Side by side

glassbar vs MonitorDock

Both stand on taskbar customization software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

glassbar

Free plan Windows

Choose glassbar if you want a customizable Windows dock and HUD with a fuzzy launcher, plus a portable download option. Its single-primary-monitor support and stated rough edges on some display configurations may make it a poor fit for those setups.

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MonitorDock

Free plan Windows

MonitorDock offers per-monitor app and window organization, plus controls for dock appearance and taskbar behavior. It is free and open source, but its listed requirements are limited to 64-bit Windows 10/11.

Visit MonitorDock

The facts

	glassbar	MonitorDock
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	Windows	Windows
Lowest paid plan	Not published	Free or on request
Plans published	None	1
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	github.com	github.com
On taskbar customization software	#12 of 34	#8 of 34

glassbar: what it does well

Dock can launch, focus, minimize, pin, unpin, and reorder apps.
Launcher searches apps and common-folder files with acronym and typo matching.
HUD includes system readings, media controls, audio switching, and power options.
Accent color, glass tint, and opacity changes apply live.
Available as an installer or portable executable.

What to know first

Supports only a single primary monitor.
Does not host third-party system tray icons.
Requires WebView2 and Windows 10 version 1809 or later, or Windows 11.
Early release may have rough edges on non-1080p, multi-monitor, and fractional-DPI setups.

MonitorDock: what it does well

Separate pinned apps for each monitor
Running windows stay on their own monitor's dock
Adjustable bar height and icon size
Can hide secondary Windows taskbars

What to know first

Requires Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
Building from source requires the .NET 9 SDK

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