Looking for Dash on Mobile?
Dash set the standard for offline documentation on macOS. DocNative brings that same capability to mobile—available natively on both iOS and Android.
What is Dash?
Dash is a well-regarded documentation browser for macOS, created by Kapeli. It pioneered the concept of downloading documentation sets (docsets) for offline access, with fast local search and IDE integrations.
For Mac-based developers, Dash remains an excellent choice. The challenge arises when you need documentation access on mobile devices or on Android.
DocNative addresses this gap. We built a mobile-first documentation app with the same offline-first philosophy—download once, access anywhere, search instantly.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | DocNative | Dash | DevDocs | Zeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | ||||
| Native Android App | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Native iOS App | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| macOS App | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Windows/Linux Desktop | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Offline Capability | ||||
| Full Offline Access | ✓ | ✓ | Partial | ✓ |
| Offline Search | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Local Storage | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Features | ||||
| TLDR Command Pages | ✓ | — | — | — |
| AI-Powered Search | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Code Syntax Highlighting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bookmarks & Favorites | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| Dark Mode | ✓ | — | ✓ | — |
| Pricing | ||||
| Price | Free / £7.99/yr | $30 | Free | Free |
| Free Trial | ✓ | — | N/A | N/A |
Built for Mobile-First Workflows
Desktop documentation browsers assume you're at your workstation. Modern development happens everywhere—on the train, at a coffee shop, during a flight.
DocNative is designed from the ground up for touch interfaces and smaller screens. The reading experience is optimized for mobile viewports. Navigation works with gestures. Search is fast enough to query while context-switching between apps.
- Touch-optimized navigation for phones and tablets
- Adjustable typography for comfortable reading
- Instant search without keyboard shortcuts
- Works on both platforms—iOS and Android
When to Use Each
Choose Dash When...
- Your primary development machine is a Mac
- You want IDE integration (Xcode, VS Code plugins)
- You prefer one-time purchase over subscription
- Desktop documentation access is sufficient
Choose DocNative When...
- You need documentation on Android
- You want full mobile access without a Mac
- TLDR command pages would speed up your workflow
- You travel frequently and code on mobile
- You prefer trying before committing (7-day trial)
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
Try the Mobile Alternative
Try DocNative free with 2 documentation sources. No credit card required to start.