Hey MacEvery face unlock app for Mac leaves something out. Some only unlock the lock screen, one only locks apps, some need the newest macOS, and some are paid or closed source. Pick the page for the app you use now, and it will point you to the alternative that fills that specific gap, including when staying put is the better call.
Disclosure: These pages are published by the developer of Hey Mac, which appears as one of the options. We haven't lab-tested any app. Facts come from each developer's own documentation, release notes and public issue trackers, checked on October 12, 2026.
Find your page
| You use | The gap people usually hit | Read |
|---|---|---|
| FaceGate | Locks apps but never unlocks the Mac's lock screen; no Intel build | FaceGate alternatives |
| FaceUnlock (HasBrain) | Launch and Keychain errors on some macOS versions; non-commercial face model license | FaceUnlock alternatives |
| Glance | Lock screen only, needs macOS 15 or later | Glance alternatives |
| Mac ID | Paid, closed source, macOS 15 and Apple silicon only (not the old iPhone-based "MacID") | Mac ID alternatives |
| MacGaze | Needs macOS 26; purchasing not switched on yet, so it's trial-only | MacGaze alternatives |
| Notchy | Face unlock is one feature inside a full notch utility; closed source | Notchy alternatives |
Sources are listed on each page.
If you haven't picked an app yet
Start with our comparison of the best face unlock apps for Mac, which puts all seven apps side by side under the same criteria. If you're still deciding whether webcam face unlock is worth it at all, Face ID for Mac: does any Mac have it? explains why no Mac ships with Face ID and what Apple offers instead. And if your real goal is keeping specific apps private, how to lock apps on Mac covers the built-in options before any third-party app.
Three questions that narrow it down
- Lock screen, apps, or both? Most apps here do one job. Hey Mac is the only one listed that does both; FaceGate does apps only.
- Which Mac and macOS are you on? macOS 13 leaves only Notchy; on Intel with macOS 14+, FaceUnlock and Notchy work, plus Glance on 15+.
- Do you need open source? Glance, FaceGate, FaceUnlock (app code; its face model is non-commercial) and Hey Mac publish their code. Mac ID, MacGaze and Notchy don't.
No webcam app matches iPhone Face ID, because Macs have no depth sensor. Keep a strong password whichever you choose.
About the author
Harshit Maurya is the developer of Hey Mac, an open-source face unlock and app lock app for macOS written in Swift and Core ML. Source code and build notes are on GitHub.