WebCatalog vs Stack Browser: App Isolation vs Productivity Workspace

Choosing between WebCatalog and Stack comes down to a fundamental question about how you want your web apps to live on your computer. Do you want each app in its own contained, distraction-free desktop window? Or do you want a smarter browser that organizes everything into productivity-focused workspaces with built-in tools?

WebCatalog converts websites from its catalog of 1,000+ apps into standalone desktop applications with isolated sessions. Stack keeps everything inside a single browser window but layers in productivity features like spaces, split-view reading mode, and ad blocking that turn the browser itself into a more powerful environment.

Both tools are worth serious consideration. But the right choice depends on whether you think in terms of apps or workspaces, and how much you value isolation versus integration. This breakdown covers pricing, architecture, app management, and performance so you can decide without guessing.

WebCatalog Overview

WebCatalog is a desktop application built around the concept of app-first isolation. Rather than running web apps inside a shared browser, WebCatalog wraps each one in its own Electron-based desktop window with a separate Chromium session. The app ships with a catalog of over 1,000 pre-configured web apps, from Notion and Linear to Figma and Airtable, and you can add custom apps from any URL.

The key value is that each app is a clean, independent environment. You can run two instances of the same service, two Slack workspaces, two Google Drives, and they never share cookies or login state. Each app appears in your dock or taskbar independently, sends its own OS notifications, and can be launched or quit without affecting other apps. For anyone building a SaaS-heavy workflow, this architecture eliminates a lot of the friction that comes from managing everything through a single shared browser. Take a look at our roundup of best desktop app converters for web applications to see how it compares across the field.

Stack Browser Overview

Stack is a Chromium-based productivity browser that rethinks how you organize your web life. Instead of traditional tab bars, Stack uses a card-based spatial layout where you can create separate spaces, think work, personal, client projects, and organize your web apps and tabs within each space. Split-view mode lets you run two web apps side by side in a single window without leaving Stack.

Stack’s built-in ad and tracker blocking is a notable differentiator, it operates at the browser level, so it covers every site you visit inside Stack without needing a third-party extension. The reading mode strips away noise from articles and web pages for focused consumption. Stack is a browser-first tool: it doesn’t pretend each app is a separate desktop application, but it does make the browser itself significantly more organized and productive. For users who prefer working within a browser paradigm and want native productivity features baked in, Stack is a compelling choice.

Pricing Compared

This is where WebCatalog has a clear structural advantage. The free tier is genuinely usable, you can install apps from the catalog and run them as desktop apps without paying anything. The limitations kick in at scale: the number of active apps you can run and access to advanced organizational features like Spaces require a paid plan, which starts at around $5.99/month. For most individuals, that’s an easy spend to justify.

Stack has historically offered its core features for free, with optional paid upgrades for power features. The free plan includes spaces, split-view, and ad blocking, which means the fundamental productivity features aren’t gated. This makes Stack accessible to users who want the browser productivity features without any subscription cost. Paid features, when offered, tend to focus on advanced sync and collaboration.

From a pure cost perspective, both tools can be used at zero cost. WebCatalog’s paid tier unlocks more value faster for heavy multi-app users. Stack’s free tier is more feature-complete for a productivity browser, which may mean you never need to pay depending on your use case.

App Management & Session Isolation

WebCatalog’s catalog-driven app management is genuinely differentiated. Search for an app by name, install it in one click, and it launches in its own isolated desktop window. You can create multiple instances of any app with separate logins. The Spaces feature lets you group related apps together, all your client A tools in one space, all your personal tools in another, which adds organizational structure on top of the isolation model.

Stack manages web apps as pinned sites within its spaces. You can pin Notion, Linear, and Figma to a workspace space and they’ll persist there between sessions. But they share the browser’s session environment, you can’t run two separate Notion accounts in different Stack spaces without browser profile workarounds. For users who don’t need multi-account isolation and just want organized access to their tools, Stack’s approach is simpler and more browser-native.

Productivity & Notification Management

WebCatalog pushes notifications from each app through the OS notification system individually. Because apps are isolated, you get granular control, disable notifications from a specific app without affecting others. Each app also behaves like a native desktop application in terms of focus states and window management.

Stack’s notification model is browser-based, web push notifications work the same as in Chrome, routed through whatever permissions each site has been granted. The split-view feature is a genuine productivity boost for side-by-side work: reading documentation while writing, or comparing two tools simultaneously in one window. Stack’s built-in ad blocking also reduces notification spam from sites that rely on browser notifications for marketing.

Platform Support & Performance

Both WebCatalog and Stack run on macOS and Windows. WebCatalog’s per-app Chromium instances mean RAM usage scales with the number of active apps. Running five apps simultaneously is manageable on modern hardware; running fifteen will noticeably increase memory pressure. The isolation benefit comes at a memory cost.

Stack shares a single browser process across all spaces and pinned apps, making its memory footprint more like a standard browser. If you’re running a lot of web tools simultaneously and memory is a concern, Stack’s shared model will feel lighter. Stack also benefits from being a more actively maintained browser with regular Chromium engine updates, which matters for security and web compatibility.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Feature	WebCatalog	Stack Browser
Free Plan	Yes (limited active apps)	Yes (core features free)
Desktop App Wrapping	Yes, 1,000+ app catalog + custom URLs	No, browser with pinned sites
Multi-Account Support	Yes, isolated instances per app	Limited, shared session
App Catalog Size	1,000+ pre-configured apps	Any site (browser-based)
Session Isolation	Full per-app isolation	Shared browser session
Notifications Control	Per-app OS notifications	Browser web push model
Cross-Platform	macOS, Windows	macOS, Windows
Built-in Ad Blocking	No	Yes, native ad and tracker blocking
Split-View	No	Yes, side-by-side in one window
Starting Price	Free; paid from ~$5.99/mo	Free (paid features optional)

Which Should You Choose?

Pick WebCatalog if: You want genuine app isolation with separate desktop windows, separate sessions, and separate notifications for each tool. You need to run multiple accounts for the same service cleanly. You value a large pre-built catalog that makes turning web apps into desktop apps a one-click action. You don’t need a full browser experience inside each app.

Pick Stack if: You prefer staying inside a browser paradigm but want better organization through spaces and persistent tabs. You want built-in ad blocking and split-view reading without installing extensions. You don’t need multi-account isolation but do want a more productive browsing environment for your daily web app stack.

FAQs

What is Stack Browser?

Stack is a Chromium-based productivity browser that organizes your web apps and tabs into spatial cards and spaces. It includes built-in ad blocking, split-view mode, and a reading mode. Unlike a standard browser, it’s designed around the idea that web apps should be organized and persistent rather than ephemeral tabs.

Can WebCatalog run two instances of the same app?

Yes. WebCatalog supports multiple instances of the same app, each with a fully isolated session. You can run a personal Gmail and a work Gmail as two separate WebCatalog apps with no shared cookies or login state between them.

Does Stack support multiple accounts?

Stack’s spaces let you organize different workflows, but the underlying browser session is shared. Running two fully separate accounts for the same service (like two Google accounts) in different Stack spaces isn’t cleanly supported without using browser profile workarounds or incognito mode.

Is WebCatalog a real desktop app or a browser?

WebCatalog apps behave like real desktop applications. They appear in your dock or taskbar, launch independently, send OS notifications, and have their own windows. Under the hood they’re Electron-based wrappers around web apps, but from a user experience standpoint they function like installed software.

Does Stack have an app catalog?

Stack doesn’t have a catalog in the same way WebCatalog does. You navigate to any website in Stack and pin it to a space. WebCatalog’s pre-configured catalog of 1,000+ apps means popular tools are already optimized for desktop wrapping with correct icon assets and app metadata baked in.

Which tool is better for focus and distraction-free work?

Both help with focus in different ways. WebCatalog gives each app its own isolated window, reducing context switching. Stack’s reading mode and ad blocking reduce visual noise within the browser. WebCatalog’s isolated-window model tends to be more effective for focus if you’re prone to tab-switching distractions.

Can I add custom apps to WebCatalog?

Yes. Beyond the pre-configured catalog, you can create custom apps from any URL in WebCatalog. This is useful for internal tools, client portals, or any web-based service that isn’t in the default catalog.

Does Stack Browser block ads by default?

Yes. Stack includes native ad and tracker blocking that applies across all sites in the browser without requiring a third-party extension. This is one of Stack’s clearest advantages over WebCatalog, which doesn’t include built-in ad blocking in its Electron-wrapped apps.

Which is more RAM-efficient?

Stack is generally more RAM-efficient because all tabs and spaces share a single browser process. WebCatalog’s isolation model runs separate Chromium instances per app, so memory usage scales with the number of active apps. For memory-limited machines, Stack’s browser model is the lighter choice.

Is WebCatalog safe to use?

WebCatalog wraps existing websites in Electron containers, the security posture is similar to using Chrome to visit those sites, but in isolated windows. The app itself has been available since 2018 and has a large user base. Standard security practices apply: use strong passwords and 2FA on the accounts you access through WebCatalog apps.

What platforms do both tools support?

Both WebCatalog and Stack Browser support macOS and Windows. Neither offers a native Linux build. Mobile platforms are not supported by either tool.

Which tool is better for someone new to desktop app wrappers?

WebCatalog has a gentler learning curve for app wrapping specifically. The catalog makes it easy to get started, you search, click install, and the app is ready. Stack requires more deliberate setup of spaces and pinned sites but offers a richer browser productivity environment overall. For pure app wrapping, WebCatalog is the more approachable starting point.

Final Word

WebCatalog and Stack Browser aren’t really direct competitors, they just happen to serve some of the same users. WebCatalog is an app-isolation platform that happens to use web technology. Stack is a productivity browser that happens to organize your web apps better than Chrome does. If isolation, per-app sessions, and a large app catalog are what you need, WebCatalog delivers that more directly. If you prefer staying browser-native with better workspace organization and built-in ad blocking, Stack is a strong alternative.

For a broader view of the tools in this space, check out our guides on multi-account browser tools for productivity and best desktop app converters, both offer context on how these tools fit into a modern SaaS workflow.