Open ContextsA sidebar organized around your tasks
A Space is a desktop; a task can span several apps on that desktop. If you want to keep a browser reference window, editor and terminal together under a name such as “Website,” Open Contexts lets you build that organization in the app bar.
Contexts already offers a sidebar, so the presence of a sidebar is not the distinction. Its official description groups windows by Space. Open Contexts emphasizes named custom groups, window pinning and a saved order that you choose.
Free software, with a narrower feature set
Open Contexts includes its current features for free under Apache 2.0. Contexts lists a $9.99 license and offers a free trial. A low one-time price may be worthwhile if its search behavior is what saves you effort.
You can inspect or build Open Contexts from source. That is useful if you value a modifiable tool, but it does not make it a feature-for-feature Contexts replacement. There is currently no search, Fast Search or trackpad gesture support.
Who should consider switching
Try Open Contexts if you usually cycle through a small set of active windows, want a title list on Command-Tab, and prefer to organize that set by project. You can customize the all-window and same-app shortcuts instead of changing an established keyboard habit.
Keep Contexts if you remember a few letters of a title and expect them to take you directly to the window. Its Search and Fast Search are designed around that behavior. If Space filtering is critical, compare it on your own desktop setup before replacing your switcher.
Rebuild one workflow first
- Keep your Contexts configuration so you can return to it. There is no automatic importer for its settings or search shortcuts.
- Quit Contexts before testing overlapping keyboard shortcuts in Open Contexts.
- Install Open Contexts on macOS 13 or later and grant Accessibility access.
- Set the app bar position, add one named group and drag your working windows into it.
- Test switching, pinning and saved order with real work before creating more groups.
Saved groups preserve organization for matchable windows; they do not launch missing applications or recreate a desktop layout. Full-screen behavior still needs more real-world verification in Open Contexts, so check your own full-screen workflow.
Questions about a Contexts replacement
Does a similar name mean the products are related? No. Open Contexts is an independent project and is not affiliated with Contexts.
Can I keep using keyboard search? Not in Open Contexts today. Keep Contexts if search is essential, or evaluate AltTab Pro for another searchable switcher.