DockThumbLooking for an Ice alternative? Here’s when DockThumb fits, and when it doesn’t.
Ice is a free, open-source menu bar manager. It hides the icons you don’t need and gives you more control over the ones you keep. If the menu bar is all you want to fix, it is a strong free option.
Pick Ice if…
- The menu bar is the only thing you want to fix
- You want it free and open source
- You want control over each menu bar item
Free, open source
Pick DockThumb if…
- A simple “hide behind one button” is enough
- You also want Dock stack actions and hover + one key on Dock apps
- You want a switcher, tiling and pin-on-top in the same app
$4.99 once · yours for life
What Ice does well
Ice is free, focused and open source. For people who only want a cleaner menu bar, it does that job with more options than DockThumb’s simple hider.
What DockThumb adds
DockThumb’s menu bar tool is one button: click ‹ to tuck icons away, › to bring them back. Its main job is elsewhere: hover + one key on Dock apps and files inside Dock stacks, a switcher grouped by type, tiling and a pinned window.
Side by side
| Feature | DockThumb | Ice |
|---|---|---|
| Hide menu bar icons behind one button | ✓ | ✓ |
| Control over each menu bar item | ✕ | ✓ |
| Act on files inside Dock stacks | ✓ | ✕ |
| Hover + Space / ⌘Q on Dock apps | ✓ | ✕ |
| Window switcher grouped by type | ✓ | ✕ |
| Keyboard tiling and pin-on-top | ✓ | ✕ |
| Open source | ✕ | ✓ |
| Price | $4.99 once | Free, open source |
Price: Ice vs DockThumb
Ice is free. DockThumb is $4.99 once. Choose Ice for the menu bar alone, DockThumb if you want the Dock and windows handled too.
Prices noted on October 15, 2026. ~ means partly. Check Ice’s official site before buying: github.com/jordanbaird/Ice
What it looks like in DockThumb
Questions
What’s the best Ice alternative for Mac?
There is no single best one: it depends on what you use Ice for. DockThumb’s menu bar tool is one button: click ‹ to tuck icons away, › to bring them back. Its main job is elsewhere: hover + one key on Dock apps and files inside Dock stacks, a switcher grouped by type, tiling and a pinned window.
How much does Ice cost?
Ice: Free, open source, as noted on October 15, 2026. DockThumb costs $4.99 once, with no subscription and a 14-day refund.
Can I use DockThumb and Ice at the same time?
Yes. If you use Ice, turn off DockThumb’s menu bar tool in Settings and keep everything else.
Which Macs does DockThumb run on?
DockThumb needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later on a Mac with Apple silicon. Intel Macs are not supported.
Hover it. Press a key. That’s the trick.
$4.99 once, no subscription, no account, 14-day refund. macOS 14 or later on Apple silicon.