Okie Dockie vs AltTab
Short answer: both switch between individual windows instead of apps. AltTab is a dedicated, highly configurable switcher that can show live thumbnails of each window — for which it asks for Screen Recording permission. Okie Dockie's Option-Tab shows app icons and window titles, needs no Screen Recording, and comes with snap layouts, Dock window lists and other features.
On this page
The shared idea
macOS's Command-Tab switches apps. If Chrome has four windows open, it brings all of Chrome forward and leaves you to find the one you meant. Both AltTab and Okie Dockie list every window separately, the way Alt-Tab does on Windows.
Previews and permissions
AltTab can show a thumbnail of each window's contents. To capture those thumbnails, macOS requires Screen & System Audio Recording permission — the same permission a screen-recording app gets. It can also run with icons and titles only.
Okie Dockie never asks for Screen Recording. Its Option-Tab shows each window as its app icon and window title, read through Accessibility, which it already uses to move windows. For browsers, the title is the page in front, which is usually enough to tell windows apart.
Settings
AltTab is dedicated to window switching and has many settings: several appearance styles, multiple shortcuts, search by typing, filters for which windows appear, and more. It is free and open source, with a paid Pro version.
Okie Dockie's switcher has no settings beyond on and off: hold Option, tap Tab to move through windows (add Shift to go back), and release to switch. It is turned on or off from the menu bar.
What else comes with it
Okie Dockie's switcher is one of several free features: a snap layout chooser, window lists when you rest on a Dock icon, click-through focus, keeping the Dock on one display, and turning a monitor off. Chrome profiles as separate Dock icons are the one paid feature, at $19 once.
Side by side
| AltTab | Okie Dockie | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Pro is paid | Switcher free |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Default shortcut | Option-Tab | Option-Tab |
| Window thumbnails | Yes | No — icons and titles |
| Screen Recording permission | For thumbnails | Never |
| Settings | Appearance, shortcuts, filters and more | On or off |
| Snap layouts, Dock and display features | No | Yes |
Things to consider
- Do you want window thumbnails, or are icons and titles enough?
- Are you comfortable granting Screen Recording permission for thumbnails?
- How much do you want to customise the switcher?
- Do you need only a switcher, or also snap layouts, Dock and display features?
Running both? Give them different shortcuts, or turn one switcher off — both default to Option-Tab.
Get every Chrome profile into your Dock
Okie Dockie builds a real Dock icon for each Chrome profile you use, badged with that profile's own picture. Click one and you land back in the window it already had open.
Everything except Chrome profile icons is free forever, and the profile icons come with a 7-day free trial that starts on its own — no sign-up, no card. macOS 13+, Apple Silicon and Intel.
Frequently asked questions
Does AltTab need Screen Recording permission?
For window thumbnails, yes — macOS requires it to capture window contents. Okie Dockie's Option-Tab shows icons and titles and never needs it.
Is there Alt-Tab for Mac without Screen Recording?
Yes. Okie Dockie's Option-Tab switcher uses only Accessibility permission, and it is free.
Can I use AltTab and Okie Dockie together?
Yes, but both use Option-Tab, so change AltTab's shortcut or turn off Okie Dockie's switcher from its menu.
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