Top Penc Alternatives: Elevate Your Mac & Windows Window Management
Are you a fan of streamlined window management on macOS? If you've been using Penc, you know the power of trackpad gestures combined with the Command key to effortlessly move, resize, and snap windows. Penc, a window manager app for macOS, allows you to double-press and hold the Command Key (?) to activate, then drag with two fingers to move, pinch to resize, and fast swipe to snap windows. While incredibly intuitive, you might be looking for a different approach, more features, or solutions for other operating systems. This article explores the best Penc alternatives to enhance your workflow.
Top Penc Alternatives
Whether you're a macOS power user or looking for similar functionality on Windows, there's a window management tool out there for you. These alternatives offer unique features, diverse platform support, and different approaches to keeping your digital workspace organized.
AquaSnap
AquaSnap is an excellent Penc alternative for Windows users who are tired of too many windows cluttering their screen. It offers easy and efficient ways to manage multiple applications with features like snapping windows, support for multiple monitors, and window docking. It's available as freemium software and can even be used as a portable app.
BetterTouchTool
BetterTouchTool is a powerful and feature-packed commercial app for Mac that goes beyond simple window management. While Penc focuses on trackpad gestures, BetterTouchTool allows you to customize various input devices, including the Touch Bar, and offers scripting, mouse gestures, multi-touch, and snap window features, making it a highly versatile Penc alternative.
WindowGrid
WindowGrid is a free and modern window management program for Windows that offers a dynamic grid system for quickly and easily laying out windows. It's a lightweight and portable Penc alternative, providing visual organization, support for multiple monitors, and effective window snapping.
Magnet (Windows Manager)
Magnet is a popular commercial Mac app designed to help you arrange windows for multitasking, whether you're copying content, comparing files, or working side-by-side. It offers global hotkeys and robust window organizing and snapping features, making it a highly effective Penc alternative for Mac users who prefer keyboard shortcuts.
Shiftit
ShiftIt is a free and open-source application for OSX that focuses on quickly manipulating window position and size using keyboard shortcuts. As a Penc alternative, it provides a straightforward way to organize windows without the need for trackpad gestures, perfect for users who prefer a keyboard-centric workflow.
Divvy
Divvy is a commercial window management tool available for both Mac and Windows, offering an entirely new way to manage your workspace. It allows you to quickly and efficiently "divvy up" your screen into exact portions, providing excellent window organizing and snapping capabilities as a flexible Penc alternative across platforms.
Sizer
Sizer is a free utility for Windows that lets you resize any window to an exact, predefined size. While not directly focused on gesture-based snapping like Penc, Sizer is a valuable Penc alternative for developers or designers who need precise window dimensions for tasks like web page design, offering focused window resizing capabilities.
Preme for Windows
Preme is a free software for Windows that enhances desktop functionality with cool features, including corner-based interactions. While Penc relies on trackpad gestures, Preme provides a different interface for managing windows, offering a configurable experience, particularly for Windows 10 users.
altdrag
AltDrag is a free and open-source utility for Windows that significantly simplifies moving and resizing windows. By holding down the Alt key, you can drag any window with your mouse, providing a quick and efficient way to snap and resize, making it a straightforward and portable Penc alternative for Windows users.
GridMove
GridMove is a free and open-source window management tool for Windows that focuses on quickly arranging windows into desktop grids. It simplifies window management by allowing users to easily organize their workspace, offering a grid-based approach as a distinct Penc alternative for Windows.
Ultimately, the best Penc alternative depends on your specific operating system, preferred input methods (trackpad gestures vs. keyboard shortcuts vs. mouse actions), and desired feature set. Explore these options to find the perfect window manager that optimizes your productivity and keeps your desktop tidy.