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The best free window managers for Mac

You may not need to pay anything. Here are the free options and who each one suits.

By Geethika Tatiparthi · October 22, 2026 · I make TidyFrame, which is mentioned below.

Short answer: Start with macOS's own tiling (Sequoia or later). If you want keyboard shortcuts for halves and thirds, install Rectangle; if you prefer the mouse, Loop. For automatic tiling like on Linux, Amethyst or AeroSpace. None of the free options save and restore layouts of several apps; for that you need a paid app.

1. macOS built-in tiling

Free and already on your Mac (macOS 15 Sequoia or later): drag windows to the screen edges or use fn ⌃ + arrow keys. Halves and quarters only. All shortcuts.

2. Rectangle

Free and open source. Keyboard shortcuts and screen-edge snapping for halves, thirds and more. The most popular free choice and the easiest to recommend.

3. Loop

Free and open source. Hold a key, move the mouse in a direction, and a radial menu resizes the window. Great for mouse users. Needs macOS 13 or later.

4. Amethyst

Free and open source automatic tiling: every new window is arranged for you in a layout you choose. Best for people who like a tiling-first way of working.

5. AeroSpace

Free and open source tiling inspired by i3 on Linux, configured with a text file and driven by the keyboard. Powerful, with a learning curve.

6. yabai

Free and open source, very powerful tiling. Some of its features need you to partly disable System Integrity Protection, which most people shouldn't do. For experts only.

When is a paid app worth it?

None of the free tools above saves a setup of several apps and brings it back with one shortcut. If you rebuild the same layout every day, that's what paid apps add: TidyFrame ($4.99 once, 7-day free trial), Moom 4 ($15) and Rectangle Pro offer saved layouts. See the full comparison.

All apps are trademarks of their owners. Details as of October 2026; check each project's site for updates.

Questions

What is the best free window manager for Mac?

Rectangle for keyboard users and Loop for mouse users. Both are free and open source.

Is there a free Mac app that saves window layouts?

The popular free window managers snap and tile windows but don't save layouts of several apps to restore with one shortcut. Paid apps like TidyFrame, Moom and Rectangle Pro do.

Is yabai safe to use?

yabai itself is a respected open-source project, but some features require partly disabling System Integrity Protection, which lowers your Mac's security. Use those features only if you understand the trade-off.

Try TidyFrame free for 7 days

Every feature included. Then $4.99 once, no subscription. macOS 14 or later.

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