The best window manager for Mac depends on how you like to work: dragging windows to snap areas, using keyboard shortcuts, or letting windows tile themselves automatically. Check what's free, which macOS versions it supports and how much setup it needs. Ten apps follow in no particular order, plus steps to try built-in tiling first.
If you've moved to a Mac from Windows, the first thing you probably missed was snapping windows into halves. macOS has improved a lot, but plenty of people still want more: keyboard shortcuts for thirds, saved layouts for each monitor, or windows that arrange themselves.
The ten apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every one comes from a small independent developer or open source project. Each description comes from the app's own website, re-checked today. If you're tuning your whole set-up, my productivity tips that worked for me might give you a few more ideas.
Mac window managers compared
In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own site describes a free app or open source version, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated. Several apps are sold as a one-off purchase rather than a subscription.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| AeroSpace | Tiling window manager | Keyboard-only tiling | Yes |
| Amethyst | Automatic tiling app | Automatic layouts without config files | Yes |
| BetterSnapTool | Window snapping app | Custom snap areas | No |
| Divvy | Grid window tool | Drawing windows on a grid | Trial only |
| Loop | Radial window manager | Gesture-style window moves | Yes |
| Magnet | Window snapping app | Simple drag-to-snap halves | No |
| Moom | Window layout app | Saved layouts for each setup | Trial only |
| Rectangle | Window snapping app | Shortcuts and snap areas for free | Yes |
| Swish | Gesture window manager | Trackpad swipes to arrange windows | Trial only |
| yabai | Advanced tiling manager | Scriptable tiling for power users | Yes |
Ten window managers for macOS
AeroSpace
Best for: Developers who loved i3 on Linux and want automatic tiling and workspaces driven entirely by the keyboard.
Amethyst
Best for: Tidy-minded Mac users who want windows tiled automatically into layouts without editing any config files.
BetterSnapTool
Best for: Fussy arrangers who want to drag windows to custom snap areas with previews, set up exactly how they like.
Divvy
Best for: People who like to draw a window's size on a grid, then save the layouts they use most to keyboard shortcuts.
Loop
Best for: Trackpad fans who want to hold a key and flick in a direction to send a window to a half or corner.
Magnet
Best for: Mac users who want simple drag-to-edge snapping and keyboard shortcuts for halves and quarters, with nothing to configure.
Moom
Best for: People who dock and undock a laptop and want saved layouts that rearrange windows for each screen setup.
Rectangle
Best for: Anyone who wants keyboard shortcuts and snap areas for halves, thirds and corners at no charge.
Swish
Best for: Laptop users who want to arrange windows with two-finger swipes on the title bar.
yabai
Best for: Power users comfortable with the terminal who want scriptable tiling and deep control over spaces.
Try the built-in tiling first
Before installing anything, check what your Mac already does. Apple Support lists built-in window tiling options under Window, then Move & Resize, with keyboard shortcuts such as Fn-Control-F to fill the desktop and Fn-Control-R to return a window to its previous size.
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What that means for you: on a recent macOS, simple halves and full-screen fills may be all you need, with no extra app. Add a window manager when you want custom layouts, gestures or automatic tiling.
Snapping apps, layout apps and tiling managers
Snapping apps let you drag a window to an edge or press a shortcut to send it to a half, third or corner, and they're the gentlest step up from the built-in tools. Layout apps save arrangements, so a laptop that docks to two monitors puts every window back where it belongs. Tiling managers arrange windows automatically and are driven mostly from the keyboard, which suits developers who live in terminals and editors.
Tiling managers take some getting used to; give one a full week before deciding whether it suits you. They're at their best on a large monitor, where three or four windows can sit side by side without anything feeling cramped, and less useful on a small laptop screen.
Setting up a window manager
- Write down the three layouts you use most, such as two halves or a big main window.
- Install one app and grant the accessibility permission it asks for.
- Set shortcuts for those layouts and practise them for a day.
- Turn off any overlapping shortcuts in macOS settings.
- Save layouts for each monitor set-up if the app supports it.
- Remove the app if you're not using it after two weeks.
Small tweaks that pair well with a window manager
- Fewer open windows. Close what you're not using rather than tiling everything.
- Keyboard habits. My list of productivity hacks for working from home includes a few shortcut habits.
- Separate desktops. Use one desktop for focused work and another for chat and email.
- A bigger cursor. On large monitors, a slightly larger pointer is easier to find.
Do you make a window manager for Mac? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a Mac window manager
Start with the tiling built into macOS and see what's missing. If it's only thirds and quick shortcuts, a free open source snapping app will cover it in minutes.
If you dock and undock a laptop every day, a layout app that remembers each set-up saves real time. And if you're a keyboard-first developer, try a tiling manager on a quiet week, not the day before a deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Does macOS have built-in window snapping?
Yes. Apple Support lists tiling options under Window, then Move & Resize, with keyboard shortcuts for common layouts.
What is the best free window manager for Mac?
Several apps here are free or open source, covering snapping, shortcuts and automatic tiling.
What is a tiling window manager?
It arranges windows automatically so they don't overlap, usually controlled from the keyboard.
Why does a window manager need accessibility access?
macOS requires that permission for any app that moves or resizes other apps' windows.
Can a window manager remember layouts for two monitors?
Some apps save layouts for each display set-up and restore them when you plug in.
Do window managers slow down a Mac?
They're usually light background apps. If your Mac feels slower after installing one, quit it and compare.
