3D desktop buddies vs 2D desktop pets
A 2D desktop pet is a flat character drawn as frames. A My Dock Buddies character is a rigged 3D model: a skeleton moves its body, fingers and props, and 8 moods change its face. Max and Avery can be chosen today, and the Mac app brings them to your Dock.
| Compared on | My Dock Buddies | A typical 2D desktop pet |
|---|---|---|
| How the character is made | A rigged 3D model with a skeleton inside, including 30 finger bones | Flat drawn frames (sprites) |
| Activities, props and moods | Max: 37 activities, 33 props, 8 moods. Avery: 39 activities, 38 props, 8 moods. | Varies by app |
| Made to order from your photos | Yes, with Annual or Lifetime: priced per request, and we aim to deliver within 72 hours of payment | Varies by app |
| Pricing model | A plan (Monthly $5.99/month, Annual $69/year, or Lifetime $200 once), with every buddy bought separately at $49.50 until 13 October 2026, then $99 | Varies by app; check its own page |
| On your Mac | Yes: the Mac app, for macOS 14 Sonoma or later, on an Apple silicon or Intel Mac, one Mac per account | Check the app’s own page |
What is the difference between a 3D buddy and a 2D desktop pet?
A 2D desktop pet is drawn as flat frames, so each new pose is new artwork. Each of our buddies is a 3D model with a skeleton inside, including 30 finger bones. A new activity is still real work for us, but it reuses the same model, hands and face. The table above uses only our own figures. For any other app, its own page is the place to check.
What can a rigged 3D character do with props?
The rig has prop bones, and activities move them along with the body, so props travel with the character. That is how Max can carry a box, water a plant or draw on a tablet, and how Avery sorts priority cards and tidies the cables. Today Max’s activities use 33 props and Avery’s use 38.
What moods do the buddies have?
Max and Avery each have 8 moods: happy, sad, focused, surprised, tired, thinking, laughing, and excited. A mood changes the eyes and mouth on the 3D face rather than swapping in a different drawing.
Can I get a buddy made from my photos?
Yes, with the Annual or Lifetime plan. Tell us about yourself or a consenting adult and add three to five photos. We set a price for each request, and work starts once you pay it. We aim to deliver within 72 hours of payment. If we need more time we tell you and ask for it, and if we still can’t deliver we refund your payment in full. You can have one open request at a time, and send one a day.
What should I expect from a custom buddy?
Your buddy is a stylized 3D character, not an exact match of anyone’s face. Small tweaks after the first look are free. Bigger changes, such as new colors, a different outfit or new accessories, are priced separately.
How does the pricing work?
Buddies come with a plan. Monthly is $5.99 a month, Annual is $69 a year, and Lifetime is $200 once and never renews. Every buddy is $49.50 until 13 October 2026, then $99, and Juno and Aadi will be $99 when released. Coupon codes can be entered at checkout. All sales are final, with the few exceptions listed on the refunds page.
What isn’t ready yet?
Juno is coming next and Aadi follows him; neither can be chosen yet. The Mac app is out, for macOS 14 Sonoma or later, on an Apple silicon or Intel Mac, and an account works on one Mac at a time. You sign in with a 6-digit code or a link sent to your email, choose a plan and buddies, and download the app from your library.