Sticky for Claude vs the official Claude Desktop app
Updated July 2026 · An honest comparison, written by the maker of Sticky for Claude
Short version: they are different tools, and most Sticky for Claude users keep both installed. The official Claude Desktop app (free with your subscription) is a full-featured home for Claude. Sticky for Claude is a floating overlay, it puts Claude in always-on-top windows that survive even true fullscreen, which the official app cannot do.
Can the Claude Desktop app stay always on top?
No. The official desktop app behaves like a regular window: it has no always-on-top setting, and it disappears the moment you focus another app or enter a fullscreen Space. When a bug accidentally made it stay on top, users reported it as an issue, it is not a supported feature. Sticky for Claude was built for exactly this: its windows use the same window layer as Spotlight, so they stay visible above every app, including true fullscreen, with no screen-recording permission.
Feature comparison
| Claude Desktop (official) | Sticky for Claude | |
|---|---|---|
| Always on top | No (filed as a bug when it happens) | Yes, every window |
| Visible over true fullscreen apps | No | Yes (Spotlight's window layer) |
| Multiple independent windows | Single main window | Unlimited, side by side |
| Claude Code sessions | Yes | Yes, pinned per project folder, plus a real terminal mode |
| System-wide summon gesture | Keyboard shortcut | Double-tap ⌘ anywhere (or custom shortcut) |
| Auto-fade when idle | No | Yes, configurable opacity |
| Account required | Yes (your Anthropic account) | No app account; it drives your existing Claude login |
| Chat storage | Anthropic cloud | Local files on your Mac only |
| Price | Free (with subscription) | $29 one-time (7-day free trial), requires your own Claude subscription or API key too |
| Made by | Anthropic | Independent solo developer (not affiliated with Anthropic) |
Which one should you use?
- Use the official app for long, focused Claude sessions where Claude is the app you're working in.
- Use Sticky for Claude when Claude should float above the app you're working in: a fullscreen IDE, Figma, a writing app, ask, glance, keep typing, never Cmd-Tab.
- Both together is the common setup: official app for deep work, Sticky for Claude as the system-level overlay.
Try the overlay for yourself
7-day free trial · all features · no account, no card · macOS 14+, Apple Silicon
↓ Download Sticky for ClaudeFrequently asked
Do I still need a Claude subscription with Sticky for Claude?
Yes. Sticky for Claude drives your own Claude Code installation with your Anthropic account (Pro/Max) or API key. It replaces the window, not the subscription.
How does Sticky for Claude float over fullscreen without screen recording permission?
It creates non-activating panels with the window flags Apple designed for auxiliary overlays, the same technique Spotlight uses (joins all Spaces, shown with fullscreen windows). No hacks, no private APIs.
Is Sticky for Claude an official Anthropic product?
No. It's an independent app by a solo developer. "Claude" is a trademark of Anthropic, PBC, used here to describe compatibility.