Dexpot vs WindowTop (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, WindowTop grades higher than Dexpot: 2.4 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
WindowTop grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
WindowTop
Windows utility for always-on-top, opacity and picture-in-picture
Free plan · from $19 one-time
Which one is for you
Pick Dexpot if
- Fits if you run an older Windows version and want several desktops with their own wallpapers
- Works for private users who want a free desktop pager
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you are on Windows 10 or 11, because the download page doesn't list them and the vendor's 2016 news says compatibility problems are known
- Not for you if you use it at work, as the free version is for private use only and a license is EUR 24.90 per computer
- Watch out: the latest release is 1.6.14 from September 2014, so don't expect new features or fixes
- Skip it if you use macOS or Linux, since there is only a Windows version
Pick WindowTop if
- Fits if you keep a video or notes window floating above your work
- Works for people who want see-through windows on Windows
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you use it for work on the free edition, as business use needs Pro
- Tight if you want picture-in-picture or anchors free, since those are Pro
- Watch out: the Microsoft Store version has no trial
- Watch out: the vendor says dark mode may be unstable on Windows 10 and glass mode can be slow at 4K
How we grade them
| 2.2GPADexpotFair | 2.4GPAWindowTopFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BFree for private use, and the one-time business license is EUR 24.90 per computer, about $27.50, which is above the category's $19 middle one-time price. Business use is not free. | B$19 one-time for 3 computers, in line with the $19 one-time middle for window managers. |
| Free plan and trial | BVersion 1.6 is free for private, non-commercial use with no stated cap, and one person could live on it. Companies have to buy a license. | BThe free edition covers personal, non-commercial use. Pro adds picture-in-picture, anchors and window rules, with a 30-day trial in the standalone version. |
| Features | CPreview of all desktops, a pager, per-desktop icons and wallpapers, window rules and a task switcher. It does the job, but it hasn't been updated since 2014. | CAlways on top, opacity, click-through, picture-in-picture, anchors and saved window settings, but picture-in-picture and anchors are Pro. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. It is a program to install, but the rules, Dexgrid and per-desktop settings take some setting up. | BNo rating on record. Install it and use the menu on any window. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only, and the download page lists XP through 8.1 rather than current versions. | DWindows only and 64-bit only. Windows only, 64-bit only; no Mac, Linux, phone or web version. |
| Best for | virtual desktops on older Windows | keeping a window on top or see-through on Windows |
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: Dexpot and WindowTop. How we grade
Where they differ
- WindowTop can be bought with a one-time purchase.
In commonFree planWindowsWindow management
At a glance
| Dexpot | WindowTop | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | EUR 24.90 per computer, one-time | $19 one-time |
| Free plan | Free for private use only, per the download page. | Free edition for personal, non-commercial use; Pro features such as picture-in-picture, anchors and window rules need a Pro license. |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day trial of Pro features in the standalone version, started automatically on first launch; the Microsoft Store version has no trial |
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Dexpot GbR | WindowTop |
| Price read from | dexpot.de | windowtop.info |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Dexpot
- The current version is 1.6.14 from September 2014, and the download page lists Windows XP through 8.1; Windows 10 and 11 are not listed.
- The vendor's newest news item, from February 2016, says Windows 10 compatibility problems are known and an update will follow.
- The free edition is for private use only; business use needs a paid license.
- Prices are shown in euros, with an approximate dollar conversion.
WindowTop
- The free edition is for personal, non-commercial use only; business use needs a Pro license.
- Windows only, and 64-bit only; dark mode and glass mode need Windows 10 or later.
- The vendor says dark mode is stable on Windows 11 and may be unstable on Windows 10, and that glass mode can be slow at 4K.
- A Pro license covers 3 computers per user; teams and companies are pointed to a separate license plan.
Key features
Dexpot
- Full-screen preview
- A live overview of all desktops where windows can be dragged between them or copied, tiled and closed.
- Switching tools
- A desktop manager toolbar, a taskbar pager, a Dexgrid row-and-column layout and hotkeys such as Alt+1 to Alt+4.
- Per-desktop backgrounds and icons
- Each desktop can have its own wallpaper, color and set of desktop icons, including different backgrounds per monitor.
- Power rules
- Rules act on newly created windows, with actions such as always on top, minimize to tray or a transparency value.
- Application assignment
- Binds an application to one desktop or to all desktops and can launch programs on a chosen desktop.
- Task switcher
- DexTab replaces Alt+Tab with a list of windows across all desktops.
WindowTop
- Always on top
- Keeps any window above others and can mark it with a colored border whose color and thickness are adjustable.
- Opacity and click-through
- Makes a window see-through and lets mouse clicks pass through it to what sits behind, for tracing or referencing.
- Picture-in-picture and crop
- Pro turns a window into a floating view, lets you interact with it there and crop it to a region, which can be detected automatically since version 5.29.
- Anchors
- Pro places clickable anchors on screen to bring a window forward in one click, which the vendor presents as quicker than Alt+Tab.
- Dark mode and glass mode
- Applies a dark theme to windows that have none and offers separate opacity and blur settings for backgrounds, text and images.
- Saved window settings
- Pro remembers per-window settings, such as always on top, and supports white and black lists of programs.
Plans
Dexpot
Private use$0
Dexpot 1.6 is free for private, non-commercial use.
Single licenseEUR 24.90
one-time, per computer (EU price includes VAT)
Pro license for one computer or client, with support and updates for the 1.6.x series. Packages of 5 or more cost less per copy.
WindowTop
Free$0
Always on top and opacity for personal, non-commercial use.
Pro$19
one-time, for 3 computers per user
Unlocks picture-in-picture, anchors, saved window settings, fuller dark mode and commercial use. The Microsoft Store version costs more.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Dexpot or WindowTop?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Dexpot starts at EUR 24.90 per computer, one-time, and WindowTop starts at $19 one-time.
Which has a free plan, Dexpot or WindowTop?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Dexpot and WindowTop have a free plan.
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.