uBar 4

uBar alternatives

uBar vs ExtraDock

ExtraDock and uBar solve different problems. ExtraDock adds one or more extra docks next to, or instead of, the native Dock; uBar replaces the Dock with a taskbar that lists your windows by name, or with a dock of its own. This page is part of our uBar alternatives guide.

What ExtraDock is

ExtraDock is a multi-dock utility for macOS. It adds docks alongside the native Dock or in place of it, on any screen, floating or pinned to an edge. Each dock can have its own colors and icons, and docks can hold widgets and Folder Stacks as well as apps. It does not group windows. ExtraDock 5 requires macOS 26 Tahoe; ExtraDock 4 covers macOS 12 through 15, and the latest release is 4.3.13 from 3 September 2026. Licenses are one-time: at September 2026 sale prices, a lifetime license is $27.90 per Mac and the five-Mac Forever Edition is $69.90. From 1 September 2026 a standard license includes one year of updates; the Forever Edition includes all future updates.

Things ExtraDock does that uBar does not: several docks at the same time, each configured separately; widgets inside the dock; and Folder Stacks.

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. In taskbar mode every window is a labeled tile, grouped Always, Never or Automatically, with previews on hover, badges, drag-and-drop and up to five rows. In dock mode it looks and acts like a dock. Every monitor gets its own bar, or the same bar in Mirror mode; the bar sits on any edge, pinned or floating, with six themes and custom icon overrides described in the documentation. One-time purchase: $30 personal, $50 commercial, after a 14-day trial.

Side by side

Feature uBar ExtraDock
TypeTaskbar, with a dock mode. Multi-dock: one or more extra docks.
Keeps the native DockYour choice. Most people hide it; the documentation has the Terminal command. Hiding the Dock. Docks run alongside or instead of the native Dock.
Window groupingAlways, Never or Automatic. No.
Labeled windowsYes. Each window is a tile with its title. No. Docks hold app icons, folders and widgets; windows are not listed.
Bar on every monitorYes, each showing its own windows, or Mirror mode. Docks can be placed on any screen.
Floating (unpinned) modeYes. Unpin all directions to make the bar float; pin it to any edge or corner otherwise. Preferences in the documentation. Yes. Docks can be floating or pinned.
Custom iconsYes. Icon overrides for folders, the Trash and more, via the App Support folder. Icon overrides in the documentation. Yes. Custom colors and icons per dock.
Widgets and Folder StacksNo widgets. Extras are timepieces, a hover calendar and App Activity. Yes. Widgets and Folder Stacks.
Minimum macOS10.13 High Sierra, through macOS Tahoe. ExtraDock 5 requires macOS 26 Tahoe. ExtraDock 4 covers macOS 12 to 15.
Price$30 personal (two Macs) or $50 commercial, one-time, after a 14-day trial. $14.99 for one year, $27.90 per Mac for a lifetime license, or $69.90 for the five-Mac Forever Edition (September 2026 sale prices). Standard lifetime licenses bought from 1 September 2026 include one year of updates; the Forever Edition includes all future updates.

Where they overlap: both can sit on any screen, both can float or pin to an edge, and both let you swap the icons macOS provides for your own. Where they do not: ExtraDock’s unit is the dock, and you can have several; uBar’s unit is the window, and the bar exists to show you all of them. If your problem is that one Dock is not enough, ExtraDock addresses it directly. If your problem is that the Dock does not show your windows, that is what uBar was built for.

Choose ExtraDock if…

  • You want several docks at once, each with its own contents, colors and position.
  • You want widgets and Folder Stacks inside the dock.
  • You like the Dock’s icon-first layout and want more of it, not a list of windows.

Choose uBar if…

  • You want to see and switch between individual windows by name, with grouping you control.
  • You want one bar per monitor that shows that monitor’s windows, or the same bar mirrored everywhere.
  • You have Macs on macOS versions before 12, or you want one app that covers macOS 10.13 through Tahoe without switching major versions.
  • You want a single one-time price that covers two Macs.

Frequently asked

Can uBar float like an ExtraDock dock?

Yes. uBar pins to any edge or corner of the screen, and unpinning all directions makes it float. The Pinning setting appears in the Dock defaults and Taskbar defaults listed in the Preferences section of the documentation.

Can I use custom icons in uBar?

Yes. uBar reads icon overrides for folders, the Trash and other items from its App Support folder; the Customization section of the documentation lists the file names. ExtraDock also supports custom icons, per dock.

Does ExtraDock run on macOS Tahoe?

Yes. ExtraDock 5 requires macOS 26 Tahoe; earlier systems from macOS 12 to 15 use ExtraDock 4. uBar 4.2.4 runs on macOS Tahoe and every release back to 10.13.

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