IkunaIkuna vs macOS Stage Manager
Stage Manager is free, built-in, and great for grouping open windows on the fly. It doesn't save anything between sessions, and it can't reopen apps or browser tabs. That's where Ikuna begins.
macOS Stage Manager is a free, built-in feature that groups open windows into sets you can flip between while those windows are open. It is not a save/restore tool — close your Mac, quit an app, or restart, and Stage Manager arrangements do not persist. Ikuna is a separate app that saves a full context (which apps to open, which browser tabs to restore, where every window should land) and rebuilds it on demand. The two tools don't really compete: Stage Manager handles live window grouping; Ikuna handles context persistence. They can run at the same time.
Side by side
| Ikuna | Stage Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Built into macOS / free | No — separate paid app (free tier available) | Yes — free |
| Groups open windows live | No — saves and restores layouts | Yes |
| Persists contexts between sessions | Yes | No — resets when apps quit/restart |
| Relaunches closed apps | Yes | No |
| Restores browser tabs | Yes | No |
| Multi-monitor restore | Yes — Device Link rebuilds on connect | Limited |
| Focus analytics | Yes — context-switch patterns | No |
| Distraction blocking | Yes — Focus Shield | No |
| Rituals (wallpaper, sound) | Yes | No |
| Setup required | Yes — install + save contexts manually | Toggle on in Control Center |
| macOS requirement | 13+ | 13+ (Ventura) |
Where Ikuna has the advantage
Contexts persist between sessions
Stage Manager arranges open windows in the moment. When you restart, quit apps, or shut the lid, the arrangement is gone. Ikuna saves contexts permanently and rebuilds them — same apps, same tabs, same layout — on demand.
Reopens apps and browser tabs
Stage Manager only groups windows that are already open. Ikuna launches the right apps from scratch and reopens the right browser tabs, not just the frames of what was visible.
Focus analytics and distraction blocking
Stage Manager offers no visibility into how you work. Ikuna's focus dashboard tracks context-switching patterns. Focus Shield blocks distracting apps when you're trying to concentrate.
Where Stage Manager has the advantage
Free and already installed
Stage Manager ships with macOS at no cost, with nothing to download or pay for. For occasional, quick window grouping, that's a real advantage.
Zero setup
Toggle Stage Manager on from Control Center. There are no contexts to save, no app states to configure.
Instant, live window grouping
Stage Manager switches between sets of open windows in under a second and integrates natively with macOS animations and multitasking.
The bottom line
Stage Manager and Ikuna target different problems: one organises what you currently have open; the other saves, restores and analyses how you work across sessions. They're not substitutes — most users who want Ikuna's context-restore capability will still keep Stage Manager on for live grouping.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ikuna a Stage Manager replacement?
Not exactly. Stage Manager groups open windows live; Ikuna saves and restores complete contexts. They solve adjacent problems and can run at the same time. If you use Stage Manager for live window grouping, Ikuna adds persistence — it saves the state so you can get it back after quitting and restarting.
Does Stage Manager save my workspace?
No. Stage Manager is a live window organiser. Quitting an app removes it from the Stage Manager set, and restarting clears all arrangements. It doesn't remember window layouts, apps, or browser tabs between sessions.
Can Ikuna and Stage Manager run together?
Yes. Ikuna is designed to run alongside Stage Manager. You can use Stage Manager for live grouping while Ikuna handles saving and restoring full contexts.
Why would I pay for Ikuna when Stage Manager is free?
Stage Manager and Ikuna do different things. Stage Manager tidies open windows. Ikuna saves whole contexts — including browser tabs — and rebuilds them later, plus adds focus analytics and distraction blocking. Ikuna also has a free tier, so you can try the core feature without paying.