We make TopDock. What we say about Checker Plus is kept general and based on its public store listing as of October 2026. Check the listing in your browser's extension store for its current features and any paid options.
The short version
Checker Plus for Gmail lives in your browser's toolbar. It shows an unread count, sends desktop notifications and lets you read and act on Gmail messages from a pop-up, across several Gmail accounts. If Gmail is your only inbox and your browser is always open, it's a quick, light way to stay on top of mail.
TopDock is a Windows app with a bar at the top of the screen. It doesn't need a browser running, and it puts Gmail, Outlook, X mentions, Reddit replies and a todo list side by side.
At a glance
| TopDock | Checker Plus for Gmail | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A Windows desktop app | A browser extension |
| Runs when | Whenever Windows is running; can start with Windows | While your browser is running |
| Where you see it | A docked bar at the top of the screen with a tile per inbox | An icon and count in the browser toolbar |
| Accounts | Several Gmail and Outlook inboxes, plus X, Reddit, LinkedIn posting and todos | Several Gmail accounts |
| Reading and replying | In a drop-down panel: read, reply, attach, archive, delete with Undo | In the extension's pop-up; see the listing for details |
| Notifications | Badges by default; pop-ups per tile; quiet hours | Desktop notifications with options in the extension |
| Sign-ins | Official sign-in pages; tokens in Windows Credential Manager | Through your browser; see the listing's privacy details |
| Platforms | Windows 10 and 11 | Any desktop that runs a supported browser |
| Price | Not announced yet | See the store listing |
Where Checker Plus is the better fit
- Gmail is your only inbox and you don't need Outlook in the same place.
- Your browser is open all day anyway.
- You use a Mac, Linux or ChromeOS as well as Windows.
- You prefer not to install a desktop app.
Where TopDock is the better fit
- You have Gmail and Outlook, or a work inbox and a personal one, and want both in view.
- You want to know about new mail even when the browser is closed.
- You also keep an eye on X mentions or Reddit replies.
- You want badges you can glance at instead of a toolbar icon you have to look for.
- You want to turn messages into todos that link back to them.
Extension or desktop app: the real difference
An extension is tied to its browser. That's its strength (nothing to install, works everywhere the browser does) and its limit: close the browser, switch browsers or use a separate profile for work, and the notifier goes with it. A desktop app runs independently, can reserve its own space on screen, and can store sign-ins in Windows' own credential store.
Neither is wrong. If you only need Gmail alerts, start with an extension. If you're juggling several kinds of inbox, a bar like TopDock saves more switching. Our guide to Gmail notifications on the Windows desktop covers every option, including the free built-in ones.