Alternatives to AeroSpace
i3-style tiling for macOS
AeroSpace ranks #8 of 8 in Window managers, with an Alt Score of 50. It is licensed under MIT, free and available on macOS. 5 of 9 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
macOS users who want an i3-style, keyboard-driven tiling window manager, particularly developers and power users coming from Linux tiling WM workflows.
A tree-based tiling window manager with i3-like semantics, so windows are organized hierarchically rather than in a fixed grid. It provides its own virtual workspaces (not native macOS Spaces) with instant, animation-free switching, multi-monitor support, and works without disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP). Configuration is plain-text TOML, and the tool ships a CLI with commands for every window/workspace/layout action, making it scriptable and dotfiles-friendly.
You define workspaces, layouts, and keybindings in a TOML config file, then drive window placement, splits, and workspace switching via keyboard shortcuts that call AeroSpace CLI commands. Windows are automatically arranged according to the current tree layout (splits/stacks) rather than being manually dragged and positioned.
Where AeroSpace stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave AeroSpace
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How AeroSpace compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Window managers checklist | AeroSpace | BetterTouchTool | FancyZones | Rectangle | Hammerspoon | Magnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Keyboard shortcuts | ||||||
| Snap layouts | ||||||
| Tiling (automatic) | ||||||
| Multi-monitor profiles | ||||||
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| Open source | ||||||
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| Menu bar control |
Every fact and feature listed for AeroSpace is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License MIT verified 2026-07-10
MIT License
https://github.com/nikitabobko/AeroSpace/blob/main/LICENSE.txt -
Pricing model Free verified 2026-07-10
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
https://github.com/nikitabobko/AeroSpace/blob/main/LICENSE.txt -
Platforms macOS verified 2026-07-10
AeroSpace is an i3-like tiling window manager for macOS
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nikitabobko/AeroSpace/main/README.md -
Status active verified 2026-07-10
2026-07-07T14:59:26Z""
datetime=
https://github.com/nikitabobko/AeroSpace/releases/tag/v0.21.2-Beta -
Tiling (automatic) Yes verified 2026-07-10
Tiling window manager based on a [tree paradigm]
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nikitabobko/AeroSpace/main/README.md -
Multi-monitor profiles Yes verified 2026-07-10
Proper multi-monitor support
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nikitabobko/AeroSpace/main/README.md -
Scriptable Yes verified 2026-07-10
CLI first (manpages and shell completion included)
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nikitabobko/AeroSpace/main/README.md -
Open source Yes verified 2026-07-10
MIT License
https://github.com/nikitabobko/AeroSpace/blob/main/LICENSE.txt -
One-time purchase option No verified 2026-07-10
Free OSS; no purchase.
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
https://github.com/nikitabobko/AeroSpace/blob/main/LICENSE.txt
FAQ
Yes. FancyZones, Rectangle and Hammerspoon have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
FancyZones, Rectangle and Hammerspoon — every license claim links its source.