Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Hookshot VS Stack WM

Compare Hookshot VS Stack WM and see what are their differences

Hookshot logo Hookshot

Cursor movement window snapping on macOS

Stack WM logo Stack WM

Better window manager for Windows
  • Hookshot Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-12
  • Stack WM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-14

Hookshot features and specs

  • Enhanced Productivity
    Hookshot allows users to efficiently manage and manipulate their windows, enhancing overall productivity by reducing the time spent on rearranging and organizing workspace.
  • Ease of Use
    The app provides an intuitive interface that makes it easy for new users to understand and utilize the window snapping functionality without a steep learning curve.
  • Customizability
    Hookshot offers options for customizing window management gestures and shortcuts, catering to users' personal preferences and workflows.
  • Seamless Integration
    It integrates seamlessly with the macOS environment, maintaining performance and extending native capabilities without introducing lag or instability.

Possible disadvantages of Hookshot

  • Limited to macOS
    Hookshot is only available for macOS users, which excludes those on other platforms like Windows or Linux from utilizing the app's features.
  • Potential Overwhelm
    The extensive customization options might overwhelm users who prefer simple, out-of-the-box solutions without needing to configure multiple settings.
  • Cost Factor
    While it provides valuable features, Hookshot is a paid application, which might deter users looking for free alternatives or those with a limited budget.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    Although basic features are intuitive, mastering the advanced functionalities and custom shortcuts may require additional time and effort for less technical users.

Stack WM features and specs

  • Resource Efficiency
    Stack WM is designed to be lightweight and efficient, consuming minimal system resources, which can lead to better performance on older or less powerful hardware.
  • Customizability
    The window manager offers significant customization options, allowing users to tailor the interface and functionality to their specific needs and preferences.
  • Tiling Features
    It provides automatic tiling of windows, which can improve workflow and multitasking by making better use of screen real estate.
  • Keyboard Shortcuts
    Offers a variety of configurable keyboard shortcuts to improve navigation speed and efficiency, reducing the reliance on a mouse.
  • Open-Source
    Being open-source, it allows developers to view, modify, and contribute to the codebase, fostering a community of collaborative improvement.

Possible disadvantages of Stack WM

  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users may find it difficult to learn and configure as it does not provide a standard desktop environment with typical graphical tools.
  • Limited Graphical Tools
    Unlike more mainstream desktop environments, Stack WM does not come with many built-in graphical configuration tools, which may necessitate manual configuration file editing.
  • Compatibility
    Some users might face compatibility issues with certain applications designed mainly for more popular environments, necessitating additional configuration or troubleshooting.
  • Niche User Base
    Being a less widely used window manager, it has a smaller community, which can mean fewer resources and support options are available online.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    As with many lightweight or less commonly used software solutions, users might encounter bugs or stability issues that have yet to be fully addressed.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Hookshot and Stack WM)
Window Manager
57 57%
43% 43
Mac Tools
100 100%
0% 0
OSX Tools
57 57%
43% 43
OS & Utilities
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Hookshot should be more popular than Stack WM. It has been mentiond 23 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Hookshot mentions (23)

  • macOS Setup after 15 Years of Linux
    Rectangle and its paid cousin, Hookshot (https://hookshot.app) are great. I use Hookshot. They are the best window managers I've used on MacOS, because the resize features work flawlessly every single time. Other ones I've tried (e.g. bettertouchtool) have occasional issues with that. They'd be perfect if they supported full customization of drop zones. They have some limited customization, including via the... - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • macOS Setup after 15 Years of Linux
    Since a few people already have mentioned Rectangle for Window management, I wanted to point out that there is also a payed version of it called Hookshot (https://hookshot.app/). The same developer also offers a great app called Hyperkey (https://hyperkey.app/) which defines CAPS as your hyper-key. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • MacBook apps you can't live without!
    Hookshot - A mouse/gesture-based window manager. I always have one installed and then almost never use it. This I started using right away. Then I realized the only things I used it for were built into Raycast. Still, it's my favorite of the window management tools that I've tried. Source: over 4 years ago
  • My new Setup! Ultra Wide Monitor ans 16โ€œ M1 Max ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿคฉ
    I've got the same setup. Hookshot and SwitchResX are essential. Source: over 4 years ago
  • LG 34WK95U review (from MBP 16" 2021 perspective)
    The LG software is trash, I bought Hookshot.app to better manage my windows. Source: over 4 years ago
View more

Stack WM mentions (5)

  • Show HN: A tiling window manager like i3wm written in C#
    What is the license? I am author of Stack WM [1]. Also C#, but all the configuration and layouts are defined in WPF XAML and are generally static (e.g. Like PowerToys, but much more flexible due to WPF containers and data binding + you can make WPF-based widgets). Curious about the license for I am interested in having a common library for window manipulation. I am using VirtualDesktop [2] to handle Windows... - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • A terminal with UI like visual code
    > I could envision a WM that allows you to group windows together into tabs There's one on Windows, that has the tabs feature: https://losttech.software/stack.html Disclaimer: I made it. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • KDE: A Nice Tiling Environment and a Surprisingly DE
    Disclaimer: I am the author. For Windows I made Stack WM: https://losttech.software/stack.html I works differently from i3: you _predefine_ screen zones (possibly overlapping), and then just move your windows between them with keyboard shortcuts or middle mouse button. IMHO, covers the problems you mentioned. You can have: - multiple windows in one zone with normal Z ordering - a taskbar for any zone or a group of... - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • Switching to the I3 Window Manager
    I've made my own tiling WM for Windows (non-free): https://losttech.software/stack.html But it does not work like i3. You predefine the layouts (which can be dynamic). - Source: Hacker News / almost 5 years ago
  • Ask HN: What are some tools / libraries you built yourself?
    A tiling window manager for Windows https://losttech.software/stack.html. - Source: Hacker News / about 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Hookshot and Stack WM, you can also consider the following products

Rectangle - Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.

GridMove - GridMove - A window management tool that can quickly arrange your windows into desktop grids.

Magnet Window Manager - Magnet Developers

Preme for Windows - Speeds up your window switching.

LayAuto - Automated window management for Mac โœจ

WinDock - WinDock is a window manager ideal for large, or multi-monitor setups. Features: