vs
Contexts
Tesserac · A spatial alternative to Contexts
Tesserac vs Contexts
Contexts has been a respected Mac app switcher for years — its sidebar overlay, window-level switching, and search-as-you-type approach earned it a loyal audience. Tesserac is a different design philosophy: visual and spatial first, with apps arranged around the screen rather than listed on the side.
At a glance
| Tesserac | Contexts | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $9.99 once, 7-day trial | Paid license |
| Switching unit | App-level | Window-level + app-level |
| UI | Spatial ring / orb / list / grid | Sidebar overlay |
| Filter as you type | Yes — fuzzy filter | Yes — search field |
| Pin favourites | Yes — anchored positions | Yes |
| Hide apps | Yes — Ignored list | Yes |
| Trigger | Hold key, shortcut, middle mouse, Tab dwell | Hotkey trigger |
| Distribution | Mac App Store, sandboxed | Direct download |
Where they're similar
Both want to make app switching feel fast
Both are dedicated app switchers (not launchers). Both let you filter as you type. Both let you pin and hide apps. Both are keyboard-driven and built by small teams who clearly care about the details.
Where they differ
Different definitions of what that means
Sidebar vs spatial
Contexts pioneered the sidebar overlay — a vertical strip of running apps and windows that appears when you hold the trigger. It's information-dense and works well on wide displays.
Tesserac arranges apps around the screen center in a ring (or in a list, grid, or orb if you prefer). The presentation is more visual, less informational. Recognition is positional rather than textual.
App-level vs window-level
Contexts can switch directly to a specific window of a specific app — useful when you have five Chrome windows open and want the third one.
Tesserac switches at the app level. Window-level switching is left to macOS's native Cmd+` after Tesserac brings the app to front.
Distribution model
Contexts ships direct, with its own license server.
Tesserac ships through the Mac App Store, sandboxed, with App Store guarantees on signing and refunds.
Pick the right one
Which should you choose?
Choose Contexts if you live in many windows per app (Chrome, Finder, Terminal) and want window-level switching with a dense sidebar.
Choose Tesserac if your switching is mostly app-to-app, you want a visual spatial layout, and you prefer the Mac App Store distribution + 7-day trial. The four layouts (Ring, Orb, List, Grid) cover different aesthetic and density preferences.
FAQ
Is Tesserac a replacement for Contexts?
It can be, depending on what you valued in Contexts. If you used the sidebar overlay for fast keyboard-driven switching, Tesserac's List layout covers similar ground with a more visual presentation. If you relied on Contexts' deep window-level switching across many windows of the same app, Tesserac is app-level (not window-level) — that's a real difference.
Does Tesserac switch between windows of the same app?
Tesserac focuses on app-level switching. Window-level switching within an app is something macOS handles natively (Cmd+`).
Pricing comparison?
Tesserac is $9.99 once on the Mac App Store with a 7-day trial. Contexts is a paid app with periodic upgrade pricing.
Apple Silicon?
Tesserac is native arm64.
Sandboxed?
Tesserac ships through the Mac App Store, sandboxed, no Accessibility permissions needed for the default hold-key trigger.
A different shape for the same job
If Contexts feels heavy or you want to try a more spatial approach, Tesserac is $9.99 once with a 7-day trial.