Software Alternatives & Startups

DockbarX VS Putback

Compare DockbarX VS Putback and see what are their differences

DockbarX

DockbarX is a standalone dock that groups and launches applications.

Rating
0 reviews
Putback

Putback is a Mac window manager that puts every window back where it was when your displays change, and switches named layouts with one hotkey.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Paid Free trial $19 / One-off (1 Mac. Family 5 Macs $29, Team 20 Macs $79)

Which is more popular?

App Launcher popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
29 vs 17

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

DockbarX
Putback
Website github.com putback.app
Pricing —
Paid Free trial $19 / One-off (1 Mac. Family 5 Macs $29, Team 20 Macs $79) Official pricing
Platforms —
Mac
Company — Startup from Australia · 1 - 9 employees · 2026
Listed in

About DockbarX and Putback

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

DockbarX
Putback

No description of DockbarX yet.

Every time your display setup changes, macOS moves your windows and does not move them back. Undock from a monitor and everything piles onto the laptop screen. Dock again and it stays piled. Putback is a menu bar window manager for macOS that fixes this. It learns where your windows sit while you...

Read more about Putback

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

DockbarX 4 features
Putback 8 features
  • Customizability
    DockbarX offers a high level of customizability, allowing users to tailor the appearance and behavior of the dock to fit their personal preferences and workflow needs.
  • Lightweight
    The software is lightweight and does not consume a large amount of system resources, making it suitable for older or less powerful computers.
  • Plugin Support
    DockbarX supports plugins, enabling users to extend its functionality with additional features and integrations.
  • Linux Desktop Compatibility
    It is compatible with multiple Linux desktop environments, making it a versatile option for Linux users who want a consistent dock experience across different setups.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Documentation
    The official documentation is somewhat limited, which can make it challenging for new users to fully utilize all features or troubleshoot issues.
  • Niche User Base
    DockbarX has a relatively small user base compared to more mainstream dock applications, which can result in fewer community support resources and third-party themes or plugins.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    Some users report occasional stability issues depending on the system configuration, which can affect the user experience.
  • Development Activity
    Development and updates may be sporadic, which can lead to concerns about long-term maintenance and new feature implementation.
  • Restores windows on display change
    Puts every window back on the screen and in the position it came from when you dock, undock or plug in a monitor.
  • A memory for every desk
    Keeps a separate layout for each display setup: laptop only, desk with a monitor, office dock.
  • Scenes with one hotkey
    Name any arrangement as a Scene and switch to it with a single hotkey.
  • Scene Studio
    Draw a desk with a box for each app, even apps that are not open yet, plus a wallpaper per Scene.
  • Triggers
    Apply a Scene by time or calendar, like Coding at 9am or Meeting for a video call. Off by default.
  • Stash
    Tucks every window aside with one shortcut, then brings them all back exactly where they were.
  • Undo and history
    Undo the whole desk, and see every restore with the reason it happened.
  • Private, no account
    Window data never leaves your Mac. One-time purchase, no subscription, signed and notarized.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

DockbarX
Putback

Overall verdict

  • DockbarX is a good option for those who are looking for an alternative to other dock applications available for Linux. Its combination of aesthetics and functionality makes it a strong contender in the desktop customization space.

Why this product is good

  • DockbarX is considered good by many users because it provides a sleek and customizable dock interface for Linux desktops. It enhances productivity by allowing users to quickly launch and switch between applications. The level of customization offers flexibility in appearance and functionality, making it possible to tailor the dock to individual preferences.

Recommended for

    DockbarX is recommended for Linux users who appreciate a visually appealing and functional workspace. It is particularly suited for users who value customization and want to enhance their desktop experience with an efficient application launcher and switcher.

Overall verdict

  • Putback is a niche app designed to help resellers and organizers track items that need to be returned to their proper place, which can be genuinely useful for people managing inventory, decluttering, or reselling goods, though its value depends heavily on your specific workflow needs and how well it integrates with tools you already use.

Why this product is good

  • Helps maintain organization by tracking items that need to be put back or returned
  • Can save time by reducing the need to remember or manually log misplaced items
  • Useful for resellers who need to track inventory location and status
  • Simple, focused functionality without unnecessary feature bloat

Recommended for

  • Resellers managing physical inventory across multiple locations
  • People decluttering or organizing home spaces who need a tracking system
  • Small business owners who need lightweight inventory location tracking
  • Users who prefer simple single-purpose apps over complex all-in-one solutions

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

DockbarX 3 videos + Add
Putback 0 videos + Add

DockBarX XFCE

More videos

  • - Linux: Awesome panel applet DockbarX
  • - Instalando Dockbarx no XFCE

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

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
DockbarX
Putback
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing DockbarX and Putback.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Putback's answer:

Mac users who move between display setups: a MacBook that docks to a monitor at the desk, a second screen at the office, a laptop on the couch. Developers, designers and anyone who runs a lot of windows and is tired of putting them back by hand every morning.

What makes your product unique?

Putback's answer:

Most Mac window managers snap windows into place when you ask. Putback remembers. It learns where your windows sit while you work, keeps a separate memory for every display setup, and puts everything back when that setup returns. Named Scenes, drawn in Scene Studio and switched with one hotkey, turn any arrangement into something you can recall in a second.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Putback's answer:

Rectangle and Magnet are great at snapping a window to half the screen, and Putback runs happily alongside them. Choose Putback if your problem is that your windows get scrambled every time you dock, undock or plug in a monitor, or if you want whole desks you can switch between with a hotkey. It is a one-time purchase with a 7 day free trial, no account, and your window data never leaves your Mac. On first launch it even checks your Mission Control settings and tells you if the free macOS fix is enough before you pay.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Putback's answer:

A native macOS app in Swift and SwiftUI, using the macOS Accessibility API to move windows and Sparkle for updates. Licensing and the website run on Cloudflare (Workers, D1 and Pages).

What's the story behind your product?

Putback's answer:

Putback launched in July 2026 with a simple pitch: unplug your MacBook and macOS piles every window onto one screen. The launch post passed 60,000 views and the replies split down the middle, half saying "I've needed this for years" and half saying "my Mac already does this." So we went and found out. The real answer is two Mission Control settings most people never touch, and we published that free fix ourselves. Even with those settings, restores still fail when a dock reconnects slowly or an app resists being moved, and nothing in macOS remembers more than one desk or lets you name a layout. That gap is Putback. About half of its first features came straight from those launch replies.

User comments

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Alternatives to DockbarX and Putback

When comparing DockbarX and Putback, you can also consider the following products.