SideDock vs Raycast: different jobs, and why they get along

The short answer

Raycast is a launcher: press a shortcut, type, and open an app, run a command or ask its AI. SideDock is what lives at the edges: docks that slide out when you push the pointer there, a live notch, more than 50 widgets and Pip. They overlap less than you’d think, and they work well together.

Where they overlap

• Clipboard history. Raycast keeps three months for free, and more with Pro. SideDock’s Clipboard tile keeps what you copied lately, with pins. Neither keeps your passwords.
• Your next meeting. Raycast puts it at the top of its search; press Enter to join. SideDock counts it down in the notch, with a Join button in Up Next.
• Notes. Raycast has a floating note; SideDock has Note and Checklist tiles in your docks.
• AI. Raycast includes its AI in Pro and up. Pip uses the AI account you already have, at no extra cost from us.

Where they don’t

Raycast does window tiling, snippets, thousands of extensions, and a lot more from the keyboard. SideDock does docks at every edge, live activities in the notch (music, downloads, coding agents, your earbuds’ battery), your Mac’s vitals as widgets, and a companion that speaks up when it matters. Raycast leaves the notch alone.

Price

Which one should you get?

• Raycast, if you live on the keyboard and want a launcher, snippets and window tiling.
• SideDock, if you want things one push of the pointer away, a live notch and a companion that speaks up.

Or both: they don’t step on each other’s toes.

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. Raycast is a trademark of its owner; SideDock isn’t affiliated with it.