Alternatives to yabai
Binary-space-partition tiling for Mac
yabai ranks #7 of 8 in Window managers, with an Alt Score of 50. It is licensed under MIT, free and available on macOS. 6 of 9 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
macOS power users and developers who manage many windows and want keyboard-driven, automatic window tiling instead of manual dragging and resizing — typically paired with keyboard-centric workflows and often alongside skhd for hotkeys.
An automatic tiling window manager for macOS based on binary space partitioning, controlled via a command-line interface and a plain-text config file (yabairc). It manages window layout, spaces, and displays, with configurable padding, gaps, split ratios, and per-app rules. An optional scripting addition (requiring partial SIP disabling) unlocks additional features like moving windows between spaces/displays and fully managing floating windows.
You install yabai via Homebrew, define layout rules and window/space behavior in a yabairc config file, and drive it through its CLI (yabai -m ...) or bind those commands to keystrokes using the companion tool skhd; windows are then tiled automatically as you open, close, or move them.
Where yabai stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave yabai
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 yabai compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Window managers checklist | yabai | BetterTouchTool | FancyZones | Rectangle | Hammerspoon | Magnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Every fact and feature listed for yabai is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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Pricing model Free verified 2026-07-10
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/koekeishiya/yabai/master/LICENSE.txt -
License MIT verified 2026-07-10
The MIT License (MIT)
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/koekeishiya/yabai/master/LICENSE.txt -
Platforms macOS verified 2026-07-10
yabai is a window management utility that is designed to work as an extension to the built-in window manager of macOS.
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/koekeishiya/yabai/master/README.md -
Status active verified 2026-07-10
## [7.1.25] - 2026-05-08
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/koekeishiya/yabai/master/CHANGELOG.md -
Keyboard shortcuts Partial verified 2026-07-10
No built-in hotkeys; relies on external skhd.
Keyboard shortcuts can be defined with [ skhd][gh-skhd] or any other suitable software you may prefer.
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/koekeishiya/yabai/master/README.md -
Tiling (automatic) Yes verified 2026-07-10
The primary function of yabai is tiling window management; automatically modifying your window layout using a binary space partitioning algorithm to allow you to focus on the content of your windows w
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/koekeishiya/yabai/master/README.md -
Multi-monitor profiles Partial verified 2026-07-10
Per-display commands; no saved multi-monitor profiles.
The arrangement indices for displays can be seen in the Displays > Arrangement preference pane in the System Preferences.
https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai/wiki/Commands -
Scriptable Yes verified 2026-07-10
Most commands will return a non-zero exit code upon failure, which is useful for scripting purposes.
https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai/wiki/Commands -
Open source Yes verified 2026-07-10
a short and simple permissive license with conditions only requiring preservation of copyright and license notices.
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/koekeishiya/yabai/master/README.md -
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://raw.githubusercontent.com/koekeishiya/yabai/master/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.