Best Alternatives to macOS Dashboard in 2025
Apple removed Dashboard from macOS. Find the best replacement for Dashboard widgets on modern Mac systems.
| Feature | Simple Widgets | macOS Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Actively maintained | Removed in Catalina |
| macOS Sonoma+ | Full support | Not available |
| Web Content | Any website | Limited widgets |
| Always Visible | Yes | Required activation |
| Widget Selection | Unlimited | Apple-curated |
| Third-Party Support | Any website | Required development |
| Price | Free tier | Was included |
The End of macOS Dashboard
Dashboard was a beloved feature in macOS that provided quick access to widgets via a dedicated space or overlay. Apple removed it in macOS Catalina (2019), leaving many users without their favorite widget functionality.
What Dashboard Offered
- Dedicated widget space
- Calculator, dictionary, calendar
- Weather and stocks
- Sticky notes
- Third-party Dashboard widgets
Why Apple Removed Dashboard
Apple shifted focus to Notification Center widgets and later to desktop widgets in Sonoma. Dashboard was seen as redundant, though many users disagreed.
Modern Alternatives
Simple Widgets (Recommended)
Simple Widgets brings widget functionality back to Mac with more flexibility than Dashboard ever had.
Advantages over Dashboard:
- Widgets visible all the time, not in separate space
- Any website becomes a widget
- No need to activate/deactivate widget mode
- Works on all macOS versions
Recreating Dashboard widgets:
- Calculator: Widget from any web calculator
- Weather: Weather.com or Apple Weather web
- Stocks: Yahoo Finance or Google Finance
- Dictionary: Widget from dictionary.com
- Notes: Google Keep or any notes web app
Other Alternatives
macOS Notification Center:
- Built-in widgets
- Requires opening sidebar
- Limited to App Store widgets
macOS Desktop Widgets (Sonoma+):
- Widgets on desktop
- Fades when using apps
- App Store widgets only
Third-Party Dashboard Apps:
- Various attempts to recreate Dashboard
- Limited compatibility
- Often abandoned
Why Simple Widgets is the Best Choice
- Always Visible: Unlike Dashboard, widgets stay on your desktop
- Any Content: Dashboard required developers to create widgets; Simple Widgets works with any website
- No Activation: Dashboard required keyboard shortcut or hot corner; widgets are just there
- Modern & Supported: Works on latest macOS with active development
Migrating from Dashboard
| Dashboard Widget | Simple Widget Alternative |
|---|---|
| Calculator | calculator.net widget |
| Weather | weather.com widget |
| Stocks | Yahoo Finance widget |
| Dictionary | dictionary.com widget |
| Stickies | Google Keep widget |
| Calendar | Google Calendar widget |
| Clock | timeanddate.com widget |
The Future of Mac Widgets
While Apple’s native widget solutions continue to evolve, Simple Widgets provides a consistent, flexible experience that doesn’t depend on Apple’s changing priorities.
Is this comparison accurate?
We strive to keep our comparisons up-to-date and fair. If you notice any inaccuracies or have suggestions, please let us know.
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