Amethyst
A free, open-source tiling window manager for macOS modelled on xmonad, with preset layouts.
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About Amethyst
Amethyst is one of the longest-running tiling window managers for the Mac, inspired by the Linux window manager xmonad. It arranges windows automatically into layouts such as tall (a main pane with others stacked beside it), wide, columns, full screen, binary space partitioning and more, and you cycle layouts, resize the main pane and swap windows with keyboard shortcuts built on two modifier combinations. Unlike config-file-only tools, it has a normal preferences window, which makes it one of the easier tiling options to start with, and it works across multiple screens and Spaces. It is free and open source under MIT, available as a direct download or a Homebrew cask, and supports macOS 10.15 and later. It needs Accessibility permission, and the developer recommends turning off macOS's automatic Space rearranging so keyboard navigation stays predictable. Compared with yabai or AeroSpace it is less scriptable and has fewer advanced features, but it does not require any system changes beyond permissions.
Best for: Mac users who want automatic tiling without config files or system tweaks.
Pros and cons
What works
- Several preset tiling layouts
- Regular settings window, no config file needed
- Free and open source
- No need to disable SIP
Why people leave
- Less scriptable than yabai or AeroSpace
- Relies on macOS Spaces, which can be sluggish
- Some apps resist being tiled
Top Amethyst alternatives
See all 4- 1
AeroSpace66.5i3-style tiling with very fast virtual workspaces and a text config.
- 2
yabai62.6More powerful and scriptable tiling, if you accept partially disabling SIP.
- 3
Rectangle59.6Manual snapping for people who find automatic tiling too rigid.
- 4
Moom57.2Saved window layouts as a middle ground between snapping and tiling.
Why people left Amethyst
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Reviews
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Amethyst: common questions
Is Amethyst free?
Yes. Amethyst is free, open-source software.
Is Amethyst open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at ianyh/Amethyst.
What platforms does Amethyst run on?
Amethyst is available for macOS.
What are the best alternatives to Amethyst?
The highest-ranked Amethyst alternatives right now are AeroSpace, yabai and Rectangle. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.