I built Parall, a macOS utility that lets you run multiple instances of the same Mac app side by side. It does this by generating lightweight native "shortcut apps" that behave like standalone apps, each with its own Dock icon, name, optional tray menu icon, configuration, and optional isolated data container.
The goal is true multi-instance launching with a fully native design: no scripts, no hacks, and no background daemons. Parall runs only when you use it.
Key Features
Most macOS apps store data under paths like:
Some apps also use hidden folders in your Home directory, like:
Each shortcut Parall generates is a lightweight .app bundle that launches your selected target app. You can pin these shortcuts to the Dock, rename them, and assign custom icons, so each instance feels like its own independent app.
Parall itself is sandboxed and Mac App Store compliant. The shortcuts it generates are not sandboxed by macOS design, but they are safe: they do not modify the target apps, they only launch them.
Built as a native macOS app
Parall is written in Objective-C and supports macOS 10.9 or newer. It uses native system APIs and runs only when you launch a shortcut, with no background services. This keeps it efficient, with effectively zero CPU usage while idle and minimal RAM overhead.
Compatibility
Not every app supports running multiple instances, some apps enforce single-instance behavior.
Compatibility list: https://parall.app/compatibility
If your app is not listed or you want confirmation before buying, email support@parall.app and I will test it.
Note: For the "Open With" passthrough feature, a temporary phantom Dock icon may appear the first time. Quit it once, and after that passthrough works normally.
For sandboxed apps, custom home or data redirection is not available, but running multiple isolated instances still works.
Coming this month
I'm working on a new feature: animated Dock icons for Parall shortcuts. If you replace your pinned Dock apps with Parall shortcuts, you will be able to give the native macOS Dock a completely new look, without Dock replacement apps or overlays.
Find Parall in the Mac App Store, or visit https://parall.app for more information.
The goal is true multi-instance launching with a fully native design: no scripts, no hacks, and no background daemons. Parall runs only when you use it.
Key Features
- Run multiple instances of the same app at the same time.
- Each shortcut behaves like a separate app in the Dock with its own icon and state.
- Data redirection for most non-sandboxed macOS apps, so each instance can use a different account or environment.
- Optional "auto erase data on quit" mode, useful for testing and educational workflows where you want a fresh start every time.
- Shortcuts stay in sync automatically when the original app updates.
- Add a tray menu icon to any shortcut, so you can access or control the app from the menu bar.
- "New Window" tray menu action for supported apps (including Chrome-based and Firefox-based browsers, VS Code, and ToDesktop-based apps). This can also be set as the default left-click action on the tray icon.
- For supported browsers, the tray menu can provide quick actions like opening new windows or private windows.
- Assign unique icons or draw a text label on top of the Dock icon to make profiles easy to recognize (Work, Personal, Client, etc).
- Per-shortcut full-screen menu bar visibility control for Chrome-based browsers (force always show or always auto-hide).
- Experimental Dock icon visibility overrides for advanced setups.
- Per-shortcut command line arguments, Info.plist overrides, and environment variables.
- Offline and private. No telemetry and no network requests.
Most macOS apps store data under paths like:
- ~/Library/Application Support
- ~/Library/Preferences
Some apps also use hidden folders in your Home directory, like:
- ~/.config
- ~/.cache
- custom locations defined by the developer
- Dropbox or iCloud Drive (sync app profiles across machines)
- External SSD or a network drive (save internal disk space)
- Project-specific folders (separate test environments)
Each shortcut Parall generates is a lightweight .app bundle that launches your selected target app. You can pin these shortcuts to the Dock, rename them, and assign custom icons, so each instance feels like its own independent app.
Parall itself is sandboxed and Mac App Store compliant. The shortcuts it generates are not sandboxed by macOS design, but they are safe: they do not modify the target apps, they only launch them.
Built as a native macOS app
Parall is written in Objective-C and supports macOS 10.9 or newer. It uses native system APIs and runs only when you launch a shortcut, with no background services. This keeps it efficient, with effectively zero CPU usage while idle and minimal RAM overhead.
Compatibility
Not every app supports running multiple instances, some apps enforce single-instance behavior.
Compatibility list: https://parall.app/compatibility
If your app is not listed or you want confirmation before buying, email support@parall.app and I will test it.
Note: For the "Open With" passthrough feature, a temporary phantom Dock icon may appear the first time. Quit it once, and after that passthrough works normally.
For sandboxed apps, custom home or data redirection is not available, but running multiple isolated instances still works.
Coming this month
I'm working on a new feature: animated Dock icons for Parall shortcuts. If you replace your pinned Dock apps with Parall shortcuts, you will be able to give the native macOS Dock a completely new look, without Dock replacement apps or overlays.
Find Parall in the Mac App Store, or visit https://parall.app for more information.
