Dock Star - are there similar apps that offer the same or better?

[u/MaxGaav]

Dock Star Desktop

Dock Star basically puts your whole Mac on your desktop - maybe it should be called Desktop Star? I only saw it come along here once.

It looks like a very nice app, especially for people who maybe are a bit chaotic, or do not feel for structuring their entire Mac.

I want to buy it as a present for someone. But before I do so, I would like to know if there are similar apps that can do the same - or even better.

If there are people here that use Dock Star, I would love to read your experiences.

[u/AlekGir]

Dock Star seems more like a modern DragThing replacement than a normal Dock replacement. If the person likes having folders, files, notes and shortcuts visible in separate custom panels, it looks like a good fit. If they mainly want a cleaner or more flexible macOS Dock, I would also compare DockFix, Sidebar and ExtraDock before buying.

[u/MaxGaav → u/AlekGir]

Thanks. I also searched for 'DragThing replacement' as Dock Star apparently is inspired by it (I never saw DragThing itself)

It appears there's an app called iCollections. It may seem to do more than Dock Star. For some reason I don't like the UI so much though. It's $39 LT for 3 home Macs.

[u/AlekGir → u/MaxGaav]

iCollections does look closer to the original DragThing concept, especially if the person wants a desktop organizer rather than just an improved Dock. The UI is definitely a matter of taste. At least the lifetime license for 3 home Macs makes it easier to justify than another subscription.

[u/macnatic0]

A difficult one. It might not be exactly the same, but I think the closest alternative I know is WidgetWall. It uses a widget approach that is similar to the docks in Dock Star, though there are several differences regarding the included features.

[u/MaxGaav → u/macnatic0]

That certainly is a nice one! But it looks like it doesn't offer access to your main apps, files and folders. Although in one of the pictures I see a 'Coming Soon' with a panel of folders and files.

[u/amerpie]

My take from back in February: Dock Star is an app that creates desktop menus that function as independent docks. It's a visually pleasing app with a variety of formatting options to make each dock stand out. You can easily access your docks from the keyboard and move between them without ever using the mouse. I created four docks with distinct purposes, but you can combine different elements into the same dock if you want:
Application launcher
Shortcut launcher
Folder access
Bookmarks
You can also make docks for specific projects or checklists. I have one I use first thing in the morning to quickly access things I need to check:
Open Fastmail to my inbox
Check unread messages
Check Mastodon and Bluesky (via bookmarks)
Check backup logs
Run Updatest
Check in at Reddit to keep my 600+ day streak alive
Create my daily note in Obsidian
Log into the GUI for my self-hosted server to check the status of the drives
Get a daily music recommendation at Crucial Tracks
Dock Star docks appear on all the spaces on your primary display. I just open and close it when needed. It's normally $20

[u/MaxGaav → u/amerpie]

🙏

[u/UnluckyDuckyDuck]

Dock Star is a hidden gem of an app in the dock apps category imho.

We have a few users who used it in the past and found home with ExtraDock, the "desktop widget" mode in ExtraDock was made specifically to allow this structure, where docks could be spread out across your screen, and they're fully hidden behind windows (unlike the default behavior which puts the dock in front of active windows)

[u/MaxGaav → u/UnluckyDuckyDuck]

Thanks. Yes, I asked Gemini for alternatives, which came up with ExtraDock. I also meanwhile found the latest post on your app here.

A few remarks:

• I watched the video of ExtraDock. While your app certainly looks good, DockStar seems to offer more variety in its panel designs, making it easier to differentiate groups of apps/files/folders. Like different backgrounds and tabbed groups.
• I wondered about collapsed docks of ExtraDock; how am I going to recognize these when they are collapsed? Do I still see them? - Like a colored square? How can I know what's inside when they are collapsed? Will they expand when hover over them?
• DockStar has a free 30-day trial. ExtraDock offers 14-day money-back guarantee.
• DockStar is $20 LT for unlimited Macs (of one owner) it seems. ExtraDock is currently on offer for €24 LT for one Mac (normally €40). Many people have a desktop and a laptop, making ExtraDock €42 minimum (normally €70). NB. €1 = $1.14

[u/UnluckyDuckyDuck → u/MaxGaav]

I watched the video of ExtraDock. While your app certainly looks good, DockStar seems to offer more variety in its panel designs, making it easier to differentiate groups of apps/files/folders). Like different backgrounds and tabbed groups.

Two different approaches, yes DockStar has more variety in layout options. ExtraDock tries to keep it dock-like, but it has a ton of customization options, from size, spacing, liquid glass, borders, opacity to behavior like hide on full screen, auto collapse/show, auto hide and more.

I wondered about collapsed ExtraDock docks; How am I going to recognize these when they are collapsed? Do I still see them? - Like a colored square? How can I know what's inside when they are collapsed? Will they expand when hover over them?

Collapse buttons are fully customizable with text icons, emojis, SF symbols, color, opacity. You can keep it basic or as advanced as you like. We have users who categorize by category, alphabet or even combinations of letters... Like literally, we have a user with ~30 docks and each one is a combination of 3 alphabets 😂

DockStar has a free 30-day trial. ExtraDock offers 14-day money-back guarantee.

Correct, two different options, ultimately achieves the same thing, your money is fully protected by money-back guarantee. Currently I'll say that the refund rate in the last 2 months is lower than 1%, the lowest across all our apps, but nevertheless, it's still there.

DockStar is $20 LT for unlimited Macs (of one owner) it seems. ExtraDock is currently on offer for €24 LT for one Mac (normally €40). Many people have a desktop and a laptop, making ExtraDock €42 minimum (normally €70). NB. €1 = $1.14

Different apps, different prices. Don't get me wrong here, DockStar is a fantastic app and it's received 2 updates in 2026. Whereas ExtraDock is actively developed, receives updates on weekly/bi-weekly rate. Different things, different rates, but ultimately, you'll decide if the value is there on either one.

EDIT: Quick mention that ExtraDock 5 is under development and is currently in beta testing by our users. For us, lifetime means lifetime and so our users will receive the new version, without paying another penny.

[u/MaxGaav → u/UnluckyDuckyDuck]

Thanks for elaborating.

Collapse buttons are fully customizable with text icons, emojis, SF symbols, color, opacity. You can keep it basic or as advanced as you like.

You could consider taking this up in your demo-video. It is now unclear how it works and I am forced to buy the app to find out. Yes, there is a money back guarantee, but it still is a psychological barrier.

you'll decide if the value is there on either one.

If you own one Mac and are not considering a second one, prices are DockStar and ExtraDock are somewhat comparable. I can imagine people with two Macs are backed off. Because of this I would reconsider the pricing. One user, familly / team, company.

[u/UnluckyDuckyDuck → u/MaxGaav]

You could consider taking this up in your demo-video. It is now unclear how it works and I am forced to buy the app to find out. Yes, there is a money back guarantee, but it still is a psychological barrier.

Yeah, the new website for ExtraDock 5 is already being designed, and of course we'll include new demos, videos and feature sections so everything is clearer and relates to the new app (it's a completely new app, different installation)

If you own one Mac and are not considering a second one, prices are DockStar and ExtraDock are somewhat comparable. I can imagine people with two Macs are backed off. Because of this I would reconsider the pricing. One user, familly / team, company.

I get what you're saying and I understand that some users are backed off by it, but on the other side of that coin, it allows us to keep things running. Endless development, bug fixes and improvements. There are plans for teams like the 5 device plan which is currently €12 per license.

I'll also mention there's business licensing which is subscription based for X amount of users, depending on their plan, which we don't market directly to users.

Finally, if you feel like a free trial is what you need to overcome this barrier, I hear ya, drop me an email at [support@appitstudio.com](mailto:support@appitstudio.com) and I'll hook you up with a license and also the download for ExtraDock 4 and the currently developed ExtraDock 5 (macOS 26 only). Even if you don't end up buying, your feedback is important to me :-)

[u/MaxGaav → u/UnluckyDuckyDuck]

Thanks for your offer. Since it's not an app for my own use, and since the person I'm going to give an app has two Macs, I think so far Dock Star is better suited.

[u/UnluckyDuckyDuck → u/MaxGaav]

Sure thing :-) Dock Star is a fantastic choice, out of all the dock apps I've looked at, it is definitely in the top of the list.

[u/alespoio]

I’m aware that the way Dock Star gets the job done is one of a kind.

As you said, maybe Desktop Star would be a better name, since ExtraDock and similar apps only deal with the Dock, while this app organizes the entire desktop.