yabai review
A free, scriptable macOS utility for BSP tiling and flexible window control.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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.
yabai pros and cons
- 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.
yabai fact sheet, pricing and score →
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