IkunaMoom Alternative for Full Workspace Restore (Beyond Window Snapping)
Moom is one of the most-recommended Mac window managers, and for good reason. But if you searched for a Moom alternative, there's a good chance the reason is that Moom stops at the window layer.
When you close your Mac, restart it, or switch to a different project, Moom doesn't know which apps to reopen, which browser tabs belong to that context, or which Focus Mode you were in. It just remembers the sizes and positions of whatever windows happen to be open right now.
If that's the gap you're feeling, you're looking for a different category of tool: a full workspace restorer, not a window manager. Here is the honest difference, when each is right, and which alternatives actually solve the beyond-window-snapping problem.
What Moom actually does well
Before comparing alternatives, it's worth naming what Moom is good at, because a lot of Moom alternative recommendations end up being worse Moom equivalents. Moom handles snap zones (hover over the green traffic light or use a keyboard shortcut to snap the focused window into a grid position), saved snapshots of the current window arrangement, multi-monitor awareness, keyboard-first control via customizable hotkeys, and it stays lightweight with no background bloat. If those are the things you need, Rectangle (free) and Magnet (paid, App Store) do a similar job for less money, and BetterStage handles the same job with more sophisticated tiling.
What Moom does not do
Moom operates on windows that are already open. It has no concept of which apps belong to a project, so if you close your editor and Slack, Moom doesn't know to reopen them for the coding arrangement. It cannot save or restore your browser tabs, it leaves your macOS Focus Mode alone, its saved snapshots require the same windows to be open when you restore, and it has no sync between your MacBook and desktop. This is not a criticism of Moom; it is scoped to window layout on purpose. But it is why Moom alternative often means something that handles what I actually want, which is broader than window layout.
If you want a better window snapper
Rectangle is free, open source, and covers most of Moom's snapping features. Magnet is an App Store one-time purchase with a simpler UI than Moom. BetterStage adds more advanced tiling (Bento Box auto-tiling, Tabbed Layouts) while staying a window-manager-first tool. If your gap is that Moom is too expensive or its snap zones aren't quite right, pick one of these.
If you want to save and restore complete workspaces
This is the category that matches beyond window snapping. Ikuna saves apps, window positions across monitors, browser tabs (Chromium with per-workspace profiles), Focus Mode, and per-workspace shell/AppleScript automation. ShiftPlus is a workspace switcher with a hotkey-driven model and different tradeoffs, particularly around per-workspace app rules. Spencer saves window positions across macOS Spaces and relaunches apps; it is lightweight, but it does not capture browser tabs per workspace or integrate with Focus Modes. Workspaces (Apptorium) is project-file-oriented, grouping files, folders, URLs, and notes for a project. All of these operate at a different layer than Moom: they are not competitors to it, they are complements. Most Ikuna and ShiftPlus users still run Rectangle or a similar snapper on top.
Most people who search Moom alternative turn out to want a workspace tool, not a different snapper. If that's you, the choice is between Ikuna and ShiftPlus.
Using Moom and a workspace tool together
This is what many Ikuna users actually do. Ikuna saves and restores the full context: apps launch, browser tabs load into the right profile, Focus Mode activates. Moom (or Rectangle) handles moment-to-moment window resizing during the session: snap this window to the left half, that one to a third. They don't fight because they operate on different events. Ikuna acts at save-and-restore; Moom acts on every keyboard shortcut. There's no conflict, and you get the strengths of both.
Doing it with Ikuna
Ikuna is designed for exactly the layer Moom stops at: your full working context back, including apps, tabs, Focus Mode, and restart-survival.
- Saves the full context: open apps, window positions across monitors, browser tabs with per-workspace Chromium profiles, and Focus Mode.
- Survives restarts: close your laptop, reopen it tomorrow, switch to your client workspace, and the full environment comes back.
- Works alongside Moom or Rectangle: restore with Ikuna, snap with your snapper of choice. No conflict.
- Free for up to 4 workspaces: Pro is €9/month or €70/year for unlimited, with no lifetime deal.
Native macOS · Local data · Built in EU
Common questions
Is Moom a workspace manager?
No. Moom is a window manager: it snaps and positions windows that are already open, and its saved snapshots restore layouts only when the same windows are open. It does not launch apps, restore browser tabs, or set Focus Mode.
Can I use Moom and Ikuna together?
Yes. Ikuna acts at save-and-restore moments on the workspace as a whole; Moom acts on every keyboard shortcut during the session. They operate on different events and do not conflict.
What is the best free Moom alternative?
For window snapping, Rectangle is free, open source, and covers most of Moom's snapping features. For full workspace restore (apps, tabs, Focus Mode, restart survival), Ikuna is free for up to 4 workspaces.