Afloat Alternatives for Mac

There are many alternatives to Afloat for Mac if you are looking for a replacement. The best Mac alternative is PureRef, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 10 alternatives to Afloat and 11 are available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Mac alternatives to Afloat are PiP for Mac, LayerX, Picture In Picture and AfloatX.

Afloat alternatives are mainly Image Viewers but may also be Window Managers or Media Players. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Afloat.

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Afloat

Free • Open Source

Mac
SIMBL

Make any app able to float on top.

Learn more about Afloat

PureRef
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No
Free • Proprietary
Image Viewer
Mac
Windows
Linux
11 alternatives to PureRef
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.
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PureRef Features
1. LightweightPureRef consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Ad-freePureRef doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Works OfflinePureRef can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
4. PortablePureRef can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
References
Support for Hotkeys
Customizable
Discontinued
The last version (1.11.1) is from August 2020.
PiP for Mac
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
14 alternatives to PiP for Mac
macOS Picture in Picture window preview and AirPlay Receiver.
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PiP for Mac Features
1. Picture in PicturePiP for Mac allows you to put a video, web page or app in a floating window (always on top of other windows).
Crop video
On top
PiP for Mac vs Afloat opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
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 comment•
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 comment•
0
LayerX
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Image Viewer
Mac
8 alternatives to LayerX
An intuitive app to display transparent images on screen.
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LayerX Features
On top
Drag and Drop
Add a screenshot

LayerX vs Afloat opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
lennard123
only for pictures but easy and simple
Positive comment•
0
Picture In Picture
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Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Mac
Google Chrome
18 alternatives to Picture In Picture
Picture in Picture (PiP) allows watching videos from the internet while working at a computer. Using unique algorithms, the program finds videos on web pages and allows to open them in a floating window, that remains in the front.
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Picture In Picture Features
1. Picture in PicturePicture In Picture allows you to put a video, web page or app in a floating window (always on top of other windows).
AfloatX
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
4 alternatives to AfloatX
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.
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AfloatX Features
Make window transparent
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Dock
AfloatX vs Afloat opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
ZooterZoot
It's a more modern version of Afloat that works with MacForge instead of MySIMBL
Positive comment•
0
Duplicate Windows
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Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Mac
10 alternatives to Duplicate Windows
Duplicate Windows visually copies any window in Mac OS X live and on-the-fly. It’s like display mirroring for individual windows! I created the tool to display windows across multiple monitors in extended desktop mode during presentations.
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Duplicate Windows Features
1. Picture in PictureDuplicate Windows allows you to put a video, web page or app in a floating window (always on top of other windows).
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Uberlayer
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Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Mac
7 alternatives to Uberlayer
With the Uberlayer app you can put floating images on top of your computer screen. Maybe you want to proof a design to the pixel, watermark a presentation or always have that special picture of your mother on top?

Uberlayer has no features, suggest some!
Overlay
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Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Mac
9 alternatives to Overlay
A frame that allows you to have an image or even PDF displayed semi-transparently in front of everything. It enables you to copy, trace, or compare designs, images, and documents with ease, since you can lock the frame and make it undisturbed by mouse gestures.
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Overlay Features
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GluePrint
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No
Paid • Proprietary
Mac
7 alternatives to GluePrint
Turn any mockup into a floating guide, and visually align pixels with ease.

Use GluePrint to implement your interfaces pixel perfect. Simply open a mockup and lock it on top of your work to see how it compares. Position with the arrow keys and scroll to adjust the transparency. .
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GluePrint Features
Transparency
Overlay2
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Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Mac
Windows
11 alternatives to Overlay2
Overlay2 is like digital tracing paper for your computer. It opens a semi-transparent floating image over video capture or editing software, or 3D modelling software, so you can use the image as a reference or positioning guide.
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Overlay2 Features
On top
Overlay2 vs Afloat opinions
Guest
Floating and image and floating an app window are two different things.
Negative comment•
2