# Amethyst

> Free, open-source automatic tiling window manager for macOS

Amethyst is a free, open-source tiling window manager for macOS in the style of xmonad. It arranges windows automatically according to the chosen layout, such as a main pane beside a stack, columns, rows or binary space partitioning, and lets you cycle layouts and move focus from the keyboard. Settings can be changed in the app or in a YAML file, and custom layouts can be written in JavaScript.

- **Category:** Desktop Utilities
- **Made by:** Ian Ynda-Hummel
- **Website:** https://ianyh.com/amethyst/
- **Runs on:** macOS
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 9, 2026

## Pricing

Amethyst is free to use.

- **Pricing model:** Free
- **Free plan:** The whole app is free and open source under the MIT license. The developer says it will always be free and suggests donating to listed charities instead.
- **Free trial:** None listed.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Amethyst | $0 | Every layout, keyboard shortcut and configuration option, as a direct download or through Homebrew. MIT licensed. |

Read from https://ianyh.com/amethyst/ on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Amethyst before buying.

## Key features

- **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.

## Good for

- 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

## Worth knowing

- 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.

**Tags:** Window management, Open source, Keyboard-first

## Alternatives

- [AeroSpace](https://toolgpa.com/tools/aerospace): Free, open-source i3-like tiling window manager for macOS. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/aerospace-vs-amethyst)
- [Rectangle](https://toolgpa.com/tools/rectangle): Free, open-source window snapping for macOS. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/amethyst-vs-rectangle)
- [Loop](https://toolgpa.com/tools/loop): Free, open-source macOS window manager with a radial menu. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/amethyst-vs-loop)
- [Moom](https://toolgpa.com/tools/moom): Mac window manager with saved layouts, snapping and a palette. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/amethyst-vs-moom)
- [Magnet](https://toolgpa.com/tools/magnet): Window snapping for Mac by drag, shortcut or menu bar. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/amethyst-vs-magnet)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026:

- https://ianyh.com/amethyst/
- https://github.com/ianyh/Amethyst
- https://github.com/ianyh/Amethyst/blob/development/docs/configuration-files.md
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ianyh/Amethyst/development/LICENSE.md

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/amethyst
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).