StackWM

Zone-based window manager with stacks and instant scene switching

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Category
Window Manager
WM Type
snap
License
paid
Open Source
No
Keybindings
Yes
Scripting
No
Last Update
—

Features

  • Named screen zones
  • Per-zone window stacking
  • Scene save/restore
  • Visual scene switcher
  • Multi-display support
  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Mouse/trackpad support

About

Organizes windows into named zones on-screen. Multiple windows share a zone as a stack, cycled with ⌥Tab. Scenes save and restore complete workspace layouts instantly via a visual card switcher. Supports mouse, trackpad, and keyboard. Multi-display with independent zone layouts per connected display.

Who It's For

StackWM is for users who want more than snap zones — they want a workspace layer on top of them. Its key differentiator is Scenes: named snapshots of your complete window arrangement that you can switch between instantly via a visual card-switcher overlay. If you context-switch between a "research" setup (browser wide, notes beside it), a "coding" setup (editor full-left, terminal bottom-right), and a "video call" setup (video app primary, notes floating), StackWM lets you define those as Scenes and jump between them with a shortcut.

How It Works

StackWM divides your screen into named zones. Each zone is a fixed region you define. Multiple windows can share a zone as a stack — the windows overlap within the zone and you cycle through them with ⌥Tab. This stack model reduces zone sprawl on smaller screens. Scenes save the full state of which windows are in which zones and which windows are stacked, letting you restore complete arrangements instantly. The visual card-switcher shows a preview of each saved Scene before you activate it.

Compared to Similar Tools

Compared to BentoBox and MacsyZones (both zone-based snap managers), StackWM adds window stacking and the Scene save/restore layer, which those tools lack. Compared to Moom (which also saves layouts), StackWM's per-zone stacking model gives it a distinct interaction style. For users who primarily want zone snapping without the Scene management, the simpler tools may be a better fit; StackWM earns its price for users who need instant context switching across full desktop configurations.

Requirements

  • macOS 13 Ventura or later
  • Accessibility permission required
  • From $19 one-time, purchased from stackwm.org

Getting Started

Download from stackwm.org, define your zones in Preferences, and start snapping windows. Create your first Scene by arranging windows into zones and saving the layout. Use the visual switcher shortcut to jump between saved Scenes.

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