Cairo-Dock Alternatives

Cairo-Dock is described as 'Animated application launch bar for the desktop, comparable to the dock in Mac OS X or Rocket Dock (for Windows)' and is a popular application launcher in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Cairo-Dock for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, GNOME and BSD apps. The best Cairo-Dock alternative is RocketDock, which is free. Other great apps like Cairo-Dock are Docky, ObjectDock, Winstep Nexus and Eww.

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Cairo-Dock is an animated application launch bar for the desktop, comparable to the dock in Mac OS X or Rocket Dock (for...

More about Cairo-Dock
Cairo-Dock alternatives page was last updated Jul 5, 2025
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  1.  4 likes
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    A simple dock for Windows which features extensive theming capabilities and blurry reflections. The dock is fully compatible with Windows Vista/7/8/8.1.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Discontinued

    Properties

    1.  Configurable

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Dock

    CleverDock VS Cairo-Dock

     
  2. GnomePanel icon
     21 likes
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    Gnome Panel is a component that is part of GnomeFlashback and provides panels and default applets for the desktop. A panel is a horizontal or vertical bar that can be added to each side of the screen. By default there is one panel on the top of the screen and one on the bottom...

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • GNOME

    GnomePanel Features

    1.  Software Management
    2.  Window docking

    GnomePanel VS Cairo-Dock

     
  3. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    LaunchBar is a small Windows freeware program that mimics the behavior of the dockable QuickLaunch toolbar that was available in all Windows versions before Windows 7.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    LaunchBar by Lerup.com Features

    1.  Dock
    2.  Launcher

    LaunchBar by Lerup.com VS Cairo-Dock

     
  4. Linkbar icon
     4 likes
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    This application that is useful for those users who are on the desktop requires more than one tray to place shortcuts for launching frequently used programs, files, etc.

    5 Linkbar alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Drag and Drop
    2.  Multiple languages

    Linkbar VS Cairo-Dock

     
  5.  Like
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    A Dock-like Taskbar Plugin for XFCE. Contribute to nsz32/docklike-plugin development by creating an account on GitHub.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Xfce

    Docklike Features

    1.  Dock

    Docklike VS Cairo-Dock

     
  6. Another Dock icon
     1 like
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    A Second Dock. Elegant, Efficient, Intuitive. Pin any file, folder, or app — and keep it always accessible in Another Dock.

    45 Another Dock alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • CN flagChina

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Dock
    7.  Drag and Drop

    Another Dock VS Cairo-Dock

     
  7. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    macOS Transformation Pack will give you all new macOS user experience such as theme, wallpapers, system resources, and new OS X features combined altogether in single package working on Windows platform.

    37 macOS Transformation Pack alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Themes

    macOS Transformation Pack VS Cairo-Dock

     
  8. MadAppLauncher icon
     11 likes
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    A simple application launcher. It is very fast and easy to use. It is unlike your common dock or menu launcher. It introduces several different features such as QWERTY based launching, tab group navigation using numbers, custom window placement for programs, and the ability to...

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • PH flagPhilippines

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Discontinued

    The program seems to be no longer updated. Last version, 1.10.0.0, released on March 26, 2013, can be still downloaded from the official website.

    MadAppLauncher Features

    1.  Launcher
    2.  Dock

    MadAppLauncher VS Cairo-Dock

     
  9. Luncher icon
     2 likes
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    Luncher is a simple Windows application and file launcher. It allows you to setup buttons that act as shortcuts to open any application, file or folder. Luncher appears as a small panel on the top of the screen that is always easily accessible.

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • AU flagAustralia

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Launcher
    3.  Dock

    Luncher VS Cairo-Dock

     
  10.  2 likes
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    BMPanel (bitmap panel) is a lightweight, NETWM compliant panel for X11 Window System, which contains a desktop switcher, taskbar, system tray and clock. The application is inspired by simplicity of fspanel. BMPanel has a modern look and feel, while keeping itself tiny and small.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD

    BMPanel VS Cairo-Dock

     
  11. Dragthing icon
     7 likes
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    DragThing is the original dock designed to tidy up your Macintosh desktop.

    It puts all your documents, folders, and applications just a single click away. Highly flexible, it allows multiple docks, each customised to suit your exact needs.

    It stores frequently-used clippings su.

    66 Dragthing alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Discontinued

    Notice on https://www.dragthing.com/ of discontinuation as of 2019.

    Dragthing Features

    1.  Dock
    2.  Launcher

    Dragthing VS Cairo-Dock

     
  12. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Crystal Dock is a cool dock (desktop panel) for Linux desktop, with the focus on attractive user interface, being simple and easy to customize, and cross-desktop support.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • VN flagVietnam

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Lightweight
    4.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  No registration required
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Wayland Support
    6.  Dock
    7. KDE Plasma icon  KDE Plasma integration
    8.  Kde support

    Crystal Dock VS Cairo-Dock

     
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