Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

WindowTop VS yabai

Compare WindowTop VS yabai and see what are their differences

WindowTop logo WindowTop

Easly set any window on top, just move the mouse to the top area of the window.

yabai logo yabai

A tiling window manager for macOS based on binary space partitioning
  • WindowTop Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-23
  • yabai Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-26

WindowTop features and specs

  • Always on Top
    WindowTop allows you to pin windows to stay on top of other applications, which enhances multitasking and productivity.
  • Opacity Control
    You can adjust the transparency of windows, which can help you view content in the background without switching away from the current window.
  • Shrink Feature
    This feature lets you minimize windows into small, interactive icons, which saves screen space while keeping important apps accessible.
  • Pinning Shortcut
    Supports customizable shortcuts for quickly pinning windows, making it easy to manage window positions and layers without navigating through menus.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    Available for various operating systems, ensuring that users can benefit from its features regardless of their preferred platform.

Possible disadvantages of WindowTop

  • User Interface Complexity
    The user interface can be overwhelming for new users due to a wide range of features and settings to manage.
  • Performance Impact
    Running multiple windows with effects like transparency or always-on-top can lead to increased CPU and memory usage.
  • Limited Free Version
    Some advanced features may be restricted to the paid version, which limits functionality for users not willing to purchase.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Certain features may not work seamlessly with all applications, particularly older software or those with custom interfaces.
  • Learning Curve
    Users might need some time to fully understand and efficiently use all the available features due to the variety and customizability offered.

yabai features and specs

  • Efficient Window Management
    Yabai provides advanced tiling window management for macOS, greatly increasing productivity by allowing users to manage windows through keyboard shortcuts and layouts, minimizing the need for mouse interactions.
  • Highly Customizable
    The software offers extensive configuration options, enabling users to personalize their window management experience according to their specific workflow and preferences.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, Yabai is free to use and modify, allowing the community to contribute to its development and enhancement. This fosters a collaborative environment for improving the software.
  • Supports Scripting
    Yabai supports scripting through AppleScript or shell commands, enabling users to automate complex workflows and integrate Yabai with other tools and applications seamlessly.
  • Lightweight
    Yabai is designed to be a lightweight window manager, which means it consumes minimal system resources, ensuring that your Mac continues to run smoothly even with numerous active windows.

Possible disadvantages of yabai

  • Steep Learning Curve
    For beginners, the configuration and use of Yabai can be daunting, requiring a significant amount of time and effort to fully understand and utilize its capabilities effectively.
  • Requires SIP Disablement
    To utilize some of Yabai's more advanced features, users need to partially disable System Integrity Protection (SIP), which can reduce the overall security of the macOS system.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    As macOS updates and changes, compatibility issues may arise, potentially breaking functionality. Users may need to wait for updates from the developer community to resolve these issues.
  • Limited Official Support
    As an open-source project, Yabai does not come with official support channels. Users must rely on community forums and documentation, which may not always provide immediate or comprehensive assistance.
  • Complex Configurations
    Setting up Yabai to fit specific needs can be complex and time-consuming, especially for users who are not familiar with scripting or advanced configuration files.

Analysis of yabai

Overall verdict

  • Yabai is highly regarded among users who seek advanced customization and control over their macOS window management. However, it may have a steep learning curve for those unfamiliar with tiling window managers or command-line tools.

Why this product is good

  • Yabai is a popular tiling window manager for macOS, designed to streamline and enhance window management through robust keyboard shortcuts and automation features. It is particularly appreciated for its flexibility and efficiency in organizing a large number of open applications, contributing to a more productive workflow.

Recommended for

  • Developers who need efficient multitasking tools.
  • Users comfortable with the command line who enjoy customizing their environment.
  • Power users looking to optimize their macOS user experience.

WindowTop videos

WindowTop - Set any window to be on top (Pin window)! (Link to download at the description)

yabai videos

Yabai Demonstration

More videos:

  • Demo - yabai macOS Tiling Window Manager Demonstration

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to WindowTop and yabai)
Image Optimisation
100 100%
0% 0
Window Manager
13 13%
87% 87
OSX Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Note Taking
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using WindowTop and yabai. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, yabai should be more popular than WindowTop. It has been mentiond 133 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.

WindowTop mentions (14)

  • Can i see my kids screens on my screen like a twitch window?
    Use something like this to do Picture in Picture as well https://windowtop.info/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • looking for software that can turn any program window into dark mode
    WindowTop claims to put any window into Dark Mode. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Finally got to maximize the 32:9 real estate for media purposes outside of Gaming. (apps used in comments:)
    WindowTop to allow always on top function. Source: over 2 years ago
  • I'm trying to create images like this but can't find a way to get the camera in the same spot every time. Does anyone have any advice?
    Now there's probably no easy way to make everything exactly the same, but what you can do is use the software Windowtop (look at the video provided in the link) to have transparent windows for transparent overlays of previous screenshots to get things lined up so you don't have to use fades in photoshop like the above. This is a trial software so just get the project done in the temp length you're allowed to use... Source: over 2 years ago
  • What's your current hyperfocus song? (u know...the one, that keeps your dopamine searchin' brain busy while you get some shit done)
    There are a few programs out there that might be able to do it. The one I had the most success with on Windows is WindowTop. Recently it started being really buggy for me personally. I could reported the bugs and hopefully either got some help or some bug fixes. But for me it made more sense to write my own simple AutoHotKey script to put it all more under my own control with very minimal code to manage. I came up... Source: over 2 years ago
View more

yabai mentions (133)

View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing WindowTop and yabai, you can also consider the following products

DeskPins - DeskPins can be used to make any application topmost, that is, to keep it above all other windows.

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

PinWin - Download PinWin - Pin On Top for free. Pin any window to be always on top of the screen. PinWin is a minimal Windows system tray application that allows you to pin any windows to the top of the screen with one click.

Moom - Move your mouse over the green zoom button in any window, and Moom's mouse control overlay will appear (as seen in the above animation).

SmartSystemMenu - SmartSystemMenu extends system menu of all windows in the system

Magnet Window Manager - Magnet Developers