Afloat Alternatives

Afloat is described as 'Make any app able to float on top' and is an app in the os & utilities category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Afloat for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Google Chrome and File Explorer apps. The best Afloat alternative is PureRef, which is free. Other great apps like Afloat are PowerToys - Always on Top, MenuTools, OnTopReplica and PiP for Mac.

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Afloat alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. PureRef icon
     53 likes
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    PureRef was created to be a simple and lightweight tool for artists to organize and view their reference images. Image can be scaled and collage can also be made.

    15 PureRef alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
    • PureRef is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Afloat.

    • PureRef is the most popular free alternative to Afloat.

    • PureRef is Free and ProprietaryAfloat is Free and Open Source
    • PureRef is Lightweight and CustomizableAfloat is not according to our users
  2. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    📣 This app is part of the Microsoft PowerToys bundle and cannot be downloaded separately.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
    • PowerToys - Always on Top is the most popular Open Source alternative to Afloat.

    • PowerToys - Always on Top is Free and Open SourceAfloat is also Free and Open Source
  3. MenuTools icon
     31 likes
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    MenuTools is a simple program that adds options for task priority, window transparency, and Always On Top to open dialog windows.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  4. OnTopReplica icon
     36 likes
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    A lightweight application that provides a real-time thumbnail replica of any window of your choice. OnTopReplica will stay always on top, allowing you to keep track of the original window while working and without having to keep the keyboard focus on it.

    13 OnTopReplica alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  5. PiP for Mac icon
     8 likes
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    macOS Picture in Picture window preview and AirPlay Receiver.

    17 PiP for Mac alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
    |
    2
    Comments about PiP for Mac as an Alternative to Afloat
    ZooterZoot
    Positive
    0

    Allows you to keep a copy of a window on top for reference. Not as good as keeping the original window on top but helpful in many use cases.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    I need a transparent terminal window above my (active) browser/text editor. If I make the terminal transparent, the PIP window stays opaque and just gets darker instead

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Afloat Icon
    PiP for Mac icon
    • PiP for Mac is Free and Open SourceAfloat is also Free and Open Source
  6. PinWin icon
     9 likes
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    PinWin is a minimal Windows system tray application that allows you to pin any windows to the top of the screen with one click.

    8 PinWin alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  7. LayerX icon
     4 likes
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    An intuitive app to display transparent images on screen.

    9 LayerX alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
    |
    1
    Comments about LayerX as an Alternative to Afloat
    Lennard
    Positive
    0

    only for pictures but easy and simple

    Afloat Icon
    LayerX icon
    • LayerX is Free and Open SourceAfloat is also Free and Open Source
  8. DeskPins icon
     22 likes
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    DeskPins can be used to make any application topmost, that is, to keep it above all other windows. Just grab a pin from the DeskPins icon in the system notification area (a.k.a. taskbar tray) and click on any window.

    13 DeskPins alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Windows Explorer
     
  9.  6 likes
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    WindowWatcher is a free hybrid window magnifier and remote control spy. It gives Windows the ability to have proper and resizable picture-in-picture support above and beyond Aero Snap. It's great for watching stuff like online TV, streams or Youtube playlists in a small...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  10. PiP-Tool icon
     5 likes
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    PiP tool is a software to use the Picture in Picture mode on Windows. This feature allows you to watch content (video for example) in thumbnail format on the screen while continuing to use any other software on Windows.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  11. AfloatX icon
     3 likes
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    An alternative to Afloat that lives in the dock icon menu. Although AfloatX has some of the same features as Afloat, it is not meant to be a clone. AfloatX is a simple and unobtrusive plugin made to add some additional window management features.

    4 AfloatX alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
    |
    1
    Comments about AfloatX as an Alternative to Afloat
    ZooterZoot
    Positive
    0

    It's a more modern version of Afloat that works with MacForge instead of MySIMBL

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Afloat Icon
    AfloatX icon
    • AfloatX is Free and Open SourceAfloat is also Free and Open Source
  12. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    "Window On Top" is a small gadget made by Compzets.com which keeps any specific window on top of other windows. It does not have any user-interface (UI), it just sits on your tray bar and works with only a single keyboard shortcut.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
12 of 20 Afloat alternatives