LocalASOComparison
Dock alternative: a free listing manager versus a keyword-first Mac app
Dock is a Mac app for managing App Store and Google Play listings with a free tier and a EUR 44.99-per-year Premium plan, and LocalASO is a $29 one-time Mac app built around keyword research for the App Store; as of November 2026 they start from different jobs.
Dock replaces trips to App Store Connect and Google Play Console. LocalASO answers which keywords to use and where you rank. Many developers could reasonably run both.
Updated
Starting points
Dock describes itself as the native Mac app for listings, keywords, reviews and sales, for apps on the App Store, Google Play or your own site. You edit title, description and keywords of your listings in Dock and save to App Store Connect or publish to Google Play. It also searches any app on either store to analyze indexed keywords, estimated downloads and featuring.
LocalASO starts from the keyword board: rank per keyword and country, a volume and difficulty estimate, a verdict, and proposals for the name, subtitle and keyword field per language.
Side by side
| Criterion | Dock | LocalASO |
|---|---|---|
| Price model | Free tier; Premium EUR 5.99 per month or EUR 44.99 per year | $29 once |
| Platform | Mac app (Mac App Store or direct download) | Mac, macOS 14 or later |
| Stores | App Store and Google Play | Apple App Store only |
| Storefront coverage | Not stated in the text read | 52 storefronts, local language each |
| Keyword data | Keyword history, ranking evolution and metrics per its MCP docs | Rank, volume and difficulty estimated from ratings |
| AI | Premium: AI keyword generation and analysis | Your own AI, bring your own |
| Localization | Premium: automatic translation into all languages | Adapts keywords to each language with your own AI, then checks them |
| API / MCP | 34-tool MCP extension; macOS 15+, Dock 4.1+ | Local MCP server; macOS 14+ |
| Data location | App runs on your Mac; MCP calls stay on loopback | Local database on your Mac |
| Best for | Developers who manage both stores and want a listing editor | Developers who need keyword research per country |
Cost over time
Dock Premium at EUR 44.99 per year is EUR 134.97 over three years. LocalASO is $29 once. Dock's free tier means you can start with nothing and decide later; LocalASO has no trial and no refunds, so reading the pricing page first is important.
When Dock is the better choice
- You ship on Google Play as well as the App Store.
- You want one place to edit listings on both stores, manage reviews and look at sales.
- You want to start free and pay only when you need AI and translation.
- You want an MCP extension that covers listings, reviews, finance and your website audit.
When LocalASO is the better choice
- Your bottleneck is keyword research across many countries, not store account management.
- You want a one-time price and keywords that stay on your Mac.
- You want rank, volume and difficulty with verdicts, and you accept that these are estimates; see the difficulty glossary.
Using both
A common split: research and decide keywords in LocalASO, then paste the final name, subtitle and keyword field into Dock or App Store Connect. LocalASO can also upload drafts directly to App Store Connect and never submits for review. Check lengths first with the free keyword field checker. See the Mac tools roundup and the free tools comparison for the wider field, or LocalASO pricing.
Questions
- Is Dock free?
- Dock has a free tier for listing management on App Store and Google Play. Premium, with AI keyword generation, automatic translation and full app intelligence, is EUR 5.99 per month or EUR 44.99 per year, as of November 2026.
- Does Dock work with Google Play?
- Yes. Dock describes itself as the Mac app for App Store and Google Play ASO. LocalASO covers the Apple App Store only.
- Can I use both Dock and LocalASO?
- Yes. They are separate Mac apps; Dock manages listings and store data, LocalASO researches and tracks keywords.
Sources
- dock-app.com (checked November 1, 2026)
- dock-app.com/mcp (checked November 1, 2026)
Do this for every country, in minutes