VirtuaWin vs WindowTop (2026): which should you pick?

Pick VirtuaWin if

• Fits if you want virtual desktops on Windows and don't want to pay
• Works for people who like to read or change the source

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you use macOS or Linux, since it is Windows only
• Watch out: the latest release is 4.5 from January 2021, and a release note says taskbar support should be rechecked on newer Windows
• Tight if you want hand-holding, because help comes from the project's SourceForge page, not a company
• Not for you if you hate fiddling, since some apps need a window rule to follow desktop changes

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

VirtuaWin

• Windows only; the site says it supports all recent versions without naming them.
• The latest release is 4.5 from January 2021, and a release note says dynamic taskbar support should be rechecked on newer Windows versions.
• The FAQ lists known quirks, such as applications that stay visible after a desktop change until a window rule is set.
• There is no company support; help comes from the project's SourceForge page.

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.

VirtuaWin

Up to nine desktops

Organizes applications across as many as 9 virtual desktops, in the way many Linux desktops do.

Hotkeys

Desktop switching and window actions can be assigned to keys, with a manual hotkey editing guide for combinations the setup dialog rejects.

Window rules

Rules tell VirtuaWin how to treat applications that use unusual window types and would not otherwise follow desktop changes.

Modules

Add-on modules extend the base program, and the project has a module API.

Mouse-wheel switching

Can be set up to change desktops with the wheel, as described in the FAQ.

Portable install

The FAQ explains how to run it from a memory stick or install without admin rights.

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.

VirtuaWin

• Free$0

  The full program, with the source code published.

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.