Native mode: use familiar Dock folders and stacks, with a clearer way to group apps, files, folders, and links around a project or task.
The macOS Dock organizer for real workflows
Stop hunting through your Dock.
Open the whole workflow.
Group apps, files, folders, and links by project or task — then open the right context from a click, shortcut, or desktop widget.
Free tier · macOS 14 Sonoma or later · No account required
Compare editionsNo accountOne-time purchaseLocal by default
Dev Tools
Search apps, files, and folders⌘F
CursorXcodeVS CodeWebStorm
Zed
SourcetreeREADME.mdOpens in Zed
design.psdOpens in Photoshop
Communication
Search apps, files, and folders⌘F
Lark›Discord›WeChat›Notion›
AI Assistants
Search apps, files, and folders⌘F
ChatGPTPerplexityArcChromeHover over a group icon to try
WHAT OTTERDOCK IS
Keep Apple’s Dock. Add workflow-level organization.
Otterdock is a macOS Dock organizer that enhances the Dock instead of replacing it. Keep Apple’s native visual language and performance, then choose how much organization you need.
Enhanced mode: expand groups by click or optional hover, use global shortcuts, choose per-file openers, reorder items, and open whole contexts instead of hunting one icon at a time.
Widgets add a second entry point from the desktop. The result is a Dock that stays visually calm while your workflows become easier to reach.
Start with a workflow
Not another launcher — fewer things to hunt for
Organize the Dock around how you actually work: projects, creative work, and focus time each get a clear entry point.
Development projects
Keep your editor, terminal, project folder, and docs in one group so switching projects never means scanning the Dock.
Design handoffs
Keep Figma, assets, references, and the right opener ready together, so delivery takes one less search.
Focused work
Give writing, meetings, or study a clean set of entry points, then switch back when the task is done.
Core capabilities
Put every workflow one reach away
Group apps, files, and links together, then open them from a real popup, a shortcut, or a desktop widget.
One group for the whole workflow
Mix apps, files, folders, and web links in one group. Drop them in and keep moving.
Click or hover — your choiceFull
Click mode works out of the box. Full adds hover-to-expand for a closer Dock workflow.
A keyboard-first way to openFull
Global hotkeys, popup search, arrow-key navigation, and ⌘1–9 quick launch.
Open every file with the right appPro · Full
Assign an opener per file; images, PDFs, and videos also get real previews.
Make every group easy to recognize
Use icon skins to separate workflows, then drag to keep the important items in reach.
Put workflows on your desktop
Desktop widgets open a chosen group directly, with small, medium, and large layouts.
Why it sticks
Simple, private, and native
Otterdock removes a daily Dock friction without asking you to change how you work.
Local by default
Your groups and file metadata stay on your Mac.
One-Time Purchase
No subscription. Buy once and keep using it with updates.
macOS Native
Built with Swift and SwiftUI for Apple Silicon and Intel.
“A tidy Dock is a tidy mind. Otterdock turns a chaotic row of icons into organized workflow groups — so you spend less time searching and more time doing.”
Pricing
Start free. Upgrade once.
Try 2 groups free. Pro is a one-time $6.99 purchase; choose Direct for full macOS integration or Mac App Store when it launches.
Full edition · Direct download
Full edition
$6.99
one-time purchase
- ✓All features + Pro skins
- ✓Hover-to-expand mode
- ✓Sparkle auto-updates
- ✓Priority email support
- ✓Use on up to 3 Macs
One-time purchase · Free updates
Payments secured byCreemComing soon · $6.99
Mac App Store
$6.99
one-time purchase
- ✓Core features included
- ✓Click-to-expand mode
- ✓App Store updates
- ✓Sandboxed for security
Coming Soon
Some system-level features are limited by App Store sandboxing.
Compare Editions
Which Edition Is Right for You?
Free and Pro define your limits. App Store and Direct define how Otterdock integrates with macOS.
| Feature | App Store | Direct | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Pro | Free | Pro | |
| Included in both editions | ||||
| Workflow groups | 2 groups | Included | 2 groups | Included |
| Items per group | 8 items | Included | 8 items | Included |
| Apps, files, folders & links | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Desktop widgets | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Drag-and-drop editing | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| In-group sorting | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Pro icon skins | Not available | Included | Not available | Included |
| Edition differences | ||||
| Add groups to the Dock | Drag manually | Drag manually | Automatic | Automatic |
| Otterdock popup | Not available | Not available | Included | Included |
| Hover-to-expand | Not available | Not available | Included | Included |
| Global keyboard shortcuts | Not available | Not available | Included | Included |
| Per-file opening app | Not available | Not available | Not available | Included |
| Update channel | App Store | App Store | In-app | In-app |
| App sandbox | Sandboxed | Sandboxed | Outside sandbox | Outside sandbox |
Capabilities verified for Otterdock 1.1.2
Coming soon · $6.99
Mac App Store
Sandboxed edition
Coming Soon
Available soon on the Mac App Store
Changelog
v1.1.2 — Widgets, Mixed Groups, and Safer Updates
The current release keeps update history accurate while the 1.1 series adds more ways to reach each workflow.
- ✦Desktop widgets open a chosen group directly from your desktop.
- ✦Small, medium, and large widgets can each point to their own group.
- ✦Groups now make room for files, folders, links, and per-file opening apps.
- ✦Images, PDFs, and videos can show real previews inside groups and popups.
- ✦v1.1.2 refines What's New history and release selection so patch notes stay tied to authored updates.
- ✦Unclutter your Dock: Group Apps, files, and folders by scenario — Dev, Chat, AI, everything in its place.
- ✦Clean & Native: No drivers, no root, using official macOS Dock APIs for zero-footprint operation.
- ✦Summon instantly: Global hotkeys (Ctrl+1~6) to call any group from any application.
- ✦Full keyboard control in popups: Type to search, arrows to navigate, ⌘1–9 to open, ⌘A to launch all.
- ✦Custom File Opener (Pro): Define specific apps for different file types based on your workflow.
- ✦5 built-in icon skins: Customize the Look & Feel of your Dock (More skins coming soon!).
- ✦Privacy first: Core group configuration stays local by default. Optional analytics can be disabled in Settings.
- ✦Fair Pricing: Two groups forever free, $6.99 for a lifetime license — No subscriptions.
FAQ
You Might Be Wondering
Otterdock is a macOS Dock organizer that lets you group apps, files, folders, and links into expandable workflow groups. Instead of a cluttered row of icons, you get tidy groups that expand on click, hover, or global keyboard shortcuts — with full keyboard navigation inside popups. Your Dock stays clean while everything is one action away.
Apps, files, folders, and links — all in the same group. You can mix different item types freely, so a "Design" group could contain Figma, a project folder, and a reference PDF all together.
No. Click mode works with zero macOS permissions. Grant Accessibility only if you want hover-to-expand — it’s used solely for detecting mouse position on the Dock, nothing else.
Your full app and file paths, group configurations, and preferences are stored locally on your Mac. If analytics are enabled, feature-interaction events may include a group or item display name (for example, a file name), but never a full file path or file contents. You can opt out in Settings.
macOS 14 Sonoma and later. Otterdock is built with Swift and SwiftUI, optimized for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
The free tier includes 2 groups with up to 8 items each. Pro is a one-time $6.99 purchase on Direct; the Mac App Store edition is also listed at $6.99 and is coming soon. Direct adds hover-to-expand, global hotkeys, Pro skins, and other system-level features.
Native Dock folders only show files inside a folder. Otterdock groups can contain apps, files, folders, and links mixed together. Plus, you get hover-to-expand, customizable icon skins (Shelf, Gradient, Otter, and more — or import your own), and organized popup windows instead of the default Dock folder view.
For refund requests, email [email protected] with your order details. We will review your request under our Refund Policy and applicable consumer rights.
Yes. Otterdock assigns Ctrl+1 through Ctrl+6 by default. You can customize the key combination for each group in Settings. These are system-level hotkeys that work from any app — no Accessibility permission required.
The Otterdock Direct edition checkout uses Creem as the Merchant of Record for the transaction. Creem handles the payment flow and related transaction administration; core Otterdock group data remains local on your Mac.