Software Alternatives & Reviews

TotalSpaces VS Contexts

Compare TotalSpaces VS Contexts and see what are their differences

TotalSpaces logo TotalSpaces

TotalSpaces provides a grid of spaces on OSX Lion

Contexts logo Contexts

Switch between application windows effortlessly — with Fast Search, a better Command-Tab, a Sidebar or even a quick gesture. Free trial available.
  • TotalSpaces Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-20
  • Contexts Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-21

TotalSpaces videos

DIGITALYCHEE REVIEW: TotalSpaces for Mac

More videos:

  • Review - TotalSpaces · Gestiona los escritorios de tu Mac de manera eficiente
  • Tutorial - TotalSpaces2 & Screens - Mini Video Tutorial

Contexts videos

The Art of Discovering Bounded Contexts by Nick Tune

More videos:

  • Review - A Fresh Take on Contexts
  • Review - Contexts and Methods: Literature Review - Intro and Assessment Criteria

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to TotalSpaces and Contexts)
Note Taking
38 38%
62% 62
Mac
0 0%
100% 100
Image Optimisation
100 100%
0% 0
Window Manager
11 11%
89% 89

User comments

Share your experience with using TotalSpaces and Contexts. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Contexts seems to be a lot more popular than TotalSpaces. While we know about 59 links to Contexts, we've tracked only 5 mentions of TotalSpaces. 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.

TotalSpaces mentions (5)

  • Considering MBPs and am not sure (moving from Arch Linux on Lenovo X1 Carbon Gen 7)
    There is a little confusion as most macOS users are not familiar with the difference between a window manager and a window tiling manager. There are a ton of great window manager (Magnet is still one of the common ones around which you brought up, but Mosaic is my favorite. Most window apps have all the same or similar features, but Mosaic includes some really advanced layout options that you can save and then... Source: over 1 year ago
  • Can anyone please identify this virtual space switching app? (From a YouTube video)
    Maybe it's a(n older) version of TotalSpaces? Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Total Spaces Alternatives Yet?
    After macOS ditched the 2D space switching for the 1D thing, I got Total Spaces 2 which allows me to do the 2D space switching again. I absolutely love it and find it difficult to use the primitive built-in spaces management. However, I'm still on Big Sur v11.6, specifically because Monterey is wholly incompatible with Total Spaces, you can't even hack it to work. Unfortunately, Total Spaces 3 isn't out yet, and... Source: about 2 years ago
  • A Beautiful List of Beautiful Apps
    I also use their TotalSpaces2[3] which is an amazing Spaces manager. Highly recommend it if you run a lot of concurrent apps and windows. Once again, it's limited to <12.0 and Intel-only Macs, but they have a TotalSpaces3 in alpha they are working on trying to release at some point. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Ideal Monitor Rotation for Programmers
    Check out Total Spaces(https://totalspaces.binaryage.com/) for Mac. I use this with dual monitors and love that each monitor can have its own virtual desktop. I have my left monitor as a communications hub. It has only one virtual screen. I also keep my browser there. I have a 3x3 grid on the right hand monitor. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago

Contexts mentions (59)

  • Show HN: I3wm Alt+Tab Workspace Switcher
    I like using Contexts on the Mac as replacement: https://contexts.co. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • My MacBook setup (the 2024 version)
    I use the Contexts [1] app, couldn't live without it (not affiliated...) It shows me all open Windows and in which Desktop, in its Sidebar (I've disabled the macOS dock.) Also the Cmd-Tab functionalities are nice, and I can use "Fn + [a single key] " shortcut to focus an app. Would recommend. [1] https://contexts.co/. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Arc 1.0 – a freeware web browser developed by The Browser Company
    Thanks for your feedback, I'll have to give TST in the Firefox sidebar another try... > "I make use of ctrl-uparrow to switch between browser and VSCode" I use the Contexts app (Fast Search) for that - https://contexts.co/. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Is there a program that can show my open apps as tabs across a bar like open tabs in a web browser?
    Https://contexts.co has a sidebar option. In their landing page its there under the sidebar heading. Source: 11 months ago
  • Witch – macOS window switcher replacement
    You should try contexts! It also has a bunch of other features and is highly configurable. I'm not one to normally pay for software, but this is probably up there with some of the best $10 I ever spent. https://contexts.co/. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing TotalSpaces and Contexts, you can also consider the following products

VirtuaWin - VirtuaWin is a virtual desktop manager for the Windows operating system (Win9x/ME/NT/Win2K/XP/Win2003/Vista/Win7/Win10). A virtual desktop manager lets you organize applications over several virtual desktops (also called 'workspaces').

Witch - Welcome to the world of W. i. t. c. h.

Dexpot - If you don't have Dexpot yet, the new update makes it a must-have tool for Windows, adding a ton of features to your desktop that you never knew you wanted.

Compiz - Project information. Maintainer: PS Project Management Team. Driver: Compiz Maintainers. Licence: GNU GPL v2, GNU LGPL v2. 1, MIT / X / Expat Licence.

Sysinternals Desktops - Desktops allows you to organize your applications on up to four virtual desktops.

Hyperswitch - HyperSwitch provides a compelling alternative to HyperDock for keyboard junkies. What's New