AeroSpace vs yabai
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A keyboard-driven window manager for macOS that tiles windows automatically, inspired by i3.
Open source · MIT
A tiling window manager for macOS that arranges windows automatically using a command line.
The short answer
Choose AeroSpace if you need…
- Keyboard-centric users who want to manage windows without the mouse
- Developers and advanced users comfortable editing a text configuration file
- People with multi-monitor setups who want i3-style monitor handling
- Users who already know i3 or other tiling window managers
Choose yabai if you need…
- Mac users who want keyboard-driven window layouts
- People comfortable editing configuration files and using a terminal
- Users who want to manage multiple spaces and displays from the command line
- Users who want focus-follows-mouse behavior
Side-by-side
| AeroSpace | yabai | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 23.7k | 29.8k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | See the README |
| Main language | Swift | C |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 5 months ago |
What each one is
AeroSpace
AeroSpace arranges the windows on your Mac into tiled layouts so they fill the screen without overlapping, and lets you move between them with the keyboard. It is inspired by the i3 window manager on Linux. Its configuration is a plain text file, and it is controlled through a command-line interface. It does not use macOS Spaces for workspaces; it emulates its own workspaces instead.
yabai
yabai is a utility that extends the built-in window manager of macOS. It automatically arranges open windows into tiled layouts based on a binary space partitioning algorithm, so you can focus on content instead of moving windows by hand. You control it through a command line interface and can optionally bind keyboard shortcuts with skhd or other tools.
Best for
AeroSpace
- Keyboard-centric users who want to manage windows without the mouse
- Developers and advanced users comfortable editing a text configuration file
- People with multi-monitor setups who want i3-style monitor handling
- Users who already know i3 or other tiling window managers
yabai
- Mac users who want keyboard-driven window layouts
- People comfortable editing configuration files and using a terminal
- Users who want to manage multiple spaces and displays from the command line
- Users who want focus-follows-mouse behavior
Strengths
AeroSpace
- Built on a tree-based tiling model and inspired by i3, which the README describes as its core design
- Does not require disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP), and the project states it will never require this
- Configuration is a plain text file that works well with dotfiles, and manpages and shell completion are included
yabai
- Free and open source under the MIT License
- Based on a documented tiling algorithm and scriptable through the command line
- Has sample configuration files, a wiki, and documentation in the repository
Not ideal for
AeroSpace
- People who want a graphical settings panel, since the project says it will never provide a GUI for configuration
- Users who rely on native macOS Spaces, because AeroSpace does not acknowledge them and uses its own workspace emulation
- Users looking for visual effects such as window borders, transparency or animations, which the project deliberately does not prioritize
- Users who need a stable release today, since the README describes it as a Public Beta with breaking changes expected before 1.0
yabai
- Users who want a point-and-click setup with no terminal use, since control is through a command line interface
- Users on macOS versions older than those listed in the README's requirements
- People who cannot grant Accessibility permissions, since the README says yabai needs them
Trade-offs
AeroSpace
- Described as a Public Beta, with breaking changes expected until version 1.0
- The README notes the app is not notarized by Apple; the Homebrew install script removes the quarantine attribute to avoid warnings
- The README lists open issues it considers important before 1.0, including window-jumping stability problems and no native macOS tabs support yet
yabai
- Some features require partially disabling System Integrity Protection, which the README says carries risk and is optional
- Several macOS settings must be changed for commands to work reliably, and some apps such as Terminal and Finder handle tabs incorrectly
- The README includes a disclaimer that the authors are not responsible for any machine damage
Getting started
AeroSpace
Install via Homebrew (preferred, includes autoupdates)
brew install --cask nikitabobko/tap/aerospaceyabai
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/asmvik/yabaiFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between AeroSpace and yabai?
AeroSpace: A keyboard-driven window manager for macOS that tiles windows automatically, inspired by i3. yabai: A tiling window manager for macOS that arranges windows automatically using a command line. AeroSpace suits keyboard-centric users who want to manage windows without the mouse, while yabai suits mac users who want keyboard-driven window layouts.
Are AeroSpace and yabai free?
AeroSpace: Free and open source. yabai: Free and open source.
Is AeroSpace or yabai more popular?
yabai has more GitHub stars (29.8k) than AeroSpace (23.7k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to AeroSpace and yabai?
Other options people compare them with include Amethyst, Hammerspoon, Polybar.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.