The WindowTop Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about WindowTop 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.
WindowTop
The Insider’s Guide
Windows utility for always-on-top, opacity and picture-in-picture
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among window managers and launchers, read from WindowTop’s own pages.
Made by WindowTop · checked Nov 13, 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 WindowTop’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on WindowTop’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 11 of the 48 other window managers and launchers we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about WindowTop, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Install it and use the menu on any window.
- 1
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.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $19 one-time.
- 3
There is a free plan
Free edition for personal, non-commercial use; Pro features such as picture-in-picture, anchors and window rules need a Pro license.
- 4
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 5
Always on top
Keeps any window above others and can mark it with a colored border whose color and thickness are adjustable.
- 6
Opacity and click-through
Makes a window see-through and lets mouse clicks pass through it to what sits behind, for tracing or referencing.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 11 of 48
That is against the other window managers and launchers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
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.
WindowTop at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $19 one-time
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 30-day trial of Pro features in the standalone version, started automatically on first launch; the Microsoft Store version has no trial
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- WindowTop
- Category
- Window Managers & Launchers
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | $19 one-time for 3 computers, in line with the $19 one-time middle for window managers. |
| Free plan and trial | B | The 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. |
| Features | C | Always on top, opacity, click-through, picture-in-picture, anchors and saved window settings, but picture-in-picture and anchors are Pro. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record. Install it and use the menu on any window. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Windows only and 64-bit only. Windows only, 64-bit only; no Mac, Linux, phone or web version. |
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 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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- Keeping a reference window, video or chat visible over other work
- Overlaying a see-through window on another one while tracing or comparing
- Personal use at no cost, with a low one-time price for the full set
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$19 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
WindowTop has a free plan. Paid plans start at $19 one-time.
The free edition covers personal, non-commercial use.
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.
The free plan
Free edition for personal, non-commercial use; Pro features such as picture-in-picture, anchors and window rules need a Pro license.
Trying it first
30-day trial of Pro features in the standalone version, started automatically on first launch; the Microsoft Store version has no trial
Read from windowtop.info on Nov 13, 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: Windows
Windows utility for always-on-top, opacity and picture-in-picture. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, window management.
Always on top, opacity, click-through, picture-in-picture, anchors and saved window settings, but picture-in-picture and anchors are Pro.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
WindowTop is made by WindowTop.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
11/48
Other window managers and launchers it is graded above
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
- BFree plan and trialAbove 14 of 48
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 48
- BEase of useAbove 32 of 48
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 48
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 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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Actual Window Manager, MaxTo, AquaSnap and Dexpot
The 4 tools WindowTop is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
Actual Window Manager
Free trial · from $59.95 one-time
Windows toolset for multi-monitor setups and virtual desktops.
- WindowTop has a free plan. Actual Window Manager does not, though it has a free trial.
- Actual Window Manager also covers display control.
- 2.4GPA
MaxTo
Free trial · from €19/yr
Custom screen zones with hotkey and drag snapping for Windows and Mac.
- WindowTop has a free plan. MaxTo does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only MaxTo lists a macOS app.
- 2.4GPA
AquaSnap
Free plan · from $29
Windows tool that docks, snaps and tiles windows by dragging.
- WindowTop can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.2GPA
Dexpot
Free plan
Virtual desktops for Windows with previews and per-window rules.
- WindowTop can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 WindowTop free?
WindowTop has a free plan. Free edition for personal, non-commercial use; Pro features such as picture-in-picture, anchors and window rules need a Pro license.
How much does WindowTop cost?
WindowTop lists 2 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does WindowTop work on?
WindowTop is available on Windows.
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.
Does WindowTop have a free trial?
Yes. 30-day trial of Pro features in the standalone version, started automatically on first launch; the Microsoft Store version has no trial.
Who makes WindowTop?
WindowTop is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to WindowTop?
The closest alternatives to WindowTop in our directory are Actual Window Manager, MaxTo, AquaSnap and Dexpot.
How does WindowTop compare with other 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.
Could I make my own version of WindowTop?
To replace WindowTop you would be making control over other apps' windows.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from WindowTop’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. 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.
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 WindowTop. Prices change, so check windowtop.info before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- WindowTop, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/windowtop
- 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, "WindowTop: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/windowtop
Know someone choosing between window managers and launchers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/windowtop/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded window managers and launchers after WindowTop, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Window Managers & Launchers Insider's GuideEvery one of the 49 window managers and launchers we grade, compared
- Flow Launcher Insider's GuideFree, open-source app launcher and file search for Windows3.0 GPA
- Launchy Insider's GuideOpen-source keystroke launcher with plugins and skins3.0 GPA
- Cerebro Insider's GuideFree open-source Electron launcher for Windows, Mac and Linux2.8 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 WindowTop’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. WindowTop is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by WindowTop. Prices and plans change: check windowtop.info before you buy.