Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

TaskbarX VS Setapp

Compare TaskbarX VS Setapp 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.

TaskbarX logo TaskbarX

TaskbarX gives you control over the position of your taskbar icons.

Setapp logo Setapp

The one place for trusted apps. Hundreds of high-quality apps for your Mac and iPhone, including AI tools.
  • TaskbarX Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-01
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25

A unified marketplace for Mac and iPhone users to get hand-picked, trusted apps. Get over 260 apps for a flat fee with Setapp Membership, or purchase individual apps on flexible terms through Setapp Marketplace.

TaskbarX

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Release Date
-

Setapp

Website
setapp.com
$ Details
paid Free Trial $14.99 / Monthly (1 Mac)
Release Date
2017 January

TaskbarX features and specs

  • Customizable Taskbar
    TaskbarX allows users to customize their Windows taskbar by centering taskbar icons, adding animations, and altering transparency, providing a more aesthetically pleasing and personalized user interface.
  • Lightweight and Efficient
    The application is lightweight and does not significantly impact system performance, making it an efficient choice for enhancing the Windows desktop experience without compromising speed or functionality.
  • Compatibility
    TaskbarX is compatible with Windows 10, offering a straightforward installation process and easy configuration, catering to a wide range of users seeking taskbar customization options.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, TaskbarX allows users to contribute to its development and customize the code to better fit their specific needs, encouraging community involvement and improvements.

Possible disadvantages of TaskbarX

  • Limited Support for Older Versions
    TaskbarX primarily focuses on Windows 10 support, which may lead to compatibility issues or limited functionality on older Windows versions, affecting users who have not upgraded their operating systems.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    As with many customization tools, TaskbarX may occasionally cause stability issues or conflicts with other applications, potentially leading to crashes or unexpected behavior in some system configurations.
  • Learning Curve
    While TaskbarX offers many features, new users might face a learning curve in understanding how to configure and optimize the settings correctly for their specific preferences.
  • Manual Updates
    TaskbarX does not update automatically, requiring users to manually check for and install updates to gain access to new features or fixes, which can be inconvenient for some.

Setapp features and specs

  • Diverse Application Library
    Setapp provides access to a wide range of high-quality Mac applications across different categories, all from a single subscription service.
  • Cost-Effective
    For a monthly fee, users gain access to multiple paid applications, which can be more cost-effective than purchasing individual app licenses.
  • Updates and Upgrades Included
    All apps within Setapp come with automatic updates and upgrades included in the subscription, ensuring users always have the latest features and security patches.
  • Easy Installation and Management
    The Setapp platform provides a user-friendly interface for browsing, installing, and managing applications, simplifying the overall user experience.
  • Free Trial Available
    Setapp offers a 7-day free trial, allowing potential users to explore and evaluate the service before committing to a subscription.

Analysis of Setapp

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Setapp is considered good for users who frequently use multiple Mac apps and value convenience and flexibility. It provides excellent value for money by offering a diverse selection of reliable and well-crafted applications. However, it might not be the best choice for those who only need a few specific applications or prefer to own their software outright.

Why this product is good

  • Setapp is a subscription-based service that provides access to a wide range of Mac applications for a single monthly fee. Users often find it beneficial because it offers a curated selection of high-quality apps without the need to purchase each one individually. It saves time and money for those who require multiple tools, ensuring they always have the latest versions without additional costs. Furthermore, it simplifies software management by centralizing the process of discovering, updating, and accessing various applications.

Recommended for

    Setapp is recommended for professionals, creatives, and productivity enthusiasts who use a variety of Mac applications regularly and appreciate the ease of access to a comprehensive software library without the hassle of individual purchases. It's also suitable for users who enjoy exploring new tools and apps to enhance their workflow.

TaskbarX videos

TaskbarX [Windows 10] App Review

More videos:

  • Review - Make your windows taskbar icons allign center // TaskbarX app overview

Setapp videos

What's Setapp?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to TaskbarX and Setapp)
Note Taking
100 100%
0% 0
Project Management
0 0%
100% 100
LMS
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
26 26%
74% 74

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing TaskbarX and Setapp.

What's the story behind your product?

Setapp's answer:

Setapp was created in 2016 by MacPaw, the company behind apps such as CleanMyMac, ClearVPN, and more. The key idea behind Setapp was to give users a simple way to discover high-quality apps for Mac. Over the years, the catalog has grown to over 260 apps and now includes tools for Mac, iOS, and web. Setapp is localized in eight languages and has users all over the world. Here are the key dates:

November 2016: Setapp closed beta is launched for the press, opinion leaders, and influencers. December 6, 2016: Setapp Beta release. January 25, 2017: Setapp public release. August 6, 2020: Setapp let users install iOS apps. August 11, 2021: Setapp arrives on iPhone and iPad. March, 2026: Single app purchase via Setapp Marketplace is introduced. Now, Setapp includes 260+ apps, 50+ iOS apps, and about 10 web apps with more to come.

What makes your product unique?

Setapp's answer:

Setapp's key differentiators:

-Curation. Setapp is a curated platform with trusted, hand-picked apps — not a place filled with self-submitted apps.

-Professional focus. Setapp includes apps aimed at improving productivity and workflows for professionals who rely on their Macs. Setapp users range from developers and marketers to educators, healthcare experts, logistics and retail professionals, and more.

-Flexible access. Users have two ways to get apps: a single-fee subscription to 260+ fully unlocked Mac, iOS, and web apps; or individual app purchases via Setapp Marketplace, for those who need just a few apps rather than the full catalog.

-Security. Setapp holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022, SOC 2, and GDPR certifications. Apps are not permitted to display ads or include hidden in-app purchases.

-AI access. AI+ plans give access to all popular LLM models — GPT, Claude, Gemini, and Grok — through a single gateway.

Setapp gives users apps they can count on. It’s not an endless store but a curated collection of apps worth users’ time and money.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Setapp's answer:

-Quality over volume. The catalog includes only hand-picked, trusted apps. When downloading an app from Setapp, users can be sure it is high quality and safe to use.

-Trusted apps, no fillers. Every app is Apple-notarized, ad-free, fully unlocked, and has no features locked behind additional paywalls. Getting apps through Setapp means avoiding malware and unpleasant surprises.

-Save costs. Setapp Membership offers access to over 260 apps for a flat fee — no need to subscribe to multiple individual apps and juggle subscriptions. In Setapp Marketplace, users can purchase hand-picked, trusted apps individually, with no need to double-check quality or security.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Setapp's answer:

Setapp is actively used by professionals who rely heavily on their Macs and want to improve their workflows — including developers, IT specialists, content creators, designers, marketers, writers, educators, students, and specialists in agriculture, logistics, retail, healthcare, and other fields.

User comments

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

Based on our record, TaskbarX should be more popular than Setapp. It has been mentiond 86 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.

TaskbarX mentions (86)

  • Why do you hate us, Microsoft? Biggest mistake was "upgrading" to Windows 11 in the first place
    TaskbarX for taskbar customization. TaskbarXI for Win11. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Black and White Laptop Setup
    Its a software called Rainmeter, basically you can put widgets and go crazy with customization. For the taskbar its called TaskbarX (its also a skin in Rainmeter). As for the live time its LunaIUI Widget. Source: over 3 years ago
  • My desktop theme for 2023 !
    For those wondering, I'm pretty certain this is done with rainmeter. It's similar to this setup which has all the used skins posted. Clock is the same except with a different font for the bottom text, clear taskbar is like taskbarx or translucent taskbar, I couldn't find anything similar to the audio player so it's probably self made or edited from another preexisting skin. Source: over 3 years ago
  • SteamDeck Windows 11 Guide - Installed Win 11 on the SteamDeck and don't know what to do next? This is for you.
    Taskbar X - Change the position and look of the taskbar. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Does Spotify have any intention of fixing this? It has been months!
    And the Clock Widget is of Jax-Core for Rainmeter. Using TaskbarX for taskbar transparency. Source: almost 4 years ago
View more

Setapp mentions (15)

  • Ask HN: How to Sell as a Software Engineer?
    > I've reached the conclusion that software quality and even price matters much less than distribution, especially now. I highly doubt that is true. We don't yet know how end-users will make purchasing decisions now that almost anyone can build something that "works". Taking AI out of the picture: you still need to define the target market segment before you build anything. You still need to find a way to... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Show HN: BoringBar – a taskbar-style dock replacement for macOS
    There could be 4x buyers at $10. I’d be one of the now, the dock is a constant annoyance. The app looks great, downloading the trial now. To the app’s author I’d say get as many licensees as you can fast before you’re Sherlocked or somebody vibecodes a clone out of “why not”. I use many free and paid apps, little QoL types, like BetterDisplay, Coctail, etc and for me the included support is of little value. These... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Coders Coded Their Job Away. Why Are So Many of Them Happy About It?
    I used a bunch of tools from https://setapp.com/ and no longer subscribe. I used to pay for Linear for all my personal projects, built one with CC that perfectly fits my needs… I also built a myriad of small tools that help me automate bunch of busy work I used to do manually, both for professional and personal projects. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Italian Competition Authority Fines Apple $115M for Abusing Dominant Position
    > are there any real 3rd-party AppStores for iOS now "Always has been": Setapp. Very interesting model. Readily recommend devs subscribing to this collection, but non-devs as well if you're into "there's an app for that" and fatigued with IAP. https://setapp.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • The One Productivity Tool You Didn't Know You Can't Live Without
    I use Paste, a very feature rich clipboard manager for Mac with gorgeous UI. It's not free, but it comes along with a Setapp license that I got from work, so if you already have a license you can use it to install Paste. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing TaskbarX and Setapp, you can also consider the following products

Classic Shell - Classic Shell was developed for Windows 8 since that was the first version of the popular operating system to forgo the iconic Start menu.

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RocketDock - RocketDock is a Mac OS X dock clone.

Metavine Platform - Metavine Platform is a comprehensive Platform-as-a-Service that help businesses build agility and compete effectively in the digital world by enabling them to iterate and create apps quickly.

Lively Wallpaper - What is it? Lively is a Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) for animated desktop wallpapers.

QuickBase - Quickbase provides a no-code operational agility platform that enables organizations to improve operations through real time insights and automation across complex processes and disparate systems. ​​