Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

yabai VS BetterTouchTool

Compare yabai VS BetterTouchTool and see what are their differences

yabai logo yabai

A tiling window manager for macOS based on binary space partitioning

BetterTouchTool logo BetterTouchTool

Nov 5, 2017 - BetterTouchTool is a great, feature packed app that allows you to configure many gestures for your Magic Mouse (1 & 2), Macbook Trackpad and Magic Trackpad (1 & 2) and also Mouse Gestures for normal mice.
  • yabai Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-26
  • BetterTouchTool Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-24

yabai features and specs

  • Efficient Window Management
    Yabai provides advanced tiling window management for macOS, greatly increasing productivity by allowing users to manage windows through keyboard shortcuts and layouts, minimizing the need for mouse interactions.
  • Highly Customizable
    The software offers extensive configuration options, enabling users to personalize their window management experience according to their specific workflow and preferences.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, Yabai is free to use and modify, allowing the community to contribute to its development and enhancement. This fosters a collaborative environment for improving the software.
  • Supports Scripting
    Yabai supports scripting through AppleScript or shell commands, enabling users to automate complex workflows and integrate Yabai with other tools and applications seamlessly.
  • Lightweight
    Yabai is designed to be a lightweight window manager, which means it consumes minimal system resources, ensuring that your Mac continues to run smoothly even with numerous active windows.

Possible disadvantages of yabai

  • Steep Learning Curve
    For beginners, the configuration and use of Yabai can be daunting, requiring a significant amount of time and effort to fully understand and utilize its capabilities effectively.
  • Requires SIP Disablement
    To utilize some of Yabai's more advanced features, users need to partially disable System Integrity Protection (SIP), which can reduce the overall security of the macOS system.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    As macOS updates and changes, compatibility issues may arise, potentially breaking functionality. Users may need to wait for updates from the developer community to resolve these issues.
  • Limited Official Support
    As an open-source project, Yabai does not come with official support channels. Users must rely on community forums and documentation, which may not always provide immediate or comprehensive assistance.
  • Complex Configurations
    Setting up Yabai to fit specific needs can be complex and time-consuming, especially for users who are not familiar with scripting or advanced configuration files.

BetterTouchTool features and specs

  • Customizability
    BetterTouchTool offers extensive customization options for touch gestures, keyboard shortcuts, and mouse actions, allowing users to tailor their input devices to their specific workflows.
  • Productivity Enhancement
    By enabling custom gestures and shortcuts, BetterTouchTool can significantly boost productivity, making it easier to perform complex tasks quickly.
  • Integration with Other Applications
    BetterTouchTool integrates well with a variety of applications, enabling seamless interactions and extended functionality across different software environments.
  • Advanced Features
    The tool includes advanced features like window snapping, advanced window management, and the ability to create custom actions and macros, offering a high level of control.
  • User Community and Support
    BetterTouchTool has an active user community and provides good support, which can be helpful for troubleshooting and discovering new uses for the tool.

Possible disadvantages of BetterTouchTool

  • Learning Curve
    The extensive set of features and customization options can be overwhelming for new users, requiring a significant amount of time to learn and utilize effectively.
  • Performance Impact
    On some systems, BetterTouchTool may cause a noticeable performance impact, particularly when using complex or numerous custom gestures and shortcuts.
  • Cost
    While BetterTouchTool is reasonably priced, it is not free, which might be a drawback for users looking for a no-cost solution.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Occasionally, updates to macOS or third-party applications may lead to compatibility issues, requiring users to wait for patches or workarounds.
  • Resource Intensive
    For users with limited system resources, BetterTouchTool may consume a fair amount of memory and CPU, which can be problematic on older or less powerful machines.

yabai videos

Yabai Demonstration

More videos:

  • Demo - yabai macOS Tiling Window Manager Demonstration

BetterTouchTool videos

BetterTouchTool 2.851: A Quick Overview

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to yabai and BetterTouchTool)
Window Manager
74 74%
26% 26
OSX Tools
65 65%
35% 35
Mac Tools
65 65%
35% 35
Mac
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, yabai seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 133 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

yabai mentions (133)

View more

BetterTouchTool mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of BetterTouchTool yet. Tracking of BetterTouchTool recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing yabai and BetterTouchTool, you can also consider the following products

Rectangle - Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.

Moom - Move your mouse over the green zoom button in any window, and Moom's mouse control overlay will appear (as seen in the above animation).

AquaSnap - Too many windows on your screen? Stop wasting your productivity.

Magnet Window Manager - Magnet Developers

WindowGrid - Quickly and easily layout windows on a dynamic grid using just the mouse.

BTT Remote - A remote control for you Mac, using your iPhone or iPad