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# Sidebar or compact menu: which navigation to use
- URL: https://blog.jestor.com/sidebar-or-compact-menu/
- Published: 2026-09-16T18:51:13.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-16T18:51:13.000Z
- Author: Bruno Bannach

Choosing **sidebar navigation for internal apps** over a compact menu comes down to how many apps people move between. In **Jestor**, both are available, and each user can pick the one that fits how they work.

## Why navigation style is not a cosmetic question

A compact menu keeps the screen clean and puts the focus on the app you are in. That is right for someone who spends the day inside one tool.

A sidebar uses more screen but shows more at once, which is right for someone jumping between six apps an hour. Neither is correct in the abstract.

What the choice actually depends on:

- How many apps a person moves between daily
- Whether their work is deep in one tool or spread across several
- Screen size, since a sidebar costs horizontal space
- Whether they navigate by memory or by looking

## Comparing the two

| Aspect                 | Compact menu         | Sidebar               |
| ---------------------- | -------------------- | --------------------- |
| Screen used            | Minimal              | A fixed column        |
| Items visible          | Fewer                | More at once          |
| Switching between apps | More clicks          | Faster                |
| Best for               | Deep work in one app | Moving across several |

## Step by step to switch

1. **Open the menu settings** from your current navigation.
2. **Select the sidebar option** if you move between apps frequently.
3. **Try it for a few days**, since navigation habits take time to judge.
4. **Switch back** if the screen space matters more than the visibility.
5. **Let each person choose**, rather than standardizing across the company.

## Why offering both was the right call

Standardizing navigation across a company optimizes for consistency, which is a value nobody experiences. Letting people choose optimizes for how they actually work, which they experience every day. The cost of supporting both is small, and the benefit is spread across everyone.

- **Both options available:** compact and sidebar
- **Per user choice:** navigation is a personal preference
- **More room in the sidebar:** additional functionality fits
- **Faster app switching:** fewer clicks between tools

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can each user choose their own navigation style?

Yes. The menu style is selected per user. See [jestor.com](https://www.jestor.com/?ref=blog.jestor.com).

### Which one is better?

Neither in the abstract. The sidebar suits moving between apps, the compact menu suits deep work in one.

### Can I switch back after trying it?

Yes. The choice is reversible at any time.

## Video Tutorial: Step by Step

With **Jestor**, you can automate workflows, connect teams, and build internal systems your way, all without code and powered by **AI**. Discover Jestor at [jestor.com](https://www.jestor.com/?ref=blog.jestor.com) and see how to take your company's operations to a new level of efficiency and control.