A Witch alternative for Mac
A text list of apps, windows and tabs vs a 3D scene of pictures.
Witch, from Many Tricks, has switched apps, windows and tabs on the Mac for years, using a text list that can run horizontally, vertically or from the menu bar. It costs less than Better Window Switcher and still runs on Intel Macs as far back as macOS 10.13 High Sierra. As a Witch alternative, Better Window Switcher puts each window's picture on a 3D card and shows Firefox tabs as cards too. Witch's side of the table comes from its own site, help pages and release notes.
Checked September 2026 against Witch's own pages.
| Feature | Better Window Switcher | Witch |
|---|---|---|
| Windows and tabs, one shortcut | ||
| Arrangements Text lists are quick to read | Seven, in 3D | Horizontal, vertical, menu bar |
| Window previews Theirs after two seconds, or mini | ||
| Type to search Both use fuzzy matching | ||
| Search matches a tab's website | Their site does not say | |
| Browser tabs | Chrome, Safari, Firefox and 4 more | Safari, Chrome, Edge, Opera and more |
| Firefox tabs Not in Witch's browser list | Not listed | |
| Tabs in other Mac apps | Finder, Terminal, TextEdit | Mail, Finder, Xcode and more |
| Other desktops, minimized and hidden | ||
| Runs on Intel Macs | ||
| Oldest macOS it runs on | macOS 14 Sonoma | macOS 10.13 High Sierra |
| Price | 19.99 once, 2 Macs | 14 USD, at least 1 year of updates |
Pick Better Window Switcher if you have an Apple Silicon Mac and want to find a window by its picture instead of its name. Witch costs less, runs on Intel Macs and older macOS versions, and its text lists are quick to scan. Here each window sits on a 3D card, the card you have selected updates live, and Firefox tabs get cards next to the ones from Chrome and Safari.
FAQ
What is the Witch app for Mac?
Witch is a switcher from Many Tricks that lists your apps, windows and tabs so you can jump to one from the keyboard. It sells for 14 USD with a free trial. The list can run horizontally like Command-Tab, vertically, or from the menu bar, and typing narrows it as you go. Better Window Switcher does the same job in a 3D scene, where each window is a card showing its picture and tabs get cards too.
Does Witch show window previews?
Yes. Leave a window selected for two seconds, a delay you can change, or press P or Space, and Witch shows a live preview of it. A setting can also swap its icons for small previews. In Better Window Switcher every window is already a card with its picture on it when the switcher opens, laid out in one of seven 3D arrangements, and the card you have selected updates live.
Does Witch work with Firefox tabs?
Witch's own pages do not list it. Its FAQ names Chrome, Safari, Edge, Orion and iCab among the browsers whose tabs it shows, in a list it calls far from complete, and its release notes add Opera. Better Window Switcher gives Firefox tabs cards of their own, measured on a real Mac alongside Chrome and Safari, and it supports Brave, Edge, Vivaldi and Opera as well.
Is Witch still updated?
Yes. Witch 4.7 came out on December 2, 2025, with a rounder look on macOS 26, better Chrome and Edge support and new in-app help. The release before that, 4.6.2, was in February 2024. Better Window Switcher was built for Apple Silicon and macOS 14 or later from the start and is tested on macOS 26. Its one-time purchase includes every update for the current major version.
How much does Witch cost?
Witch is 14 USD with at least one year of updates, and its license is valid forever. Owners of an older version upgrade for 8 USD. Better Window Switcher is also a one-time purchase, with every update for the current major version included, and you need no subscription or account. The 7-day free trial unlocks every feature, and if you buy and then change your mind, a 14-day money back guarantee applies.
What does Better Window Switcher do differently from Witch?
Where Witch lists your windows, Better Window Switcher shows each one as a picture on a 3D card. You orbit the cards with the trackpad in one of seven arrangements, among them Cover Arc, Carousel and Flip 3D, and you can change arrangement while the switcher is open and watch the scene morph. Tabs from one browser window, Firefox included, stack into a single pile, so twenty tabs take one spot.
Does Better Window Switcher replace Command-Tab?
No, it runs beside it. Command-Tab keeps switching apps as it always has, and this app uses Option-Tab by default, or another shortcut you choose. A quick tap flips to your last window without drawing anything, and holding the keys opens the full scene. A second shortcut can cover just the app you are in, the job Command-backtick does without pictures.
Can I try it before paying?
Yes. The 7-day free trial unlocks every feature and asks for no account or card, so you can keep Witch installed and use the two side by side on your own windows before you decide. The trial needs a Mac with Apple Silicon and macOS 14 or later. After it ends, Better Window Switcher is a one-time purchase, backed by a 14-day money back guarantee.
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