App Pier vs Touch Bar Visualizer

App Pier7.8Visit TBTouch Bar Visualizer6.7Visit

Higher score App Pier #2 in Touch Bar Apps 7.8/10 Paid ✓ 1 of 6 features Visit App Pier

vs

TB Touch Bar Visualizer #5 in Touch Bar Apps 6.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 6 features Visit project

• App Pier fits best

  Mac users focused on launching and switching apps

• Touch Bar Visualizer fits best

  Users who want an audio visualizer on the Touch Bar

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	App Pier 7.8/10 Visit ↗	TBTouch Bar Visualizer 6.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	7.8	6.7
Ranking	#2 in Touch Bar Apps	#5 in Touch Bar Apps
Best for	Mac users focused on launching and switching apps	Users who want an audio visualizer on the Touch Bar
Pricing model	Paid	Free
Starting price	$2.99 one-time	Free plan
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	macOS	macOS
Support	Email	Community
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo
Features App Pier 1/6 · Touch Bar Visualizer 0/6
Custom layouts	Not checked yet	—
App launching	✓ (best)	—
Media controls	—	—
System controls	—	—
Custom shortcuts	Not checked yet	—
Profiles	Not checked yet	—
Our review
Pros	Search the Applications folder to launch apps. Pin favorites and switch to running apps from the Touch Bar. Use shortcuts, favorite folders, and window-hiding controls.	Free, open-source macOS application Block and line visualization modes Optional system-audio capture through BlackHole
Cons	Touch Bar controls require a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar. The listing specifies macOS 11.0 or later. Its focus is app launching and switching, not media or system controls.	macOS desktop deployment only System-audio capture requires BlackHole No custom layouts, media controls, or system controls
Our verdict	App Pier is a Mac application launcher and switcher for people who want to reach apps quickly, especially through the Touch Bar or keyboard shortcuts. It can search the Applications folder, pin favorite apps, switch to running apps, and… Read the review →	Touch Bar Visualizer is a macOS desktop application that analyzes audio input and displays frequency visualizations on a compatible MacBook Pro Touch Bar. It runs in the background and appears in the Touch Bar Control Strip, making it… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• App Pier — where it wins

  • Search the Applications folder to launch apps.
  • Pin favorites and switch to running apps from the Touch Bar.
  • Use shortcuts, favorite folders, and window-hiding controls.

  Where it doesn't

  • Touch Bar controls require a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar.
  • The listing specifies macOS 11.0 or later.
  • Its focus is app launching and switching, not media or system controls.

• Touch Bar Visualizer — where it wins

  • Free, open-source macOS application
  • Block and line visualization modes
  • Optional system-audio capture through BlackHole

  Where it doesn't

  • macOS desktop deployment only
  • System-audio capture requires BlackHole
  • No custom layouts, media controls, or system controls

• App Pier7.8/10 · Paid

  A focused launcher for finding, pinning, and switching Mac apps, with a one-time $2.99 price.

  Visit App PierFull verdict →
• TBTouch Bar Visualizer6.7/10 · Free plan

  A focused, free visualizer for showing live audio frequencies on the Touch Bar.

  Visit projectFull verdict →