Side

Side

A little AI chat panel that lives beside your Mac's Dock

73upvotes
Launched October 8, 2026

About Side

Side is a minimalist AI chat panel designed specifically for Mac users seeking quick, unobtrusive access to AI assistance. It elegantly sits beside the Mac's Dock, floating above other windows to ensure it remains accessible without disrupting your workflow. Its compact design expands when needed, offering a seamless chatting experience across multiple Spaces and full-screen apps. Users can switch between different AI providers, models, and reasoning levels within a single conversation, providing flexibility and power. Additionally, Side supports signing in with ChatGPT or using an API key, catering to both casual users and developers. Its open-source nature under the MIT license makes it appealing for those who value transparency and customization. Whether for quick queries, coding help, or creative brainstorming, Side offers a sleek, always-at-hand AI companion that integrates smoothly into daily Mac usage.

Screenshots

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Pros

  • ✓Discreet, floating panel that doesn't interfere with workspace
  • ✓Cross-application compatibility across Spaces and full-screen apps
  • ✓Flexible provider and model switching within a single conversation
  • ✓Supports custom accounts via ChatGPT login or API key
  • ✓Open-source with a compact, expandable design

Cons

  • ✗Limited to Mac users, not available on other platforms
  • ✗Features may be basic compared to full-fledged chat applications
  • ✗Dependent on external AI providers, which may affect performance or capabilities

Use Cases

1Quick AI-assisted research or fact-checking without leaving the current window
2Coding help or debugging while working in development environments
3Creative brainstorming and idea generation alongside your tasks
4Managing multiple AI models for different types of queries
5Providing a persistent, always-ready AI assistant for daily productivity
6Custom AI workflows for developers using API keys

Pricing

Pricing not verified

Quick Info

Upvotes73
Comments1
Launched10/8/2026

Topics

MacProductivityArtificial IntelligenceGitHub

Makers

pony

pony

Alternatives

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