The latest macOS releases still refuse to ship a native always on top mac toggle. Spaces, Stage Manager, and full-screen modes are built around hiding everything except the active app, so power users keep googling “keep window on top mac” and discover there’s no hidden checkbox. This 2026 comparison guide breaks down three reliable workflows—Rectangle Pro, BetterTouchTool scripts, and Floaty—so you can build a pin window macOS setup that actually survives work, study, or streaming sessions.
1. Introduction: macOS Still Lacks Native Always-on-Top
Apple’s WindowServer only allows the foreground app to live at the highest window layer. Mission Control, Stage Manager, and Spaces reinforce this rule, which means:
- There’s no system-wide API for a global “keep on top” flag.
- Switching apps instantly buries previously focused windows.
- Full-screen spaces move the active window into its own desktop, so any “pin window mac” trick is reset.
Therefore macOS keep window on top workflows always rely on third-party accessibility hooks or scripts. The good news: in 2026 there are still stable options—their differences come down to setup time, automation depth, and how trustworthy they feel for daily work.
2. Method 1: Use Rectangle Pro’s Pin Mode
Rectangle Pro extends its classic tiling shortcuts with a Pin Mode that keeps one window above the rest. Setup for this rectangle pro always on top flow looks like:
- Grant Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions.
- Enable “Always on Top (Pin)” in Rectangle → Settings.
- Bind a shortcut such as ⇧⌘P.
- Focus the target window and trigger the shortcut to pin it.
Pros
- Integrates seamlessly with Rectangle’s move/resize shortcuts.
- Remembers the last pinned window so keyboard users stay fast.
- Works across multiple monitors and Spaces.
Cons
- Pin Mode is locked behind the paid Pro tier.
- No opacity, click-through, or multi-window management.
- Only one window can stay pinned—limiting for study or streaming dashboards.
Rectangle Pro suits people who already rely on it for window snapping and just need a basic “how to pin a window on top mac” toggle without new software.
3. Method 2: BetterTouchTool Scripts
BetterTouchTool (BTT) is closer to an automation platform than a dedicated pin utility. By chaining AppleScript or JavaScript for Automation, BTT can monitor the focused window and keep forcing its layer to the front—delivering a flexible bettertouchtool always on top mac workflow.
How it works
- BTT listens for your trigger (gesture, hotkey, MIDI message, etc.).
- It executes a script that sets an
AXMainflag or calls CGWindow APIs to raise the window. - A timer/trigger keeps reapplying the floating level until you toggle it off.
Implementation steps
- Create a new trigger (for example ⌥⌘T or a three-finger tap).
Add “Execute Apple Script (async)” with something like:
tell application "System Events" set frontApp to name of first application process whose frontmost is true end tell do shell script "/usr/bin/osascript ~/Scripts/pin-window.scpt \"" & frontApp & "\""Inside
pin-window.scpt, use CGWindowLevel APIs or a helper CLI to keep the window atkCGMaximumWindowLevelKey.
Limitations
- Compatibility: macOS privacy changes often break scripts, so you’ll maintain them manually.
- Complexity: you own the scripts, logging, and error handling.
- Stability: Spaces or external monitors can desync the floating level unless you run watchdog automations.
If BTT is already the brain of your automation stack, adding a mac keep window always on top routine makes sense; otherwise the overhead is high for casual users.
4. Method 3: Use a Dedicated Floating Window Tool (Floaty)
Floaty is purpose-built for people who constantly ask “how do I float window mac apps above everything?” It relies on native permissions but wraps them in a friendly UI.
- One-click pinning: global shortcut, menu bar button, or context menu.
- Multi-window stacking: float multiple browsers, PDFs, Finder explorer windows, Zoom controls, Notion docs, or IDEs simultaneously.
- Opacity & click-through: dial transparency from 10%–100% and optionally allow pointer passthrough for reference overlays.
- Smart memory: per-app defaults, auto-pin rules, login launch, and automatic unpin triggers.
- Privacy-first: all Screen Recording data stays on device—nothing is uploaded.
Supported windows
Floaty works with native AppKit apps plus most Electron or Catalyst apps: Safari, Chrome, Arc, Finder, Preview, PDF tools, Zoom, Meet, FaceTime, Notion, Obsidian, VS Code, Xcode, etc.
Free vs. Pro
| Tier | Floaty Free | Floaty Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Simultaneous pinned windows | 1 window | Unlimited windows + groups |
| Opacity / passthrough | Preset levels | Fine-grained slider + shortcuts |
| Automation | Core shortcuts | App rules, scheduled unpin, SSH/URL actions |
| Pricing | Free download | One-time license or household bundle |
Why we recommend Floaty: It sets “mac keep window always on top” as its primary mission, ships visual cues so you always know what’s floating, and receives constant compatibility updates for new macOS releases.
5. Rectangle vs. BetterTouchTool vs. Floaty (2026)
| Dimension | Rectangle Pro Pin Mode | BetterTouchTool Scripts | Floaty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feature coverage | Single-window pin | Depends on your scripts | Multi-window pin, opacity, passthrough, grouping |
| Ease of use | Friendly UI, minimal settings | Requires scripting literacy | Install and follow guided onboarding |
| Multi-window support | No | Possible with complex logic | Native multi-window |
| Opacity / passthrough | None | Custom code required | GUI + shortcuts built in |
| Stability | High, officially maintained | Varies by script | High, optimized for newest macOS |
| Cost | Paid Pro upgrade | Subscription + your time | Free tier + optional Pro |
| Best for | Existing Rectangle users | Automation enthusiasts | Anyone focused on floating windows |
6. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can these tools pin Finder or system dialogs?
A: Yes. Floaty and Rectangle Pro handle Finder, Preview, and PDF windows out of the box. BetterTouchTool can do it too, but you may need extra scripting to catch AXUnknown windows.
Q: Do they support the latest macOS releases?
A: Floaty and Rectangle Pro already support macOS Sonoma 14 and have been tested on early macOS 15 builds. BTT scripts require you to verify compatibility after each OS update.
Q: Will a pin window mac utility leak my screen data?
A: No—Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions only grant local control over window layers. Floaty processes everything on-device, but always download from the official site to avoid tampered builds.
Q: How is Floaty different from other options?
A: It exists solely to answer “how to pin a window on top mac,” so it ships multi-window management, automation, widgets, and presets for study/meeting/dev workflows without any scripting.
7. Conclusion and Download CTA
Whether you’re:
- Studying or taking notes and need PDFs or Notion pages glued above a lecture,
- Presenting in Zoom or Meet and want timers plus agendas in view, or
- Developing/monitoring logs, Tailwind docs, dashboards, or live metrics,
having a dependable pin window mac tool keeps you focused without constant Command+Tab juggling. Start with the Floaty Free tier to experience a trustworthy mac keep window always on top workflow; upgrade to Pro if you need multi-window layers, automation, or fine-grained opacity control.
More guides on floating windows: