BetterStage vs Amethyst
Amethyst is a free, open-source tiling window manager with i3-style automatic layouts — but it relies on macOS Spaces for workspaces and is configured by keyboard shortcuts and a plist. BetterStage offers auto-tiling with a native GUI, its own instant workspace layer, and AI Staging.
Restore the whole desk, not just a window layout.
Workspace Continuity automatically recovers stages, window positions, per-monitor Window Modes, Bento Box tiles, and Tabbed Layout panes after restart, wake, or display changes. It is included in the free tier. Pro adds named Workspaces you can save and load on demand, with missing displays preserved in the Offline Display Shelf.
Explore Workspaces & ContinuityTry BetterStage against Amethyst
Download the free tier and test the faster multi-monitor workflow on your own setup.
Amethyst is one of the longest-running tiling window managers for macOS. It automatically arranges your windows into tall, wide, fullscreen, or column layouts and lets you cycle through them with keyboard shortcuts. It's free, open source, and doesn't require disabling SIP — which makes it a popular starting point for tiling on the Mac.
Its limitations show up in two places. First, Amethyst uses macOS Spaces for its workspaces, so every workspace switch inherits the 700ms Spaces animation. Second, configuration beyond the basics means editing shortcut mappings and a plist file — there's no rich settings UI, and no snap zones or visual layout picker.
BetterStage gives you Bento Box auto-tiling comparable to Amethyst's automatic layouts, but with a native settings UI, a radial Snap Wheel, and its own workspace layer that switches in under 16ms without touching Spaces. It also adds Tabbed Layouts and AI Staging — describe the workspace you want and AI arranges it.
Full feature comparison
How BetterStage compares across the entire macOS window manager landscape.
| Feature | BetterStage | Stage Mgr | Spaces | Rectangle | yabai | AeroSpace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic workspace recovery after restart, wake & display changes | ||||||
| Save & load complete named multi-monitor workspaces | Partial | Partial | ||||
| Per-monitor Window Modes | ||||||
| Tabbed Layouts (multi-window panes) | ||||||
| AI Staging (describe your workspace in chat) | ||||||
| Managed AI, no API key (BetterStage AI) | ||||||
| Named workspaces | Partial | |||||
| Multi-monitor stages | N/A | |||||
| Instant switching (<16ms) | N/A | |||||
| Bento Box auto-tiling | ||||||
| Snap zones | 15 zones | |||||
| Snap Wheel (radial picker) | ||||||
| No SIP disable | ||||||
| Native GUI settings | ||||||
| Keyboard shortcuts | Fully customizable | Limited | Limited | |||
| Free tier | 3 stages | Built-in | Built-in | Free | Free | Free |
Free with 3 stages. Requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later.
Other comparisons
vs macOS Stage Manager
Stage Manager gives you 4 unnamed window groups on a single monitor with a sidebar that eats screen space. BetterStage gives you 9 named stages spanning all monitors with instant keyboard switching and zero wasted pixels.
vs macOS Spaces
Spaces has a 700ms sliding animation every time you switch desktops, no naming, and no tiling. BetterStage switches in under 16ms with named workspaces and Bento Box auto-tiling and Tabbed Layouts built in.
vs Rectangle
Rectangle is the most popular free window snapping tool for macOS — it resizes and positions windows but doesn't manage workspaces. BetterStage includes snap zones plus named workspaces, automatic Bento Box tiling, saved Tabbed Layouts, and instant stage switching.
vs Magnet
Magnet is one of the top-selling paid apps on the Mac App Store for window snapping. It handles halves, quarters, and thirds via keyboard shortcuts or dragging. BetterStage includes comparable snapping plus workspaces, auto-tiling, and a Snap Wheel.
vs yabai / Amethyst
yabai is powerful but requires partially disabling SIP (System Integrity Protection) and complex YAML/shell configuration. Amethyst is simpler but still config-heavy. BetterStage offers comparable tiling without SIP changes, with a native GUI and instant install.
vs Moom
Moom is a polished window snapping and grid tool, but it has no workspace management. BetterStage combines snap zones with named workspaces, Bento Box auto-tiling, and instant stage switching in one app.
vs Swish
Swish is a gesture-based window manager with elegant trackpad controls. BetterStage focuses on keyboard-first workspace management with named stages, Bento Box auto-tiling, and multi-monitor stage switching that Swish doesn't offer.
vs AeroSpace
AeroSpace is a tiling window manager inspired by i3 with tree-based layouts and CLI configuration. BetterStage offers similar Bento Box auto-tiling with a native GUI, no config files, and named stages that don't rely on macOS Spaces.
vs Loop
Loop is a free, beautiful radial window manager — hold a key and flick toward a zone. BetterStage has a comparable radial Snap Wheel, plus named multi-monitor workspaces, Bento Box auto-tiling, and AI Staging that Loop doesn't offer.
vs Raycast
Raycast is a launcher with built-in window-management commands you trigger from its command bar. BetterStage is a dedicated workspace manager — named multi-monitor stages, Bento Box auto-tiling, a Snap Wheel, and AI Staging — that goes far beyond Raycast's snap commands.
vs Tiles
Tiles is a keyboard-driven window snapping app with edge gestures and a menu bar. BetterStage covers the same snapping plus named multi-monitor workspaces, Bento Box auto-tiling, Tabbed Layouts, and AI Staging.
vs BetterTouchTool
BetterTouchTool is a powerful automation and input-customization app that can also snap windows. BetterStage is a focused workspace manager — named multi-monitor stages, Bento Box auto-tiling, a Snap Wheel, and AI Staging — without the configuration overhead.
Last updated: July 2026