Layout that maintains itself
Loop moves and resizes one window at a time. Auto Flow arranges managed windows into layouts with split or tab priority and keeps them arranged as new windows open.
Loop alternative for Mac: Tangrid vs Loop
Loop is a free, open-source Mac app that shows a radial menu when you hold a trigger key, then moves or resizes a window in the direction you point. Tangrid is a macOS window manager that places windows as well, and also keeps a layout arranged and helps you find a window again. Loop is the better fit when you want placing a window to stay out of the way.
In short
- Best at
- Loop is best at placement without presets. Hold the trigger key, move the cursor in a direction, and the window follows, with a preview shown before the action commits.
- Tangrid adds
- Tangrid adds Auto Flow automatic layouts, Tab Grouping, Window Switcher with vertical search, Dock Preview, Workspaces, and a Space Indicator.
- The deciding question
- Do you want a fast way to move one window at a time, or a window manager that also organises the desktop and lets you search it?
Module by module
Loop places windows, so the table compares window snapping.
| Module | Loop | Tangrid |
|---|---|---|
| Window snapping | Yes A radial menu opened by a trigger key, a preview before the action commits, keyboard shortcuts bound to that key, and cycles that repeat an action when you press the same combination again. | Yes Snap Assistant places a window in any of 18 positions on a 3x6 grid, fills the screen, and supports modifier-based moving and resizing. |
Where Tangrid goes further
Tangrid covers these modules too.
Finding a window by name
Window Switcher lists every window or only those of the current app, with previews and vertical search by window title or app name. Dock Preview shows an app's windows when you hover its Dock icon.
Saving a project layout
Workspaces save a project's window layout, including positions, sizes, tiled or floating state, and tab groups. Restoring one brings the layout back and can reopen missing windows.
Which one to choose
Choose Loop if
- You want a fast, direct way to move a window, with a preview before it happens.
- You want to choose your own trigger key and bind individual actions to it.
- You want to script window actions through a URL scheme, or you prefer an open-source tool.
Choose Tangrid if
- You want a layout that keeps holding as windows open and close.
- You want to find a window by title or app name instead of moving it.
- You want tab grouping, Dock previews, and saved project layouts as well.
Frequently asked questions
Is Loop free?
Yes. Loop is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 licence, installs with Homebrew, and runs on macOS 13 or later.
How does the Loop radial menu work?
You hold the trigger key you have chosen and move the cursor in the direction you want, and the window moves or resizes to match. The trigger key can also be combined with other keys to run specific actions, and a preview shows the result before it commits.
Can I automate Loop?
Yes. Loop responds to a loop:// URL scheme, so actions such as moving a window to the right half or to the next screen can be triggered from the shell or from AppleScript.
What does Tangrid do that Loop does not?
Tangrid adds Auto Flow automatic layouts, Tab Grouping, Window Switcher with vertical search, Dock Preview, Workspaces, and a Space Indicator. Loop covers radial-menu placement, keyboard shortcuts, cycles, and stash.