ToothFairy vs CallLane: keep AirPods in high quality on a Mac
ToothFairy and CallLane can both keep AirPods in high-quality mode on a Mac; ToothFairy does it with an option that stops macOS using the headphones' mic, and CallLane also stops calls from ducking your music. ToothFairy is mainly a one-click connect app for AirPods and other Bluetooth devices, with battery levels and a hotkey per device. Its manual says some apps, FaceTime for one, can still use the headphones' mic and drop them to the low-quality codec. CallLane locks the Mac's input to its own mic and puts it back if macOS or an app moves it.
I make CallLane, so weigh this with that in mind. Checked on against ToothFairy home page, ToothFairy manual and ToothFairy on the Mac App Store.
ToothFairy and CallLane side by side
| Feature | ToothFairy | CallLane |
|---|---|---|
| Price model | $6.99 on the Mac App Store (US); also on Setapp | One-time purchase, 14-day refund |
| macOS requirement | macOS 10.13 or later; its site lists 10.13 through 27 | macOS 14 or later, Apple silicon and Intel |
| Stops call ducking | Not advertised. It connects and disconnects Bluetooth devices | Yes. Call apps play into the CallLane device, so macOS ducks only the call |
| Keeps AirPods out of headset mode (mic lock) | Partly. Its “Improve sound quality by disabling audio input from device” option tells macOS not to use the headphones' mic. Its manual says some apps, such as FaceTime, still use it and switch back to the low-quality codec until you reconnect | Yes, for apps that follow the system input. Lock input keeps the system input on the Mac's mic (or a USB mic) and puts it back if macOS or an app moves it. An app set to the AirPods mic directly needs switching to System default once |
| Signed and notarized | Sold through the Mac App Store and Setapp | Yes, signed and notarized installer |
| Open source | No | The audio driver is (GPL-3, derived from BlackHole); the app is not |
| Extra setup | Pair the device with macOS, add it in ToothFairy, then tick the sound-quality option for that device | Admin password once for the driver, then pick CallLane as the speaker in each call app, once per app |
When to pick ToothFairy
- You want to connect and disconnect AirPods or other Bluetooth devices with one click or a hotkey.
- You want battery levels for your headphones, mouse and keyboard in the menu bar.
- You only need the mic switch and want to pay less. ToothFairy is $6.99 on the US Mac App Store.
- You're on macOS 10.13 to 13. CallLane needs macOS 14.
When to pick CallLane
- Calls also turn your music down. CallLane stops that ducking and keeps AirPods in high quality in one app.
- You want the system input held on the Mac's mic. CallLane's Lock input puts it back whenever macOS or an app moves it, so every app that follows the system input stays off the AirPods mic, with no reconnecting.
Questions
Does ToothFairy stop AirPods switching to headset mode?
Partly. Its option “Improve sound quality by disabling audio input from device” tells macOS not to use the headphones' mic, so macOS can use the higher-quality AAC codec. ToothFairy's manual says some apps, such as FaceTime, can still use the headphones' mic and switch back to the low-quality codec; you then disconnect and reconnect with ToothFairy.
Does ToothFairy stop audio ducking during calls?
ToothFairy doesn't advertise it. It connects and disconnects Bluetooth devices and shows their battery. CallLane stops call ducking by giving the call its own output device.
How much does ToothFairy cost?
The US Mac App Store lists ToothFairy at $6.99, as of 21 October 2026, and it is also on Setapp. CallLane is a one-time purchase with a 14-day refund.
Which macOS does each app need?
ToothFairy runs on macOS 10.13 or later. CallLane needs macOS 14 or later, on Apple silicon or Intel.