Notchzy vs Dynamic Edge
Dynamic Edge is a free Microsoft Store app. Notchzy is a full Dynamic Island for $9.99 once. Here's the difference.
We make Notchzy, so we're not neutral, but we've tried to be fair. Details about other apps were checked in November 2026 and can change: check each app's own page before you install it.
The short answer
Pick Dynamic Edge if you want something free that docks at the top or along a side edge of the screen with media controls, volume and app shortcuts.
Pick Notchzy if you want a real iPhone-style island at the top of the screen that also runs your focus sessions, calendar, weather, to-dos, clipboard, files and PC stats.
| Notchzy | Dynamic Edge | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 once, for 2 PCs | Free, paid extras |
| Where to get it | notchzy.com | Microsoft Store |
| Position | Top of the screen, any monitor | Top or a side edge |
| Music controls | Yes, with seek, shuffle, repeat | Yes |
| Volume | Yes | Yes |
| App shortcuts | Full app launcher with search | Quick-launch slots |
| Notifications | Yes | Not its focus |
| Synced lyrics, per-app volume | Yes | Not its focus |
| Focus timer, calendar, weather, to-dos | Yes | Not its focus |
| Clipboard history and file tray | Yes | Not its focus |
| PC stats | Yes | Not its focus |
Where Dynamic Edge is ahead
It's free and on the Microsoft Store, and it can sit on a side edge, which some people prefer on wide monitors. If you only want media controls and a few shortcuts, it does the job.
Where Notchzy is ahead
Notchzy does much more from the same spot: notifications, a Pomodoro focus timer, a week calendar with weather, to-dos, clipboard history, a file tray and live PC stats. It's designed to look like Apple's Dynamic Island, with spring animations, and it gets out of the way over browser tabs and full-screen games.
Everything in Notchzy
- Music controls for Spotify, browser audio and video, and any player in Windows' media controls: cover art, play/pause, skip, seek, shuffle and repeat.
- Synced lyrics that follow the song, karaoke-style. Click a line to jump there.
- Copy text from screen: snip any part of the screen and its words are copied, read offline on your PC.
- Microphone and camera dot: orange or green on the pill while an app uses them, like on iPhone.
- Sound: switch between speakers and headphones, and set each app's own volume.
- Focus timer with Pomodoro breaks and a countdown ring in the pill.
- Notifications from Windows pop into the island.
- Clipboard history with texts, links and images, search and pins.
- File tray: drop files on the island, drag them out later.
- Calendar and weather: a week strip, today's events and your city's weather.
- Quick controls: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, dark mode, volume, lock, sleep, restart, shut down.
- PC stats: CPU, GPU and RAM rings, top apps by memory, network, disk and a speed test.
- To-dos, app launcher and wallpaper picker, one hover away.
- Charging animation when you plug in or unplug a laptop.
- Stays out of the way: hides in full-screen games and videos, shrinks to a slim bar over browser tabs.
Dynamic Edge is a trademark of its owner. Notchzy isn't affiliated with or endorsed by them.
Windows 10 and 11 · One-time, for 2 PCs · 14-day refund
Questions
Is Dynamic Edge free?
Yes, Dynamic Edge is free on the Microsoft Store, with paid extras. Notchzy costs $9.99 once and includes every feature, with a 14-day refund.
Which one looks more like the iPhone Dynamic Island?
Notchzy. It's a black pill at the top center of the screen that grows with a spring animation to show your music, timer, notifications and more, then shrinks back.
Does Notchzy work on Windows 10?
Yes. Notchzy runs on Windows 11 and on Windows 10 version 2004 or newer.