The first AI-powered workspace manager for macOS
macOS Window & Workspace Manager — Every window where it belongs.
AI analyzes your open windows and organizes them into project-focused stages automatically. Then switch your entire multi-monitor setup between them instantly — no animations, no lag.
Free with 3 stages. 10-day Pro trial included. Requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later.
What is BetterStage?
A native macOS workspace manager with AI-powered window organization, named virtual desktops, automatic BSP tiling, and 14 snap zones. AI Staging analyzes your open windows and groups them by project context — then you switch between stages in under 16ms via Opt+1-9. No SIP disable, no config files.
Replaces
Spaces — freezes your Mac during its switching animation
Stage Manager — eats screen space and has no keyboard shortcuts
Sequoia tiling — only halves and quarters
AI workspace planning + three tools in one
AI organizes your windows by project. Then stages, tiling, and snap zones keep them that way — no juggling multiple apps.
Your windows
AI-created stages
Dev
Design
Comms
AI Staging
One click and AI analyzes every open window — titles, URLs, file paths — and groups them into project-focused stages. It picks which monitor each window belongs on based on your physical display layout. Uses your own API key (OpenAI, Claude, or any compatible provider).
Multi-Monitor Stages
One stage = windows across ALL your screens. Switch to Stage 2 and every monitor swaps together.
Instant Switching
Under 16ms. Press Opt+2 and your entire desktop transforms immediately.
Bento Box Tiling
Toggle auto-tiling and windows arrange into a clean BSP grid. Add or close — the layout adapts.
Snap Wheel
A radial menu with an inner snap ring and outer action fan. Halves and quarters on the inner ring, fan slices for Full, Thirds, Send to Stage, Retile, Extras, and Switch. Hover a fan slice to expand submenu pills. Middle-click to summon, or set custom triggers.
Custom Shortcuts
Fully configurable key combos for every action.
Pin a Monitor
Keep Slack or your reference screen constant while everything else swaps between stages.
How it works
Set it up once, then switch your entire desktop by project instead of rearranging windows all day.
Install in under a minute
Download BetterStage, drag it to Applications, and approve the single Accessibility permission.
Create stages for each context
Make separate stages for coding, design, and communication, or let AI Staging group your open windows.
Switch every monitor instantly
Press Opt+1 through Opt+9 and all of your screens flip to the right windows with no Spaces animation.
See everything. Focus on one.
Most tiling managers force a trade-off: cram all windows together, or go full-screen. Bento Box gives you both — context from every window, deep focus on one.
Click any window to maximize it
Tiling
Every window gets equal screen space. The grid adapts as you open or close windows — no manual arrangement needed.
Maximize
Your active window takes center stage while others shrink to their minimum — nothing hidden, everything accessible. Switch focus with the Snap Wheel.
The philosophy: Traditional window managers tile everything equally or go full-screen. Bento Box gives you both — toggle between tiled overview and focused mode with a single gesture.
Keyboard-first
Every layout one keystroke away. All shortcuts fully customizable.
Why BetterStage?
See how BetterStage compares to the alternatives.
vs macOS Stage Manager
- AI organizes your windows into stages — no manual sorting
- Keyboard shortcuts for everything — Opt+1-9 to switch, no mouse required
- Zero screen space wasted — no sidebar strip eating your display
- 9 named stages vs 4 unnamed groups you can't tell apart
- Works across all monitors, not just one
vs macOS Spaces
- AI groups windows by project context, not just app
- No 700ms sliding animation — instant stage switch
- Named workspaces so you know what's where
- BSP auto-tiling built in with Bento Box
vs yabai / Amethyst
- AI-powered workspace planning — no manual config
- No SIP disable required — just install and go
- Visual Snap Wheel for quick layouts
- Simple install, no brew or config files
- One permission (Accessibility) — no Input Monitoring or Screen Recording
macOS Sonoma+
Built for macOS 14 and later
100% Native
Swift & AppKit, lightweight on resources
No SIP Disable
Works without touching System Integrity
Privacy-First
No telemetry, no data collection
Lighter than a browser tab
Native Swift. No Electron, no web views, no bloat.
<10MB
App bundle size
<80MB
Memory with 10 windows on 4 monitors
<1%
CPU at idle
<10%
Peak CPU during stage switch
Tested on M1 Max MacBook Pro
Simple, fair pricing
10 days of Pro free with every download — AI Staging, all 9 stages, auto-tiling, pinned monitors. Keep the free tier forever or go Pro from $2.99/mo.
View pricingStop fighting your desktop
Let AI organize your windows. One keystroke to switch contexts. Install in seconds.
Requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later