AppBreakup
Submit an app

AltTab alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave AltTab: search and extra styles need the paid Pro option, and needs Screen Recording permission for thumbnails. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces AltTab, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. AeroSpace currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1AeroSpace logoAeroSpaceOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 462.6
2Hammerspoon logoHammerspoonOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 448.9
3DockDoor logoDockDoorOpen sourceYesmacOS5 of 540.0
  1. AeroSpace logo

    1. AeroSpaceTop pick

    Best for: Keyboard-driven developers who want i3-style tiling on a Mac without disabling SIP

    Open sourcemacOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from AltTab

    Workspaces plus keyboard focus movement can replace a switcher entirely.

    Pros

    • Automatic tiling with instant workspace switching
    • Plain-text config and a scriptable CLI
    • Does not require disabling SIP
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • Still labelled beta
    • Not notarised by Apple
    • Steep learning curve if you are new to tiling
    Visit AeroSpace 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 AeroSpace a good AltTab alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Tiling model
    i3-like tree
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    SIP
    Not required to disable
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Configuration
    Plain text (TOML)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Hammerspoon logo

    2. 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 AltTab

    Build your own window switcher in Lua if you want full control.

    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 AltTab 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)
  3. DockDoor logo

    3. DockDoor

    Best for: Mac users coming from Windows who want taskbar-style window previews and a window-level Alt+Tab

    Open sourcemacOS

    40.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from AltTab

    Adds Dock hover previews on top of a per-window switcher, also free and open source.

    Pros

    • Every feature is free, with no trial or paywall
    • Shows minimized windows and windows on other Spaces and displays
    • Window switcher works per window, with search
    • No analytics, telemetry or crash reporting

    Cons

    • Needs Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions
    • macOS only, and requires macOS 13 or later
    • Apps built on unusual UI frameworks may show fewer windows
    • Mostly maintained by a single developer
    Visit DockDoor Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    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 DockDoor a good AltTab alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Price
    Free, no paywall
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dockdoor.net(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dockdoor.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS 13+, Apple silicon and Intel
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dockdoor.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Analytics
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dockdoor.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Install via Homebrew
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dockdoor.net(opens source in a new tab)

The best AltTab alternative for…

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

AeroSpace logo

Best AltTab alternative for most people

AeroSpace

Workspaces plus keyboard focus movement can replace a switcher entirely.

Hammerspoon logo

Best AltTab alternative for a free option

Hammerspoon

Build your own window switcher in Lua if you want full control.

Raycast logo

Best AltTab alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Raycast

Its window search can jump to any open window by name for free.

DockDoor logo

Best AltTab alternative for open source

DockDoor

Adds Dock hover previews on top of a per-window switcher, also free and open source.

BetterTouchTool logo

Best AltTab alternative for Mac

BetterTouchTool

Includes window switching shortcuts among many other window tools.

Raycast logo

Best AltTab alternative for Windows

Raycast

Its window search can jump to any open window by name for free.

AltTab alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to AltTab?

AeroSpace ranks first right now. Workspaces plus keyboard focus movement can replace a switcher entirely. Raycast and BetterTouchTool follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to AltTab?

Yes. AeroSpace (open source), Raycast (free plan + paid), Hammerspoon (open source) and DockDoor (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to AltTab?

Yes: AeroSpace, Hammerspoon and DockDoor.

Why do people switch from AltTab?

The complaints we hear most: search and extra styles need the paid Pro option; needs Screen Recording permission for thumbnails; switcher only, no snapping or tiling.

How is this list ranked?

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