Contexts AlternativesWindow Managers and other similar apps like Contexts

Contexts is described as 'Switch between application windows effortlessly – with a click, a quick gesture, keyboard shortcuts or search; no matter how many of them you have open; even on multiple spaces & multiple displays' and is a Window Manager in the os & utilities category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Contexts for Mac, Windows and Linux. The best Contexts alternative is AltTab, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Contexts are Compiz, Quick Tab, TabTab and Applight.

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Contexts alternatives are mainly Window Managers but may also be Shell Extensions. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Contexts.
Contexts iconContexts
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Switch between application windows effortlessly – with a click, a quick gesture, keyboard shortcuts or search; no matter how many of them you have open; even on multiple spaces & multiple displays.

More about Contexts
Contexts alternatives page was last updated Feb 6, 2025
  1. AltTab icon
     22 likes

    AltTab brings the power of Windows’s “alt-tab” window switcher to macOS.

    17 AltTab alternatives
    AltTab screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Window Switching
    2.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    3.  Window organizer
    AltTab iconContexts Icon

    AltTab VS Contexts

    Is AltTab a good alternative to Contexts?
     
    • AltTab is the most popular Mac alternative to Contexts.

    • AltTab is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Contexts.

    • AltTab is Free and Open SourceContexts is Paid and Proprietary
    • AltTab is CustomizableContexts is not according to our users
  2. Compiz icon
     161 likes

    Compiz is a compositing manager adding fancy effects to your windows, from drop shadows to awesome desktop effects like the Desktop Cube or the Expo view.

    27 Compiz alternatives
    Compiz screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Support for scripting
    4.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  No registration required
    Compiz iconContexts Icon

    Compiz VS Contexts

    Is Compiz a good alternative to Contexts?
     
    • Compiz is the most popular Linux alternative to Contexts.

    • Compiz is Free and Open SourceContexts is Paid and Proprietary
    • Compiz is Privacy focused and LightweightContexts is not according to our users
  3. Quick Tab icon
     2 likes

    How many times a day do you find yourself pressing Command+Tab and then endlessly clicking Tab until you locate the desired application?

    17 Quick Tab alternatives
    Quick Tab screenshot 1

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Quick Tab Features

    1.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    Quick Tab iconContexts Icon

    Quick Tab VS Contexts

    Is Quick Tab a good alternative to Contexts?
     
    • Quick Tab is the most popular commercial alternative to Contexts.

    • Quick Tab is Paid and ProprietaryContexts is also Paid and Proprietary
  4. TabTab icon
     5 likes

    TabTab is a native macOS app that will seriously elevate your window and tab management. Switch seamlessly between windows, navigate to individual tabs in apps like Chrome, VSCode, and Figma, and quickly search for any window or tab with ease.

    17 TabTab alternatives
    TabTab screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac

    TabTab Features

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2. Mozilla Firefox icon  Firefox integration
    3.  Tab search
    4. Finder icon  Apple Finder Integration
    5. Figma icon  Figma Integration
    6.  Support for Hotkeys
    7. Notion icon  Notion Integration
    8. Microsoft Visual Studio icon  Visual Studio integration
    9. Safari icon  Safari Integration
    TabTab iconContexts Icon

    TabTab VS Contexts

    Is TabTab a good alternative to Contexts?
     
  5. Applight icon
     3 likes

    The context-aware app switcher.

    17 Applight alternatives
    Applight screenshot 1

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Window Switching
    7.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    Applight iconContexts Icon

    Applight VS Contexts

    Is Applight a good alternative to Contexts?
     
  6. LaunchPalette icon
     2 likes

    Elevate macOS multitasking with bespoke hotkeys to switch between apps and focus on windows, all in a sleek user interface.

    18 LaunchPalette alternatives
    LaunchPalette screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    6.  Window Switching
    LaunchPalette iconContexts Icon

    LaunchPalette VS Contexts

    Is LaunchPalette a good alternative to Contexts?
     
  7. SMBAct icon
     3 likes

    SMBAct is the all-in-one cross-platform solution that allows you to keep your windows and applications well-organized and significantly simplify the process of interaction with them.

    78 SMBAct alternatives
    SMBAct screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    SMBAct Features

    1.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    2.  Desktop Application
    3.  Window Switching
    SMBAct iconContexts Icon

    SMBAct VS Contexts

    Is SMBAct a good alternative to Contexts?
     
    • SMBAct is the most popular Windows alternative to Contexts.

    • SMBAct is Paid and ProprietaryContexts is also Paid and Proprietary
  8. Mission Control icon
     13 likes

    Mission Control, formerly Exposé, is a feature of the macOS operating system.

    23 Mission Control alternatives
    Mission Control screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Mission Control Features

    1.  Bundled with macOS
    2.  Window organizer
    Mission Control iconContexts Icon

    Mission Control VS Contexts

    Is Mission Control a good alternative to Contexts?
     
  9. VistaSwitcher icon
     36 likes

    VistaSwitcher is an elegant and powerful task management utility for Windows OS. Once installed, it replaces the default Windows Alt-Tab dialog with a nice box that shows a list of all running tasks, with their names and preview snapshots, and enables the user to take actions on...

    25 VistaSwitcher alternatives
    VistaSwitcher screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    VistaSwitcher Features

    1.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    2.  Window Switching
    Discontinued

    The program is no longer updated. Last version, 1.1.5, released in May 2012, can be still downloaded from the official website.

    VistaSwitcher iconContexts Icon

    VistaSwitcher VS Contexts

    Is VistaSwitcher a good alternative to Contexts?
     
  10. rcmd icon
     Like this app

    Re-imagined command-tab.

    17 rcmd alternatives
    rcmd screenshot 1

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac
    rcmd iconContexts Icon

    rcmd VS Contexts

    Is rcmd a good alternative to Contexts?
     
  11. Witch icon
     13 likes

    Witch lets you access all of your windows by pressing a shortcut and choosing from a clearly arranged list of window titles.

    26 Witch alternatives
    Task list

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Witch Features

    1.  Window Switching
    2.  Integrated Search
    Witch iconContexts Icon

    Witch VS Contexts

    Is Witch a good alternative to Contexts?
     
  12. Hyperswitch icon
     10 likes

    HyperSwitch provides a compelling alternative to HyperDock for keyboard junkies.

    23 Hyperswitch alternatives
    Hyperswitch screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Hyperswitch iconContexts Icon

    Hyperswitch VS Contexts

    Is Hyperswitch a good alternative to Contexts?
     
12 of 22 Contexts alternatives