RocketDock AlternativesTop Application Launchers and other similar apps like RocketDock

RocketDock is described as 'Mac OS X dock clone. It provides a nice clean interface to drop shortcuts on for easy access and organization. With each item completely customizable there is no end to what you can add and launch from the dock' and is a very popular application launcher in the os & utilities category. There are more than 50 alternatives to RocketDock for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, GNOME and BSD apps. The best RocketDock alternative is Winstep Nexus, which is free. Other great apps like RocketDock are Docky, ObjectDock, Cairo-Dock and Plank.

filter to find the best alternatives

RocketDock alternatives are mainly Application Launchers, but if you're looking for Dock Utilities or Desktop Customization Tools you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Linux, Windows, Windows + Open Source and Open Source. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to RocketDock.
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
RocketDock alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Winstep Nexus icon
     45 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Enjoy a free, simple docking solution for Windows with Winstep Nexus. Create docks, sub-docks, organize apps in groups, and enjoy fun interactions with animations. Nexus Ultimate offers Shelves, Tabbed Docks, and Grid Stacks for better organization and access.

    35 Winstep Nexus alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
    |
    4
    23
    Comments about Winstep Nexus as an Alternative to RocketDock
    Guest
    Positive
    3

    i like to customize my desktop and Nexus Dock has special effect that i'm loving and it doesn't use a lot of resources

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    karlbu
    Positive
    0

    Winstep Nexus is, by far, the best app in the 3rd-party docking category. Superb. More options. More stable. And updated more recently than anything else. Highly recommend.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It has everything you need from 3rd party dock. Fast working, customizable, no bloat.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    RocketDock Icon
    Winstep Nexus icon
    • Most users think Winstep Nexus is a great RocketDock alternative.

    • Winstep Nexus is the most popular Windows alternative to RocketDock.

    • Winstep Nexus is the most popular free alternative to RocketDock.

    • Winstep Nexus is Freemium and ProprietaryRocketDock is Free and Proprietary
  2. Docky icon
     131 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Docky is a full fledged dock application that makes opening common applications and managing windows easier and quicker. Docky is fully integrated into the GNOME Desktop and features a no non-sense approach to configuration and usage. It just works.

    50 Docky alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
    |
    19
    • Most users think Docky is a great RocketDock alternative.

    • Docky is the most popular Linux alternative to RocketDock.

    • Docky is the most popular Open Source alternative to RocketDock.

    • Docky is Free and Open SourceRocketDock is Free and Proprietary
  3. ObjectDock icon
     64 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Animated Windows dock for fast access to apps, shortcuts and files, featuring auto-hide, drag and drop launching, fully customizable color, size and position, support for multiple docks, shortcut management, enhanced desktop organization and visual effects.

    53 ObjectDock alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
    |
    1
    15
    Comments about ObjectDock as an Alternative to RocketDock
    AlmightyHeretic
    Positive
    -2

    If you're looking for a good replacement to RocketDock then this fits the bill. It's able to launch shortcuts to 64-bit programs and it has a built-in docklet called Flyout menu, which you'll find very similar to Stacks. It's not quite as user-friendly but I'm still finding options for customization.

    RocketDock Icon
    ObjectDock icon
    • Most users think ObjectDock is a great RocketDock alternative.

    • ObjectDock is the most popular commercial alternative to RocketDock.

    • ObjectDock is Paid and ProprietaryRocketDock is Free and Proprietary
  4. Cairo-Dock icon
     83 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Animated dock for Linux desktops with hardware acceleration, multi-dock support, taskbar and launcher tools, and an array of applets that can act as detachable widgets. Features a macOS-like interface, multiple themes, low CPU usage, and community-driven customization.

    46 Cairo-Dock alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Wayland
     
    |
    6
  5. Plank icon
     34 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Plank is meant to be the simplest dock on the planet. The goal is to provide just what a dock needs and absolutely nothing more. It is, however, a library which can be extended to create other dock programs with more advanced features.

    18 Plank alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  6. Kando icon
     11 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Kando offers an unconventional, fast, highly efficient, and fun way of interacting with your computer! You can use it to run commands, execute macros, open files, and much more.

    13 Kando alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
     
    • Kando is the most popular Mac alternative to RocketDock.

    • Kando is Free and Open SourceRocketDock is Free and Proprietary
    • Kando is Customizable and Privacy focusedRocketDock is not according to our users
  7. Latte Dock icon
     11 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Latte is a dock based on plasma frameworks that provides an elegant and intuitive experience for your tasks and plasmoids. It animates its contents by using parabolic zoom effect and trys to be there only when it is needed.

    21 Latte Dock alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • KDE
     
  8. MaxLauncher icon
     14 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    MaxLauncher is a simple tabbed launcher that was designed to reduce the amount of time to find and run a program. It is capable of creating multiple data files, each of which can have a maximum of 10 tabs. Each tab and button is assigned a key(eg. F1-F10, 0-9, A-Z, etc.

    42 MaxLauncher alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  9. TaskbarX icon
     30 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    TaskbarX gives you control over the position of your taskbar icons.

    14 TaskbarX alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
    |
    2
    Comments about TaskbarX as an Alternative to RocketDock
    Guest
    Negative
    1

    Doesn't add another dock, only centers the taskbar.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    1

    It only centers the icons in the taskbar

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    RocketDock Icon
    TaskbarX icon
    • This alternative is disputed. TaskbarX is a legitimate RocketDock alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • TaskbarX is Free and Open SourceRocketDock is Free and Proprietary
  10. MyDockFinder icon
     5 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    MyDockFinder is a Dock software similar to macOs that helps you quickly start up your apps, make your desktop clean looking, and easily access your favorite programs or files through drag-and-drop features.

    5 MyDockFinder alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  11. Dash to Dock icon
     3 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    A dock for the Gnome Shell. This extension moves the dash out of the overview transforming it in a dock for an easier launching of applications and a faster switching between windows and workspaces.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • GNOME
     
  12. Dock icon
     11 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    In macOS, the Dock is used as a repository for any program or file in the operating system. It can hold any number of items and resizes them dynamically to fit while using magnification to clarify smaller resized items.

    49 Dock alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
12 of 65 RocketDock alternatives