The Loop Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Loop in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Loop
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source macOS window manager with a radial menu
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Loop’s own pages.
Made by MrKai77 · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Loop’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Loop’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
Loop is a free, open-source window manager for macOS built around a trigger key. Holding the key and moving the cursor opens a radial menu that sends the window to a half, quarter, third or other position, with a preview of the result before it is applied. The same actions can be bound to keyboard shortcuts, chained into cycles, or run from scripts through a URL scheme.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Loop, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Wanting Caps Lock as the trigger is the one fiddly bit, needing a remap in System Settings or an app like Hyperkey.
- 1
Best for snapping Mac windows with a radial menu
Its own comparison table lists what's missing: trackpad gestures, saved workspaces, pinning windows on top and resizing adjacent windows.
- 2
It is free
Loop has no paid plan at all. The whole app is free and open source under the GNU GPLv3 license, installed from the GitHub releases page or with Homebrew.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 57 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Loop is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Loop at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- MrKai77
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for snapping Mac windows with a radial menu
Loop is a free, open-source window manager for the Mac: hold a key, move the cursor, and a radial menu sends the window to a half, quarter or third, with a preview first. Its own comparison table lists what's missing: trackpad gestures, saved workspaces, pinning windows on top and resizing adjacent windows. It's Mac only, on macOS 13 or later, and Caps Lock as the trigger needs a separate remap.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under the GNU GPLv3 licence. You install it from the GitHub releases page or with Homebrew, and there's nothing to buy, ever. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole app is free: radial menu, preview window, keyboard shortcuts, cycles, stash and theming. No paid tier, no cap. |
| Features | C | Halves, quarters, thirds, maximize, centre, grow and shrink and moves to another screen, from the radial menu or a shortcut, with cycles and a stash at the screen edge. Its own comparison table names the gaps: no trackpad gestures, no saved workspaces, no resizing of adjacent windows. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: hold the trigger key, move the cursor, let go, and a preview shows where the window will land. Wanting Caps Lock as the trigger is the one fiddly bit, needing a remap in System Settings or an app like Hyperkey. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, on macOS 13 and later. A loop:// URL scheme lets shell scripts and AppleScript run window actions, and it pairs with Karabiner-Elements and Hyperkey. Nothing for Windows or Linux. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Loop is for
- Fits if you want to place a window with one held key and a move of the cursor
- Works for Macs on macOS 13 or later, installed from GitHub or Homebrew
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on Windows or Linux, as it's macOS only
- Not for you if you snap windows with trackpad gestures, which its own comparison table says it lacks
- Too light for saved workspaces, pinning a window on top or resizing adjacent windows, none of which it does
- Watch out: Caps Lock as the trigger needs a remap in System Settings or an app like Hyperkey or Karabiner-Elements
Good to know
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Loop is free to use.
You install it from the GitHub releases page or with Homebrew, and there's nothing to buy, ever.
Loop
$0
Radial menu, preview window, keyboard shortcuts, cycles, stash, theming and URL-scheme scripting. GPLv3 licensed.
The free plan
The whole app is free and open source under the GNU GPLv3 license, installed from the GitHub releases page or with Homebrew.
Read from github.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Free, open-source macOS window manager with a radial menu. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, window management.
Its own comparison table names the gaps: no trackpad gestures, no saved workspaces, no resizing of adjacent windows.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- AppleScript
- Karabiner-Elements
- Hyperkey
Loop is made by MrKai77.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
57/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Loop's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 49 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Loop has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Loop’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 55 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Loop is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Loop is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- Control over other apps' windows.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Loop’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Rectangle, Magnet, Moom, Swish and Amethyst
The 5 tools Loop is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Rectangle
Free
- 2.0GPA
Magnet
From $4.99 one-time
Window snapping for Mac by drag, shortcut or menu bar.
- Loop has a free plan. Magnet does not.
- Loop is open source, according to its own site.
- Magnet can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.2GPA
Moom
Free trial · from $15 one-time
Mac window manager with saved layouts, snapping and a palette.
- Loop has a free plan. Moom does not, though it has a free trial.
- Loop is open source, according to its own site.
- Moom can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.4GPA
Swish
Free trial · from $16 one-time
Trackpad-gesture window manager for macOS.
- Loop has a free plan. Swish does not, though it has a free trial.
- Loop is open source, according to its own site.
- Swish can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Amethyst
Free
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Loop free?
Yes. Loop is free to use.
How much does Loop cost?
Loop lists one plan. Loop: $0.
What platforms does Loop work on?
Loop is available on macOS.
Does Loop have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Loop is listed for macOS.
Does Loop have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Loop is listed for macOS.
Is Loop open source?
Yes. Loop is open source, according to its own site.
What does Loop integrate with?
Loop's listing names AppleScript, Karabiner-Elements and Hyperkey. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Loop?
Loop is made by MrKai77.
What are the alternatives to Loop?
The closest alternatives to Loop in our directory are Rectangle, Magnet, Moom, Swish and Amethyst.
How does Loop compare with other desktop utilities?
Loop's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
Is Loop good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Loop A for value for money. Loop has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Loop?
Loop is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Loop’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Loop's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-26.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by MrKai77. Prices change, so check github.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Loop, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/loop
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Loop: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/loop
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/loop/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after Loop, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Loop’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Loop is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by MrKai77. Prices and plans change: check github.com before you buy.