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Best Window Managers for Mac

macOS has no quick keyboard way to snap windows into halves, thirds or a fixed layout.

Prices checked November 5, 2026 · 5 apps

Decide first whether you want snapping (drag or shortcut a window into a zone) or tiling (every window is placed automatically). Snapping apps are easy to adopt; tiling managers change how you work and take a week to get used to. Also check whether it can save layouts, which matters if you rebuild the same editor, terminal and browser arrangement every morning.

Our pick

RectangleOpen sourceFree, open sourceKeyboard shortcuts and drag-to-edge snapping for halves, thirds, quarters and maximize, with almost no setup.Best for: Anyone who wants Windows-style snapping and nothing more; it is the default recommendation for a reason.Visit Rectangle

Alternatives

Free and open source

  • AeroSpaceOpen sourceFree, open source (MIT)An i3-style tiling window manager configured in a text file, with its own virtual workspaces that avoid the animation and limits of macOS Spaces.Best for: People coming from i3 or Sway on Linux who want windows tiled automatically and a config they can keep in their dotfiles. Still labeled beta.Visit AeroSpace
  • LoopOpen sourceFree, open source (GPL-3.0)Resizes windows with a radial menu: hold a trigger key and move the cursor or press an arrow toward the direction you want.Best for: Mouse and trackpad users who find a long list of shortcuts hard to remember.Visit Loop

Pay once

  • MoomPay once$15 one-time (at least one year of updates included)Snapping plus saved layouts that put a set of apps in exact positions, and can trigger automatically when you connect or disconnect a display.Best for: Developers who switch between a laptop screen and an external monitor and want each setup restored without dragging windows around.Visit Moom
  • BetterSnapToolPay once$1.99 on the Mac App StoreDrag-to-edge snapping with custom snap areas and per-app shortcuts, from the developer of BetterTouchTool.Best for: People who want custom snap zones and prefer a cheap one-time App Store purchase.Visit BetterSnapTool

Frequently asked questions

Does macOS have window snapping built in?

Since macOS Sequoia you can drag a window to a screen edge or use the Window menu to tile it, but there are no thirds and the default shortcuts are awkward. Rectangle adds both for free.

What is the best free window manager for Mac?

Rectangle for snapping and AeroSpace for automatic tiling. Both are free and open source.

Is there a tiling window manager for Mac like i3?

Yes. AeroSpace is modeled on i3, uses a text config, and runs without disabling System Integrity Protection.