Uncovering the Best PiP-Tool Alternatives for Seamless Picture-in-Picture on Windows and Beyond
PiP-Tool has been a go-to for many Windows users looking to leverage Picture-in-Picture mode, allowing them to watch content in a floating thumbnail while multitasking. However, its limitation with minimized windows, where the PiP stream pauses, can be a significant drawback. If you're seeking a more robust or feature-rich PiP-Tool alternative, you're in the right place. We've compiled a list of excellent options that offer similar functionality, often with added benefits, to enhance your productivity and viewing experience.
Top PiP-Tool Alternatives
Whether you're looking for a simple floating window, advanced cropping features, or cross-platform compatibility, these alternatives offer diverse solutions to keep your content always in view.
OnTopReplica
OnTopReplica is a fantastic open-source and free PiP-Tool alternative for Windows. It provides a real-time thumbnail replica of any chosen window, which stays always on top. This makes it ideal for keeping an eye on videos or other content without interruption, overcoming PiP-Tool's issue with minimized windows. Its primary feature is keeping content 'on top'.
Helium
Helium is an open-source, free floating browser window specifically designed for Mac users. It allows you to watch media while you work, ensuring your content never gets hidden behind other windows, a significant improvement over PiP-Tool's behavior with minimized windows on Windows. While it doesn't list specific features beyond being a floating browser, its core purpose directly addresses the need for uninterrupted viewing.
Pennywise
Pennywise is an excellent open-source and free PiP-Tool alternative that supports Mac, Windows, and Linux. It opens any website or media in a small floating window that consistently remains on top of all other applications. This 'always on top' feature is a key benefit, providing seamless viewing unlike PiP-Tool's issue with minimized windows. It features both floating browser and general floating window capabilities.
PiP for Mac
PiP for Mac is a free and open-source solution designed for macOS that offers robust Picture-in-Picture functionality. It allows you to clone any visible window, crop the preview, and includes auto and manual resizing while preserving the aspect ratio. This level of control, including its 'on top' and 'crop video' features, makes it a powerful alternative to PiP-Tool for Mac users seeking detailed customization.
Afloat
Afloat is an open-source and free option for Mac users (specifically SIMBL compatible) that focuses on advanced window management, including keeping windows 'afloat' on top of all others. Unlike PiP-Tool, it offers features like pinning windows to the desktop and moving windows from any part of the window, not just the title bar, making it a versatile 'on top' solution with an interface overlay capability.
Picture In Picture
Picture In Picture is a commercial (paid) PiP-Tool alternative for Mac that specifically targets watching videos from the internet. It uses unique algorithms to find and allow viewing of videos from web pages in a floating window. Its dedicated focus on web video and robust Picture-in-Picture functionality via Google Chrome Extensions makes it a strong contender for those prioritizing online content.
Duplicate Windows
Duplicate Windows is a commercial (paid) PiP-Tool alternative for Mac that enables the graphical duplication of any window in Mac OS X, live and on-the-fly. This provides a similar 'Picture in Picture' experience, ensuring the duplicated window stays 'on top', making it a viable option for users who need a live, always-visible replica of their active windows.
Picture-in-Picture Extension (by Google)
The Picture-in-Picture Extension (by Google) is a free and open-source browser extension available for Mac, Windows, and Chrome. It allows you to watch videos in a floating window that always stays on top, enabling you to multitask efficiently without losing sight of your content. As a Google Chrome Extension, it offers a seamless and widely accessible PiP solution, directly addressing the core need that PiP-Tool aims to fulfill.
Each of these PiP-Tool alternatives offers unique strengths, from cross-platform compatibility to advanced window management features. We encourage you to explore them to find the best fit for your specific operating system and multitasking needs, ensuring your Picture-in-Picture experience is as seamless and productive as possible.