DockFix Alternative for Mac: Jetty vs DockFix
By Eduard Bruch, developer of Jetty ·
DockFix and Jetty solve different Dock problems. DockFix replaces the macOS Dock with one you can restyle: colours, opacity, animations, custom icon artwork, widgets and window previews. Jetty leaves the Dock alone and adds up to four extra bars of one-click tiles on your screen edges.
Short answer: if you want more room and structure for apps, files, folders, websites and Shortcuts, our pick as a DockFix alternative is Jetty: bars on any edge (the top too) or floating, with tabs, a $9.99 one-time purchase on the Mac App Store, macOS 14 or later. If you want the Dock itself to look different or show window previews, DockFix does that and Jetty does not.
Disclosure: I build Jetty. Competitor details last checked: 2026-10-10, from each vendor's own pages.
Jetty vs DockFix at a glance
| Jetty (our pick for extra bars) | DockFix | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Up to 4 extra launch bars next to the macOS Dock | "A better Dock than the one your Mac came with" (vendor page) |
| Changes the macOS Dock | No | Hides it while running and shows its own (vendor page) |
| Number of docks | Up to 4 | One replacement Dock; more not stated |
| Positions | Top, bottom, left or right edge, or floating | "size, position" customizable (vendor page) |
| Tabs | Yes, per bar | Not stated |
| Items | Apps, files, folders, websites, Shortcuts | Apps, "folders, website shortcuts", "the file shelf" (vendor page) |
| Icons | App icon, SF Symbol or emoji | "Apply your own artwork to any app on the system" (vendor page) |
| Colours, opacity, animations | No | Yes (vendor page) |
| Window previews | No | Yes (vendor page) |
| Widgets | No | Yes: "Media playback, the clock, shortcuts and more" (vendor page) |
| Where to buy | Mac App Store | Vendor's site, 7-day trial |
| Price model | One-time, $9.99 (US App Store) | One-time, €14.99 (EUR on page) |
| Minimum macOS | 14 | 14 (vendor page) |
Sources: dockfix.app, checked 2026-10-10; Jetty from its code and App Store listing (facts). "Not stated" means the vendor page does not say.
What DockFix does that Jetty doesn't
- Restyles the Dock itself: colours, opacity, size, position and animations, with community presets.
- Custom icon artwork for any app, "including the native ones macOS will not otherwise let you touch".
- Window previews of an app's open windows.
- Widgets such as media playback and a clock inside the dock.
If those are why you searched for DockFix, it is the tool for that job.
If what you want is a replacement Dock with a start menu instead, see our ActiveDock 2 comparison; for more ways around the Dock, Mac Dock alternatives compared.
When Jetty is the better choice
- The Dock is full, not ugly. Jetty gives the long tail of apps, project folders, files, websites and Shortcuts bars of their own, sorted into tabs.
- You want a dock on the top edge, or one per side of the screen.
- You want to keep Apple's Dock exactly as it is and add to it.
- You prefer the Mac App Store for purchase and updates.
Jetty's limits: bars are on the main display only, there is no keyboard shortcut you can set for a bar, and an auto-hidden bar comes back from Jetty's menu-bar item.
How we checked
On 2026-10-10 we read DockFix's own website for features, price and requirements. We did not install or test DockFix and we don't quote ratings or performance numbers. Jetty's details come from its source code; I build Jetty. More dock apps are compared in the best dock apps for Mac, and the built-in options are in how to customize the Dock on Mac.
FAQ
What is the best DockFix alternative for Mac?
For extra launch bars with tabs, in my opinion as its developer, the best DockFix alternative is Jetty: up to four bars on any edge or floating, one-time on the Mac App Store. To restyle the macOS Dock itself, DockFix remains the tool built for that.
What does DockFix do?
Per its page, DockFix replaces the macOS Dock with one you can customize (colours, opacity, size, position, animations, custom app icons, folders, website shortcuts, presets, a file shelf), plus widgets and window previews. It is €14.99 one-time with a 7-day trial and needs macOS 14 or later.
Does Jetty replace the Dock?
No. Jetty adds up to four bars next to the macOS Dock and does not change it. You can keep the Dock, shrink it or hide it with Option-Command-D.
Is DockFix on the Mac App Store?
Its page offers a direct download and a 7-day trial; we found no Mac App Store link there. Jetty is on the Mac App Store.
Get Jetty on the Mac App Store. $9.99 one-time purchase, macOS 14 or later.