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Shortwave VS DockGroups

Compare Shortwave VS DockGroups and see what are their differences

Spatius
Next-generation real-time digital avatar infrastructure | Affordable, Accessible, Alive featured
Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Videos
  3. ยป Reviews
  4. ยป Alternatives

Shortwave logo Shortwave

Email smarter & faster with a reinvented experience for your Gmail

DockGroups logo DockGroups

The app-grouping feature the Mac Dock never shipped.
  • Shortwave Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-20
  • 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.

Shortwave

Website
shortwave.com
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Release Date
-
Edit details

DockGroups

Website
dockgroups.com
Pricing URL
Official DockGroups Pricing
$ Details
freemium $9.99 / One-off (Pro)
Release Date
2026 May
Edit details

Shortwave features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Shortwave offers a streamlined and intuitive user interface that makes managing and organizing emails straightforward and user-friendly.
  • Integration with Gmail
    Shortwave integrates seamlessly with Gmail, allowing users to import their email conversations without losing any data or functionality.
  • Productivity Features
    The platform includes productivity-enhancing features such as email threading, task management, and prioritization, which help users stay organized and efficient.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    Shortwave is available on multiple platforms, allowing users to access their emails and features from desktop and mobile devices seamlessly.

Possible disadvantages of Shortwave

  • Limited Ecosystem
    Unlike some larger email clients, Shortwave may have fewer third-party integrations and ecosystem support, which could limit its functionality for some users.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic functionality is intuitive, users may require additional time and resources to fully understand and utilize some of the more advanced features available on the platform.
  • Pricing Structure
    Depending on the user's needs, the pricing structure for Shortwave may seem high compared to free alternatives, potentially limiting its attractiveness for cost-conscious users.
  • Dependence on Gmail
    As Shortwave relies heavily on Gmail integration, any issues with Gmail could directly affect Shortwave's performance and reliability.

DockGroups features and specs

No features have been listed yet.

Shortwave videos

+ Add

Tecsun PL-330 AM FM LW Shortwave SSB Portable Radio Review

More videos:

  • Review - Top 5 Best Shortwave Radio 2022(Buying Guide)
  • Review - PCJ Media Shortwave Review TECSUNS2000.mov

DockGroups videos

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

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Shortwave and DockGroups)

Shortwave

DockGroups

Email
100 100%
Email
0% 0
Mac Tools
0 0%
Mac Tools
100% 100
Email Productivity
100 100%
Email Productivity
0% 0
Productivity
92 92%
Productivity
8% 8

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Shortwave and DockGroups.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

DockGroups's answer:

SwiftUI & AppKit

User comments

Share your experience with using Shortwave and DockGroups. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Shortwave seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 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.

Shortwave mentions (2)

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 Shortwave and DockGroups, you can also consider the following products

Superhuman - Superhuman is an email management tool.

DockFlow - Switch between dock presets on MacOS instantly

Spark Mail - Spark helps you take your inbox under control. Instantly see whatโ€™s important and quickly clean up the rest. Spark for Teams allows you to create, discuss, and share email with your colleagues

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

Gmail - Gmail is available across all your devices Android, iOS, and desktop devices. Sort, collaborate or call a friend without leaving your inbox.

FiloMail - AI for Gmail that writes replies, summarizes long emails, and auto-creates to-dos. Try FiloMail free on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.

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