Contexts vs Mission Control Plus (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Contexts and Mission Control Plus share a 2.0 GPA, neither has a free plan and their prices can't be set side by side, so the choice depends on which features you need.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on all five counts.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Contexts
Mac window switcher with search, a sidebar and a better Command-Tab
Free trial · from $9.99
Mission Control Plus
Close, minimize and quit windows from inside Mission Control
Free trial · from $10.07
Which one is for you
Pick Contexts if
- Fits if you keep many windows open and want to jump by typing
- Works for Mac users with several displays and Spaces
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want windows snapped to halves or tiles, because it doesn't resize
- Skip it if you're not on a Mac, as no other system is listed
- Watch out: the page doesn't say whether major versions are paid upgrades
- Watch out: only macOS Ventura, Sonoma and Sequoia are named
Pick Mission Control Plus if
- Fits if you use Mission Control a lot and want to close windows there
- Works for Mac users who'd like to quit apps from that view
Look elsewhere if
- Too light for window layouts, since it only acts inside Mission Control
- Not for you if you're not on a Mac, as no other system is listed
- Watch out: it needs Accessibility access in System Settings
- Watch out: the price is filled in by the vendor's payment script, so check the final amount at checkout
How we grade them
| 2.0GPAContextsFair | 2.0GPAMission Control PlusFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B$9.99 per license, below the $16 middle of one-time prices in this category. The page doesn't say whether major versions cost extra. | BUS$10.07 for one license across 5 Macs, as the page's script shows it. That's below the $16 middle of one-time prices in this category. |
| Free plan and trial | CA free trial download, and the license agreement allows 21 days. No free plan. | CA 10-day free trial with every feature. The page doesn't say if a card is needed, and there's no free plan. |
| Features | CSearch switching, a Command-Tab replacement, a sidebar and a trackpad gesture across displays and Spaces. It switches windows but doesn't arrange them. | CA close button, Cmd-W, Cmd-M and Cmd-Q on a window, and arrow-key moves in Mission Control. A small job it does fully, and it doesn't arrange windows. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. It's a Mac install, with a shortcut to set and a learning curve for the search. | CNo store rating on record. It needs Accessibility access turned on before the close button appears. |
| Platforms and integrations | DMac only, on macOS Ventura, Sonoma and Sequoia. | DMac only, on macOS 12 Monterey or later. Setapp is the only integration listed. |
| Best for | switching windows by typing | closing windows from Mission Control |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Contexts and Mission Control Plus. How we grade
Where they differ
In commonmacOSKeyboard-firstWindow management
At a glance
| Contexts | Mission Control Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $9.99 per license | US$10.07 per license, as displayed |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | Free trial download; the license agreement allows a 21-day evaluation period. | 10-day free trial with every feature. |
| macOS | ||
| Made by | Contexts | Chapter Two LLC |
| Price read from | contexts.co | fadel.io |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Contexts
- Mac only, and the page lists macOS Ventura, Sonoma and Sequoia.
- Switches between windows; it does not resize or tile them.
- The page names a license price but does not say whether major versions are paid upgrades.
Mission Control Plus
- Requires macOS 12 Monterey or later.
- Needs Accessibility access in System Settings.
- The price is filled in by the vendor's payment script; confirm the final amount at checkout.
Key features
Contexts
- Search switching
- Open a search window with a shortcut, type scattered characters from an app name or window title, and press Return to switch.
- Fast Search
- Hold a modifier key such as Fn, type one or two characters and release to bring the selected window forward.
- Command-Tab replacement
- Lists windows separately rather than apps, with Command-Backquote for the windows of the frontmost app.
- Sidebar
- An auto-hiding list of windows grouped by Space, with Dock-style count badges.
- Trackpad gesture
- Scroll down with two fingers from the top edge of the trackpad to pick a window, then lift to switch.
- Multiple displays and Spaces
- The search window can appear on every display at once, and lists can be filtered by Space.
Mission Control Plus
- Close button
- Shows a close button on the window under the pointer in Mission Control.
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Command-W closes, Command-M minimizes and Command-Q quits the pointed-at window or app.
- Arrow-key navigation
- Move between windows in Mission Control with the arrow keys.
- Configurable
- Each shortcut can be switched on or off in Preferences.
Plans
Contexts
License$9.99
per license
One license for Contexts 3 on macOS Ventura, Sonoma and Sequoia.
Mission Control Plus
LicenseUS$10.07
per license, for 5 Macs; price as the checkout script shows it
One license can be used on 5 Macs. Also included in a Setapp subscription.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Contexts or Mission Control Plus?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Contexts starts at $9.99 per license, and Mission Control Plus starts at US$10.07 per license, as displayed.
Which has a free plan, Contexts or Mission Control Plus?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither Contexts nor Mission Control Plus has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.