Actual Window Manager vs Amethyst
Actual Window Manager
actualtools.comAmethyst
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Actual Window Manager | Amethyst |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Window Management Software | 8.1 (#10) | 7.9 (#18) |
| Privacy | Actual Tools says personal information collected for purchases or newsletters is kept confidential and not shared with partners, sponsors, or third parties. | Amethyst states that it does not collect personal information or transmit information over a network. |
Plans
In their own words
Actual Window Manager
Actual Window Manager has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Amethyst
Amethyst is a free tiling window manager for macOS, intended to arrange windows into layouts in the style of xmonad. Its built-in choices include Tall, Wide, Two Pane, several column variants, Widescreen-Tall, Fullscreen, Column, Row, Floating, and Binary Space Partitioning. Keyboard shortcuts can switch layouts, resize the main pane, change focus, move windows between screens or Spaces, and toggle floating or global tiling. Users can configure the app through its interface or a YAML file in their home directory; when present, that file takes precedence over GUI settings. JavaScript custom layouts are available as a beta feature. Amethyst supports application rules, virtual desktop controls, and layout presets, but not window grouping. It requires macOS 10.15 or later and permission to use macOS accessibility APIs. Downloads are available from the releases page or through the Homebrew cask. The project says it does not collect personal information or transmit information over a network, and its repository identifies the license as MIT. It recommends disabling automatic rearrangement of Spaces by most recent use because that setting can make keyboard navigation unpredictable.