Open ContextsDock mode and taskbar mode change the workflow
The uBar documentation describes taskbar defaults that show window titles, use Automatic Window Grouping and open a window list for grouped entries. Dock mode instead defaults to always grouping windows and omitting app titles and the clock.
That makes the mode choice part of the evaluation. If your goal is to reach a particular document window, start with taskbar mode and compare Never against Automatic grouping.
Layout, favorites and multiple screens
uBar can sit on any screen edge, use up to five rows and keep apps, files and folders in Favorites. The vendor also describes a taskbar for each display or a mirrored bar, alongside hover previews and activity indicators.
Check whether another visible bar leaves enough workspace on your smallest display. Rows and window labels trade screen space for more visible choices; neither layout is universally better.
System requirements, permissions and licenses
The vendor publishes a macOS 10.13 minimum. Accessibility enables window controls; its documentation also explains Screen Recording requirements for window titles, new-window handling and previews on relevant macOS versions.
The 14-day trial provides a way to evaluate that setup. Personal costs $30 once for up to two Macs. Commercial costs $50 once per employee, also for up to two Macs. Choose the license that matches your usage rather than assuming the personal price applies at work.
What to check during the trial
- Open several windows of one app; compare taskbar and Dock modes, then Never and Automatic grouping.
- Use a file or folder favorite and a hover preview during real work.
- Connect your usual displays and check each bar’s position and available space.
- Check behavior after changing Spaces, minimizing windows and reconnecting a monitor.
- Confirm the requested permissions and compatibility on your target macOS release.
These are suggested checks, not results from a hands-on uBar test.
Where uBar fits beside Open Contexts
uBar is worth evaluating when a configurable taskbar is the goal. Open Contexts is worth evaluating when the missing piece is a saved group containing selected windows from several applications.
uBar’s Window Grouping organizes windows by their application. Open Contexts’ saved groups organize a chosen working set. This documentation review does not establish a performance winner or verify every Space and fullscreen behavior.
Official sources
Sources checked on October 8, 2026. Consult the current official pages for prices, licenses and system requirements.