Top Afloat Alternatives: Make Any Window Float On Top
Afloat is a handy utility designed to make any application window float on top of others, enhancing multitasking and productivity. However, users often seek Afloat alternatives for various reasons, including platform compatibility (Windows, Mac, Linux, Windows Explorer, Safari), specific features, or simply exploring free and open-source options. If you're looking for solutions that offer similar "always on top" functionality and more, this guide will help you find the perfect fit for your workflow.
Best Afloat Alternatives
Whether you need a simple always-on-top feature, advanced picture-in-picture capabilities, or integration with specific operating system elements, these alternatives to Afloat cover a wide range of needs. Let's dive into the best options available.
OnTopReplica
OnTopReplica is a lightweight, free, and open-source Windows application that provides a real-time thumbnail replica of any chosen window. It's an excellent Afloat alternative for users who need to keep an eye on a specific window without it taking up full screen space. Its "on top" feature ensures the replica always stays visible, and you can even crop regions to focus on specific content, making it ideal for watching videos or monitoring data while working.
PiP for Mac
PiP for Mac is a free and open-source solution designed specifically for macOS users looking for an Afloat alternative. It allows you to clone any visible window, offering features like cropping previews, auto and manual resizing while preserving aspect ratio, multiple window previews from the same process, and opacity control. Its Picture-in-Picture and "on top" capabilities make it perfect for multitasking on a Mac.
MenuTools
MenuTools is a simple, free, and open-source program for Windows that extends the functionality of open dialog windows. It's a versatile Afloat alternative because it adds options for task priority, window transparency, and most importantly, an "Always On Top" setting. It even includes a Windows Explorer extension for enhanced integration.
DeskPins
DeskPins is a highly popular, free, and open-source Afloat alternative for Windows, including Windows Explorer integration. It's incredibly lightweight and allows you to make any application topmost by simply grabbing a pin from its system tray icon and clicking on the desired window. This mimics the "Always on Top" feature found in some programs but extends it to any application, offering hotkey support for quick activation.
PinWin
PinWin is a minimal, free, and open-source Windows system tray application that serves as an excellent Afloat alternative. It allows you to pin any window to be always on top of the screen with a single click. Features include pinning windows from a list in the system tray, directly selecting windows from the screen, a global shortcut for selection, and quiet background operation without requiring installation. It's specifically noted to work well with Windows 10.
PiP-Tool
PiP-Tool is a free and open-source software for Windows designed to enable Picture-in-Picture mode. As an Afloat alternative, it's perfect for watching content like videos in a thumbnail format while using other software. You simply select a window and a region within it, and a new always-on-top window appears with the selected content, providing versatile "on top" functionality.
Picture In Picture
Picture In Picture (PiP) is a commercial Mac application that offers Picture-in-Picture capabilities for web videos. While a paid Afloat alternative, its unique algorithms efficiently find and open videos from web pages in a floating, always-on-top window. It also features Google Chrome Extensions for seamless integration, making it a powerful tool for media consumption while multitasking.
LayerX
LayerX is a free and open-source intuitive app for Mac that allows you to display transparent images on screen. While its primary function is different from direct window pinning, its "on top" feature and drag-and-drop support make it a unique Afloat alternative for specific visual overlay needs, such as designers or artists who need reference images always visible.
Duplicate Windows
Duplicate Windows is a commercial Mac application that visually copies any window in macOS live and on-the-fly. It's an excellent Afloat alternative for those who need a true display mirroring for individual windows, especially useful for presentations across multiple monitors. It also supports Picture-in-Picture and "on top" functionalities, allowing users to watch web videos or monitor windows not actively in use.
Window On Top by Compzets.com
"Window On Top" by Compzets.com is a small, free Windows gadget that keeps any specific window on top of others. It functions as a lightweight and portable Afloat alternative, operating without a user interface and simply sitting in your tray bar. With a single keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+T), you can activate or deactivate the "on top" feature for any focused window, making it incredibly convenient for quick use.
With these diverse Afloat alternatives, you have a wealth of options to choose from, whether you're on Windows or Mac, looking for free, open-source, or commercial solutions. Evaluate their features, platforms, and specific functionalities to find the perfect application that keeps your essential windows always in sight and enhances your productivity.