Amethyst vs Loop

Amethyst

• Mac users who want windows arranged automatically as they open
• People coming from xmonad who want similar key bindings
• Those who want tiling with a settings window rather than only a config file

Loop

• Mac users who want to place windows with one held key and a cursor movement
• People looking for a free, open-source alternative to paid window snappers
• Those who want to theme the menu and preview to their taste

Amethyst

• macOS only; the site says it is supported on macOS 10.15 or later.
• It needs Accessibility permission, granted under Privacy & Security in System Settings.
• The site advises turning off the macOS setting that rearranges Spaces by recent use, or keyboard navigation between Spaces becomes unpredictable.
• Custom JavaScript layouts are labeled beta, and not every layout responds to the resize commands.

Loop

• macOS only; the README says it is compatible with macOS 13 and later.
• Its own comparison table lists no trackpad gestures, saved workspaces, pinning windows on top or resizing of adjacent windows.
• Using Caps Lock as the trigger key needs a modifier remap in System Settings or another app such as Hyperkey or Karabiner-Elements.

Amethyst

Automatic tiling layouts

Windows are placed by the active layout: Tall, Wide, Two Pane, three-column variants, Column, Row, Fullscreen, Widescreen-Tall and binary space partitioning. Layouts can be removed from the cycle.

xmonad-style shortcuts

Two modifier combinations, Option-Shift and Control-Option-Shift by default, cycle layouts, resize the main pane, move focus and swap windows.

Spaces and screens

Shortcuts throw the focused window to a numbered Space or to another screen, and move focus between screens.

Floating windows

Toggle floating for the focused window, list apps that should always float or always tile, and let windows under a size threshold float by default.

Mouse options

Optional settings make focus follow the mouse, move the pointer to the focused window, swap windows by dragging one onto another, and update the layout after a mouse resize.

YAML config and custom layouts

A file at ~/.amethyst.yml sets layouts, margins, padding and shortcuts, and overrides the app's settings window. Custom layouts written in JavaScript are in beta.

Loop

Radial menu

Hold the trigger key and move the cursor in a direction to move and resize the window. The menu's width, shape and color can be changed, and it can be turned off.

Preview window

An outline shows where the window will land before the action is committed. Its padding, corner radius and border are adjustable, and it is optional.

Keyboard shortcuts

Any key can be paired with the trigger key to run an action: halves, quarters, thirds, maximize, center, grow and shrink, undo, or a move to another screen.

Cycles

Pressing the same key combination repeatedly, or left-clicking repeatedly, steps a window through a sequence of positions.

Stash

Windows can be hidden at the edge of the screen and brought back by hovering near the edge or with a key binding.

URL scheme for scripts

A loop:// URL scheme lets shell scripts and AppleScript trigger window actions, chain several of them, and list the available commands.

Amethyst

• Amethyst$0

  Every layout, keyboard shortcut and configuration option, as a direct download or through Homebrew. MIT licensed.

Loop

• Loop$0

  Radial menu, preview window, keyboard shortcuts, cycles, stash, theming and URL-scheme scripting. GPLv3 licensed.