Amethyst vs AeroSpace
macOS tiling window managers compared
Amethyst and AeroSpace both automatically arrange macOS windows into tiling layouts and support keyboard-driven management. Amethyst offers selectable layouts and GUI or YAML configuration, while AeroSpace centers on an i3-inspired workflow with emulated workspaces, a CLI, and text configuration.
Amethyst: Tile and Arrange Windows on macOS
Amethyst is a macOS window manager that automatically arranges windows in tiling layouts, with keyboard controls inspired by xmonad. It suits people who want predictable window placement and keyboard-driven navigation across desktops and screens.
AeroSpace: Tile and Manage macOS Windows from the Keyboard
AeroSpace is an i3-inspired tiling window manager for macOS, aimed at keyboard-focused users who prefer text configuration and command-line control. It provides its own virtual workspaces and multi-monitor window management without requiring SIP to be disabled.
| Amethyst | AeroSpace | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Swift | Swift |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Stars | 16.3k | 23.3k |
| Forks | 536 | 714 |
| Last analyzed | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 3, 2026 |
Key differences
- Amethyst offers layouts including Tall, Wide, Floating, and Fullscreen; AeroSpace uses a tree-based tiling model inspired by i3.
- Amethyst supports configuring settings through a GUI or YAML file; AeroSpace uses plain-text configuration and does not provide a configuration GUI.
- Amethyst supports moving windows between native macOS Spaces; AeroSpace emulates virtual workspaces instead of relying on native Spaces.
- Amethyst targets macOS 10.15 and later; AeroSpace's binaries target macOS 13 and later, with higher requirements for source builds.
- Amethyst is not archived and its custom JavaScript layouts are marked beta; AeroSpace is in public beta and may make breaking changes before version 1.0.
- Both projects are written in Swift and use the MIT license.
Choose Amethyst if you…
- want a choice of tiling layouts, including a floating layout for overlapping windows
- prefer configuring settings through a GUI or YAML file
- use native macOS Spaces and want shortcuts to move windows between Spaces and screens
Choose AeroSpace if you…
- want an i3-inspired workflow with emulated virtual workspaces
- prefer CLI controls and plain-text configuration for version control or dotfiles
- want multi-monitor window management without disabling SIP
Compare the numbers side by side, or add more projects
This comparison is generated with AI from the OSRepos analyses of both projects. Always check each project's repository and documentation before choosing.