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8 Best macOS Dock Alternatives in 2026

Apple's Dock hasn't changed much in decades. For most people, that's fine. If you use multiple monitors, have tons of apps open, or just want more control, here are the best macOS Dock Alternatives in 2026.

Why Use a Dock Alternative?

Two Mac displays with Apple's Dock appearing on only one screen — Show the dock on all your displays

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.

Replacement, Add-on, or Enhancer

The Three Flavors of Dock Apps

Choosing a flavor is surprisingly similar to marriage:

Replacement apps divorce Apple's Dock and take over completely.

Add-on apps prefer an open relationship, creating extra Docks alongside Apple's Dock.

Enhancer apps stay married and work on the relationship by adding features to the existing Dock.

Some apps cross categories. ExtraDock can work as a replacement, an add-on, or an enhancer depending on how you set it up.

DockFlow

DockFlow saves multiple Dock setups and switches between them with a shortcut or Focus Mode. Move from Work to Creative or Gaming with the right apps ready each time.

Each flow can launch and close apps, open IDE projects, or switch browser profiles, so changing tasks takes one action.

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

Price: From $14.99

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

Enhancer

Sidebar

Sidebar replaces Apple’s Dock with a Windows-style taskbar for Mac. It can show individual app windows and their titles, with live previews that let you jump directly to the window you need.

It also includes a Start menu, folder peeking, app and folder stacks, and a searchable Window Switcher. WindowSnap saves and restores window positions automatically after system events.

Standout feature: WindowSnap saves and restores your window layouts for different projects.

Price: €1.25/mo, €12.50/yr, or €19.99 lifetime

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

CoolDock

CoolDock turns a second Dock into a live command center for widgets, apps, folders, search, and quick actions. It sits beside Apple’s Dock, keeping useful information and controls one click away.

Its widget collection covers music, weather, calendars, reminders, system stats, clipboard tools, revenue tracking, and developer services. Multiple profiles and flexible styling let you build a different Dock for each workflow.

Standout feature: Live widgets inside a customizable second Dock.

Price: From $15

Best for: Mac users who want widgets and quick actions in a second Dock.

Add-on

ExtraDock

ExtraDock lets you create as many Docks as you need and place each one anywhere on any screen. Build different Docks for work, comms, or personal apps, or simply duplicate your native Dock across every display.

Each Dock can have its own apps, Folder Stacks, widgets, position, orientation, appearance, and behavior. Customize everything from size, spacing, colors, blur, borders, and icons to auto-hide rules and screen-specific layouts.

When a display disconnects, its Docks hide automatically and return when it reconnects. The result is a Mac organized around how you actually work.

Standout feature: Create unlimited extra Docks without touching or replacing Apple's Dock.

Price: From €14.99

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

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DockFix

DockFix replaces Apple’s Dock with a customizable alternative that keeps a familiar macOS style. You can adjust its appearance and behavior, change app icons, or use presets shared by the community.

It also adds features such as window previews, widgets, folders, website shortcuts, and a file shelf. It is one of the broader Dock replacements in this list.

Standout feature: Customization plus a temporary shelf for dragging files around

Price: €14.99 one-time

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

DockFix customization controls for the macOS Dock

DockDoor

DockDoor enhances Apple's Dock with live window previews. Hover over an app icon to see its open windows, then switch, close, minimize, or maximize them from the preview.

It also adds Option+Tab window switching, keyboard controls, folder previews, gestures, and richer Cmd+Tab previews. Everything runs locally, and the app is free and open-source.

Standout feature: Live previews and window controls directly above Apple's Dock.

Price: Free

Best for: Anyone who wants better window switching without replacing Apple's Dock.

uBar

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

uBar can group windows by app or show every window directly in the bar. Click an app to open its window menu, or hover for a live preview. This makes managing several windows much easier.

Standout feature: Switch between Mac-style and Windows-style with one click.

Price: From $39

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

uBar running as a Windows-style taskbar on a Mac

InfyniDock

InfyniDock is built for switching to an exact window, not just reopening its app. Live previews let you jump straight to the Chrome, Finder, Xcode, or Terminal window you need.

Use it as a full Dock replacement, a menu bar Dock, or a temporary FloatDock. It also supports keyboard shortcuts, Spaces, saved layouts, and workspaces.

Standout feature: Jump straight to an exact window from live previews.

Price: $12 lifetime

Best for: People who keep many windows open and want faster window-level switching.

Prices checked October 21, 2026

Find the Right Dock Alternative

Picking the right Dock alternative depends on what you need.

Want maximum customization? Start with ExtraDock. Build Docks with their own apps, folders, widgets, appearance, and behavior. Choose DockFix if you want to replace Apple's Dock completely.

Want live widgets in a second Dock? CoolDock puts apps, folders, quick actions, and useful widgets together without replacing Apple's Dock.

Have multiple monitors? ExtraDock, CoolDock, and Sidebar all work across multiple displays. ExtraDock adds customizable Docks, CoolDock adds a second Dock, and Sidebar replaces Apple's Dock.

Switching from Windows? Start with uBar or Sidebar. uBar gives you a familiar taskbar, while Sidebar adds a Start menu and window previews.

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 add-on apps such as ExtraDock.

Wall of Love

Don't take our word for it… Take theirs

Extradock has enjoyed, and will continue to enjoy, my rave support. When it comes to creating multiple docks, there is no other app that not only does this but also adds a massive amount of functionality. If your aim is countless docks, there are options. If your aim is countless docks with incredible customisation and placement anywhere on screen, there is only Extradock that has created this functionality and continues to lead the way. I fully endorse this app.

u/andreshows · Dock App Reviewer

Just bought the app and I'm loving it so far! I already found the Effects section where you can add things like snowflakes or fireworks as background animations — great feature!

u/Agitated_Bar_712

Didn’t know this app existed, I’m using two monitors (one for figma and indesign, and the 2nd monitor for entertainment like youtube and spotify) so this docks will help to organize my main app that I’m using frequently. Thank you! 🙏

u/iaffandi

wow this looks crazy powerful. had no idea you could this. Kudos!

u/Top_Power5877

I love this app so much! I'm using it like a launcher. I group my apps into ctegories and put many docks on my desktop.

u/theAlmajo

Congrats on releasing the new update! Looks great :)

u/empty23_ · Developer of Sidebar

Really hyped to follow along this journey! :D Every time I open my app updater and spot ExtraDock, I get super excited because legit every single time there's something made smoother or generally better, and because I use the extra docks (ha) all the time, it's super noticeable. Really appreciate all the hard work and again, really excited for what's to come! ❤️✨

u/solarsflare

Fantástico perfeito Solution

u/lasbroggio

I did not realise there was an update until two days ago, and again I was left incredibly impressed. I absolutely love all the new features.

u/andreshows · Dock App Reviewer

Great work on this. Thanks

u/mrterrycarson

ExtraDock is my favorite launcher/switcher to use when I am remoted into my mothership machine. It makes things manageable when I am trying to use 27-inch displays via a 15-inch MBA.

u/amerpie · Mac App Reviewer

This is a great solution to a problem that drives me nuts. The worst for me is when I accidentally get the Dock from my MBP onto the secondary display and have to get it back down on the MBP. Awesome app idea

u/chrisinoakland

Another excellent update to an already amazing app from a company that does customisation incredibly well. Thinking about trying the app, take it for a test run - I have been very impressed.

u/andreshows · Dock App Reviewer

looks like an absolute time / life saver.

u/benjamin-gordon

Cool idea, and very well executed

u/odshujinkotiipcbev

what a great idea!

u/astrorobb

See it in action

Real screenshots from the app

ExtraDock duplicating the native macOS Dock

Common Questions

Can I use multiple Dock apps at once?

Sometimes. Add-ons and enhancers can work alongside Apple's Dock, but running two full Dock replacements at the same time may cause conflicts.

Do these work on Apple Silicon Macs?

Yes. All the apps in this guide support Apple Silicon. For Intel Mac support, check the developer's website.

Will these slow down my Mac?

Resource use depends on the app and its features. Window previews, animations, and frequent visual updates generally require more resources than a simple additional Dock.

Can I customize keyboard shortcuts?

Some Dock alternatives support customizable keyboard shortcuts, including DockFlow and uBar. The available actions and key combinations vary by app.

What happens after macOS updates?

Major macOS updates can temporarily affect Dock alternatives, particularly apps that replace or modify Apple's Dock. Check the developer's compatibility notes before updating.

Are there free options?

Yes. DockDoor is free and open-source. Other apps in this guide may offer a free trial, a limited free version, or paid licenses.

Can I sync my Dock setup across multiple Macs?

Automatic cloud syncing is uncommon among Dock alternatives. Some apps let you export or share configurations, but support varies by app.

Do these work with Stage Manager?

Compatibility depends on how the app interacts with Apple's Dock. Add-ons such as ExtraDock can work alongside Stage Manager, while full replacements may require app-specific compatibility updates.

Common Problems

Why won’t my Dock app 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.

Why won’t Apple’s Dock 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."

Why do 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.

Why did my Dock app stop working after a 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.

Pricing

One Year License

$14.99

Tax might apply

One year access for 1 Mac
One year of updates
14-day money-back guarantee

1 Device - $14.99

Fall Sale · 40% OFF

Lifetime Access

$27.90

Tax might apply

$27.90 per device, Save $18.60

Lifetime access for 1 Macs
One year of updates
14-day money-back guarantee

1 Device - $27.90

Fall Sale · 40% OFF

Forever Edition

$116.50

$69.90

Tax might apply

Forever access up to 5 Macs
Forever Updates
All future app versions
14-day money-back guarantee

5 Devices - $69.90

Standard Lifetime licenses include one year of updates and keep working forever.
Renewal is optional at $9.99 per year. Forever Edition includes all future updates for life.

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