Gridly vs Swish
Two trackpad-gesture window managers. Two very different philosophies.
If you're looking for a Swish alternative — or just comparing title-bar trackpad window managers — this page is for you. Gridly and Swish both let you snap Mac windows by swiping on the title bar: no global shortcuts, no dragging to a screen edge. That is where the similarity ends. This page compares them feature by feature so you can decide which one fits your workflow.
Why people look for a Swish alternative
Swish is a powerful gesture layer, but that power has a cost: 30+ distinct gestures to learn, each bound to a specific action. For many people the mental load is the problem, not the solution — especially when all they want is to snap a window into place without thinking about it.
A Swish alternative that feels invisible is what Gridly was built to be. One gesture — a two-finger swipe on the title bar — does the whole job. Direction picks the target, a second motion refines it, and Esc undoes it. There is no vocabulary to memorise, because you already know the four directions.
Quick comparison
| Gridly | Swish | |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | One gesture, one window, many outcomes. A single two-finger swipe on the title bar does everything — direction picks the target, and extra motions refine the result. No learning curve beyond the four directions you already know. | A gesture layer across the entire macOS interface. 30+ distinct gestures on the title bar, Dock, and menu bar, each with a dedicated action. Powerful and flexible, but requires memorising which gesture does what. |
| Gesture model | ~12 directional swipes, all starting from the same two-finger title bar scroll | 30+ distinct gestures including pinch, tap, hold, and multi-directional swipes |
| Width | 12 columns from the title-bar swipe: first swipe is a half; keep going to step one column at a time — including in corners | Fixed snap sizes from dedicated gestures; no column-by-column width from the same title-bar swipe |
| Multi-window | Auto-fill: place one window, then Gridly fills the remaining space with recent windows. Or pick each one manually from a list. | Each window is placed independently with its own gesture. No built-in workflow for filling a screen with multiple windows in sequence. |
| Undo | Press Esc within 5 seconds to undo every window Gridly just moved | No built-in undo |
| Themes | 5 themes: brand orange, graphite, blue, green, purple | No theme system |
| Price | $3.99 one-time | $16 one-time |
| Free trial | 14 days, full features, no card | 14-day free trial |
| License | One Mac per license, every future update included | One license, two Macs at a time |
| macOS requirement | macOS 14.0+ | macOS 10.13+ |
| Chip support | Intel and Apple Silicon (universal) | Intel and Apple Silicon |
Pricing and licensing, plain
Both apps are one-time purchases — no subscription either way. Gridly costs $3.99 and includes every future update, including future major versions, with a 14-day full-feature trial that needs no credit card. Swish is $16 one-time with a 14-day free trial.
If you already use Swish and you're happy with it, there is no reason to switch. If you find yourself remembering a gesture, or avoiding window management entirely because of the overhead, that is exactly the gap Gridly fills.
When to choose each
Gridly was built around one idea: window management should be instant and obvious. One gesture, a clear preview of where the window will land, and a smooth glide to get there.
Choose Gridly if you want
Intuitive & modern- A single gesture to learn — swipe in a direction, and the window goes there
- To place one window and fill the rest of the screen automatically
- 12-column widths — keep swiping sideways to allocate any share from 1/12 to full
- A visual preview before the window moves, so you never commit to the wrong spot
- A lower price with every future update included
Choose Swish if you want
- A full gesture vocabulary — pinch to close, tap to minimize, hold to maximize
- A richer Magic Mouse vocabulary — pinch, tap, and hold, not only title-bar swipes
- Dock and menu bar gestures in addition to title bar swipes
- Finer control over individual window actions
- Compatibility with older macOS versions (10.13 and later)
Frequently asked
Is Gridly a good Swish alternative?
If what you want is a window manager that uses title-bar trackpad gestures, yes. Gridly keeps the gesture surface to a single two-finger swipe, so there is nothing new to memorise — direction picks the spot, extra swipes refine it, Esc undoes it. If you rely on Swish's 30+ gesture vocabulary across the Dock and menu bar, keep Swish.
Does Gridly support Magic Mouse gestures?
Yes. On a Magic Mouse, swipe one finger on the title bar — same directions, same results as the trackpad’s two-finger swipe. Gridly does not add a separate Magic Mouse gesture vocabulary the way Swish does; it is the same title-bar swipe on either device.
Does Gridly work on older macOS versions?
Gridly requires macOS 14.0 or later. Swish supports macOS 10.13 and later. If you are on macOS 13 or earlier, Gridly is not an option until you upgrade.
Can I run Gridly and Swish at the same time?
You can install both, but only one should handle window gestures at a time. Two apps watching the same title-bar scrolls can both try to move the same window. Use the 14-day Gridly trial side by side to decide, then disable one.