A SupaSidebar alternative that switches windows too
A sidebar of tabs and links vs a switcher for every window.
Better Window Switcher puts every open window on your Mac, and your browser tabs, on one screen as cards you can pick out by sight. It is gone again as soon as you choose. SupaSidebar is a sidebar: it lists open tabs from 20+ browsers, keeps saved links and bookmarks in spaces, and searches all of it from a Command Panel on Command-Control-K. Its docs describe no way to switch app windows. Every row below comes from SupaSidebar's own site and documentation.
Checked September 2026 against SupaSidebar's own pages.
| Feature | Better Window Switcher | SupaSidebar |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Window and tab switcher | Sidebar and command panel |
| Switches between app windows Theirs: tabs, links and files | Not in its docs | |
| Arrangements in real 3D | Seven | |
| How open tabs look | Cards in the scene | A list, grouped by window |
| Browsers whose tabs it lists | Chrome, Safari, Firefox and 4 more | 20+ with Live Tabs |
| Arc No Live Tabs for Arc | Saving and opening links | |
| Saved links and bookmarks | ||
| Searches browser history | ||
| On screen when not in use Ours appears only while summoned | Docked, or hidden on a shortcut | |
| Languages | English | English and 11 more |
| Sends usage reports | Optional, never URLs | |
| Free tier | 3 spaces | |
| Updates included | Current major version | 1 year, or lifetime at 59 |
| Price Their 59 tier covers 5 Macs | 19.99 once, 2 Macs | 29.99 once, 2 Macs |
Better Window Switcher is the one to get if what you lose is a window, or a tab inside one. Every window on the Mac shows up as a picture, with browser tabs as cards beside them. Nothing is on screen until you press the shortcut. SupaSidebar covers more browsers and keeps your saved links. Its lists hold tabs, links and files, though, so the Mail, Finder or Xcode window you lost will not be in them.
FAQ
What is a good SupaSidebar alternative for switching windows?
SupaSidebar is built around browser tabs, saved links and files, so it will not help you find a buried Mail, Finder or Xcode window. Better Window Switcher opens on Option-Tab and shows every window on the Mac as a picture, including ones on other desktops, minimized or in full screen. Browser tabs sit beside them as cards. Press Space, type a few letters, and the closest match is already selected.
Does SupaSidebar work with Safari?
Yes. SupaSidebar's documentation lists Safari and Safari Technology Preview with Live Tabs and profile spaces, and it reads Safari's tabs through the macOS Automation permission. Better Window Switcher reads Safari tabs too, and Safari is one of the three browsers we measured on a real Mac. Each tab shows up as a card with Safari's icon until the switcher has seen that tab in front, and with the site's own icon after that.
Does SupaSidebar switch between app windows?
Its site and docs describe no way to do it. Its Live Tabs list shows browser tabs grouped under each browser window, and its sidebar holds saved links, files and folders. In Better Window Switcher every open window is a card, whether it is Finder, Mail, Xcode or a Preview document. A quick tap of Option-Tab takes you back to your last window without drawing anything.
Does SupaSidebar support Arc?
Partly. SupaSidebar's browser support table lists Arc for saving the current page and opening links, and in September 2026 it marked Arc as having no Live Tabs, so Arc tabs do not appear in its lists. Better Window Switcher does not read Arc's tabs either, because Arc's sidebar is not a normal tab bar. Your Arc windows still show up in the switcher as pictures, the same as any other app's windows.
Can SupaSidebar search open tabs across browsers?
Yes. Its Command Panel on Command-Control-K runs a fuzzy search over open tabs, saved links, recent visits and folders, and lists the results. In Better Window Switcher you press Space inside the switcher and type, and windows and tabs are searched together. The search matches the app name, the window title and the website behind a tab, so gml finds a Gmail tab in Chrome, Safari or Firefox.
How much does SupaSidebar cost?
SupaSidebar has a free tier with 3 spaces. Personal is 29.99 USD once for two Macs with one year of updates, and Believer is 59 once for five Macs with all future versions, listed as reduced from 77. Both come with a 14-day money-back guarantee. Better Window Switcher is a one-time purchase for two Macs, and that one purchase includes every feature.
Does a sidebar take up screen space on a Mac?
SupaSidebar's does while it is open. It sits at the screen edge, and in its fill-screen mode it shrinks your browser to make room. It can also hide when you click away and come back on Command-Shift-Space. Better Window Switcher uses no space until you press Option-Tab. It fills the screen while you choose and goes away when you let go, and Command-Tab keeps working beside it.
Can I try Better Window Switcher before paying?
Yes. The 7-day free trial includes every feature and needs no account or card, and if you buy and change your mind, there is a 14-day money-back guarantee. You can keep SupaSidebar running for your saved links while you try it, because the two use different shortcuts and do different jobs. Use it for a week and see whether picking windows by sight is faster for you.
More comparisons
Compare to other popular apps