SideDock vs Alcove: a polished notch, or the whole edge

The short answer

Alcove makes the notch feel like it shipped with your Mac: smooth transitions, live activities, its own volume and brightness indicators, and widgets on the Lock Screen. SideDock does the live notch too, and adds docks at every edge, more than 50 widgets and Pip. Want a beautiful notch and nothing else? Alcove. Want the edges of your Mac working as well? SideDock.

In the notch

Both show what’s playing, your calendar, your AirPods connecting, Focus, and volume and brightness. Alcove adds widgets on the Lock Screen, the weather among them; its file tray hasn’t arrived yet.

SideDock’s notch has a tray you drop files into and AirDrop from, shows downloads with real progress, coding agents, timers and Keep Awake, and opens into Home with your music, what’s next, the weather and Pip.

Beyond the notch

Alcove stays in the notch and on the Lock Screen. SideDock adds docks at the four edges, the corners and under the notch, for your apps, folders and live widgets, from your Mac’s memory to your next meeting. And Pip, which drafts emails and messages for you to send, and keeps quiet when you’re in a call.

Price, trial and licenses

Which one should you get?

• Alcove, if you want the prettiest notch and Lock Screen widgets, and nothing more.
• SideDock, if you want a live notch, docks at every edge, your Mac’s vitals and a companion that does things, in one app.

A note on fairness

Compared using each app’s own website on October 14, 2026. Features and prices change, so check theirs for the latest. Alcove is a trademark of its owner; SideDock isn’t affiliated with it.