WindowTop review (2026): is the free plan enough?
Windows utility for always-on-top, opacity and picture-in-picture
Black Friday: is there a WindowTop sale?
WindowTop report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for keeping a window on top or see-through on Windows
WindowTop keeps windows on top, adjusts their opacity and does picture-in-picture on Windows. The free edition is for personal use only and the features that matter most are $19 Pro.
Who WindowTop is for
- Fits if you keep a video or notes window floating above your work
- Works for people who want see-through windows on Windows
Who WindowTop is not for
- 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
Why WindowTop gets a 2.4
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- BValue for money$19 one-time for 3 computers, in line with the $19 one-time middle for window managers.
- BFree plan and trialThe 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.
- CFeaturesAlways on top, opacity, click-through, picture-in-picture, anchors and saved window settings, but picture-in-picture and anchors are Pro.
- BEase of useNo rating on record. Install it and use the menu on any window.
- DPlatforms and integrationsWindows only and 64-bit only. Windows only, 64-bit only; no Mac, Linux, phone or web version.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from WindowTop's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/windowtop#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/windowtop.svg" alt="WindowTop: 2.4 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where WindowTop stands among window managers and launchers
WindowTop's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 11 of the 48 other window managers and launchers we grade, and level with 11.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 32 of 48) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 49 window managers and launchers we grade, cut by the letter each got. WindowTop’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 6 of 48, level with 10
- BFree plan and trialAbove 14 of 48, level with 8
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 48, level with 33
- BEase of useAbove 32 of 48, level with 16
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 48, level with 34
Keep WindowTop, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace WindowTop 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: 26 of the 48 other window managers and launchers grade higher. It costs $19, paid once.
What you could not
- Control over other apps' windows.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. WindowTop’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.
What is WindowTop?
WindowTop is a Windows utility that keeps any window above the others, changes a window's opacity, and shrinks a window into a floating picture-in-picture view. It also offers one-click anchors for switching windows and a dark mode that can be applied to windows that lack one. A free edition covers personal use, and a paid Pro license unlocks the advanced features and commercial use.
Worth knowing
- 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
- 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.
WindowTop pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, WindowTop has a free plan, and paid plans start at $19 one-time.
- Starts at
- $19 one-time
- Free plan
- Free edition for personal, non-commercial use; Pro features such as picture-in-picture, anchors and window rules need a Pro license.
- Free trial
- 30-day trial of Pro features in the standalone version, started automatically on first launch; the Microsoft Store version has no trial
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Always on top and opacity for personal, non-commercial use. |
| Pro | $19one-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. |
Read from windowtop.info on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with WindowTop before you buy.
WindowTop alternatives
- WindowTop vs Actual Window Manager
Free trial · from $59.95 one-time
- WindowTop vs MaxTo
Free trial · from €19/yr
- WindowTop vs AquaSnap
Free plan · from $29
- WindowTop vs Dexpot
Free plan
Common questions
Does WindowTop have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. WindowTop is listed for Windows.
Does WindowTop have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. WindowTop is listed for Windows.
Is WindowTop open source?
WindowTop is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.