Head-to-head · Touch Bar Apps
Pock vs Touch Bar Demo App
Pock leads on 0 checks, Touch Bar Demo App 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 6.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #7.
Pock is the better fit for mac users who want a free, configurable Touch Bar hub. Touch Bar Demo App is the better fit for developers exploring a minimal Touch Bar demo.
- Pock fits best
Mac users who want a free, configurable Touch Bar hub
- Touch Bar Demo App fits best
Developers exploring a minimal Touch Bar demo
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Side by side
| Feature | Pock 8.4/10 Visit ↗ | Touch Bar Demo App 6.0/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.4 | 6.0 |
| Ranking | #1 in Touch Bar Apps | #7 in Touch Bar Apps |
| Best for | Mac users who want a free, configurable Touch Bar hub | Developers exploring a minimal Touch Bar demo |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Platforms | macOS | macOS |
| Built for | Solo | Solo, Small business |
| Features Pock 4/6 · Touch Bar Demo App 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 → |
Touch Bar Demo App is a free, open-source macOS application that demonstrates Apple’s Touch Bar interface in a standalone app. It is aimed at developers exploring a minimal Touch Bar demo, rather than people seeking a general-purpose… 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
Touch Bar Demo App — where it wins
- Free and open source
- Focused on demonstrating Apple’s Touch Bar interface
- Runs as a standalone macOS desktop app
Where it doesn't
- Demonstration focus may not suit day-to-day workflows
- Limited to macOS
- Support is community-based
- Pock8.4/10 · Free plan
Pock brings Dock, media, system controls, and widgets to the Touch Bar at no cost.
Visit PockFull verdict → - Touch Bar Demo App6.0/10 · Free plan
A free, open-source Touch Bar demo for developers exploring a minimal example.
View on GitHubFull verdict →
More comparisons
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- Pock vs Touch Bar Visualizer
- Pock vs TouchRuler
- Pock vs mtm
- App Pier vs Touch Bar Demo App
- BetterTouchTool vs Touch Bar Demo App
All touch bar apps comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update