diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6a70443..876a183 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -99,8 +99,11 @@ This package includes several example hooks:
 - **Project Context**: Adds git branch and project type information
 
 ### Notification
+- **Visual Notifications**: Shows native macOS notifications via `terminal-notifier`
 - **Speech Notifications**: Uses macOS 'say' command to speak notifications aloud
 
+Note: Install `terminal-notifier` with `brew install terminal-notifier` for visual notifications.
+
 ## Testing Hooks
 
 Test individual hooks by piping JSON:
diff --git a/cmd/install.go b/cmd/install.go
index ee9ed8c..3220bd9 100644
--- a/cmd/install.go
+++ b/cmd/install.go
@@ -65,7 +65,9 @@ func runInstall(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	fmt.Println("  • pre_tool_use: Validates bash commands and prevents sensitive file edits")
 	fmt.Println("  • post_tool_use: Logs tool usage and runs goimports on modified Go files")
 	fmt.Println("  • user_prompt_submit: Adds project context to prompts")
-	fmt.Println("  • notification: Speaks notifications aloud using macOS 'say' command")
+	fmt.Println("  • notification: Shows notifications and speaks them aloud (macOS)")
+	fmt.Println("\nOptional: Install terminal-notifier for visual notifications:")
+	fmt.Println("  brew install terminal-notifier")
 	fmt.Println("\nTo test: echo '{\"event\":\"pre_tool_use\",\"tool\":\"Bash\",\"tool_use_request\":{\"tool\":\"Bash\",\"parameters\":{\"command\":\"ls\"}}}' | hooks run")
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 2ece09d..f2446f7 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -2,8 +2,9 @@ module github.com/imjasonh/hooks
 
 go 1.24.4
 
+require github.com/spf13/cobra v1.9.1
+
 require (
 	github.com/inconshreveable/mousetrap v1.1.0 // indirect
-	github.com/spf13/cobra v1.9.1 // indirect
 	github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.6 // indirect
 )
diff --git a/internal/handlers/notification.go b/internal/handlers/notification.go
index 72d1080..0439cc9 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/notification.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/notification.go
@@ -21,52 +21,73 @@ func SpeakNotification(ctx context.Context, input hooks.HookInput) (hooks.HookOu
 		return hooks.HookOutput{Decision: "continue"}, nil
 	}
 
-	// Check if say command is available
-	if _, err := exec.LookPath("say"); err != nil {
-		slog.Debug("say command not found", "error", err)
-		return hooks.HookOutput{Decision: "continue"}, nil
-	}
-
-	// Build the message to speak
-	var message string
+	// Build the notification content
+	var title, message, subtitle string
 	if input.Notification.Permission != "" {
 		// Permission request
-		message = fmt.Sprintf("Claude is requesting permission to use %s. %s", 
-			input.Notification.Tool, 
-			input.Notification.Message)
+		title = "Claude Permission Request"
+		subtitle = fmt.Sprintf("Tool: %s", input.Notification.Tool)
+		message = fmt.Sprintf("Requesting permission to %s", input.Notification.Message)
 	} else {
 		// Regular notification
-		message = fmt.Sprintf("Notification from %s: %s",
-			input.Notification.Tool,
-			input.Notification.Message)
+		title = "Claude Notification"
+		subtitle = fmt.Sprintf("Tool: %s", input.Notification.Tool)
+		message = input.Notification.Message
 	}
 
-	// Sanitize the message for speech
-	message = strings.ReplaceAll(message, "\n", " ")
-	message = strings.ReplaceAll(message, "\"", "'")
-
-	// Run say command with a shorter message if it's too long
-	if len(message) > 200 {
-		message = message[:197] + "..."
-	}
-
-	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "say", "-v", "Samantha", message)
-	if err := cmd.Start(); err != nil {
-		slog.Error("failed to start say command", "error", err)
-		return hooks.HookOutput{Decision: "continue"}, nil
-	}
-
-	// Don't wait for completion to avoid blocking
-	go func() {
-		if err := cmd.Wait(); err != nil {
-			slog.Debug("say command failed", "error", err)
+	// Show notification using terminal-notifier if available
+	if _, err := exec.LookPath("terminal-notifier"); err == nil {
+		args := []string{
+			"-title", title,
+			"-subtitle", subtitle,
+			"-message", message,
+			"-sound", "default",
+			"-group", "claude-hooks",
 		}
-	}()
+		
+		cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "terminal-notifier", args...)
+		if err := cmd.Start(); err != nil {
+			slog.Error("failed to show notification", "error", err)
+		} else {
+			// Don't wait for completion
+			go func() {
+				if err := cmd.Wait(); err != nil {
+					slog.Debug("terminal-notifier failed", "error", err)
+				}
+			}()
+			slog.Info("showed notification",
+				"tool", input.Notification.Tool,
+				"permission", input.Notification.Permission != "")
+		}
+	} else {
+		slog.Debug("terminal-notifier not found, install with: brew install terminal-notifier")
+	}
 
-	slog.Info("speaking notification",
-		"tool", input.Notification.Tool,
-		"permission", input.Notification.Permission != "",
-		"message_length", len(message))
+	// Also speak the notification if say is available
+	if _, err := exec.LookPath("say"); err == nil {
+		spokenMessage := fmt.Sprintf("%s. %s", subtitle, message)
+		
+		// Sanitize for speech
+		spokenMessage = strings.ReplaceAll(spokenMessage, "\n", " ")
+		spokenMessage = strings.ReplaceAll(spokenMessage, "\"", "'")
+		
+		// Truncate if too long
+		if len(spokenMessage) > 200 {
+			spokenMessage = spokenMessage[:197] + "..."
+		}
+
+		cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "say", "-v", "Samantha", spokenMessage)
+		if err := cmd.Start(); err != nil {
+			slog.Debug("failed to start say command", "error", err)
+		} else {
+			// Don't wait for completion to avoid blocking
+			go func() {
+				if err := cmd.Wait(); err != nil {
+					slog.Debug("say command failed", "error", err)
+				}
+			}()
+		}
+	}
 
 	return hooks.HookOutput{Decision: "continue"}, nil
 }
\ No newline at end of file