Alt-Tab on a Mac: the alternatives, compared
On Windows, AltTab steps through every open window. On a Mac, ⌘Tab steps through apps, and each app's windows are a second step away. If you keep many windows open, that difference is the one you notice every day. Here is what you can do about it.
What macOS has built in
- ⌘Tab switches between apps.
- ⌘` cycles through the windows of the app in front.
- Mission Control (⌃↑) shows all windows as thumbnails to click on.
None of these lets you go to one specific window in one step. That is the gap the tools below fill, in two different ways: by showing you the windows, or by letting you type for one.
The tools
| Tool | How you switch | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| AltTab | Hold a shortcut and step through thumbnails of every window, as on Windows. | Free and open source. Search by typing is part of its paid Pro tier. |
| Contexts | A window list in a sidebar, a switcher panel, and a search by typing. | Paid, with a free trial. |
| Witch | A configurable switcher for apps, windows and tabs, with a search field. | Paid, with a free trial. Many options to set up. |
| Raycast | A launcher with a "Switch Windows" command that lists windows as text to filter. | Window switching is one command among many in a general launcher. |
| WindowHopper | Press a hotkey, type a few letters, press Enter. Windows and browser tabs in one list. | Paid once, no subscription, 14-day refund. Built around searching, not cycling. |
As of October 2026. Check each tool's site for current features and prices.
Which kind suits you
- You want the Windows habit back, with thumbnails to step through: AltTab is made for exactly that, and it's free.
- You already live in a launcher and switch windows now and then: the window command of that launcher may be enough.
- You have many windows and tabs open and know what you're looking for: typing beats stepping. With twenty windows, a few letters get you there faster than pressing Tab up to nineteen times. That is what WindowHopper is built for.
Where WindowHopper differs
- Browser tabs are in the same list as windows, across Chrome, Safari, Arc, Brave, Edge and Firefox, found by title or address. See searching browser tabs on a Mac.
- It ranks by what you use, so your usual windows need one or two letters.
- Favorites, tags and filters for the windows you return to all day.
- Close windows and tabs from the list, and see which apps are using the most CPU and memory.
The two approaches also work side by side: some people keep a thumbnail switcher on ⌥Tab for the last two windows and a search for everything else. How the search works is described in a window switcher for Mac.
Questions
Is there an Alt-Tab on Mac?
The closest built-in shortcut is Command-Tab, which switches between apps rather than windows. Command-` cycles through the windows of the current app. To step through or search all windows, you need an extra app such as AltTab, Contexts, Witch, Raycast or WindowHopper.
How do I switch between windows instead of apps on a Mac?
Use Command-` for the windows of the app in front, or Mission Control for an overview. For one step to any window, a window switcher lists every window separately; WindowHopper lets you type part of the window's title and press Enter.
What is the difference between AltTab and WindowHopper?
AltTab brings the Windows way to the Mac: you step through thumbnails of your windows. WindowHopper is built around search: you type a few letters and jump to the window or browser tab. AltTab is free and open source; WindowHopper is a one-time purchase.