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AeroSpace alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave AeroSpace: still labelled beta, and not notarised by Apple. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces AeroSpace, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. yabai currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1yabai logoyabaiOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 466.5
2Amethyst logoAmethystOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 462.6
3Rectangle logoRectangleOpen sourceYesmacOS5 of 559.6
4Loop logoLoopOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 455.3
5Hammerspoon logoHammerspoonOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 448.9
  1. yabai logo

    1. yabaiTop pick

    Best for: Developers who want a fully scriptable tiling window manager on macOS

    Open sourcemacOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from AeroSpace

    More features through deeper system hooks, at the cost of partially disabling SIP.

    Pros

    • Automatic BSP tiling with stacking and floating
    • Fully scriptable command-line control
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • Best features require partially disabling SIP
    • No settings window; config and shell only
    • Shortcuts need a separate tool such as skhd
    Visit yabai Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is yabai a good AeroSpace alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Tiling algorithm
    Binary space partitioning
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Keyboard shortcuts
    Via skhd or similar
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    SIP
    Partly disabling it is optional, for some features
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Amethyst logo

    2. Amethyst

    Best for: Mac users who want automatic tiling without config files or system tweaks

    Open sourcemacOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from AeroSpace

    Easier xmonad-style tiling with preset layouts and a settings window.

    Pros

    • Several preset tiling layouts
    • Regular settings window, no config file needed
    • Free and open source
    • No need to disable SIP

    Cons

    • Less scriptable than yabai or AeroSpace
    • Relies on macOS Spaces, which can be sluggish
    • Some apps resist being tiled
    Visit Amethyst Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Amethyst a good AeroSpace alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Model
    xmonad-style tiling
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ianyh.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Install
    Download or Homebrew cask
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ianyh.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Requirements
    macOS 10.15 or later
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ianyh.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Rectangle logo

    3. Rectangle

    Best for: Mac users who want simple, free keyboard and drag-to-edge window snapping

    Open sourcemacOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from AeroSpace

    Manual snapping instead of automatic tiling, simpler to pick up.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Shortcuts and drag-to-snap both work well
    • Easy switch from Spectacle
    • Paid Pro version available for layouts and more

    Cons

    • No automatic tiling
    • Workspace layouts need the separate paid Pro app
    • Latest version needs macOS 14 or later
    Visit Rectangle Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Rectangle a good AeroSpace alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free and open source
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rectangleapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro free trial
    10 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rectangleapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro licence
    3 devices at a time
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rectangleapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Spectacle shortcuts
    Supported
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rectangleapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Loop logo

    4. Loop

    Best for: Mac users who like mouse-direction gestures for window snapping

    Open sourcemacOS

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from AeroSpace

    Free open-source window snapping driven by a radial menu and shortcuts, for anyone who finds automatic tiling too rigid.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Radial menu is quick once learned
    • Themeable, with shortcuts and cycles
    • Stash windows at the screen edge

    Cons

    • No saved layouts or automatic tiling
    • Radial-menu approach takes getting used to
    • Mac only, macOS 13 or later
    Visit Loop Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Loop a good AeroSpace alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Requirements
    macOS 13 or later
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Radial menu
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Window stash
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Hammerspoon logo

    5. Hammerspoon

    Best for: Developers who want to script their own Mac utilities instead of buying several

    Open sourcemacOS

    48.9

    score / 100

    Why switch from AeroSpace

    Script your own window logic in Lua if no tiling manager fits.

    Pros

    • Can replace many small utilities with code
    • Broad APIs across windows, input, network and devices
    • Spoons provide ready-made modules
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • Requires writing Lua
    • No graphical editor for automations
    • Debugging configs can be fiddly
    Visit Hammerspoon Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.341
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Hammerspoon a good AeroSpace alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Scripting language
    Lua
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Default behaviour
    Does nothing until configured
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Plugins
    Spoons
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best AeroSpace alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

yabai logo

Best AeroSpace alternative for most people

yabai

More features through deeper system hooks, at the cost of partially disabling SIP.

Amethyst logo

Best AeroSpace alternative for a free option

Amethyst

Easier xmonad-style tiling with preset layouts and a settings window.

Rectangle logo

Best AeroSpace alternative for open source

Rectangle

Manual snapping instead of automatic tiling, simpler to pick up.

Loop logo

Best AeroSpace alternative for Mac

Loop

Free open-source window snapping driven by a radial menu and shortcuts, for anyone who finds automatic tiling too rigid.

AeroSpace alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to AeroSpace?

yabai ranks first right now. More features through deeper system hooks, at the cost of partially disabling SIP. Amethyst and Rectangle follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to AeroSpace?

Yes. yabai (open source), Amethyst (open source), Rectangle (open source) and Loop (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to AeroSpace?

Yes: yabai, Amethyst, Rectangle and Loop, plus 1 more in the list above.

Why do people switch from AeroSpace?

The complaints we hear most: still labelled beta; not notarised by Apple; steep learning curve if you are new to tiling.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces AeroSpace, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.