Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

cDock VS DockGroups

Compare cDock VS DockGroups and see what are their differences

cDock logo cDock

Small program to customize your dock on OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) and 10.10 (Yosemite).

DockGroups logo DockGroups

The app-grouping feature the Mac Dock never shipped.
  • cDock Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-23
  • DockGroups Main window
    Main window //
    2026-07-30
  • DockGroups Settings
    Settings //
    2026-07-30
  • DockGroups Tray icon
    Tray icon //
    2026-07-30

App Groups

  • Organize apps into named groups, each with a custom emoji icon, stored by bundle ID.

  • Pin important groups to the top of the sidebar.

  • Create and delete groups directly from the main panel โ€” no detour into Settings.

  • Default starter groups (Work, Creative, Utilities) appear on first launch.

  • Group data is saved atomically with owner-only file permissions, and the app tolerates missing fields so updates never wipe your groups.

The Floating Panel

  • A panel anchored next to your Dock that positions itself correctly whether your Dock sits at the bottom, left, or right of the screen.

  • Opens from the Dock icon or the menu bar; closes automatically when it loses focus.

  • A collapsible sidebar toggles between full labels (with shortcut badges) and a compact icon-only rail.

  • Frosted-glass or solid panel style, plus System / Light / Dark themes.

Open All / Close All โ€” the signature feature

  • Open All launches every app in a group with a small stagger (so macOS doesn't choke on simultaneous launches).

  • Close All does the reverse, and this is something no competing dock app offers:

  • Plain click โ†’ hides every app in the group

    • โŒฅ-click โ†’ quits them gracefully
    • โŒ˜-click โ†’ force-quits them
  • Live indicators show which apps in a group are currently running, and clicking a running app restores its windows โ€” including minimized ones.

In-Panel App Management

  • Add and remove apps right in the panel grid.

  • Drag to reorder apps within a group.

  • Right-click any app for Quit, Force Quit, or Show in Finder.

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • โŒ˜1โ€“9 switches groups inside the panel.

  • โŒฅโ‡ง1โ€“9 are true system-wide hotkeys that work even in full-screen apps โ€” with no Accessibility or Input Monitoring permissions needed.

Menu Bar Mode

  • An optional menu bar icon for quick access without using the Dock.

cDock

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Release Date
-

DockGroups

$ Details
freemium $9.99 / One-off (Pro)
Release Date
2026 May

cDock features and specs

  • Customization Options
    cDock offers a wide variety of customization options for the macOS Dock, allowing users to change the Dock's appearance to suit their personal preferences.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software is designed to be user-friendly, making it accessible for users who may not be very tech-savvy while providing powerful customization features.
  • Regular Updates
    cDock is actively maintained with regular updates, ensuring compatibility with the latest macOS versions and introducing new features over time.
  • Community Support
    Being hosted on SourceForge, cDock benefits from a community of users who can provide support, share themes, and contribute to its development.

Possible disadvantages of cDock

  • Potential Stability Issues
    As a third-party customization tool, cDock might occasionally cause stability issues with the macOS system, especially after system updates.
  • Limited Support for Older Systems
    Older versions of macOS may not be fully supported by newer versions of cDock, potentially limiting accessibility for users who have not upgraded their OS.
  • Dependency on macOS Updates
    The effectiveness and functionality of cDock might be affected by major macOS updates, requiring users to wait for compatibility patches.
  • Security Risks
    Installing third-party applications, especially those that modify system UI elements, can introduce security vulnerabilities or conflicts with macOS native operations.

DockGroups features and specs

No features have been listed yet.

cDock videos

cDock 2 for macOS is the ultimate Dock.app tweaking utility

DockGroups videos

No DockGroups videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to cDock and DockGroups)
OSX Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Mac Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Window Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
53 53%
47% 47

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing cDock and DockGroups.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

DockGroups's answer:

SwiftUI & AppKit

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing cDock and DockGroups, you can also consider the following products

TinkerTool - Tinker with the hidden settings of your Mac

DockFlow - Switch between dock presets on MacOS instantly

uBar - The Dock replacement for the Mac.

DockIt Space - Organize your Mac Dock like never before with custom profiles for different workflow, manual profiles and automatic dock ordering!.

DockDoor - Window peeking and alt-tab functionality for macOS

Dockey - Make your macOS Dock faster