Is docktor a free alternative to Witch?

Yes. docktor is free and replaces Command-Tab with a switcher that shows the highlighted app's windows as thumbnails. Witch costs $14 and does more switching: browser tabs, search, and several switchers on different shortcuts. If you only need to jump to the right window, docktor covers it.

Can docktor switch browser tabs like Witch?

No. docktor's switcher works with apps and windows, not the tabs inside them. If jumping straight to a Safari or Chrome tab from the switcher matters to you, Witch is the better tool.

Does docktor replace Command-Tab?

Yes, by default. With Replace macOS Command-Tab turned on, Command-Tab and Command-` both open docktor's switcher. Turn the setting off on the Cmd+Tab page of docktor's settings to get the native shortcuts back.

Can I run Witch and docktor together?

Yes, as long as they aren't on the same shortcut. Either keep Witch off Command-Tab, or turn off Replace macOS Command-Tab in docktor and use it for Dock previews and widgets while Witch handles switching.

Which Macs does each app support?

Witch 4.7 requires macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later and runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel. docktor requires macOS 26 Tahoe or later.

Alternatives

docktor vs Witch

Witch is a long-running, highly configurable app, window, and tab switcher for the Mac. docktor is a free alternative for macOS 26 that adds window thumbnails to Command-Tab and adds Dock previews. Here's where each one wins.

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Why people look for a Witch alternative

Witch, from Many Tricks, fixes the thing everyone notices about the Mac app switcher: it lists apps, not the windows and tabs inside them. Witch is actively maintained. Version 4.7 arrived on December 2, 2025, with a rounder switcher to match macOS 26, and it runs natively on Apple silicon. It costs $14, with a free trial, and the license includes at least a year of updates.

So the usual reasons to look elsewhere aren’t that Witch has gone stale. People want something free, want the switcher to show big window thumbnails rather than a list, or want Dock previews in the same app. Those are the areas where docktor is different.

docktor vs Witch, feature by feature

Feature comparison of docktor and Witch
Feature	docktor	Witch
Price	Free	$14 (upgrade $8), at least a year of updates, free trial
macOS support	macOS 26 Tahoe or later	macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later
Latest version checked	0.14.1	4.7, released December 2, 2025
Switches between	Apps and their windows, including minimized ones	Apps, windows, and browser and app tabs
Window previews	Yesthumbnails of the highlighted app's windows in the switcher	Yesoptional preview images beside the list
Layouts	One horizontal Liquid Glass panel	Horizontal, vertical, or in the menu bar
Type to search	No	Yes
Multiple switchers on different shortcuts	Noone switcher on Command-Tab	Yeseach with its own actions and sort order
Dock hover previews	Yes	No
Music, calendar, weather, stats widgets	Yes	No

Details checked September 2026 against manytricks.com/witch and its release notes. docktor is made by the author of this page.

Where docktor fits

docktor takes over Command-Tab by default. You still hold Command and tap Tab, but above the highlighted app a tray shows each of its windows, including minimized ones and those on other desktops. Press Up Arrow to move into the windows, choose one, and let go.

Hold Command and tap Tab: the highlighted app's windows appear as thumbnails above the apps row.

The rest of the app is what Witch doesn’t try to do. Hover an app in the Dock for previews of its windows, and keep glass widgets beside the Dock for music with synced lyrics, your next calendar event, weather, system stats, and device batteries. It’s free and needs no account. The window switcher page has more on how it looks.

Where Witch is still the better pick

You switch tabs, not just windows. Witch can list the tabs of supported apps alongside windows. docktor stops at windows.
You like to type. Witch can filter the switcher as you type an app, window, or tab name. docktor has no search.
You want several switchers. Witch lets you set up, say, Command-Tab for apps only and Option-Tab for apps, windows, and tabs, each with its own sort order and layout, including a vertical list or the menu bar. docktor has one switcher.
Your Mac isn’t on macOS 26. Witch supports macOS 10.13 High Sierra and later; docktor needs macOS 26 Tahoe.

Switching from Witch to docktor

Move Witch off Command-Tab, or quit it, so the two apps don’t compete for the same shortcut.
Download docktor, open it, and grant Accessibility in onboarding. Screen Recording is optional; without it the switcher shows a placeholder outline of each window, with its title and app icon, instead of a thumbnail.
On the Cmd+Tab page of docktor’s settings you can hide apps with no open windows, switch to an icons-only strip, or start on the current app rather than the previous one.
docktor’s switcher also answers Command-`, so that shortcut stops cycling the front app’s windows while Replace macOS Command-Tab is on.

For the built-in tricks, see how to show all windows in Cmd+Tab and switch between windows of the same app. Weighing other switchers? Read docktor vs AltTab or the roundup of Dock and window-preview apps.

Frequently asked questions

Is docktor a free alternative to Witch?: Yes. docktor is free and replaces Command-Tab with a switcher that shows the highlighted app's windows as thumbnails. Witch costs $14 and does more switching: browser tabs, search, and several switchers on different shortcuts. If you only need to jump to the right window, docktor covers it.
Can docktor switch browser tabs like Witch?: No. docktor's switcher works with apps and windows, not the tabs inside them. If jumping straight to a Safari or Chrome tab from the switcher matters to you, Witch is the better tool.
Does docktor replace Command-Tab?: Yes, by default. With Replace macOS Command-Tab turned on, Command-Tab and Command-` both open docktor's switcher. Turn the setting off on the Cmd+Tab page of docktor's settings to get the native shortcuts back.
Can I run Witch and docktor together?: Yes, as long as they aren't on the same shortcut. Either keep Witch off Command-Tab, or turn off Replace macOS Command-Tab in docktor and use it for Dock previews and widgets while Witch handles switching.
Which Macs does each app support?: Witch 4.7 requires macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later and runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel. docktor requires macOS 26 Tahoe or later.