yabai
yabai: A free, scriptable macOS utility for BSP tiling and flexible window control. Ranked #9 of 65 in Window Management Software by our editors (8.5/10); pricing: Free plan; best for mac users who want scriptable BSP tiling.
At a glance
- Editor score8.5 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forMac users who want scriptable BSP tiling
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Founded2019
- Facts checked19 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Offers BSP, stack, and floating space layouts.
- Moves and controls windows across spaces and displays.
- Provides app rules, event-triggered shell actions, and JSON queries.
Where it doesn't
- Designed for macOS rather than cross-platform use.
- Relies on a command-line interface and configuration.
- Does not provide built-in AI features.
Our verdict on yabai
yabai extends macOS window management through a command-line interface, with automatic tiling based on binary space partitioning (BSP). It is aimed at Mac users who want direct control over windows, spaces, and displays, including people comfortable configuring behavior rather than relying only on graphical controls. Its open-source MIT license and free availability make it an option for users seeking scriptable window management without a paid plan.
Layout choice is a central strength: spaces can use BSP, stack, or floating arrangements, with controls for gaps, padding, split ratios, and mouse behavior. Users can focus, move, resize, stack, and zoom windows, and control their movement across spaces and displays. Application- and title-based rules can shape how windows behave; signals can trigger shell actions in response to events. JSON queries expose information about displays, spaces, and windows, supporting workflows that inspect or act on the current setup. The documented ecosystem includes skhd, jq, Übersicht, and Sketchybar.
This breadth favors people willing to configure a utility around their workflow. yabai is not a cross-platform manager: it supports macOS, including current Intel and Apple Silicon releases documented by the project. Its command-line approach may be a poor fit for someone seeking a primarily graphical setup or preset-driven layouts. Choose it for configurable tiling, rules, and scripting on a Mac; consider another option if you need support for other operating systems or prefer to manage windows without command-line configuration.
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yabai pricing
yabai fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Platforms | macos |
| Maximum displays | Not verified |
| Layout presets | Not verified |
| Application rules | Yes |
| Window grouping | Not verified |
| Virtual desktop controls | Yes |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | macOS |
| Integrations | 4 integrations: skhd, jq, Übersicht, Sketchybar |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | github.com |
| Facts checked | 19 Sep 2026 |
yabai integrations
yabai lists 4 integrations on its own site.
- skhd
- jq
- Übersicht
- Sketchybar
Alternatives to yabai
- i3A configurable X11 window manager for Linux users who want precise tiling and workspace control.9.4
- SwayA free, open-source Wayland compositor for configurable window layouts and i3 users.9.3
- HyprlandA flexible Linux building block for users who want to configure their own desktop.9.2
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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