Apple Spaces Alternatives

Apple Spaces is described as 'Spaces, one of the coolest new features of Mac OS X Leopard, lets you switch among multiple desktops. For example, you might create a communication workspace for Mail, iChat, and Address Book, another for media programs like iTunes and iPhoto, and a third for video games' and is an app in the network & admin category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Apple Spaces for Windows, Linux, Mac, BSD and PortableApps.com. The best Apple Spaces alternative is Compiz, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Apple Spaces are VirtuaWin, Mission Control, KWin and Sysinternals Desktops.

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Apple Spaces alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Compiz icon
     161 likes
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    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.

    31 Compiz alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
    • Compiz is the most popular Linux alternative to Apple Spaces.

    • Compiz is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Apple Spaces.

    • Compiz is Free and Open SourceApple Spaces is Paid and Proprietary
    • Compiz is Privacy focused and LightweightApple Spaces is not according to our users
  2. VirtuaWin icon
     80 likes
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    VirtuaWin is a virtual desktop manager for the Windows operating system (Win9x/ME/NT/Win2K/XP/Win2003/Vista/Win7/Win10). A virtual desktop manager lets you organize applications over several virtual desktops (also called ‘workspaces’).

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
     
    • VirtuaWin is the most popular Windows alternative to Apple Spaces.

    • VirtuaWin is Free and Open SourceApple Spaces is Paid and Proprietary
  3. Mission Control icon
     13 likes
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    Mission Control, formerly Exposé, is a feature of the macOS operating system.

    23 Mission Control alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
    • Mission Control is the most popular Mac alternative to Apple Spaces.

    • Mission Control is the most popular commercial alternative to Apple Spaces.

    • Mission Control is Paid and ProprietaryApple Spaces is also Paid and Proprietary
  4.  9 likes
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    KWin is a window manager for the X Window System, and is in the process of becoming a Wayland compositor. It is an integral part, and the default window manager of the Plasma Workspaces, but it can also be used on its own or with other desktop environments.

    56 KWin alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
     
  5. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Desktops, part of the Sysinternals Suite , allows you to organize your applications on up to four virtual desktops. Read email on one, browse the web on the second, and do work in your productivity software on the third, without the clutter of...

    12 Sysinternals Desktops alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  6. WindowsPager icon
     24 likes
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    WindowsPager is a desktop-switcher/pager for Windows to manage virtual workspaces/desktops. It will integrate smoothly into the desktop panel.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  7. Raskin icon
     11 likes
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    Experience Raskin's unique bird's eye view to browse and manage your pictures, presentations, PDFs…

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  8. Nimi Visuals icon
     12 likes
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    Adds eye-candy effects to windows (and start menu) like deformations (e.g: jelly windows - that makes moved window wiggle like being made from jelly; or fold - which hides windows by folding up horizontally, and unfolds when showing), physics (e.g.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  9. mDesktop icon
     6 likes
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    mDesktop is a lightweight application that allows the user to utilize multiple virtual desktops. Also, mDesktop integrates with Hotcorners. mDesktop currently supports up to ten virtual desktops.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  10. Sawfish icon
     3 likes
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    Sawfish is an extensible window manager using a Lisp-based scripting language. Its policy is very minimal compared to most window managers. Its aim is simply to manage windows in the most flexible and attractive manner possible.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  11. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    GiMeSpace Desktop Extenders are scrolling virtual desktop managers and the only virtual desktop/window managers that give you seamless unlimited desktop space. New since version 2 is that you can now also resize your windows without any limitations.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  12. maComfort icon
     3 likes
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    Brings Mac to Windows.

    Makes Windows feel and look like Mac. Enables features like Quicklook (file preview without opening), Spaces (virtual desktops), Active Corners, Mac hotkeys & key combinations and more!.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
12 of 14 Apple Spaces alternatives