utility, so it doesn’t appear in the Dock like a regular app. Look for its icon in the menu bar, then open Settings from the popover or by right-clicking the icon.

If CommuteBar is running but you don’t see its menu bar indicator, it may be hidden in the menu bar’s overflow or hidden-items area. Check there and make sure CommuteBar is set to stay visible. If the menu bar is crowded, hiding a few other items can also help. Finally, check System Settings → Menu Bar and make sure CommuteBar is allowed to appear.

CommuteBar uses your location When In Use to calculate routes, with optional Location → Always for background updates and Notifications for leave-time and traffic alerts (off by default). You can change these permissions anytime in System Settings.

For each destination you can set when you need to arrive, how early you want to get there, and which days apply. During those windows CommuteBar shows Leave by, Leave soon, and Leave now as traffic changes. Edit windows in Settings → Schedule (drag blocks across the week) or in the destination editor.

When Auto is on (Settings → Schedule), CommuteBar switches the monitored destination when a commute window opens. If two windows overlap, the preferred destination for that weekday wins. You can still switch manually anytime; Auto may switch again at the next window. Off by default.

Notifications are optional and off by default. Turn on Enable in Settings → Notifications, allow macOS alerts, then choose which days to notify and quiet hours. You’ll get leave alerts and traffic updates (for example Leave Soon, Leave Now, Commute Delayed). Turn alerts off for today or fully off anytime from Settings.