Rectangle vs Magnet

Drag to an edge or corner and the window snaps. Halves, quarters, thirds and full-screen are covered, with a light footprint outline that shows the target before you release. That preview helps you place windows accurately without repeated adjustments. Snapping feels instant on Apple Silicon and sits quietly in the menu bar.

Drag to an edge or corner and Magnet snaps to halves, quarters, thirds or full-screen. A short animation confirms the placement, which feels finished and easy to read. There is no footprint preview, but the motion itself makes the result clear. Placing windows across one or two displays is quick and requires no setup.

Shortcut coverage is wide. Default keys handle halves, thirds, quarters, maximize and moving between displays, and you can remap any of them to match Spectacle or your own layout. That flexibility suits people who keep hands on the keyboard. The free build already includes most shortcuts, Pro adds throw and custom sizes rather than basic coverage.

Magnet ships with a set of default shortcuts for halves, quarters, thirds and full-screen. You can change them, but the range is narrower than Rectangle and custom actions are limited. For common snaps it is enough, and many users never open the shortcut pane after initial setup. Once set, the keys stay consistent across restarts and display changes.

Pro lets you save custom sizes and positions and recall them with a shortcut, including multi-window layouts and per-app rules. That helps if you use different arrangements for code, writing and design. You can also define snap targets and bind them to keys, which turns a complex desktop into one press. The free app handles standard positions, Pro is where personal layouts live.

Magnet lets you adjust shortcuts and drag areas, but you cannot save named layouts or assign per-app arrangements. You pick from the built-in set and optionally ignore specific apps. It stays simple by design, which suits everyday use but not workflows that need distinct setups per project. That saves re-dragging the same layout each time you switch tasks.

Multi-display handling is steady. Dedicated keys move windows between screens, and Rectangle can remember where an app was on each display. That memory saves time when you dock and undock. Behaviour is consistent across mixed resolutions and orientation, including portrait side monitors. It handles mixed scaling and keeps snap zones aligned on each panel.

Magnet works across up to six displays and respects each screen's edges, including vertical layouts. Snapping and moving between monitors is direct, with no extra configuration. For most multi-monitor desks it behaves as expected, letting you spread work without thinking about screen numbers. Each display keeps its own snap zones, so mixed sizes stay predictable.

You get 16 positions: halves, quarters, thirds, two-thirds and full-screen among them. That variety lets you build side-by-side, three-column or inset layouts without manual resizing. Choices are available from both menu and keys, so you can keep precise arrangements handy. You reach them from menu or keys without manual dragging.

Magnet covers halves, quarters, thirds, two-thirds, maximize and center. Those options handle the layouts most people use daily. They are quick to reach from the menu or shortcuts, and they avoid the longer list that power users sometimes want. If you need only common splits, it is sufficient. You reach them from menu or keys without manual dragging.

A single undo returns the window to its previous size and place. If you snap to the wrong quadrant, you can step back without dragging to restore manually. That makes experimenting with layouts less punishing and keeps the flow moving. It is a small safety net you end up using more than you expect.

Magnet's restore returns a window to the size and position it had before Magnet moved it. It is handy when a snap lands incorrectly and you want the original bounds back. Access is quick, so corrections cost a key press rather than manual resizing. That quick restore gets used more often than you would think.

Pro can apply different rules per app. A code editor might open in a two-thirds split with a terminal alongside, while a browser stays in halves. Those bindings apply automatically when the app becomes active. It adds a layer of automation that saves repeated manual placement during task switching. That keeps focus on the task instead of window chores.

Magnet can ignore selected apps so they are left alone, but it does not store per-app layouts or automatic placements. The approach is all-or-nothing for each program, which keeps settings simple. If you need per-app geometry, Pro is the stronger option. That keeps focus on the task instead of window chores.

Pro adds trackpad input for window moves, giving an alternative to drag and keys. For users who keep hands on the trackpad, it provides another way to trigger placement without reaching for shortcuts. The gestures sit alongside existing methods rather than replacing them. It is optional and does not interfere if you prefer keys.

Magnet focuses on drag and keys, it does not add distinct trackpad gestures for snapping beyond system dragging. You use the edge drag or shortcuts for all moves. That keeps interaction predictable, though gesture-heavy users will not find extra options here. It is optional and does not interfere if you prefer keys.