# One Switch Alternative: 1Setter (Combos & Shortcuts)

If you’re using One Switch on macOS—or considering it—you probably like the idea of toggling system settings from the menu bar instead of digging through System Settings every time.

It’s a solid app. But if your workflow often requires changing several settings together, its one-toggle-at-a-time approach can feel limiting.

In this article, we’ll look at when One Switch works well, where it falls short, and why 1Setter might be a better alternative for certain users.

## What One Switch Does Well

[One Switch](https://fireball.studio/oneswitch) focuses on one simple idea: quick access to common macOS toggles from the menu bar.

It covers many of the basics, such as:

- Dark Mode
- Keep Awake
- Night Shift
- Hide Desktop Icons
- Display-related toggles, and more

You can control these from the menu bar, and it also supports keyboard shortcuts for individual actions. If you mostly turn one setting on or off occasionally, One Switch does exactly what it promises.

For many users, that’s enough.

## Where One Switch Starts to Feel Limiting

The limitations usually show up not because One Switch is missing core features—but because of how those features are used.

### 1. Each Toggle Is Isolated

In One Switch, each setting is treated as a separate action:

- One click for Keep Awake
- Another click for Dark Mode
- Another for Night Shift

If your workflow requires changing multiple settings together, you end up repeating the same sequence over and over.

This isn’t a bug—it’s simply not what One Switch is designed for.

### 2. Keyboard Shortcuts Control Individual Actions Only

Both One Switch and 1Setter support keyboard shortcuts.

The difference is what those shortcuts represent.

In One Switch:

- A shortcut usually maps to a single toggle

That works well for simple tasks, but it doesn’t scale when your workflow becomes more complex.

## Why 1Setter Is a Strong Alternative to One Switch

[1Setter](/content/site-root.html) solves the same problem as One Switch—making macOS system settings easier to access from the menu bar—but with a different emphasis.

Instead of focusing only on individual switches, 1Setter is designed around running **groups of related settings together**, reflecting how people actually adjust their system across different situations throughout the day.

### 1. Run Groups of Settings, Not Just Individual Switches

The biggest difference is custom combos.

With 1Setter, you can group multiple macOS settings into a single combo and trigger them together. For example:

- A Work combo that keeps your Mac awake, enables Dark Mode, and starts a Pomodoro timer
- A Presentation combo that keeps your Mac awake, hides desktop icons and widgets, and mutes system audio
- A Movie combo that disables True Tone and Night Shift, and turns off the keyboard backlight
- A Cat Time combo that disables the keyboard and enables Low Power Mode

This turns system control from a series of small actions into a single, intentional state.

### 2. Keyboard Shortcuts Built Around Workflows

While both apps support shortcuts, 1Setter lets you assign shortcuts to combos, not just individual settings.

That means:

- One shortcut = one mode
- No need to remember or trigger multiple actions separately

For users who rely heavily on muscle memory, this makes a noticeable difference.

### 3. Broader Coverage of Everyday macOS Settings

Out of the box, 1Setter includes 40+ commonly used macOS controls, covering not only the basics but also many small, situational settings you don’t always realize you need until you do.

Some features are delivered via online updates, allowing new toggles to be added without waiting for a full app update. This makes the tool feel more flexible over time, rather than locked into a fixed feature list.

### 4. Temporary Control, No Side Effects

Like One Switch, 1Setter is designed for temporary control:

- Turn things on when you need them
- Turn them off when you’re done
- No permanent system changes to clean up later

The difference is that 1Setter is optimized for users who switch contexts frequently throughout the day.

## One Switch vs 1Setter: Which One Is Right for You?

| Feature | [One Switch](https://fireball.studio/oneswitch) | [1Setter](/content/site-root.html) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of built-in actions | ~25 | ~40 |
| Keyboard shortcuts | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Customizable Combos | ❌ No | ✅ Yes, group multiple actions into one click |
| Free trial | 7 days | 14 days |
| Price | $4.99 one-time | $4.99 one-time |

Choose One Switch if:

- You mainly toggle one setting at a time
- You prefer a minimal, fixed set of controls
- You don’t need workflow-level grouping

Choose 1Setter if:

- You often change multiple settings together
- You want to switch between different “modes” quickly
- You prefer a more flexible, extensible control panel for macOS

Neither approach is wrong—they’re simply designed for different usage patterns.

## Try 1Setter as a One Switch Alternative

If you like menu bar toggles but want to group and control multiple actions at once, 1Setter is worth trying.

You can start with the same basic actions you’re already using, then gradually build combos and shortcuts as your workflow evolves—without relearning everything from scratch.

## One Click. Total Control.

Bring all your daily macOS settings and tools to the menu bar. Try 1Setter free for 14 days—no account required.