8 Best macOS Dock Alternatives in 2025: Complete Comparison Guide

Apple's Dock hasn't changed much in decades. For most people, that's fine. But if you use multiple monitors, have tons of apps open, or just want more control, the default Dock might drive you crazy. Here’s a list of macOS Dock Alternatives you should know about.

This guide covers the eight best macOS Dock Alternatives in 2025. I'll explain what each one does, how much it costs, and who should use it.

Why You Might Want macOS Dock Alternatives

Apple's Dock has some annoying problems:

First, you only get one Dock. If you have two or three monitors - the Dock jumps around following your mouse instead of staying put on each screen.

Second, you can't customize much beyond the size and the magnifying effect.

Third, it becomes a clutter-fest pretty quickly if you're using more than a couple of apps.

If you're using multiple monitors or you're switching between different types of work (designer, dev, video editing), the lack of customization starts slowing you down.

macOS Dock alternatives come in two flavors: 

• Apps that replace Apple's Dock completely.

• Apps that add additional functionalities alongside the default one.

No flavor is better than the other, pick the one you like.

Replacement vs. Addition: What's the Difference?

Before picking a Dock app, first let's understand these two approaches.

This works similar to marriage:

Replacement apps divorce Apple's Dock and never look back. Addition apps are more into open relationships - everyone gets along, nobody's feelings get hurt, and you can have multiple Docks without the drama.

Replacement Apps completely take over from Apple's Dock. You get way more customization, Windows-style features, and advanced window controls. But you're also ditching Apple's polished experience that's deeply integrated into the macOS, and might run into bugs when macOS updates.

Addition Apps create extra Docks that work with Apple's Dock or utilize Dock presets for different workflows. Your system stays stable and happy. The downside? Less crazy customization since you're still playing by Apple's rules.

1. DockFix

DockFix is a fantastic customization tool. It lets you completely redesign your Dock with custom icons, transparency effects, spacing changes, and animations. Everything works with drag-and-drop, so it's easy to use.

There's a whole community sharing Dock themes. You can download someone else's beautiful setup or share your own. You see changes in real-time, so no guessing if something will look good.

Best Feature: Customization plus a temporary shelf for dragging files around

Price: €15 one-time payment, with a free basic version

Best for: People who love tweaking everything and want their Dock to look totally unique

2. Sidebar

Sidebar turns your Dock into a launcher that works perfectly across multiple monitors. Each screen can have its own setup, with different icons, colors, and themes.

Beyond looks, Sidebar adds music controls, calendar previews, grouped app stacks, and see-through effects. The WindowSnap feature is awesome - it saves your window layouts so you can instantly recreate your setup for different tasks.

Best Feature: WindowSnap saves and restores your window layouts for different projects.

Price: Monthly/Yearly subscription or one-time purchase.

Best for: Multi-monitor setups and people who want total control over each screen.

3. ActiveDock 2

ActiveDock 2 replaces Apple's Dock but still feels like macOS (ish). It adds features without making your Mac feel weird or Windows-like.

The grouping system is super useful. You can organize apps by project, client, or whatever makes sense to you. Window previews let you see and manage all open windows from any app without clicking around everywhere.

There's also a Start Menu-style launcher if you like that Windows feature, but it's designed to fit macOS. Everything feels familiar right away, so there's almost no learning curve.

Best Feature: Group apps into folders and customize launchers for different workspaces.

Price: $17-$54 one-time payment.

Best for: People who want more features but don't want their Mac to feel different.

4. uBar

uBar started as a "Windows taskbar for Mac" and it shows. You can make it look like a Mac Dock or a Windows taskbar. It shows progress bars, badges, and makes it super clear what apps are running.

For multiple monitors, each screen can have its own taskbar or they can all match. You control exactly which apps show up where. This is amazing if you use both Mac and Windows computers.

Best Feature: Switch between Mac-style and Windows-style with one click.

Price: $30 one-time payment.

Best for: Windows users switching to Mac, and people who want Windows taskbar features.

5. DockDoor

DockDoor is completely free and open-source. It adds window previews and controls to your existing Dock, letting you close or minimize windows right from the preview.

You can customize everything - preview style, animation speed, transparency, and filters. Developers and privacy-focused people love it because everything runs locally on your Mac with zero tracking.

DockDoor brings Windows 10-style Alt+Tab to macOS with live window previews.

Best Feature: Completely private - everything runs on your Mac, no data collection at all.

Price: Free and open-source.

Best for: Privacy-focused users, developers, and anyone who wants advanced features without paying.

6. InfyniDock

InfyniDock combines Dock customization with window snapping. It automatically adapts when you connect or disconnect monitors, perfect if you switch between laptop and desk setups.

You can use it as a menu bar tool or traditional Dock. Keyboard shortcuts let you open any app window instantly without touching your mouse.

Best Feature: Automatically adjusts Dock position for each monitor.

Price: $9 one-time payment.

Best for: Designers and developers who switch between laptop and desktop modes frequently

7. DockFlow

DockFlow does something unique: it lets you save multiple Dock setups and switch between them instantly with keyboard shortcuts or Focus Mode.

Imagine switching from "Work" to "Creative" to "Gaming" mode - different apps appear, everything rearranges, all with one shortcut.

This goes beyond looks. You can configure which apps close and launch, load specific projects to your IDE or choose a different browser profile to switch to.

Best Feature: Instantly switch between completely different Dock setups, setting up your workspace in an instant.

Price: €9.99 for a 1-year license or €39.99 one-time payment that also supports multiple devices.

Best for: Productivity enthusiasts and anyone who does totally different types of work throughout the day such as freelancers, solo/entrepreneurs, power users.

8. ExtraDock

ExtraDock takes a totally different approach from the rest. Instead of replacing Apple's Dock, it lets you create multiple extra Docks and put them anywhere on any screen. They stay exactly where you put them.

This simple idea solves the biggest multi-monitor frustration: the Dock can't be on multiple screens at once. With ExtraDock, you can have a "messaging apps" Dock on your left monitor, a "dev tools" Dock in the center, and a "AI" Dock on the right - all while Apple's normal Dock still works.

The app is deliberately simple. ExtraDock and customization. No complicated settings, no performance problems. ExtraDock does one thing really well: it creates lightweight floating Docks that behave predictably and stay where you want them.

Each Dock can be horizontal or vertical and be attached only to a specific screen, so when you disconnect your external monitor, the Extra docks hide.

What makes ExtraDock special is that it doesn't mess with your system. Since it works alongside Apple's Dock instead of replacing it, you never worry about macOS updates breaking things. The app doesn't require any permissions on your macOS.

Best Feature: Create unlimited extra Docks without touching or replacing Apple's Dock.

Price: €9.99 for a 1-year license or €31.99 one-time payment

Best for: Multi-monitor users, and customization enthusiasts.

Which Dock Alternative Should You Choose?

Picking the right Dock alternative depends on what you need.

Want maximum customization? Go with DockFix or ActiveDock 2. Both let you redesign everything about your Dock. DockFix is better for community themes. ActiveDock 2 feels more Mac-like.

Have multiple monitors? ExtraDock and Sidebar. ExtraDock adds extra Docks and keeps everything accessible. Sidebar replaces the Dock completely with per-screen setups and more customization.

Switching from Windows? uBar. It has a Windows-style taskbar that feels like home but on Mac. You can gradually switch from Windows-style to Mac-style as you get comfortable.

On a budget? DockDoor is completely free, open-source, and doesn't compromise on features. It's actively maintained and privacy-focused.

Want workflow automation? DockFlow. Set up your workspace in an instant while keeping everything clean, could work as a team with other addition apps such as ExtraDock.

Fixing Common Problems

Even good Dock apps sometimes have issues. Here's how to fix the most common ones.

App Won't Launch: This usually means a permissions problem. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility and make sure your Dock app has permission. Some apps also need Screen Recording permission for window previews.

Apple's Dock Won't Stay Hidden: Some apps struggle to keep the Dock hidden after macOS updates. Check the app's preferences for "Dock Behavior" or "System Integration." Look for "Force Hide Native Dock" or "Override System Dock."

Window Previews Look Outdated: DockDoor and similar apps save window previews for speed. If previews look stale, check the refresh rate setting. Higher refresh rates are more accurate but use more CPU.

Extra Docks in Wrong Spots: ExtraDock sometimes loses track of Dock positions when you change monitor setups. Just reposition them once manually and it should remember. Using "Snap to Edge" helps keep things consistent.

Stops Working After macOS Update: Big macOS updates sometimes break Dock apps temporarily. Before updating macOS, check the app's website to make sure it's compatible. Most developers release updates within days of major OS releases.

Two Are Better Than One

Here's something cool: ExtraDock and DockFlow actually work together instead of fighting each other.

The Perfect Pairing: DockFlow transforms Apple's native Dock with profile switching and workflow automation. ExtraDock adds multiple extra Docks across your monitors. They're not stepping on each other's toes and they complement each other beautifully.

System Stability: Since neither app replaces the native Dock, you never worry about compatibility problems. Apple's macOS updates won't break your workflow because the system Dock stays intact and both apps play by Apple's rules.

Best of Both Worlds: Keep Apple's polished native Dock as your context-switching command center (thanks to DockFlow) while getting screen-specific organization (thanks to ExtraDock). Many users run this combo: DockFlow handles the bottom-of-screen native Dock, while ExtraDock creates vertical Docks on side monitors for quick access.

Zero Learning Curve: Both apps create familiar Dock functionality rather than introducing weird new interfaces. If you know how Apple's Dock works, you already know how ExtraDock and DockFlow work. No manual reading required.

Common Questions

Can I use multiple Dock apps at once?

Usually no. Replacement apps (DockFix, ActiveDock, uBar, Sidebar) fight with each other since they all try to replace the native Dock. But you can combine addition apps like ExtraDock with enhancement tools like DockDoor since they do different things.

Do these work on Apple Silicon Macs?

Yes, all the apps reviewed here work natively on Apple Silicon. But always check the developer's website to make sure it works with your specific macOS version before buying.

Will these slow down my Mac?

Not really on modern Macs. Lightweight options like ExtraDock and DockDoor have almost no performance impact. Feature-heavy apps like ActiveDock 2 and Sidebar use more resources but are still reasonable on any Mac from the past five years.

Can I customize keyboard shortcuts?

Yes, most apps let you customize keyboard shortcuts extensively. DockFlow and uBar are especially good at this, letting you assign almost any action to any key combo that doesn't conflict with system shortcuts.

What happens after macOS updates?

Replacement apps sometimes need updates to keep working after big macOS releases. Addition apps like ExtraDock usually keep working fine since they don't modify system stuff. Always check the developer's website before updating macOS if you rely on a Dock alternative.

Are there free options?

DockDoor is the only fully-featured, completely free option. Several others offer free trials or limited free versions. For tight budgets, DockDoor delivers amazing functionality.

Can I sync my Dock setup across multiple Macs?

Some apps let you export and import configurations. DockFix's community theme sharing takes this further. But automatic cloud syncing across devices is rare in Dock apps.

Do these work with Stage Manager?

It depends. ExtraDock work alongside Stage Manager. Full replacement apps sometimes conflict with Stage Manager's Dock changes. Check specific compatibility if Stage Manager matters to you.

Conclusion: Choosing the right macOS Dock Alternatives

The macOS Dock doesn't have to slow you down. Whether you choose a full replacement that transforms everything or an addition tool that works with Apple's design, the right Dock alternative dramatically improves your daily work.

For multi-monitor setups, ExtraDock is the most practical solution. It solves the core problem - Apple's single Dock limitation. The app creates extra Docks exactly where you need them, stays out of your way, and just works.

Ready to transform your Mac's Dock? Try ExtraDock and see why thousands of developers, designers, and productivity enthusiasts trust it for multi-monitor workflows.