uBar alternatives
uBar vs ActiveDock
ActiveDock and uBar both replace the Dock, but with different ideas of what should replace it. ActiveDock is a themed dock and launcher with window previews; uBar is a taskbar first, with labeled windows and a bar on every monitor, and a dock second. This page is part of our uBar alternatives guide.
What ActiveDock is
ActiveDock is a themed Dock replacement and launcher for macOS from MacPlus Software. It replaces the Dock and Launchpad with a dock of its own, with themes and icon sets, window previews you can manage windows from, groups and folders for apps and documents, a Start Menu, placement on any side of the screen, and a click option that hides and shows an app’s windows the way the Windows taskbar does. Version 2.870 was released on 22 March 2026 and runs on macOS 11.5 and later as a Universal binary, so it is native on Apple Silicon. It is a one-time purchase: $19.99 for one Mac with one year of updates, or $59.99 for a lifetime license covering three Macs.
Things ActiveDock does that uBar does not: it keeps the Dock’s icon-first layout and themes it, so it stays closer to the Dock you already know; it groups apps and documents inside the dock, where uBar’s Favorites hold single apps, folders and files; and its single-Mac license is cheaper, at $19.99 against uBar’s $30.
What uBar is
uBar is a Dock replacement and taskbar for the Mac, in development since 2009 and at version 4.2.4 as of 2 September 2026. It runs on macOS 10.13 through Tahoe as a Universal binary, native on Apple Silicon since 4.1.7. In taskbar mode every window is a labeled tile, grouped Always, Never or Automatically, with previews on hover, badges, App Activity, drag-and-drop and up to five rows. In dock mode it behaves like a dock, with themes including Platinum Neue and Now Playing. The uBar menu lists Applications, System Settings and your own apps and folders. Every monitor gets its own bar, or the same bar in Mirror mode, on any edge, pinned or floating. Setup and preferences are in the documentation. One-time purchase: $30 personal, $50 commercial, after a 14-day trial.
Side by side
| Feature | uBar | ActiveDock |
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| Type | Taskbar, with a dock mode. | Themed Dock replacement and launcher. |
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| Window previews | Yes, on hover. | Yes, with window management from the preview panel. |
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| Themes | System, Light, Dark, Platinum Neue, Now Playing and Custom. | Yes. Themes and icon sets. |
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| Window grouping | Always, Never or Automatic. | No. ActiveDock groups apps and documents into groups and folders; windows are reached through previews. |
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| Taskbar mode | Yes. Labeled window tiles, up to five rows. | No. It stays a dock, with a Start Menu and a click option to hide and show apps the way Windows does. |
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| Multi-monitor | A bar on every monitor showing that monitor’s windows, or Mirror mode. | Placement on any side of the screen. A dock on every monitor is not listed. |
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| Minimum macOS | 10.13 High Sierra, through macOS Tahoe. Universal. | 11.5 Big Sur. Universal. |
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| Last release | 4.2.4, 2 September 2026. | 2.870, 22 March 2026. |
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| Pricing model | One-time: $30 personal (two Macs) or $50 commercial, after a 14-day trial. | One-time. $19.99 for one Mac with one year of updates, or $59.99 for a lifetime license covering three Macs. Not a subscription. |
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Choose ActiveDock if…
- You like the Dock’s icon-first layout and want it themed, with previews added, rather than replaced by a list of windows.
- You want app and document groups inside the dock.
- You want a click to hide and show an app’s windows the way Windows does.
- You want the lower entry price: $19.99 for one Mac.
Choose uBar if…
- You want to see and switch between windows by name, with grouping you control.
- You want one bar per monitor, or the same bar mirrored on every monitor.
- You want to switch between a taskbar layout and a dock layout with one click.
- You want a license with no update window, a commercial option, and support for macOS 10.13 through Tahoe.
Frequently asked
Is ActiveDock a subscription?
No. MacPlus Software sells ActiveDock 2 as a one-time purchase: $19.99 for one Mac with one year of updates, or $59.99 for a lifetime license covering three Macs. uBar is a one-time purchase of $30 personal or $50 commercial, with no subscription and no update window.
Does ActiveDock run on Apple Silicon?
Yes. ActiveDock 2.870, released 22 March 2026, is a Universal binary for macOS 11.5 and later. uBar is also Universal, native on Apple Silicon since version 4.1.7, and runs on macOS 10.13 and later.
Can uBar look like a dock?
Yes. Click Dock Defaults in uBar’s preferences and the bar switches to a dock layout: one row, grouped windows, no titles. Click Taskbar Defaults to switch back. Both presets are listed in the documentation.
Bring your taskbar with you.
14-day free trial. One-time purchase of $30. No subscription.
