Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

LiteIcon VS DockGroups

Compare LiteIcon VS DockGroups and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

LiteIcon logo LiteIcon

LiteIcon is a simple app which allows you to change your system icons quickly and easily.

DockGroups logo DockGroups

The app-grouping feature the Mac Dock never shipped.
  • LiteIcon Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-02
  • 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.

DockGroups

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

LiteIcon features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    LiteIcon offers a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to navigate and change system icons without needing technical expertise.
  • Customizability
    The application allows users to customize macOS system icons, providing a personalized user experience by replacing default icons with those of their choice.
  • Lightweight
    LiteIcon is a lightweight application that doesnโ€™t consume significant system resources, ensuring smooth performance without slowing down the computer.
  • Freeware
    The application is free to use, making it accessible to a wide range of users who want to personalize their macOS without any cost.

Possible disadvantages of LiteIcon

  • Limited to Icons
    LiteIcon focuses solely on icon customization and does not offer broader customization features for the macOS interface.
  • macOS Compatibility Issues
    Updates in macOS may occasionally cause compatibility issues, requiring users to wait for LiteIcon updates to restore full functionality.
  • Potential System Instability
    Modifying system icons might introduce minor instabilities or unexpected behavior in the system, especially if icons are not properly formatted.
  • Manual Backup Requirement
    Users need to manually back up their icons and systems prior to making changes, as there is no automatic backup feature in LiteIcon.

DockGroups features and specs

  • Niche Marketplace Focus
    DockGroups appears to cater specifically to boat owners and dock space seekers, providing a specialized platform rather than a generic rental service, which can lead to more relevant listings and a community of users with shared interests.
  • Potential Cost Savings
    By connecting boat owners directly with dock space providers, the platform may help users find more affordable docking solutions compared to traditional marina rates.
  • Community Building
    The 'Groups' aspect of the platform suggests a feature for connecting like-minded boaters, which could foster networking, shared resources, and social connections within the boating community.
  • Flexible Listing Options
    Dock owners may have the ability to list their available space with flexible terms, allowing them to monetize unused dock space during specific times or seasons.
  • Simplified Search Process
    A dedicated platform for dock spaces could streamline the search process for boat owners looking for temporary or long-term docking solutions, saving time compared to calling multiple marinas.

LiteIcon videos

Changing Icons With LiteIcon (Mac)

DockGroups videos

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

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to LiteIcon and DockGroups)
Graphic Design Software
100 100%
0% 0
Mac Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Monitoring Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing LiteIcon and DockGroups.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

DockGroups's answer:

SwiftUI & AppKit

User comments

Share your experience with using LiteIcon and DockGroups. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, LiteIcon seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

LiteIcon mentions (7)

  • Mac OS X Tiger Theme for Mojave?
    You can change the system font to Lucida Grande with macOSLucidaGrande, you can customize the folder icons with ClassicFolders, you can customize the icons with LiteIcon and the icon set from this GitHub repo, you can customize the dock with cDock (paid but only costs $10 USD and has a free trial), and you can download the Mac OS X Tiger wallpaper from here. The window titlebars buttons are a little bit more... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • My OS X Leopard theme on a 2017 MacBook Air running Mojave
    And to change the icons, download LiteIcon: https://freemacsoft.net/liteicon/. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Broke out the old 2007 MacBook running 10.7.5. Anybody else use candy bar back then and browse deviant art for new icons/theming? Miss those days!
    It was possible until macOS Big Sur come out. http://freemacsoft.net/liteicon/. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • Am I the only one who prefer macOS 10.10/10.15 GUI era over macOS 11?
    I much prefer the GUI of 10.15, but I like the Big Sur icons specifically, especially all the fan-made ones for third party apps. So I used LiteIcon and changed all my app icons, even though Iโ€™m still on Catalina for software support reasons (and partially for the GUI lol). Source: about 5 years ago
  • Is there a "theme" for MacOS to get the Big Sur icons on Sierra for example?
    There is a tini and handi apps for that icon change, and thousands of icon on web Icon change software. Source: over 5 years ago
View more

DockGroups mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of DockGroups yet. Tracking of DockGroups recommendations started around Jul 2026.

What are some alternatives?

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

Replacicon - Just updated to macOS Big Sur? You may have noticed some of the apps in your Dock look a bit inconsistent with the rest of the system.

DockFlow - Switch between dock presets on MacOS instantly

CandyBar - Brought to you by Panic and the Iconfactory, CandyBar 3 brings the best of CandyBar 2 and Pixadex 2...

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

Pictogram - Customize macOS app icons with ease

IconChamp - The only Icon theming app for Big Sur!