Switchy vs AppSwitcher

SSwitchy8.3Visit AppSwitcher7.9Visit

Higher score S Switchy #6 in App Switcher 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Switchy

vs

AppSwitcher #8 in App Switcher 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit AppSwitcher

• Switchy fits best

  Mac users wanting previews across Spaces and screens

• AppSwitcher fits best

  Windows users who prefer hotkey-driven app launching

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Side by side

Feature	SSwitchy 8.3/10 Visit ↗	AppSwitcher 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.3	7.9
Ranking	#6 in App Switcher	#8 in App Switcher
Best for	Mac users wanting previews across Spaces and screens	Windows users who prefer hotkey-driven app launching
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	macOS	Windows
Built for	Solo	Solo, Small business
Features Switchy 3/5 · AppSwitcher 3/5
Browser tab switching	—	—
Window previews	✓ (best)	—
Search in switcher	—	✓ (best)
Custom shortcuts	✓	✓
Open source	✓	✓
Specs
Supported platforms	macOS 14 (Sonoma) or newer	Windows 10 version 20H1 (build 19041) or newer; Windows 11
Our review
Pros	Shows live previews in a most-recently-used window overlay Can restore minimized windows and include windows across Spaces and screens Offers app-specific switching, exclusions, and customizable shortcuts	Configurable hotkeys launch and switch directly to chosen apps Cycles apps, app windows, peeks, and minimizes from the keyboard Free, open source, offline, with on-device usage statistics
Cons	Requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or newer Does not switch between browser tabs Has no search-based switcher	Supports Windows 10 version 20H1 or newer and Windows 11 only No browser-tab switching or window previews Documentation is the listed support channel
Our verdict	Switchy is an open-source window switcher for macOS 14 or newer, aimed at people who prefer keyboard navigation between individual app windows. Its global overlay sorts windows by most recently used and can show live previews. Users can… Read the review →	AppSwitcher is a free, open-source Windows desktop utility for switching directly to selected applications with configurable keyboard shortcuts. It suits solo users and small teams that want keyboard-driven access to frequently used… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Switchy — where it wins

  • Shows live previews in a most-recently-used window overlay
  • Can restore minimized windows and include windows across Spaces and screens
  • Offers app-specific switching, exclusions, and customizable shortcuts

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or newer
  • Does not switch between browser tabs
  • Has no search-based switcher

• AppSwitcher — where it wins

  • Configurable hotkeys launch and switch directly to chosen apps
  • Cycles apps, app windows, peeks, and minimizes from the keyboard
  • Free, open source, offline, with on-device usage statistics

  Where it doesn't

  • Supports Windows 10 version 20H1 or newer and Windows 11 only
  • No browser-tab switching or window previews
  • Documentation is the listed support channel

• SSwitchy8.3/10 · Free plan

  A free, open-source macOS switcher for previewing and navigating individual windows.

  Visit SwitchyFull verdict →
• AppSwitcher7.9/10 · Free plan

  A free, open-source hotkey switcher for Windows apps and windows.

  Visit AppSwitcherFull verdict →