Comparison
LiquidPad vs Shift
Shift (by Redbrick) is a cross-platform desktop app for people who juggle many email accounts and web apps. It loads Gmail, Outlook, Slack, Trello, WhatsApp and hundreds of other services inside a Chromium browser shell, organized into Spaces, so you can switch accounts without constant sign-ins. It runs on macOS and Windows and syncs across machines. LiquidPad takes a different approach: a native macOS menu-bar app built on AppKit and WKWebView (not Chromium) that slides a Liquid Glass panel in from the screen edge on a global shortcut, pairing your web apps with native macOS tools and a one-time purchase option. Shift is the heavier all-day workstation; LiquidPad is the fast, native, glanceable Mac companion.
Feature comparison
Why people pick LiquidPad over Shift
- Truly native macOS app on AppKit + WKWebView, not an Electron/Chromium wrapper, lighter and more energy-efficient.
- Slides a Liquid Glass panel in from the screen edge on a global shortcut for instant glance-and-go access.
- Built-in native tools: terminal, SSH manager, focus/pomodoro, tasks, habits and a system monitor.
- Per-app isolated sessions for running multiple accounts of the same service.
- Command palette (⌘K), Boards/multi-view, Workspace scenes, and Universal Picture-in-Picture.
- Vault PIN lock, notification badges, and an AI omnibar.
- One-time Lifetime purchase ($59) available, no mandatory subscription, and no telemetry.
Where Shift shines
Credit where it's due, Shift is a strong product. It's the better choice when:
- Cross-platform: runs on both macOS and Windows, with setup syncing across devices.
- Mature, established product with a large user base.
- Deep multi-account email focus: switch between many Gmail/Outlook inboxes without re-login.
- Spaces group apps, tabs, bookmarks and Chrome extensions per project or team.
- Chrome extension support inside the workspace.
- Shift AI built into the address bar, plus a Teams plan with a shared dashboard.
Pricing
Shift offers a limited free plan and an Advanced plan around $149-$199/year (subscription-only, can get pricey). LiquidPad is free for 3 apps and 1 board, with Pro at $4.99/mo or $47.88/yr, plus a one-time $59 Lifetime option and a 14-day trial, so recurring cost can be far lower.
The verdict
Choose Shift if you need a cross-platform (Mac + Windows) all-day workstation built around many email accounts, Chrome extensions and team Spaces, and don't mind a Chromium app on a subscription. Choose LiquidPad if you're on macOS and want a fast, native, energy-efficient Liquid Glass panel that slides in on a shortcut, bundles native tools alongside your web apps, isolates accounts, and offers a one-time Lifetime purchase.
Try LiquidPad free, no account needed.
Three apps and one workspace on the house. Go unlimited with a 14-day trial whenever you're ready.
Download for MacmacOS 14 Sonoma or later · Apple Silicon & Intel