Mac privacy software · free vs $2.99
Mac privacy screen app. Hide sensitive windows.
Hide selected windows, cover sensitive areas, and use local face detection. Try the free Lite app before choosing the $2.99 full version. This is software, not a physical privacy filter.
Quick answer
Use a Mac privacy screen app for software controls, not viewing-angle protection.
Anti-spy screen Lite is the lower-friction choice for trying local face-count detection, protected app hiding, Privacy Block, and Presenting Mode. The full Anti-spy screen app is a $2.99 one-time purchase. Both current US listings require macOS 13.0 or later. Use a physical privacy filter instead when the goal is to narrow the display's side viewing angle.
Try Lite before paying if you have not tested camera placement, lighting, and app-hiding behavior on your Mac.
Open the full listing when you prefer a one-time purchase and want to compare the latest release details before buying.
The full listing says face detection runs locally without internet access and shows an App Privacy label of Data Not Collected.
Version comparison
Anti-spy screen vs Anti-spy screen Lite.
Current US App Store details checked August 16, 2026. Prices can vary by storefront.
Mac privacy workflow
For work where screen exposure has a real cost.
This is for Mac users who need protected app hiding, presentation safety, and fewer screen-share leaks while handling sensitive work. For the full portfolio, compare it with the AI photo app and Travel Translator.
Useful when private windows should disappear during a privacy event.
Helps reduce accidental exposure during meetings or screen sharing.
Camera-based face-count detection is positioned as local Mac behavior.
Current release
The privacy workflow and device boundary are documented.
These details were checked on August 16, 2026 against the current Anti-spy screen and Lite US App Store listings. Prices can vary by storefront.
Detection runs on the Mac without an internet connection, and the listing states that detection data does not leave the device.
Selected application windows hide when the configured face count is exceeded and return after extra people leave.
The detection interval, trigger threshold, and recovery delay can be tuned for cafes, offices, and meeting rooms.
Version 1.5.1 and Lite 1.4.1 can show a local floating reminder when a hidden app opens a new window or displays a Dock badge.
Anti-spy screen 1.5.1 is listed at $2.99 as a one-time purchase; Lite 1.4.1 is currently free. Both require macOS 13.0 or later.
Know the boundary
This is software privacy, not a physical privacy filter.
Anti-spy screen responds to configured privacy events by hiding selected apps or covering part of the display. It does not narrow the physical viewing angle of the Mac screen, and it is not a replacement for checking the meeting preview or choosing the correct window to share.
Choose the email, browser, notes, or other running apps that should disappear when the configured threshold is exceeded.
Privacy Block provides a draggable, resizable, adjustable-opacity cover for content that should stay out of view.
Use the Mac screen-sharing privacy checklist before presenting, including notification and window-share checks.
Common questions
Direct answers about Mac screen privacy.
Where does Anti-spy screen process face detection?
Face detection runs locally on the Mac. The current App Store listing states that it does not require an internet connection and that detection data does not leave the device.
What happens when the configured face threshold is exceeded?
The app hides the selected application windows. They reappear after the extra people leave, subject to the configured recovery delay.
Which privacy settings can users adjust?
Users can adjust the detection interval, the face-count trigger threshold, and the recovery delay for different work environments.
What was added in the current releases?
The current releases include Stand-Up Coach, a draggable Privacy Block, Presenting Mode, and Hidden App Reminders. Version 1.5.1 and Lite 1.4.1 can show a local floating reminder when a hidden app opens a new window or shows a Dock badge.
What are the current Mac requirements and US prices?
Both apps require macOS 13.0 or later. On August 16, 2026, the US App Store listed Anti-spy screen 1.5.1 at $2.99 as a one-time purchase and Anti-spy screen Lite 1.4.1 as free. Storefront prices can vary.
Should I choose Anti-spy screen or the free Lite version?
Start with Anti-spy screen Lite if you want to test the privacy workflow for free. Open the full $2.99 listing when you prefer a one-time paid version, and compare the live App Store release notes before buying.
Is there a privacy screen app for Mac?
Yes. Anti-spy screen is Mac privacy software that can hide selected app windows, cover sensitive areas, and use local face detection. It does not narrow the screen's physical viewing angle like a physical privacy filter.