Is macOS's built in tiling enough, or do you need a window manager?
macOS Sequoia tiles windows to halves and quarters. Where that is all you need, where it runs out, and what a scrolling window manager adds.
For two to four windows you place yourself, macOS Sequoia's tiling is enough. It runs out when you want thirds, when new windows should be placed for you, or when you have more windows than fit.
| macOS tiling | ClutterFreeMac | |
|---|---|---|
| Halves and quarters | Yes | Any column width: thirds, halves, two thirds, full |
| Arranges new windows | No | Yes, each gets a column |
| More windows than fit | They overlap | Off screen on the strip |
| Trackpad | Swipe between Spaces | Swipe along the strip |
| Saved layouts | No | Yes |
| Cost | Free, built in | One time purchase |
Try the free one first
Learn Fn ⌃ ← and → for a week. If you still find yourself hunting for windows, the problem is not placing them, it is having too many for one screen. That is what a scrolling strip is for. See the Sequoia tiling guide.
Questions
Do I still need a window manager with macOS Sequoia?
Not for simple halves and quarters. You do if you want windows arranged automatically, thirds, saved layouts, or room for more windows than fit on screen.
Read next
- Guide
What is a tiling window manager?
A tiling window manager arranges every window so none overlap. How tiling works, the main styles, why people love it, and what it is like on a Mac.
Read › - Guide
Window management on macOS Sequoia 15: what's new
Sequoia brought built in window tiling to the Mac. Every way to use it, its shortcuts and settings, and where it stops short of a window manager.
Read › - Guide
What is a scrolling window manager?
A scrolling window manager lays windows side by side on a strip wider than your screen. How it differs from overlapping and grid tiling, and who it suits.
Read ›