Rectangle
Move and resize windows using keyboard shortcuts
Install with Homebrew
brew install --cask rectangle
Rectangle — Official Website
Quick Take: Rectangle
Rectangle remains the default free window manager on Mac in August 2026. Stage Manager did not kill keyboard snapping, and Pro 3.82 is a fair one-time upsell for throw/workspaces. Start free; buy Pro only if custom areas and throw become daily muscle memory.
Best For
- •Productivity-focused Mac users
- •Developers and power users
- •Multi-monitor setups
- •Users seeking a free, open-source solution
- •Individuals migrating from Spectacle
What is Rectangle?
Rectangle is still free, open source, and maintained by Ryan Hanson in August 2026. The free app lives on GitHub and runs on macOS 10.15 and later. Rectangle Pro is at 3.82, with a 10-day trial and a one-time license that covers up to three devices. Pro adds custom snap areas, window throw, stashing at screen edges, pin and todo modes, workspaces that respond to display changes, and iCloud sync for settings. Pricing is a single purchase shown at checkout on rectangleapp.com/pro; roundups in 2026 usually quote around $10 in USD, but check the store for your region. On macOS Tahoe, Stage Manager and the system tiler have not replaced Rectangle for people who tile by keyboard. Rectangle started in 2019 as a Swift successor to Spectacle. The job is simple: put windows where you want them without dragging them pixel by pixel. Keyboard shortcuts snap to halves, quarters and thirds. Drag to an edge or corner does the same with the mouse. Multi-monitor users move windows between displays with a shortcut. It stays small, stays out of the way, and does not collect data. The free version covers the layouts most people use each day, and Pro is there if you tile all day and want throw and workspaces.
Deep Dive: Rectangle
Rectangle is a free and open-source macOS utility that significantly enhances window management through straightforward keyboard shortcuts and drag-and-snap functionality. It brings Windows-style window snapping to Mac, allowing users to efficiently organize their digital workspace and boost productivity beyond macOS's native capabilities. It does not try to be a launcher or an app switcher; it just moves and sizes windows predictably.
History & Background
Rectangle emerged as a spiritual successor to Spectacle, another popular free and open-source window manager for macOS, after Spectacle's development ceased. Written in Swift, Rectangle adopted and improved upon Spectacle's core functionalities, offering a similar user experience with additional features. Its development by Ryan Hanson addressed a significant gap in macOS, providing solid window snapping capabilities that were previously lacking. Since its initial release, Rectangle has garnered substantial community adoption, evidenced by its active GitHub repository. The project's commitment to being free and open-source, while also offering a 'Pro' version for advanced features, has been key to its widespread use and continued evolution. Wait would be The early Spectacle community moved over quickly because defaults felt familiar. Ryan Hanson rebuilt the shortcut engine and added more actions, keeping the feel that Spectacle users knew.
How It Works
Rectangle is built using Swift, a modern programming language developed by Apple. This helps native performance and tight integration with macOS. It uses macOS's accessibility permissions to control and manipulate application windows, a common approach for such utilities. To handle keyboard shortcuts, Rectangle uses MASShortcut, a library for recording global keyboard shortcuts, a departure from Spectacle's custom recorder. The application operates quietly in the menu bar, consuming negligible system resources. It supports macOS v10.15 (Catalina) and newer, and is compatible with both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. Importantly, Rectangle's architecture prioritizes user privacy, with no telemetry, analytics, or data collection implemented, and its MIT-licensed source code is publicly auditable.
Ecosystem & Integrations
While Rectangle itself is a focused window management tool, its design allows for effective integration within a broader productivity ecosystem on macOS. Users often combine Rectangle with other utilities like Alfred (a productivity launcher) and BetterTouchTool (for extensive gesture controls) to create highly customized and automated workflows. The core logic of Rectangle has also been used in other applications, such as the Multitouch app, further demonstrating its foundational role in Mac utility development. Rectangle Pro, the paid counterpart, extends this ecosystem by offering advanced features like custom window sizes and positions, app layouts, and iCloud settings synchronization, allowing for a more deeply integrated and personalized experience across devices.
Future Development
In 2025 and early 2026, Rectangle continues its steady evolution, primarily focusing on stability, performance, and user-requested refinements. While no major architectural overhauls are anticipated, ongoing updates are likely to include bug fixes and minor feature enhancements. The Pro version, in particular, saw updates in mid-2026 (e.g., version 3.64 in November 2025), focusing on advanced customization, cursor-based window manipulation, and improved integration with macOS features like Stage Manager. Future directions may explore deeper integrations with Apple's evolving macOS environment and hardware, particularly as Apple introduces new M5 and M6 powered Macs and potential display updates in mid-2026 and 2026.
Key Features
Extensive Keyboard Shortcuts
You can bind almost any action to a hotkey: halves, quarters, thirds, maximize, center, or move to next display. Repeating the shortcut cycles through sizes for that area, so you do not need a shortcut for every variant. Cycling is handy: hit the same chord again and the window shifts to the next size in that zone.
Straightforward Drag-to-Snap Areas
Drag a window to an edge to fill half the screen, to a corner to fill a quarter, or to the top to maximize. It mirrors the Aero Snap feel from Windows and gives newcomers a path that does not require memorizing keys. You can turn drag-to-snap on or off in Preferences if you prefer keys only.
Multi-Monitor Support
Shortcuts jump windows between displays. The app handles different orientations and keeps placement predictable when you cycle through screens, which helps when you use an extended desktop or a portrait monitor. It keeps window order sensible when you pull a cable or dock and re-connect, which avoids reshuffling by hand.
Flexible Window Layouts (Halves, Quarters, Thirds)
Beyond halves and quarters, Rectangle offers thirds and two-thirds positions. Cycling gives you more options from one chord. That granularity pays off when you keep three apps visible at once. That is useful for a code editor beside a browser and a terminal, or for docs, sheet and chat side by side.
Ignore App Functionality
You can exclude apps that do not tile well. Add them to the ignore list and Rectangle leaves them alone, which avoids odd resizing with picky windows. That is useful for floating tool palettes or apps that manage their own window geometry.
Configurable System Integration
Settings import and export as JSON, so moving to a new Mac is copy and paste. A URL scheme lets you trigger actions from other tools like Raycast or Keyboard Maestro. Privacy is clean: no analytics, and the code is on GitHub to read. You can back up a machine and restore on another by copying the JSON file.
Rectangle Pro Window Throw & Custom Areas
Rectangle Pro 3.82 is the paid build. It adds throw for 16 sizes and positions from anywhere on the window, custom snap targets with a snap panel, stash to edges, pin and workspaces that react to display connect or disconnect, import of free Rectangle shortcuts, and iCloud sync. Free still covers halves, quarters and thirds. Throw also respects your display edges, so windows land where you expect.
Who Should Use Rectangle?
1The Multitasking Developer
A software developer often juggles a code editor, a terminal, and a web browser across two monitors. With Rectangle, they can use `Control+Option+Left Arrow` to snap their code editor to the left half of their primary screen, `Control+Option+Right Arrow` for the browser on the right, and then `Control+Option+Command+Right Arrow` to instantly move the terminal to their secondary display. When testing, a quick `Control+Option+F` (maximize) on the browser fills the screen, and another `Control+Option+Left Arrow` brings it back, significantly cutting down on mouse movements and saving precious seconds throughout the day. This efficiency allows them to stay in their flow state longer.
2The Research-Intensive Student
A university student is writing a research paper, needing to reference multiple PDF articles and web pages while composing in their word processor. They can use Rectangle to quickly arrange their word processor to take up the left two-thirds of their screen (`Control+Option+E`), while dedicating the right third to a PDF viewer or Safari (`Control+Option+G`). As they switch between research sources, they can instantly swap the focused application in the smaller pane or move it to a different screen entirely, maintaining a highly organized digital workspace ideal for focused study and citation gathering.
3The Digital Content Creator
A video editor or graphic designer frequently uses a large primary monitor for their main creative application (e.g., Final Cut Pro or Photoshop) and a secondary monitor for asset browsing and communication. Rectangle allows them to quickly snap their main application to full screen on the primary display, then use `Control+Option+Command+Right/Left Arrow` to throw their communication app (like Slack or Discord) to the secondary monitor's left half, and their asset folder to the right half. This keeps their main workspace uncluttered while providing immediate access to essential supporting tools, enhancing creative focus and reducing distractions.
How to Install Rectangle on Mac
Installing Rectangle on your Mac is a straightforward process, offering both a convenient Homebrew Cask method for command-line enthusiasts and a traditional direct download for all users. Following these steps will quickly get you up and running with enhanced window management.
Download the Application
The easiest way to obtain Rectangle is by downloading the latest version directly from its official website (rectangleapp.com). Alternatively, if you use Homebrew, you can open your Terminal and execute the command: brew install --cask rectangle. This method is often preferred for easy updates and management of macOS applications.
Move to Applications Folder
If you downloaded the .dmg file, open it and drag the Rectangle application icon into your Applications folder. If you installed via Homebrew, this step is handled automatically. Once moved, you can eject the .dmg file and optionally delete it.
Grant Accessibility Permissions
Upon first launch, Rectangle will prompt you to grant accessibility permissions. Navigate to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility, find Rectangle in the list, and toggle the switch to enable it. This is important for the app to control and manage your windows effectively. Without this permission, Rectangle cannot function.
Configure Launch at Login (Optional)
For continuous productivity, it's recommended to set Rectangle to launch automatically when your Mac starts up. Open Rectangle's preferences (accessible from the menu bar icon), go to the 'General' tab, and check the 'Launch at login' box. This ensures Rectangle is always ready to assist with your window management needs without manual intervention.
Pro Tips
- • After installation, restart your Mac to ensure all keyboard shortcuts load properly.
- • Disable 'Displays have separate Spaces' in System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Mission Control for a more consistent multi-monitor experience with Rectangle.
- • Explore the default shortcuts in Rectangle's preferences to get a feel for its capabilities, then customize them to your liking.
Configuration Tips
Mastering Custom Keyboard Shortcuts
Open Preferences and map the actions you actually use to chords that fit your hands. Many people pick Control-Option-Command plus arrows for halves and thirds, then number keys for quarters. Try it for a day and adjust where you stretch. Save the JSON export somewhere safe so a fresh install feels the same on day one.
Optimizing Multi-Monitor Behavior
For multi-monitor setups, try turning off 'Displays have separate Spaces' in Desktop & Dock > Mission Control. Maximizing behaves more predictably with Rectangle when that is off. Use the preference for traverse displays to tune how repeated shortcuts walk across screens.
Utilizing URL Schemes for Automation
You can call rectangle://execute-action?name=[action] from a script. That lets Raycast, Alfred, or Keyboard Maestro run a Rectangle action as part of a larger macro, such as arranging three apps for a meeting.
Alternatives to Rectangle
While Rectangle stands out as a top-tier free and open-source solution, the macOS window management ecosystem offers several solid alternatives, both free and paid, each with its unique strengths.
Magnet
Magnet is a paid App Store app with a polished UI. It covers drag-to-snap and hotkeys and is easy to learn. Rectangle is more flexible across monitors and uses less memory, and it is free. Pick Magnet if you want store polish. Pick Rectangle if you want keyboard control and cost zero.
BetterTouchTool
BetterTouchTool does window snapping plus trackpad, mouse, keyboard, and Touch Bar customization. Snap areas and app-specific rules are there, but the app is large if you only want tiling. Rectangle stays focused on windows, so it is lighter when you do not need the rest.
Moom
Moom shows a palette when you hover the green button and lets you save layouts for recall. It offers many preset sizes. Rectangle gives you free, open source tiling with deep hotkey control. Choose Moom for visual palettes and saved layouts, Rectangle for keys and zero cost.
Raycast
Raycast can tile halves and quarters if you already run Raycast. Rectangle goes deeper for tiling, custom areas, and drag-to-snap without taking on a launcher.
Pricing
Rectangle (free) is open source under the MIT license via GitHub and Homebrew (brew install --cask rectangle)—no subscription, no account. Rectangle Pro is a separate commercial app with a 10-day free trial and a one-time license (not a subscription) that can be active on three devices; purchase from rectangleapp.com/pro (regional pricing varies; third-party roundups in 2026 commonly cite roughly $9.99–$13.99 USD). Pro unlocks window throw, custom sizes, snap areas, stash, workspaces, pin mode, and more. Contributors to Rectangle may receive complimentary Pro licenses.
Pros
- ✓Completely free and open-source, offering features without cost.
- ✓Highly customizable keyboard shortcuts for precise window control.
- ✓Straightforward drag-to-snap functionality for quick and easy window arrangement.
- ✓Excellent multi-monitor support, including smooth window movement between displays.
- ✓Lightweight and resource-efficient, running quietly in the background without performance impact.
- ✓Successor to the popular Spectacle app, offering a familiar experience for migrating users.
- ✓Supports a wide range of layouts, including halves, quarters and various thirds.
- ✓No data collection and strong privacy commitment, being fully auditable due to its open-source nature.
Cons
- ✗Requires manual granting of Accessibility permissions during initial setup.
- ✗Advanced features like app-specific layouts or more complex custom snap areas are reserved for Rectangle Pro.
- ✗Can have a steeper learning curve for users unfamiliar with extensive keyboard shortcuts.
- ✗Does not include app-switching or launching functionalities, requiring additional tools for a complete workflow.
- ✗Occasional reports of Notification Center freezing for a small number of users when drag-snapping is enabled.
Community & Support
Rectangle lives on GitHub at rxhanson/Rectangle. Issues, ideas, and pull requests happen there, and Ryan Hanson answers. The repo shows steady commits and release notes. Discussions and the issue tracker double as support. Because the code is public, anyone can audit it. Release notes list fixes and new actions, so you can see what changed before you update. If a release misbehaves, you can roll back to the previous dmg from GitHub in a minute. You can also undo a snap with the same shortcut if you overshoot.
Video Tutorials
Getting Started with Rectangle
More Tutorials
How to Use Rectangle: The Best FREE Window Manager for Mac (by far)
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Awesome Mac Apps Recommend (pt1): Rectangle - Snap Mac Windows #shorts
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This Simple macOS Window Management Workflow Is All I Need
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Frequently Asked Questions about Rectangle
About the Author
Productivity & Workflow Analyst
Expert Tips for Rectangle
Free Rectangle still covers 90% of snap needs; Pro’s window throw is the upgrade people cite when they want fewer memorized shortcuts on ultra-wide and multi-monitor desks.
Raycast and Magnet remain the common alternatives—Raycast if you already pay for a launcher, Magnet for a simple App Store one-time buy, Rectangle when you want open-source free forever.
Related Technologies & Concepts
Related Topics
Window Management
Window tiling and management tools
Sources & References
Fact-CheckedLast verified: Aug 9, 2026
Key Verified Facts
- Rectangle is free and open source; Rectangle Pro is a paid superset with a 10-day trial and 3-device license activation.[cite-site, cite-pro]
- Rectangle Pro current download line is v3.82 as listed on the official Pro site.[cite-pro, cite-versions]
- Rectangle supports macOS 10.15+ and is maintained on GitHub by Ryan Hanson.[cite-github]
- Rectangle can be installed via Homebrew cask rectangle.[cite-github, cite-site]
- 1Rectangle Official Site
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 2Rectangle Pro
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 3Rectangle Pro Versions
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 4Rectangle GitHub
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 5Rectangle Comparison
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 6Rectangle Pro Docs
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 7Rectangle vs Magnet 2026 context
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
Research queries: app Mac 2026 pricing features