GlideTab vs AltTab

How they differ

AltTab is the best-known window switcher for macOS. It's free, open source under the GPL, and has been around for years, with a large set of options for sorting, animations, single-key actions and appearance. A paid Pro upgrade adds search and a few more features. It runs on older versions of macOS than GlideTab does.

GlideTab started from the same idea, a switcher that shows windows rather than apps, and focused on two things AltTab doesn't do in its free version. You can type while the switcher is open to find a window by its title or app name, and your browser tabs show up in that search, from every window and every profile, so you can jump to a tab without first finding its window.

It's also smaller in scope. There are fewer settings, no plug-ins, and the app is about 5 MB with no third-party code. If you want a lot of knobs, AltTab has more of them. If you want to type a name and be there, that's what GlideTab is for.

Pick AltTab if

You're on macOS 12 or 13, or want sorting, animations and single-key actions. AltTab's website has the details.

Pick GlideTab if

You want every window with a live preview, you'd like to type a name instead of tabbing through the list, you want browser tabs in the same place, and you'd rather not pay. It needs macOS 14 or later. See every feature, or read the source.

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