Super Notch vs Desktop Mate

Desktop Mate is free to play on Windows and Mac, and DLC characters are sold separately. Super Notch is a Mac notch AI assistant with an optional 3D VRM avatar (Sora / Hana). If you want something free to play on Windows as well as Mac, that's what Desktop Mate's Steam listing offers. If you also want your agent sessions in the notch on an Apple silicon Mac, pick Super Notch.

What Super Notch does

Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor sessions sit together in one view. Pick one from the Mac notch and you're back at work.
Hold Right Option for Type and dictate into the field you're working in. Phonon 2 turns your English speech into text on your Mac, so your audio stays there. You don't need a dictation subscription or an STT API key.
Hold Right Command for Talk, your companion in the notch. Answers come from Grok, OpenAI, or Apple Intelligence on a supported Mac.
A floating HUD lets you ask about the window in front of you. What it can see depends on the app and your permissions.
Optional 3D VRM avatar (Sora / Hana). The default style is 3D anime assistant (Sora / Hana). To change it, open Settings, then Look, then Avatar, and pick Video loops (standby / thinking / speaking) or Native mascot (make it yours). To hide the face, turn off Show companion face under Companion.
Cursor, Claude Code, and Codex are still where the work gets written and run. Super Notch sits beside them and doesn't replace them.

What Desktop Mate does

The Steam listing checked on 16 October 2026 says Desktop Mate is free to play on Windows and Mac, and that DLC characters are separate. Those notes do not describe a VRM avatar, voice, or a price beyond free to play and separate DLC.

At a glance

	Super Notch	Desktop Mate
What the checked notes say	Mac notch AI assistant. Optional 3D VRM avatar (Sora / Hana).	Free to play. DLC characters separate.
Platforms	Apple silicon Mac, macOS 14+	Windows and Mac
Price	$20 first Mac, $10 each extra, one-time	Free to play. DLC characters separate.
VRM	Optional 3D VRM avatar (Sora / Hana)	Not stated in the checked notes

Sources checked 16 October 2026: store.steampowered.com/app/3301060. Super Notch details from supernotch.ai.

Requirements and price

Super Notch runs on an Apple silicon Mac with macOS 14 or newer. Voice features need microphone and accessibility permissions. You pay once: $20 for your first Mac and $10 for each additional Mac. There's no monthly subscription. Type dictation is $0/mo after you buy and spends no model tokens. Talk and Chat use your Grok or OpenAI plan, or Apple Intelligence on supported Macs.

When to pick Desktop Mate instead

You want a free-to-play app on Windows and Mac.
You don't mind buying DLC characters separately.

FAQ

Is Super Notch a Desktop Mate alternative?

They overlap a little. Super Notch is a Mac notch assistant with an optional 3D VRM avatar (Sora / Hana) and session cards for Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor. Desktop Mate is free to play on Windows and Mac, with DLC characters sold separately. The checked notes don't say Desktop Mate uses VRM.

How much does Desktop Mate cost?

The Steam listing checked on 16 October 2026 says Desktop Mate is free to play, with DLC characters separate. Super Notch is $20 once for the first Mac and $10 for each additional Mac.

Does Desktop Mate run on Mac?

Yes. The checked Steam listing covers Windows and Mac.

Can I choose or turn off the Super Notch avatar?

Yes. The default style is 3D anime assistant (Sora / Hana). To change it, open Settings, then Look, then Avatar, and pick Video loops (standby / thinking / speaking) or Native mascot (make it yours). To hide the face, turn off Show companion face under Companion.

Does Super Notch replace Cursor, Claude Code, or Codex?

No. Keep using Cursor, Claude Code, and Codex. Super Notch doesn't replace them.