Pock vs App Pier

Pock8.4Visit App Pier7.8Visit

Higher score Pock #1 in Touch Bar Apps 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 6 features Visit Pock

vs

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

• Pock fits best

  Mac users who want a free, configurable Touch Bar hub

• App Pier fits best

  Mac users focused on launching and switching apps

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Side by side

Feature	Pock 8.4/10 Visit ↗	App Pier 7.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.4	7.8
Ranking	#1 in Touch Bar Apps	#2 in Touch Bar Apps
Best for	Mac users who want a free, configurable Touch Bar hub	Mac users focused on launching and switching apps
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Free plan	$2.99 one-time
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	macOS	macOS
Built for	Solo	Solo, Small business
Features Pock 4/6 · App Pier 1/6
Custom layouts	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
App launching	✓	✓
Media controls	✓ (best)	—
System controls	✓ (best)	—
Custom shortcuts	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Profiles	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Places the macOS Dock in the Touch Bar with notification badges and multi-window support Combines media, Escape, brightness, volume, and system status controls Supports widget reordering and custom widgets through PockKit documentation	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.
Cons	Requires macOS 10.15 or later Its focus is limited to Touch Bar widgets and controls Custom widget creation requires working from PockKit documentation	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.
Our verdict	Pock is a free macOS utility that puts widgets and controls on a MacBook Touch Bar. It suits Mac users who want quick access to the Dock, media playback, system status, and other controls without paying for the app. The Dock widget… Read the review →	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 →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Pock — where it wins

  • Places the macOS Dock in the Touch Bar with notification badges and multi-window support
  • Combines media, Escape, brightness, volume, and system status controls
  • Supports widget reordering and custom widgets through PockKit documentation

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires macOS 10.15 or later
  • Its focus is limited to Touch Bar widgets and controls
  • Custom widget creation requires working from PockKit documentation

• 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.

• Pock8.4/10 · Free plan

  Pock brings Dock, media, system controls, and widgets to the Touch Bar at no cost.

  Visit PockFull verdict →
• 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 →