The Swish Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Swish 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.
Swish
The Insider’s Guide
Trackpad-gesture window manager for macOS
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Swish’s own pages.
Made by Highly Opinionated (Christian Renninger) · 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 Swish’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Swish’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
2.4
GPA, above 18 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
Swish is a macOS window manager driven by trackpad gestures instead of dragging windows or clicking buttons. A swipe on a window's title bar snaps it into a grid, a pinch closes it or sends it full screen, and other swipes move windows between screens and spaces. It also works with the Magic Mouse and keyboard hotkeys. Swish is sold as a $16 one-time license after a 14-day trial, and is also included in the Setapp subscription.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Swish, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It isn't on the Mac App Store, because it can't run sandboxed.
- 1
Best for arranging Mac windows with trackpad swipes
Swish is a Mac window manager driven by trackpad gestures: swipe on a title bar to snap a window, pinch to close it or go full screen.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $16 one-time purchase (US price).
- 3
You can try it first
14-day free trial
- 4
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 5
Title bar snapping
A quick swipe on a window's title bar snaps it into position, in place of dragging the window to a screen edge.
- 6
Grids and shared dividers
Snapping supports 2×2, 3×2 and 3×3 grids, and dragging the divider between snapped windows resizes several of them at once.
- 7
Close, minimize and full screen
Pinching in closes a window, swiping down minimizes it and pinching out sends it full screen, replacing the three title bar buttons.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 18 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Swish you would be making control over other apps' windows. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Swish at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $16 one-time purchase (US price)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Highly Opinionated (Christian Renninger)
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for arranging Mac windows with trackpad swipes
Swish is a Mac window manager driven by trackpad gestures: swipe on a title bar to snap a window, pinch to close it or go full screen. It's $16 once in the US after a 14-day trial. It's built mainly for the Magic Trackpad, so an ordinary mouse needs a second app to fake gestures, a license runs on two Macs at a time, and it isn't on the Mac App Store. It's Mac only, from macOS 12.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $16 once in the US with no recurring cost, and one licence can be active on two machines at a time. Utilities here sit at $2.99 a month in the middle, so that's five months' money for keeps. It's in Setapp too, if you already subscribe. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free version. There's a 14-day trial and the listing shows no card being asked for. After that it's the $16 licence or Setapp. |
| Features | C | Moving windows by gesture is its one job and it covers it: swipes snap into 2x2, 3x2 and 3x3 grids, a shared divider resizes several windows at once, pinches close or full-screen, and 30 gestures can each be switched off. It leans on a Magic Trackpad to do any of it. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: the gestures copy things your hands already do on a trackpad, and the settings window includes a tutorial. It isn't on the Mac App Store, because it can't run sandboxed. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, on macOS 12 and above. It works with the Magic Trackpad, the Magic Mouse and keyboard hotkeys. A third-party mouse needs a separate app such as Mac Mouse Fix to emulate touch gestures. |
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 Swish is for
- Fits if you work on a MacBook or Magic Trackpad and prefer gestures to shortcuts
- Works for moving windows between several monitors and Spaces
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use a third-party mouse, since that needs a separate app such as Mac Mouse Fix to emulate gestures
- Not for you if you're on Windows or Linux, as it's macOS only, version 12 and up
- Tight if you swap between three Macs: a license is active on two at a time and must be unlinked before moving
- Watch out: it isn't on the Mac App Store, because it can't run sandboxed
- Watch out: $16 is the US price, and the checkout localizes it by country
Good to know
Good for
- MacBook and Magic Trackpad users who prefer gestures to keyboard shortcuts
- Multi-monitor setups where windows move between screens often
- Buyers who want a low one-time price, or who already pay for Setapp
Worth knowing
- macOS only, version 12 and above. It is not on the Mac App Store because it cannot run sandboxed.
- It is designed mainly for the Magic Trackpad; a third-party mouse needs a separate app such as Mac Mouse Fix to emulate touch gestures.
- A license can be active on two Macs at a time and has to be unlinked in Settings before moving to another Mac.
- The Buy button shows a price that Paddle localizes by country; $16 is the US figure.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$16 one-time
To start
Swish is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $16 one-time purchase (US price).
It's in Setapp too, if you already subscribe.
Swish license
$16
one-time purchase (US price; Paddle localizes it elsewhere)
A full license with no recurring cost, for personal use on two computers. One license can be active on two machines at a time.
Setapp subscription
$9.99
per month, after 7 days free, for the whole Setapp catalog
Swish is also available through Setapp, a subscription that the Swish site says includes more than 200 Mac and iOS apps.
Trying it first
14-day free trial
Read from highlyopinionated.co on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Education
33% off for students
The Swish FAQ says students get 33% off by sending an email from a .edu address.
Stated on highlyopinionated.co
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
Trackpad-gesture window manager for macOS. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, window management.
It leans on a Magic Trackpad to do any of it.
- Title bar snapping
- A quick swipe on a window's title bar snaps it into position, in place of dragging the window to a screen edge.
- Grids and shared dividers
- Snapping supports 2×2, 3×2 and 3×3 grids, and dragging the divider between snapped windows resizes several of them at once.
- Close, minimize and full screen
- Pinching in closes a window, swiping down minimizes it and pinching out sends it full screen, replacing the three title bar buttons.
- Screens and spaces
- Swipes move windows between displays according to how the monitors are physically arranged, and further gestures work with macOS spaces.
- Keyboard hotkeys
- Arrow, WASD, IJKL and Dvorak hotkeys trigger the snapping, screen and spaces actions, configured in the Advanced tab of the settings.
- 30 gestures, each switchable
- The site counts 30 window, Dock and menu bar gestures. Each can be turned on or off by clicking its icon in the settings window, which also includes a tutorial.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Setapp
- Mac Mouse Fix
- Mackup
Swish is made by Highly Opinionated (Christian Renninger).
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
18/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Swish's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 18 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 17.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 24 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Swish’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- CFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
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
To replace Swish you would be making control over other apps' windows. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 59 of the 94 other desktop utilities grade higher. It costs $16, paid once.
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. Swish’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, Loop and BetterTouchTool
The 5 tools Swish is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Rectangle
Free
Free, open-source window snapping for macOS.
- Rectangle has a free plan. Swish does not, though it has a free trial.
- Swish can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Rectangle is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.0GPA
Magnet
From $4.99 one-time
Window snapping for Mac by drag, shortcut or menu bar.
- Magnet also covers menu bar app.
- 2.2GPA
Moom
Free trial · from $15 one-time
Mac window manager with saved layouts, snapping and a palette.
- Moom also covers menu bar app.
- 2.8GPA
Loop
Free
Free, open-source macOS window manager with a radial menu.
- Loop has a free plan. Swish does not, though it has a free trial.
- Swish can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Loop is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
BetterTouchTool
Free trial · from $15 one-time
Mac input customization: gestures, shortcuts and automation.
- BetterTouchTool also covers workflow automation, launcher, clipboard manager and keyboard and mouse remapping.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 Swish free?
No, Swish is a paid product, but you can try it first. 14-day free trial.
How much does Swish cost?
Swish lists 2 plans. Swish license: $16 one-time purchase (US price; Paddle localizes it elsewhere).
What platforms does Swish work on?
Swish is available on macOS.
Does Swish offer any discounts?
Swish publicly lists the following: 33% off for students.
Does Swish have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Swish is listed for macOS.
Does Swish have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Swish is listed for macOS.
Is Swish open source?
Swish is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does Swish integrate with?
Swish's listing names Setapp, Mac Mouse Fix and Mackup. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Swish have a student discount?
33% off for students. The Swish FAQ says students get 33% off by sending an email from a .edu address.
Who makes Swish?
Swish is made by Highly Opinionated (Christian Renninger).
What are the alternatives to Swish?
The closest alternatives to Swish in our directory are Rectangle, Magnet, Moom, Loop and BetterTouchTool.
How does Swish compare with other desktop utilities?
Swish's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 18 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 17.
Could I make my own version of Swish?
To replace Swish you would be making control over other apps' windows.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Swish’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 Highly Opinionated's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-06.
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 Highly Opinionated (Christian Renninger). Prices change, so check highlyopinionated.co 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
- Swish, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/swish
- 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, "Swish: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/swish
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/swish/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after Swish, 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 Swish’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. Swish is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Highly Opinionated (Christian Renninger). Prices and plans change: check highlyopinionated.co before you buy.