Head-to-head · Touch Bar Apps
Pock vs mtm
Pock leads on 0 checks, mtm on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scorePock · 8.4/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresPock · 4 of 6
Pock scores higher on our rubric for touch bar apps: 8.4 against 5.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #8.
Pock is the better fit for mac users who want a free, configurable Touch Bar hub. mtm is the better fit for terminal users seeking split virtual terminals.
- Pock fits best
Mac users who want a free, configurable Touch Bar hub
- mtm fits best
Terminal users seeking split virtual terminals
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Side by side
| Feature | Pock 8.4/10 Visit ↗ | mtm 5.5/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.4 | 5.5 |
| Ranking | #1 in Touch Bar Apps | #8 in Touch Bar Apps |
| Best for | Mac users who want a free, configurable Touch Bar hub | Terminal users seeking split virtual terminals |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | macOS | Linux, macOS |
| Built for | Solo | Solo, Small business |
| Features Pock 4/6 · mtm 0/6 | ||
| Custom layouts | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| App launching | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Media controls | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| System controls | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Custom shortcuts | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Profiles | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| 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 → |
mtm, the Micro Terminal Multiplexer, is a small open-source utility for Unix-like command-line environments. It is designed for solo users and small teams who want to divide one terminal into multiple virtual terminals without adopting a… 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
mtm — where it wins
- Splits one terminal into multiple virtual terminals
- Directional navigation and quick switching between terminals
- Open-source, self-hosted tool for Linux and macOS
Where it doesn't
- No native Touch Bar controls are described
- Requires local compilation with ncurses or compatible curses
- Terminal-focused scope omits broader workspace features
- Pock8.4/10 · Free plan
Pock brings Dock, media, system controls, and widgets to the Touch Bar at no cost.
Visit PockFull verdict → - mtm5.5/10 · Free plan
A focused, free terminal multiplexer—not a Touch Bar utility.
Visit mtmFull verdict →
More comparisons
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- Pock vs BetterTouchTool
- Pock vs Haptic Touch Bar
- Pock vs Touch Bar Visualizer
- Pock vs TouchRuler
- Pock vs Touch Bar Demo App
- App Pier vs mtm
- BetterTouchTool vs mtm
All touch bar apps comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update