Mac Dock replacements, compared.
Apple’s Dock launches apps and holds minimized windows while leaving the rest of the screen edge idle. Depending on whether you want 174 live widgets and AI limits, a Windows-style taskbar, open-source layouts or simple window thumbnails, six Mac tools stand out. We build Dockspace for Mac (getdock.space, by JBer); competitor facts come from their public sites and repos on 11 November 2026.
Try the switch.
Replace the Dock is the default: the macOS Dock steps aside, and your apps and the Trash move into the bar, next to your widgets. Turn it off or quit Dockspace, and the Dock comes back.
Main approaches at a glance
| Feature | Dockspace (getdock.space) | uBar, Sidebar & ActiveDock | CoolDock & Docky | DockDoor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core design | Liquid Glass bar with apps, Trash & 174 live widgets | Windows-style taskbar (uBar, Sidebar) or themed dock (ActiveDock) | SaaS widgets beside Apple’s Dock (CoolDock) or OSS dock swap (Docky) | Window thumbnail previews added onto Apple’s Dock |
| Replaces Apple’s Dock | Yes by default (beta), or sits beside / above it | Yes, hides the system Dock | CoolDock: beside Apple’s Dock · Docky: full replacement | No, augments the system Dock |
| Screen edges | Bottom, Left or Right (1-cell side dock with hover expand) | Bottom, Top, Left or Right | Bottom row (CoolDock) · Configurable layouts (Docky) | Follows Apple’s Dock |
| AI coding limits & spend | Claude Code, Codex & Antigravity limits, 13w USD spend & agents | None listed | None listed | None |
| Built-in Mac utilities | Free Notch Clipboard Shelf (⌥⌘V), Disk Doctor & live wallpapers | Window grouping, Start menu, folder stacks or CPU/RAM bars | SaaS revenue counters (CoolDock) or Launchpad view (Docky) | Window hover thumbnails & Alt-Tab switcher |
| Free tier & price | Free forever (10 widgets); Pro $11.99/yr or from $19.99 once | Paid licenses after 7–14 day trials (uBar $39, ActiveDock / Sidebar paid) | CoolDock from €14.99/yr · Docky free & open source (GPL-3.0) | DockDoor: free and open source |
Try Dockspace free on macOS 14 Sonoma or later — 10 widgets and Replace the Dock stay free forever.
1. Liquid Glass widget bar + AI limits: Dockspace (getdock.space)
Best for: Mac power users and developers who want native Liquid Glass aesthetics alongside live system gauges, clipboard history, disk cleanup and AI coding quotas. (Note: Dockspace by JBer lives only at getdock.space and is unrelated to getdockspace.app.)
Dockspace can replace the macOS Dock (holding your kept apps in the Apps stack, running apps and the Trash beside your widgets), sit in the unused wings next to Apple’s Dock, or attach to the left or right bezel as a compact 1-cell column that expands hovered tiles. Ten widgets stay free forever; Pro unlocks all 174 widgets and the Claude Code, Codex and Antigravity limit and 13-week spend dashboards.
2. Windows-style taskbars & themed docks: uBar, Sidebar & ActiveDock
Best for: people switching from Windows or managing dozens of document windows who want separate labelled window tabs, custom dock themes or app/folder groups.
uBar and Sidebar replace Apple’s icon dock with taskbar buttons, multi-monitor bars and window previews, while ActiveDock focuses on custom themes, folder stacks and an application launcher. Read the full Dockspace vs uBar comparison.
3. Open-source Dock swaps & SaaS counters: Docky & CoolDock
Best for: tinkerers who want an open-source GPL-3.0 dock replacement built from GitHub (Docky), or SaaS founders who want Stripe/Shopify/Plausible counters beside Apple’s standard Dock (CoolDock).
Docky replaces the native Dock and integrates a fullscreen app grid using Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions, whereas CoolDock coexists next to Apple’s Dock for store and analytics tiles. See Dockspace vs CoolDock for widget and pricing details.
4. Keep Apple’s Dock and add window thumbnails: DockDoor
Best for: users who like Apple’s default Dock and only want free hover window previews and an Alt-Tab switcher — something Dockspace intentionally leaves to window-preview tools.
Because open-source add-ons like DockDoor augment Apple’s Dock without replacing it, you can even pair DockDoor with Dockspace’s Beside the Dock wing mode.
How to test without risk
Before buying any Dock utility, verify two things: whether quitting restores your Apple Dock cleanly, and how little CPU it uses at rest. Dockspace never alters your Dock’s kept-app plist, restores your Dock hiding settings on quit, and keeps Replace the Dock plus ten core widgets free on macOS 14 Sonoma or later for good.
Common questions
- Is Dockspace at getdock.space affiliated with getdockspace.app?
- No. Dockspace for Mac by JBer is sold exclusively at getdock.space — built with a sculpted Liquid Glass bar, 174 native widgets, Claude Code/Codex/Antigravity quotas, Disk Doctor, the Notch Clipboard Shelf and Tilo. It is unrelated to the separate project at getdockspace.app and does not claim hover window thumbnails.
- Is it safe to replace the macOS Dock?
- Yes, when the app hides Apple's Dock via standard preferences rather than modifying system files. Dockspace reads your kept apps without altering Apple's Dock plist and restores your exact Dock settings whenever you switch modes or quit.
- Which Mac Dock app is best for developers?
- If you code with Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or Antigravity, Dockspace (getdock.space) puts live 5-hour and weekly quotas, 13-week USD API-value spend, active agent sessions, localhost ports, clipboard history and free Xcode DerivedData cleanup right beside your apps.
Free to start. Yours to keep.
macOS 14 Sonoma or later · Apple silicon and Intel. Download the disk image and try ten widgets free forever, or unlock all 174 with Pro.