Why people look for an alternative
- Tree tiling fits every window on one screen, so each one shrinks as you open more.
- Everything lives in a config file, which some people would rather not maintain.
- AeroSpace emulates its own workspaces instead of using macOS Spaces, which feels different from the rest of macOS.
- It's keyboard-first, and some people want to move around with the trackpad too.
The alternatives at a glance
| Tool | Layout model | Setup | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| LanesMac | Scrolling strip: each window a full-height column | Settings window | One-time purchase, 24-hour free trial |
| yabai | Binary space partitioning (BSP) | Config files, skhd for shortcuts | Free, open source |
| Amethyst | Automatic layouts inspired by xmonad | Preferences window | Free, open source |
| Rectangle | Snap to halves, thirds and quarters | Shortcuts and preferences | Free; Pro version paid |
| Magnet | Snap to screen areas | Shortcuts and menu | Paid (Mac App Store) |
| Loop | Radial menu to move and resize windows | Preferences window | Free, open source |
| macOS tiling (macOS 15+) | Halves, quarters and arrangements | Built in | Free |
LanesMac: if you want windows to stop shrinking
LanesMac keeps every window in its own full-height column on a strip that scrolls past the screen edge. Opening a window adds a column next to the focused one; the others keep their width. It has built-in shortcuts on ⌃⌥, two-finger swipes while holding ⌃⌥, stacks and tabbed columns, pinned columns, per-app rules, search and an overview, all set up in a settings window.
yabai: if you want BSP tiling and deep scripting
yabai is the most scriptable option. Its core tiling works with SIP on; features like controlling Spaces need parts of SIP disabled. Expect to write config files and pair it with a hotkey daemon.
Amethyst: if you want automatic layouts with less setup
Amethyst tiles windows automatically into layouts you can cycle through, and is configured in a preferences window. Like other tree tilers, windows share one screen and shrink as you add more.
Rectangle, Magnet or Loop: if you only need occasional snapping
These don't keep a layout for you; they move a window when you ask. That's often enough if you work with two or three windows, and they're quick to learn.
Staying with AeroSpace
If you love i3, think in numbered workspaces and enjoy a config file you can keep in your dotfiles, AeroSpace is hard to beat, and it's free. The alternatives above make most sense when one of those things isn't true for you.