About dockpicks
How apps are picked
dockpicks is a short, opinionated directory of Mac apps, 135 of them across 24 categories, for people setting up a new Mac. It is independent and makes no money from the apps it lists.
Built-in first
Every pick is weighed against the tool macOS already has. Apps that mostly duplicate it carry a Built-in may be enough badge, so you can stop there if the built-in tool already does what you need.
Each category lists four to eight alternatives that are actively maintained and run on current macOS: usually the well-known paid leader, the best free option and at least one open-source pick where a good one exists. They are listed in recommended order, best overall first, and each has a short note on who it suits and what the catch is.
Where the facts come from
Prices, pricing models, licences and links are taken from the vendor's own website, the Mac App Store or the project's source repository, and every app records the pages that were checked and the date. Prices are shown exactly as the vendor states them, with the month they were checked, because prices change. If a fact could not be confirmed it is left out rather than guessed.
A link checker visits every official URL so dead links get caught.
App icons come from the Mac App Store listing where there is one, otherwise from the developer's own website or the project's source repository, and are stored on this site so your browser never contacts anyone else. A few apps with no usable icon get a plain lettered tile instead. App icons and names belong to their respective owners and are shown only to identify the apps.
What the labels mean
- Free
- No payment needed for the full app.
- Free tier
- A usable free version, with a paid upgrade for more.
- Paid
- A one-time purchase. A free trial may exist.
- Subscription
- A recurring payment for real use.
- Open source
- Source code under an open-source (OSI) licence, linked from the entry.
The price badge next to each app shows the first amount the vendor lists, with its period. Below it is the vendor's full wording and the month it was checked.
Independent
There are no affiliate links, sponsored listings or paid placements, and no developer can buy a spot. The site has no ads and no tracking scripts. It is not affiliated with Apple or with any developer listed.
It is made by Karol. If you find it useful, you can sponsor the work on GitHub.