The Rectangle Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Rectangle in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Rectangle
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source window snapping for macOS
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Rectangle’s own pages.
Made by Ryan Hanson · checked Oct 4, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Rectangle’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Rectangle’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 4, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
Rectangle is a free, open-source macOS utility that moves and resizes windows with keyboard shortcuts or by dragging them to snap areas at the screen edges. It covers halves, thirds, quarters and sixths, moving windows between displays, and other common layouts. The same developer sells Rectangle Pro, a separate paid app built on top of it with more ways to snap and arrange windows.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Rectangle, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: drag a window to an edge and it snaps, or press a shortcut.
- 1
Best for free window snapping on a Mac
Rectangle is a free, open-source Mac app that snaps windows into halves, thirds, quarters and sixths by shortcut or by dragging to a screen edge.
- 2
It is free
Rectangle has no paid plan at all. The whole app is free and open source. Rectangle Pro, a separate paid app from the same developer, adds further features.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
Keyboard shortcuts
Move and resize the active window with a shortcut. Repeating a shortcut cycles through window sizes.
- 5
Snap areas
Drag a window to a screen edge or corner to snap it, and choose which window action each snap area triggers.
- 6
Preset sizes and positions
Commands for halves, quarters, thirds, fourths and sixths, plus maximize, almost maximize, maximize height, smaller, larger, center and restore.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 57 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Rectangle is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Rectangle at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Ryan Hanson
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for free window snapping on a Mac
Rectangle is a free, open-source Mac app that snaps windows into halves, thirds, quarters and sixths by shortcut or by dragging to a screen edge. Saved workspaces, custom sizes, window throwing, stashing and iCloud sync are all kept for Rectangle Pro, a separate paid app whose price isn't shown as text. Its own pages also disagree on the minimum macOS: 10.15 or 14.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source, a download anyone can run, with nothing to buy inside it. The same developer sells Rectangle Pro as a separate app, but nothing in Rectangle itself costs money. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole app is free: keyboard shortcuts, drag-to-snap areas, menu bar commands, halves to sixths, display switching and Todo Mode. No cap, no nag, nothing held back. |
| Features | C | Window snapping is its one job: halves, quarters, thirds, fourths and sixths, maximize, almost maximize, centre, restore and a command to send a window to the next display. Its own comparison page names the gaps: window throwing, custom sizes, saved workspaces and iCloud sync are Pro. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: drag a window to an edge and it snaps, or press a shortcut. Coming from Spectacle? You can pick its default shortcuts on first run. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, and no integrations are listed. The website says macOS 10.15 or later, while the GitHub README says the newest release needs macOS 14. Nothing for Windows or Linux. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Rectangle is for
- Fits if you want windows snapped by shortcut or by drag at no cost
- Works for former Spectacle users who want to keep the same shortcuts
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on Windows or Linux, as it's macOS only
- Too light for saved workspaces, custom window sizes, window throwing or stashing, which are only in Rectangle Pro
- Not for you if you want your settings synced over iCloud, another Rectangle Pro extra
- Watch out: the website says macOS 10.15 or later, but the GitHub README says the newest release needs macOS 14
- Watch out: Rectangle Pro's price isn't shown as readable text; it has a 10-day trial and a 3-device license
Good to know
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Rectangle is free to use.
Free and open source, a download anyone can run, with nothing to buy inside it.
Rectangle
$0
Keyboard shortcuts, drag-to-snap areas, menu bar commands, halves to sixths, display switching and Todo Mode. Free and open source.
The free plan
The whole app is free and open source. Rectangle Pro, a separate paid app from the same developer, adds further features.
Read from rectangleapp.com on Oct 4, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Free, open-source window snapping for macOS. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, keyboard-first, window management.
Its own comparison page names the gaps: window throwing, custom sizes, saved workspaces and iCloud sync are Pro.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Rectangle is made by Ryan Hanson.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
57/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Rectangle's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 49 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Rectangle has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Rectangle’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 55 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Rectangle is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Rectangle is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- Control over other apps' windows.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Rectangle’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Raycast, Setapp and Alfred
The 3 tools Rectangle is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Raycast
Free plan · from $96/yr
Keyboard launcher with extensions, clipboard history and AI.
- Only Raycast lists Windows and iOS apps.
- Only Raycast lists a browser extension.
- Rectangle is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.0GPA
Setapp
Free trial · from $14.99/mo
One subscription for a catalog of 300+ Mac and iOS apps.
- Rectangle has a free plan. Setapp does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Setapp lists an iOS app.
- Rectangle is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Alfred
Free plan · from £34 one-time
Mac launcher with hotkeys, snippets and custom workflows.
- Rectangle is open source, according to its own site.
- Alfred can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Rectangle also covers window management.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Rectangle free?
Yes. Rectangle is free to use.
How much does Rectangle cost?
Rectangle lists one plan. Rectangle: $0.
What platforms does Rectangle work on?
Rectangle is available on macOS.
Does Rectangle have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 4, 2026. Rectangle is listed for macOS.
Does Rectangle have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 4, 2026. Rectangle is listed for macOS.
Is Rectangle open source?
Yes. Rectangle is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Rectangle?
Rectangle is made by Ryan Hanson.
What are the alternatives to Rectangle?
The closest alternatives to Rectangle in our directory are Raycast, Setapp and Alfred.
How does Rectangle compare with other desktop utilities?
Rectangle's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
Is Rectangle good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Rectangle A for value for money. Rectangle has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Rectangle?
Rectangle is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Rectangle’s own pages on Oct 4, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Rectangle's own pages on 4 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-01.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Ryan Hanson. Prices change, so check rectangleapp.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Rectangle, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/rectangle
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Rectangle: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 4, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/rectangle
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/rectangle/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
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- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Rectangle’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Rectangle is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Ryan Hanson. Prices and plans change: check rectangleapp.com before you buy.