Dockish vs DockDoor: Free Window Previews, or a Whole New Dock?
DockDoor adds window previews to the Mac's own Dock, free. DockDoor Pro and Dockish replace the Dock, with a dock on every display. What each does and costs, side by side, and who should pick which.
If window previews on the Mac's own Dock are all you want, use DockDoor: it's free and open source, and that's what it's for. If you want to replace the Dock, compare Dockish ($6.99 once) with DockDoor Pro ($20 once): both put a dock on every display, Dockish costs less, and DockDoor Pro adds widgets, a file tray and a taskbar.
DockDoor comes in two apps. The free one adds to the macOS Dock. DockDoor Pro, a separate paid app, replaces it. Dockish is ours. Every fact about DockDoor here comes from its own sites, dockdoor.net and pro.dockdoor.net.
DockDoor, DockDoor Pro and Dockish side by side
| DockDoor | DockDoor Pro | Dockish | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Adds to the macOS Dock | Replaces the macOS Dock | Replaces the macOS Dock |
| Price | Free and open source | $20 once, for 3 Macs | $6.99 once, for up to 3 of your own Macs |
| Trial | Not needed | 48 hours, every feature | 7 days, every feature, no card |
| macOS | 13 (Ventura) or later | 14.6 (Sonoma) or later | 14 (Sonoma) or later |
| Apple silicon and Intel | Both | Both | Both |
| Window previews | Yes | Yes | Yes, once you turn them on |
| A dock on every display | No: the macOS Dock shows on one display at a time | Yes | Yes |
| Permissions | Accessibility and Screen Recording | Accessibility and Screen Recording | Device Control and Data Access (Accessibility before macOS 27); Screen & System Audio Recording only for previews |
Checked on 13 October 2026, on DockDoor's own sites: dockdoor.net, pro.dockdoor.net and its GitHub page.
Where DockDoor is the better pick
- It's free. DockDoor is open source, under the GPL-3.0 licence, and paid for by donations and by sales of DockDoor Pro.
- A window switcher. Hold Option and press Tab to see every open window, not only every app. DockDoor also shows the highlighted app's windows above Command-Tab's app switcher.
- More windows in its previews. DockDoor says windows on other desktops and displays show up too, minimised and hidden ones included. Dockish's previews show only the windows on the desktops that are showing.
- More buttons on a preview. Each has close, minimise, full screen and quit. Dockish's previews have a close button.
- Older Macs. DockDoor runs on macOS 13 (Ventura). Dockish needs macOS 14.
Where DockDoor Pro is the better pick
- Widgets and a file tray. DockDoor Pro has nearly 50 widgets built in, and a tray for files.
- A taskbar. It can stretch the dock edge to edge, like a taskbar, on any side of any screen.
- More from a preview. It can hide a window, or tile it to a half or a quarter of the screen, from its preview.
Where Dockish is the better pick
- The price. Dockish is $6.99 once. DockDoor Pro is $20.
- A longer trial. Dockish's lasts 7 days. DockDoor Pro's lasts 48 hours.
- macOS 14. Dockish needs macOS 14 (Sonoma). DockDoor Pro needs 14.6.
What Dockish does
- A dock on every monitor. The same on every display, or a different one on each, with its own apps, folders and icon size. Unplug a display and its dock goes; plug it back in and it returns with its own layout.
- App folders, like your iPhone. Drag one pinned app onto another and hold it there to make a folder. Open All and Quit All work on the whole folder, and hovering a folder shows previews for every running app in it.
- Finder folders as stacks, opening as a strip, a fan, a grid or a list, and the Trash in the dock if you want it.
- Profiles that follow your displays, so a desk dock and a laptop dock switch by themselves.
- Looks. Five themes, among them Custom with your own colour, gradient or image, icon sizes from 24 to 96, and four styles of running indicator.
- Window previews, when you turn them on: hover a running app to see its windows, minimised ones included, click one to bring it forward, or close it from its picture.
How to try them
DockDoor is free to download. DockDoor Pro's trial lasts 48 hours, with no key or card. Dockish's lasts 7 days with every feature, and asks for no card: start it here. If you try Dockish after DockDoor Pro, hide one dock or the other so you don't have two on screen.
Want more than one of our apps? The Appish Suite has all four for $26.99.
Common questions
Is DockDoor free?
Yes. DockDoor is free and open source, and its site says it's paid for by donations and by DockDoor Pro. DockDoor Pro is a separate app, at $20 once for 3 Macs.
Does DockDoor replace the macOS Dock?
The free DockDoor doesn't: it adds previews, a window switcher, gestures and keyboard controls to the macOS Dock. DockDoor Pro does replace it.
Can Dockish show window previews like DockDoor?
Yes. Turn on Window Previews in Dockish's settings and allow Screen & System Audio Recording when macOS asks. Dockish's previews are still pictures, taken as you hover.
Do I need both?
No. If DockDoor's previews are enough, keep the macOS Dock and DockDoor. If you want a dock on every monitor, pick one dock app: Dockish or DockDoor Pro.
Which other dock apps are worth a look?
The roundup of dock apps for Mac has every option side by side. If you were weighing up a taskbar, see Dockish vs uBar.