Alfred vs Rectangle

Alfred

• Mac users who want a keyboard launcher without a subscription
• People who automate repetitive tasks with their own workflows
• Buyers who want to pay once, with optional lifetime upgrades

Rectangle

• Mac users who want window snapping by shortcut or drag at no cost
• Former Spectacle users who want to keep the same shortcuts
• People who prefer open-source utilities

Alfred

• macOS only (10.14 or later). Alfred Remote for iOS is a separate purchase on the App Store.
• Clipboard history, snippets, workflows and file actions all require the paid Powerpack.
• Prices are shown in pounds sterling only; the vendor's site gives no US dollar price.
• The Single License is tied to Alfred 5; moving to a later major version is a discounted paid upgrade unless you hold Mega Supporter.

Rectangle

• macOS only. The website lists macOS 10.15 or later, while the GitHub README says the newest release needs macOS 14.
• Window throwing, custom sizes and positions, saved workspaces, window stashing and iCloud sync are only in Rectangle Pro, a separate paid app.
• Rectangle Pro's price is not shown as readable text on the site. It has a 10-day free trial, and one license can be active on 3 devices.

Alfred

App, file and web search

Launch apps, find files on your Mac and search websites with default or custom search keywords, all from one search bar.

Workflows

A Powerpack feature that connects triggers and actions like building blocks to automate tasks without code. Thousands of community workflows can be imported.

Clipboard History

With the Powerpack, Alfred keeps the text, images and file links you copy for 24 hours, 7 days, 1 month or 3 months, so an earlier item can be found and pasted again.

Snippets and text expansion

With the Powerpack, saved snippets expand automatically when you type a short keyword.

File actions and Terminal commands

The Powerpack adds actions on files, such as emailing, moving, copying and revealing in Finder, and runs Terminal commands and scripts from Alfred.

System commands and hotkeys

Sleep the Mac, empty the Trash or start the screensaver with a keyword. The Powerpack adds custom hotkeys and keywords for apps and sites.

Rectangle

Keyboard shortcuts

Move and resize the active window with a shortcut. Repeating a shortcut cycles through window sizes.

Snap areas

Drag a window to a screen edge or corner to snap it, and choose which window action each snap area triggers.

Preset sizes and positions

Commands for halves, quarters, thirds, fourths and sixths, plus maximize, almost maximize, maximize height, smaller, larger, center and restore.

Multiple displays

Next and previous display commands send a window to another screen, and layouts for displays in portrait orientation are supported.

Todo Mode

Keeps one app that you specify visible while you snap and resize other windows. The equivalent in Rectangle Pro is called Pin Mode.

Spectacle-compatible shortcuts

Rectangle is described as nearly a complete drop-in replacement for the Spectacle app, and Spectacle's default shortcuts can be chosen on first run.

Alfred

• Alfred (free)£0

  The core launcher for searching your Mac and the web. Free to use in a personal, educational or business setting.

• Powerpack Single License£34

  one-time purchase, license for Alfred 5

  Unlocks the Powerpack for one user on Alfred 5: workflows, clipboard history, snippets, file actions, themes and settings sync.

• Powerpack Mega Supporter£59

  one-time purchase, free lifetime upgrades

  The same Powerpack features for one user, with free upgrades to future versions of Alfred.

Rectangle

• Rectangle$0

  Keyboard shortcuts, drag-to-snap areas, menu bar commands, halves to sixths, display switching and Todo Mode. Free and open source.

Alfred

• Lifetime license

  Mega Supporter license with free lifetime upgrades

  The £59 Mega Supporter license includes free upgrades to future versions of Alfred. The £34 Single License covers Alfred 5.

• Other savings

  Upgrade discount for older licenses

  Holders of a Single User or Family license for an earlier version of Alfred can upgrade to the current Powerpack at a discount.

Rectangle

No public discounts listed.