Witch VS i3

Compare Witch VS i3 and see what are their differences

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i3

A dynamic tiling window manager designed for X11, inspired by wmii, and written in C.

Landing page //
2021-09-22

Landing page //
2021-09-19

Witch

Website: manytricks.com
$ Details: -

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i3

Website: i3wm.org
$ Details

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Witch features and specs

Improved Window Management
Witch allows users to easily switch between open windows, not just applications, making multitasking more efficient.
Customizable Settings
Users can customize various settings, such as window switching behavior and appearance, to better suit their workflow and preferences.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Witch supports customizable keyboard shortcuts, providing quick access to window management functions without relying on the mouse.
Application-Specific Navigation
Users can navigate through different windows of the same application, which is particularly useful for applications with multiple open documents or instances.
Integration with macOS
Witch integrates well with macOS, enhancing the native window switching capabilities without requiring significant changes to the existing workflow.

Possible disadvantages of Witch

Price
Witch is a paid application, which may be a deterrent for users who are seeking free alternatives for window management.
Learning Curve
New users might need some time to fully understand and configure Witch to their liking, which can be a slight barrier to initial productivity.
Possible Redundancy
For users who are satisfied with the built-in macOS window management features, Witch might add unnecessary complexity without significant benefits.
Compatibility Issues
Updates to macOS may occasionally cause compatibility issues with Witch, requiring users to wait for updates from the developer.
Resource Usage
While not typically significant, Witch does consume system resources, which might be a concern for users on older or less powerful machines.

i3 features and specs

Efficient Window Management
i3 allows for highly efficient window management using a tree data structure, making it easy to snap windows into grids and manage multiple applications simultaneously.
Lightweight
i3 is deliberately simplistic and lightweight, which allows it to run efficiently on older hardware or systems with limited resources.
Customizability
Users can extensively customize keybindings and behavior through a plain text configuration file. This allows for a personalized workflow.
Keyboard-Centric
i3 is designed to be used primarily through keyboard shortcuts, which can lead to increased productivity for advanced users.
Scriptability
i3 supports various scripting languages through its IPC (Inter-process Communication) interface, enabling automation of complex workflows.
Community and Documentation
i3 has strong community support and extensive documentation, making it easier for new users to learn and troubleshoot issues.

Possible disadvantages of i3

Steep Learning Curve
New users may find i3 difficult to learn and configure, especially if they are accustomed to traditional desktop environments.
Lack of GUI Configuration Tools
i3 relies heavily on manual edits to text files for configuration, lacking user-friendly graphical interfaces for setup and customization.
Limited Out-of-the-Box Features
i3 does not come with many built-in features available in more comprehensive desktop environments, such as app launchers or system tray support, requiring additional setups.
Compatibility Issues
Some applications may not play well with tiling window managers like i3, requiring workarounds or alternative software choices.
Minimal Default Appearance
Without customization, i3 offers a very minimalistic and barebones visual experience, which may not be appealing to all users.

Analysis of Witch

Overall verdict

Witch is generally considered a good tool for those who require more control over window management on macOS. It is reliable, integrates well with the macOS environment, and offers a level of customization that can cater to various workflow preferences.

Why this product is good

Witch by Many Tricks is a utility for macOS designed to enhance window management. Users appreciate its ability to switch between not only applications but also individual windows using simple keyboard shortcuts. This added functionality can significantly improve productivity, especially for power users who often work with multiple windows and need a more refined navigation tool than the standard macOS application switcher.

Recommended for

Mac users who multitask frequently and need efficient window management
Individuals looking for an alternative to the default macOS app switcher
Power users who prefer keyboard shortcuts for enhanced productivity

Analysis of i3

Overall verdict

Yes, i3 is considered a very good window manager for users who appreciate its minimalist and efficient approach. Its lightweight design keeps resource usage low, which can improve performance on less powerful machines.

Why this product is good

i3wm is known for its simplicity, speed, and efficient use of screen space, making it a popular choice among power users and developers who prefer a keyboard-driven workspace. Its tiling feature allows for the seamless organization of multiple windows, enhancing productivity and multitasking. Furthermore, it is highly customizable, allowing users to tailor their workspace to their specific needs.

Recommended for

i3wm is recommended for advanced users, developers, and anyone who prefers a keyboard-centric interface. It is ideal for users who like to customize their environment extensively and are comfortable with configuring software via text files. New users with a willingness to learn may also find it rewarding.

Witch videos

+ Add

The Witch - Movie Review

i3 videos

+ Add

30k Miles with the BMW i3 - End of Lease Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Witch and i3)

Witch

i3

Window Manager

24 24%

Window Manager

76% 76

Mac

100 100%

Mac

0% 0

Linux

0 0%

Linux

100% 100

Note Taking

100 100%

Note Taking

0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Witch and i3. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Witch and i3

Witch Reviews

We have no reviews of Witch yet.
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i3 Reviews

Top 13 Best Tiling Window Managers For Linux In 2022

Sway is a tiling Wayland i3-compatible window manager that dynamically arranges app windows to rationally maximise desktop space. It is free, open-source, and lightweight. By default, it arranges windows in a grid and supports practically all of the i3 commands.

Source: www.hubtech.org

Top 10 Best Desktop Environments in 2020

i3-wm is one of my most loved standalone window managers, qualifying it to easily fit under the desktop environment list! The configuration is just very easy, and you can change everything that you see on screen. This includes what information you see on the bottom panel, how windows behave, and keyboard shortcuts to move, align, and set up windows on the screen.

Source: www.journaldev.com

13 Best Tiling Window Managers for Linux

Sway is a free, open-source, and lightweight tiling Wayland i3-compatible window manager that automatically arranges app windows to logically maximize desktop space. It arranges windows into a grid by default and supports almost all the commands included in i3.

Source: www.tecmint.com

5 Great Tiling Window Managers for Linux

I begun testing i3 just this week. I was always fascinated by the Tiling WM’s as they seem really light on system resources and functional. To my surprise , although i3 is really easy to customize, and works really well (at least for my needs) , I found that it isn’t really that lightweight. I had Mate desktop environment use the same amount of RAM. Maybe I was mislead to...

Source: www.maketecheasier.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, i3 should be more popular than Witch. It has been mentiond 92 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.

Witch mentions (28)

Show HN: What if your menu bar was a keyboard-controlled command center?
I spotted the very underrated Bloom [1] in the screenshots and thought I should give it a shout in here. I've been using it, along with Witch [2] as an app switcher so that I can hide the Finder icon, for about 2 months and love it. [1] https://bloomapp.club [2] https://manytricks.com/witch/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
macOS Tips and Tricks
- check out Witch (https://manytricks.com/witch/). - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
Loop: Open-Source macOS Window Manager
There's at least Witch and Contexts. https://manytricks.com/witch/ https://contexts.co/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
US sues Adobe for 'deceiving' subscriptions that are too hard to cancel
There are multiple 3rd party window switchers, Witch is a popular one, afair: https://manytricks.com/witch/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
App Switcher on MAC
I tried a lot, and https://manytricks.com/witch/ is what I stuck with for the ONLY decent alt tab experience I could find (it’s heavily customizable). I don’t understand this number thing, finding them like that takes the same reading action you could be doing while you press alt tab for each… and you’d be done, but instead I see so many apps offer that number route. It just seems like double work to me ;). Source: about 3 years ago

i3 mentions (92)

Why I traded my custom "Opinionated Linux" for Omarchy
I've been using Omarchy as my main setup since June 26, 2025, the day DHH released the first version. Before that I had my own custom Opinionated Linux, mclovin-ARCHived: an Arch + i3wm installer set up exactly the way I liked. It was total control over the OS: me deciding what goes in, keeping every piece (i3wm, polybar, picom, kitty, dotfiles) up to date and making sure they all talked to each other for the... - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
Omarcacca
Then few years back, in 2015, I got shown i3wm and used it on my ubuntu-netinstall until 2020, then I switched to Budgie and my personal laptop has been using that ever since. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
Automatic Visual Feedback for System Volume Change in I3wm via Dunst
I switched to the i3 tiling based window manager. Because it's a whole different environment and thinking, it was very different from what I was used to. The volume buttons were working on my keyboard, but I didn't get any visual feedback. Furthermore, the volume percentage could go down below zero and increase up to more than hundread percent. There were times when I was confused why the keys stopped working, but... - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
"We understand" ;)
This is partially why I use tools like i3 (/ sway). I like the tool; it works extremely well for me; the design has stayed the same for 20 years; there's no profit motive to come along and fuck everything up. It just works. It is boring in the best way possible. Source: over 2 years ago
what machines have you used for development, and what do you prefer?
I use MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid-2014) with Manjaro as OS using i3 as a window manager. It isn't perfect, but I'm thrilled with it. I have been a Mac OS user for the last 15 years and wouldn't change what I have now for a Mac OS because I don't need more than what I'm using for development. Source: about 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Witch and i3, you can also consider the following products

Contexts - Switch between application windows effortlessly — with Fast Search, a better Command-Tab, a Sidebar or even a quick gesture. Free trial available.

Sway - Sway is a drop-in replacement for the i3 window manager, but for Wayland instead of X11.

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

dwm - dwm is a dynamic window manager for X. It manages windows in tiled, monocle and floating layouts. All of the layouts can be applied dynamically, optimising the environment for the application in use and the task performed.

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

Openbox - Openbox is a highly configurable, next generation window manager with extensive standards support.