vs
AltTab
Tesserac · A native-feeling alternative to AltTab
Tesserac vs AltTab
AltTab is the popular open-source app for Mac users who miss Windows' alt-tab — a horizontal strip of window thumbnails that appears when you hold the trigger. Tesserac is a different design philosophy: instead of mimicking Windows, it leans into a spatial, native-feeling Mac aesthetic with four layouts.
At a glance
| Tesserac | AltTab | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $9.99 once, 7-day trial | Free, open-source |
| UI paradigm | Spatial — ring, orb, list, grid | Horizontal strip with thumbnails |
| Window previews | Icons only | Live window thumbnails |
| Filter as you type | Yes — fuzzy filter | Yes |
| Pin favourites | Yes — anchored positions | Limited |
| Hide apps | Yes — Ignored list | Limited |
| Distribution | Mac App Store, sandboxed | Direct (GitHub releases) |
| Permissions | None for default trigger | Accessibility required |
Where they're similar
Both want to make app switching feel fast
Both are dedicated app/window switchers built for keyboard-first workflows. Both are visual rather than text-input-driven. Both let you filter the list of switchable items.
Where they differ
Different definitions of what that means
Native-Mac vs Windows-style
AltTab is unapologetically Windows-style: a horizontal strip with live window previews, the same UX Windows has had since the 90s. For Mac users coming from Windows, this is exactly the comfort blanket they want.
Tesserac doesn't try to mimic Windows. The spatial ring, orb, list, and grid layouts are native-feeling Mac UIs designed for muscle-memory recall rather than literal window previews.
Free + open-source vs paid + curated
AltTab is free, open-source, and community-maintained. You can read every line of code and shape its behavior with config edits.
Tesserac is paid ($9.99 once), shipped sandboxed via the Mac App Store, with curated defaults and a single-team focus on polish. Different trade-off — you're paying for the design and the ongoing investment.
Permissions
AltTab requires Accessibility permission (it has to read window data from other apps to show thumbnails).
Tesserac's default Control-hold trigger uses Carbon RegisterEventHotKey — no Accessibility, no Input Monitoring required. App-level only, not window-level.
Pick the right one
Which should you choose?
Choose AltTab if you want literal window thumbnails, you came from Windows and miss alt-tab, or you prefer free open-source with deep config customization.
Choose Tesserac if you want a native-feeling Mac switcher with multiple visual layouts, you don't want to grant Accessibility, and you're willing to pay $9.99 once for polish, App Store distribution, and a single-team commitment to the experience.
FAQ
Is AltTab better than Tesserac for power users?
If you specifically want Windows-style alt-tab with window thumbnails and screen previews, AltTab is the right pick — it's been refined for that specific UX. If you'd rather have a spatial ring, an orb, a clean list, or a grid (your choice), Tesserac is built for that.
Does Tesserac show window previews like AltTab?
No. Tesserac shows app icons in spatial positions, not live window thumbnails. Some users prefer the visual density of icons over thumbnails — others prefer the literal preview that AltTab gives.
Is Tesserac free like AltTab?
AltTab is free and open-source. Tesserac is $9.99 once with a 7-day trial. The trade is paid → polished native UI, ongoing support, and Mac App Store sandboxed distribution.
Mac App Store?
Tesserac ships through the Mac App Store. AltTab is direct download from GitHub.
Apple Silicon native?
Both are native arm64.
A native-feeling spatial switcher
If AltTab works for you, keep using it — it's a good app. If you want something that feels more native and don't mind paying once for polish, Tesserac is $9.99 with a 7-day trial.