Chrome profile Dock icon apps for Mac, compared
by ZwayStudiosupdated
Several Mac apps can give each Chrome profile its own icon, but they work in very different ways. Chrome Profile Switcher, Okie Dockie and Superdock add profile icons for the one Chrome you already run, while Unbundle, Parallel Spaces and Parall run separate copies or instances. If you use more than Google Chrome, or want a free option, Chrome Profile Switcher is the only one here that adds profile icons for a single running copy of Brave, Edge, Arc, Vivaldi or Firefox.
The reason these tools exist is simple: the macOS Dock shows one icon per running app, so all your Chrome profiles hide behind a single icon. Each tool below solves that in its own way. All facts are as of 29 September 2026, taken from each product’s own website.
Comparison table
| Tool | How it works | Price | Browsers with profile icons | Copy of Chrome per profile? | Keeps Apple’s Dock? | Notarized | macOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome Profile Switcher | Small launcher per profile (about 2 MB) that brings that profile’s existing windows forward | Free during beta | Chrome, Brave, Edge, Vivaldi, Opera, Arc, Dia, Chromium, Yandex, Firefox, Zen, LibreWolf, Waterfox | No | Yes | Not yet (beta, one “Open Anyway” step) | 14 Sonoma or later |
| Okie Dockie | Menu bar app; Pro adds launchers under 1 MB per profile that raise existing windows | Free app, Pro $19 one time (3 Macs), 7 day trial | Google Chrome only (plus Beta, Dev, Canary) | No | Yes | Yes | 13 or later |
| Superdock | Replaces and hides Apple’s Dock with its own dock that shows profile tiles | Dock free; profile icons $7.99 once after 14 day trial (5 Macs) | Google Chrome only | No | No, replaces it while running | Yes | 14 or later |
| Unbundle | Builds a standalone copy of Chrome.app for each profile | $6.99 one time | Chrome | Yes, about 500 MB each | Yes | No claim on its site | 13 or later |
| Parallel Spaces / Parall | Runs separate app instances with separate data | $4.99 / $5 on the Mac App Store | Parallel Spaces lists Edge, Brave, Arc, Vivaldi and Firefox too | Separate instance per profile | Yes | Mac App Store apps | See App Store listing |
| Epichrome (discontinued) | Created Chrome-based apps | Free, open source | Chrome based | Yes, each app was Chrome-based | Yes | No longer updated | No longer updated |
| DIY Automator script | open -na "Google Chrome" --args --profile-directory="Profile 1" wrapped in Automator or Shortcuts |
Free | Chrome | No | Yes | Not applicable | Not applicable |
A few notes on the table. “Copy of Chrome per profile” matters for disk space, memory and logins. A separate copy or instance keeps profiles strictly apart, but you sign in again and use more memory. “Keeps Apple’s Dock” matters if you like the Dock you have and only want extra icons in it.
The DIY script is a fair starting point if you only need a launcher. The catch is that it always opens a new window with a generic icon. It never brings back the window you already had. Our guide on opening a Chrome profile from Terminal shows the command in detail.
How to choose
- You only use Chrome and want snap layouts and other window tools: pick Okie Dockie. Its Pro upgrade adds Chrome profile icons, and the free app brings snap layouts, an Option-Tab switcher and more.
- You want a whole new dock with previews for every app: pick Superdock. It replaces Apple’s Dock and adds hover previews, a thumbnail switcher and a dock on every display.
- You want each profile truly separate, with its own Cmd-Tab entry, and can spare the disk space: pick Unbundle. Each profile becomes its own app, at about 500 MB per profile.
- You use Brave, Edge, Arc, Vivaldi or Firefox, or you want it free: pick Chrome Profile Switcher. It keeps Apple’s Dock, uses the browser you already run and is free during the beta.
- You used Epichrome before: read our Epichrome alternative page for what to use now.
Not sure whether you want profiles or separate copies at all? Our guide on Chrome profiles vs separate Chrome copies explains the trade off. For browser specific details, see the browsers page.
To try Chrome Profile Switcher, download it here.