komorebi

Overview

komorebi is a tiling window manager for people who want to organize application windows and virtual workspaces on Windows or macOS. Its command-line approach suits users comfortable pairing it with separate hotkey software; the main trade-off is that work use requires a paid individual license.

Key features

• Configurable tiling: Layouts and presets arrange application windows within workspaces, giving users a way to shape a desktop around their workflow.
• Workspace and display controls: komorebi manages application windows, virtual workspaces, and display monitors. Application rules and virtual desktop controls add ways to govern how apps and desktops behave.
• Command-line control: The CLI can be used with any hotkey software. Because komorebi responds to operating-system events and messages on a dedicated socket rather than handling keyboard or mouse input itself, users need a separate input-control setup.
• Installation choices: Windows users can install through Scoop or WinGet; macOS users can use Homebrew or Nix. Building from source is supported on both platforms.
• Mac early access: Nightly Mac releases are available to GitHub Sponsors on the $10/month tier, a route for users who want early access rather than a standard release channel.

Pricing

komorebi is free for personal use under its license, which restricts redistribution and distribution of derivative works. Work use requires an Individual Commercial Use License, valid for the licensed individual while the paid subscription remains active.

• Windows single-platform license: $10 a month, billed Monthly, for individual commercial use on Windows. This is the fit for someone using komorebi only on Windows.
• Mac single-platform license: $10 a month, billed Monthly, for individual commercial use on macOS. It covers one platform, not both.
• Windows + macOS multi-platform license: $15 a month, billed Monthly, for individual commercial use on both systems. It costs less than two separate single-platform subscriptions, which would total $20 a month.

These are individual licenses, not team seats. Separate purchases are required for Windows and macOS unless the multi-platform option is chosen, so cross-platform work favors the combined plan. A device enrolled in mobile device management displays a reminder that the license does not permit commercial use; a license email can be sent in one HTTP request for validation.

Platforms

komorebi runs on Windows and macOS. The install options cover package managers and source builds on both, while Mac nightly releases are available to qualifying GitHub Sponsors.

Who it's for

komorebi is best suited to people who want configurable window tiling and workspace controls on Windows or macOS, and who are comfortable coordinating a command-line tool with hotkey software. It is a practical fit for personal desktop organization; professionals should budget for a subscription tied to the platform or platforms they use. The Discord server provides a place for discussion, help, and troubleshooting.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Windows and macOS support gives users on either platform access to tiling, workspace, and display controls.
• Pro: The $15 a month multi-platform license covers both systems, below the combined price of two single-platform licenses.
• Con: Commercial use is subscription-based and tied to an individual, so it is not a perpetual work license.
• Con: komorebi does not handle keyboard or mouse input directly, so users must arrange hotkey software separately.
• Con: The personal-use license restricts redistribution and derivative-work distribution, limiting how it can be shared or adapted.

Alternatives

For other options, browse Window Management Software. Choose spectrwm if a free X11 window manager with Linux, macOS, and Windows platform coverage better fits your needs. Amethyst is a free macOS-only option with configurable layouts, keyboard shortcuts, and application floating or tiling rules. awesome is a free choice for Linux users seeking an X window manager, while bug.n is a free Windows window manager.

DisplayFusion is another Windows option, with a free version after its trial and a Pro Standard lifetime license at $34 per machine. Linux users can also consider i3, free and open source under the BSD license for GNU/Linux and BSD, or Qtile, a free and open-source Linux desktop window manager/compositor. Reloop is a freemium self-hosted option, though its free plan is for email handling, with monthly and daily email caps, rather than window management.

Verdict

Choose komorebi if configurable tiling and workspace controls across Windows or macOS matter more than a self-contained input setup, and especially if you want one tool spanning both systems. Its strongest case is the combination of platform coverage and command-line flexibility; look elsewhere if you need a perpetual commercial license, direct keyboard and mouse handling, or a window manager for Linux.