yabai vs AeroSpace
macOS tiling window managers compared
yabai and AeroSpace both tile macOS windows and support keyboard-oriented, command-line workflows. yabai extends native macOS window, space, and display controls, while AeroSpace uses emulated workspaces and an i3-inspired approach.
yabai: Tile and Control macOS Windows from the Command Line
yabai is a macOS window manager for people who want automatic tiling and command-line control over windows, spaces, and displays. It suits users comfortable configuring macOS permissions and, for some advanced features, changing System Integrity Protection settings.
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.
| yabai | AeroSpace | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | C | Swift |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Stars | 29.7k | 23.3k |
| Forks | 777 | 714 |
| Last analyzed | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 3, 2026 |
Key differences
- yabai uses binary space partitioning and controls native macOS windows, spaces, and displays; AeroSpace uses a tree-based layout and emulated virtual workspaces.
- AeroSpace offers a plain-text configuration file, manpages, and shell completion; yabai supports command-line control and can use skhd or other software for shortcuts.
- Some advanced yabai features require partially disabling System Integrity Protection; AeroSpace runs without requiring SIP to be disabled.
- yabai is written in C, while AeroSpace is written in Swift. Both use the MIT license.
- AeroSpace is in public beta and may introduce breaking changes before version 1.0; yabai is not listed as archived.
- yabai supports features such as focus-follows-mouse and disabling animations when switching spaces; AeroSpace emphasizes i3-like workspace switching and multi-monitor management.
Choose yabai if you…
- need command-line control of native macOS spaces and displays.
- want automatic window tiling with binary space partitioning or focus-follows-mouse behavior.
- are comfortable configuring macOS permissions and, optionally, SIP for advanced features.
Choose AeroSpace if you…
- want an i3-inspired workflow with emulated virtual workspaces on macOS.
- prefer managing settings in a plain-text configuration file and using CLI tools.
- need 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.