BetterStage

Freemium

Mac window manager with a genuine free tier: 3 stages, snapping, multi-monitor

Limited Free Tierfrom $19.99 one-time

Free plan checked against BetterStage's pricing page on 10 September 2026. Re-checked monthly.

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About BetterStage

BetterStage is a Mac window manager that groups apps, windows, and layouts into named stages, then switches your whole working context across one screen or several. The free plan is permanent, not a trial: three stages, 16 snap zones with a configurable Snap Wheel, Enhanced Native Mode, multi-monitor support, automatic Workspace Continuity, and keyboard shortcuts, limited to one device. A separate 7-day Pro trial is available on top of that with no card required, after which the free plan keeps working. Pro is a one-time lifetime purchase rather than a subscription, starting at $19.99 for one device, and adds TabStack automatic tiling with panes and tabs, Saved Workspaces, all nine stages instead of three, app routing, custom actions, pinned displays, and optional AI-assisted staging using your own API key. It requires macOS 14 or later on Apple Silicon or Intel and is proprietary software.

Key Features

Stage-based window and app grouping

Snap zones with a configurable Snap Wheel

TabStack automatic tiling with panes and tabs (Pro)

Saved Workspaces and Clean Load (Pro)

App routing with window title rules (Pro)

Optional AI-assisted staging with your own API key (Pro)

Pros & Cons

Genuinely permanent free tier, separate from the Pro trial

Pro is a one-time purchase, not a subscription

No card required to start, including the Pro trial

Free plan limited to 1 device and 3 stages

TabStack and Saved Workspaces require Pro

Mac only, requires macOS 14+

The free plan in practice

What you can actually do on BetterStage's free plan (3 stages, 16 snap zones, multi-monitor, 1 device, no card required), where it stops, and when it's worth paying.

What you can do free

3 stages to group apps and windows
16 snap zones with configurable Snap Wheel
Enhanced Native Mode
Multi-monitor support
Automatic Workspace Continuity
Keyboard shortcuts and portable settings backups

Where it stops

Capped at 3 stages (Pro unlocks all 9)
1 device only
No TabStack tiling, Saved Workspaces, or app routing

When to upgrade to a paid plan

Stay on the free plan while you're comfortably under the free plan's limit (3 stages, 16 snap zones, multi-monitor, 1 device, no card required). It's worth moving to a paid plan once you consistently bump into that ceiling, need to remove branding, or want features the free tier holds back. Paid plans start at $19.99 one-time.