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, OnTopReplica, MenuTools and PinWin.

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Afloat alternatives are mainly Image Viewers but may also be Window Managers or Research Managers.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Afloat.
Afloat iconAfloat
  8
  • FreeOpen Source
  • ...

Make any app able to float on top.

More about Afloat
Afloat alternatives page was last updated Sep 15, 2023
  1. PureRef icon
     46 likes

    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.

    14 PureRef alternatives
    PureRef screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Portable
    4.  References
    5.  Support for Hotkeys
    PureRef iconAfloat Icon

    PureRef VS Afloat

    Is PureRef a good alternative to Afloat?
     
    • 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 LightweightAfloat is not according to our users
  2. PowerToys - Always on Top icon
     4 likes

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

    10 PowerToys - Always on Top alternatives
    PowerToys - Always on Top screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows

    PowerToys - Always on Top Features

    1.  Exclude files and folders
    2.  On top
    3.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    4.  Pin the specified window on top of all
    5.  Game Mode
    PowerToys - Always on Top iconAfloat Icon

    PowerToys - Always on Top VS Afloat

    Is this a good alternative to Afloat?
     
    • 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. OnTopReplica icon
     36 likes

    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
    OnTopReplica screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    OnTopReplica Features

    1.  Partial Window
    2.  On top
    Discontinued

    The last release (3.5.1) is from April 2018.

    OnTopReplica iconAfloat Icon

    OnTopReplica VS Afloat

    Is OnTopReplica a good alternative to Afloat?
     
  4. MenuTools icon
     27 likes

    MenuTools is a simple program that adds options for task priority, window transparency, and Always On Top to open dialog windows.

    15 MenuTools alternatives
    Example: Notepad running on Microsoft Windows 8 x64.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows

    MenuTools Features

    1.  On top
    2.  Transparency
    3.  Make window transparent
    4. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    5.  Prioritize tasks
    MenuTools iconAfloat Icon

    MenuTools VS Afloat

    Is MenuTools a good alternative to Afloat?
     
  5. PinWin icon
     8 likes

    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
    PinWin screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows

    PinWin Features

    1.  Sits in the System Tray
    2.  On top
    PinWin iconAfloat Icon

    PinWin VS Afloat

    Is PinWin a good alternative to Afloat?
     
  6. LayerX icon
     4 likes

    An intuitive app to display transparent images on screen.

    9 LayerX alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac

    LayerX Features

    1.  On top
    2.  Drag and Drop
    LayerX iconAfloat Icon

    LayerX VS Afloat

    Is LayerX a good alternative to Afloat?
     
    Comments about LayerX as an Alternative to Afloat
     
    Lennard

    only for pictures but easy and simple

    Positive commentFeb 18, 2020
    0
    Afloat Icon
    LayerX icon
    • LayerX is Free and Open SourceAfloat is also Free and Open Source
  7. DeskPins icon
     21 likes

    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
    DeskPins screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Windows Explorer

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    2.  On top
    3.  Support for Hotkeys
    Discontinued

    The program seems to be no longer updated. Last version, 1.32, released in February 2015, can be still downloaded from the official website.

    DeskPins iconAfloat Icon

    DeskPins VS Afloat

    Is DeskPins a good alternative to Afloat?
     
  8.  6 likes

    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...

    17 WindowWatcher alternatives
    WindowWatcher screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    WindowWatcher Features

    1. Zoom icon  Zoom integration
    Afloat Icon

    WindowWatcher VS Afloat

    Is WindowWatcher a good alternative to Afloat?
     
  9. PiP-Tool icon
     5 likes

    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.

    11 PiP-Tool alternatives
    PiP-Tool screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Picture in Picture
    2.  On top
    PiP-Tool iconAfloat Icon

    PiP-Tool VS Afloat

    Is PiP-Tool a good alternative to Afloat?
     
  10. AfloatX icon
     3 likes

    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
    AfloatX screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac

    AfloatX Features

    1.  Make window transparent
    2.  On top
    3.  Dock
    AfloatX iconAfloat Icon

    AfloatX VS Afloat

    Is AfloatX a good alternative to Afloat?
     
    Comments about AfloatX as an Alternative to Afloat
     
    ZooterZoot

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

    Positive commentMar 21, 2022
    0
    Afloat Icon
    AfloatX icon
    • AfloatX is Free and Open SourceAfloat is also Free and Open Source
  11. PiP for Mac icon
     7 likes

    macOS Picture in Picture window preview and AirPlay Receiver.

    16 PiP for Mac alternatives
    PiP for Mac screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac

    PiP for Mac Features

    1.  Picture in Picture
    2.  Crop video
    3.  On top
    PiP for Mac iconAfloat Icon

    PiP for Mac VS Afloat

    Is PiP for Mac a good alternative to Afloat?
     
    Comments about PiP for Mac as an Alternative to Afloat
     
    ZooterZoot

    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.

    Positive commentMar 21, 2022
    0
    Guest

    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

    Negative commentMay 8, 2019
    0
    Afloat Icon
    PiP for Mac icon
    • PiP for Mac is Free and Open SourceAfloat is also Free and Open Source
  12. Window On Top by Compzets.com icon
     5 likes

    "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.

    13 Window On Top by Compzets.com alternatives
    Window On Top by Compzets.com screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Window On Top by Compzets.com Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  On top
    Window On Top by Compzets.com iconAfloat Icon

    Window On Top by Compzets.com VS Afloat

    Is this a good alternative to Afloat?
     
12 of 21 Afloat alternatives