Open ContextsOpen Contexts
Choose it for a compact window list, a persistent app bar, and custom window groups that survive a restart.
Explore the app bar & groups →Mac window and Dock tool comparison
Compare Mac window switchers and Dock tools
Compare Open Contexts, AltTab, Contexts, Sidebar, uBar, DockDoor and native Mac switching by window access, project groups and Dock workflow. DockDoor Free and the separate Pro app are covered individually.
Start with your workflow.
Each option has a reason to be on your Mac.
AltTab
Choose it when window thumbnails help you find the right one. The free core includes trackpad gestures; Pro adds search and more styles.
Compare AltTab →Contexts 3
Choose it for Search, Fast Search, a sidebar, and trackpad gestures. Try it first, then decide on a license.
Compare Contexts →macOS ⌘Tab
Keep it when switching between apps is enough. Use ⌘` for windows within the current app. Nothing to install.
See Mac window shortcuts →Sidebar
Consider Sidebar for a launcher, window titles, previews, search and snapping. Stacks organize apps and folders.
Compare Sidebar →uBar
Consider uBar for a taskbar, favorites, several rows or per-display bars. Window Grouping combines windows from the same app.
Compare uBar →DockDoor Free
Keep the macOS Dock and add window previews, searchable switching and Glance. Free and GPL-3.0 open source.
Compare DockDoor Free →DockDoor Pro
Consider this separate paid app for profiles, AppSense, widgets and a Dock per display. It is not a paid unlock inside the free app.
Compare DockDoor Pro →Compare window switching workflows.
The key differences, without a score or a one-size-fits-all winner.
On a small screen, scroll the table horizontally. Keyboard users can focus it and use the arrow keys.
| Your priority | Open Contexts | AltTab | Contexts 3 | macOS built-in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What you switch | Individual windows with ⌘Tab, in most-recently-used order | Individual windows | Individual windows with ⌘Tab | Apps with ⌘Tab; current app's windows with ⌘` |
| How you recognize it | Compact app, icon, and window-title list | Window thumbnails; Pro also offers Titles and App Icons styles | Window list and sidebar | App icons in ⌘Tab |
| Search by typing | App-name and window-title search; ASCII input | Available with Pro | Search and Fast Search | Not part of ⌘Tab |
| Trackpad switching | Not currently available | Trackpad gestures | Trackpad gestures | Not part of ⌘Tab |
| Everyday workflow | Persistent app bar with saved custom window groups | Thumbnail-based switching; Pro offers up to 9 shortcuts | Sidebar, search, and switching across Spaces and displays | Built-in app switching, with no installation |
| Price | Free, all features included. Apache 2.0 open source. | Free core; optional paid Pro | Free trial; $9.99 license | Included with macOS |
| macOS compatibility | macOS 13 Ventura or later | macOS 12 Monterey or later | Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia listed by the developer | Built into macOS |
Compare Dock and taskbar tools.
Compare Sidebar, uBar and both DockDoor apps by launching, window access and the organization they save.
On a small screen, scroll the table horizontally. Keyboard users can focus it and use the arrow keys.
| Your priority | Open Contexts | Sidebar | uBar | DockDoor Free | DockDoor Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Role of the bar | Window app bar; keep the native Dock for launching. | Replacement Dock with launcher, Stacks and window tools. | Dock or taskbar modes with favorites and status indicators. | Adds previews to the existing macOS Dock. | Separate replacement Dock with profiles and widgets. |
| Finding windows | MRU title list; app-name/title search; no live previews. | Window titles, live previews and window search. | Window titles, hover previews and app window menus. | Dock hover previews, searchable switcher and Glance. | Own Dock previews, searchable switcher and Glance. |
| Organization | Saved groups of selected windows across apps. | Stacks of apps and folders; window-position saving. | Always, Never or Automatic grouping by application. | Uses native Dock organization. | Dock-item profiles; AppSense switches profiles by active app. |
| Multiple displays | The app bar and window switcher both support multiple displays. | Individually configurable bars on multiple screens. | Taskbar per display or mirrored bar. | Preview and switching tool; does not replace the Dock. | A Dock per display. |
| Price and license | Free, Apache 2.0. | 7-day trial; €19.99 lifetime or subscription. | 14-day trial; $30 Personal, $50 Commercial per employee. | Free, GPL-3.0 open source. | $20 once for up to 3 Macs; 14-day money-back policy, not a free trial. |
| Minimum macOS | macOS 13+. | macOS 13+. | Published minimum macOS 10.13. | macOS 13+. | macOS 14.6+. |
Official sources checked October 8, 2026. Sidebar · Sidebar pricing · uBar · DockDoor Free · DockDoor Pro
A place for your windows.
A shortcut to each one.
Open Contexts connects window switching with the way you organize a working day.
A persistent app bar
Keep window titles on the edge of your screen. Click to switch, or let the bar appear when your pointer reaches the edge.
Groups that remember
Make a group for code, research, or chat. Drag windows into place, and keep your custom groups after a restart.
A compact window list
⌘Tab shows individual windows by app, icon, and title in most-recently-used order. ⌘` narrows the list to the current app.
When another option
fits better.
Open Contexts now offers app-name and window-title search, with printable ASCII input. It still has no live thumbnails or trackpad gestures. For previews, compare AltTab, Sidebar and DockDoor. For search, compare Open Contexts with Contexts, AltTab Pro, Sidebar and DockDoor. Consider uBar for a full taskbar, or DockDoor Pro for replacement-Dock profiles and widgets.
If you mostly switch between apps, the built-in macOS shortcuts may already cover your needs. For Open Contexts, you need macOS 13 or later and Accessibility permission to discover and focus windows.
Want your windows
organized by task?
Try Open Contexts and give each workflow a place.
Detailed 1-on-1 comparisons
Compare workflows, keyboard shortcuts, saved groups, and pricing for each Mac window tool.
AltTab
Live window thumbnails and gestures vs. titled MRU list and saved task groups.
Open Contexts vs AltTab →Contexts
Space-oriented sidebar and Fast Search vs. open-source saved custom window groups.
Open Contexts vs Contexts →Better Window Switcher
3D visual layouts and browser-tab switching vs. lightweight native window groups.
Open Contexts vs Better Window Switcher →Sidebar
Full Dock replacement with Stacks and snapping vs. dedicated window app bar.
Open Contexts vs Sidebar →uBar
Windows-style taskbar and app grouping vs. cross-app project window groups.
Open Contexts vs uBar →DockDoor
Native Dock hover previews (Free) and replacement Dock profiles (Pro) compared.
Open Contexts vs DockDoor →