Rectangle alternative: how Macsential compares
Rectangle is a free, open-source window manager that many Mac users install on day one. Macsential includes a window manager too, as one of several everyday tools. Here's how they differ, and when Rectangle is the better choice.
The short answer
If window snapping is all you need, keep Rectangle: it's free, open source under the MIT License, and it snaps windows you drag to a screen edge. Macsential makes sense if you also want screen recording, screenshots, file conversion and disk cleanup in one app. Its window manager uses the same ⌃⌥ default shortcuts, so your habits carry over.
Rectangle and Macsential compared
| Feature | Rectangle | Macsential |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Rectangle is free; Rectangle Pro is US$9.99 | US$29.99 once for every tool, with a year of updates; the first licenses are free |
| Source code | Open source under the MIT License | Closed source |
| Requirements | MacOS 14 or later (older versions remain for macOS 10.13 to 13) | MacOS 15 Sequoia or later on Apple Silicon |
| Keyboard layouts | Shortcuts for halves, quarters, thirds, maximize, center, next display and restore, among others | Halves, quarters, maximize, maximize height, center, larger, smaller, next display and restore; press a half or corner again to step from one-quarter to three-quarters |
| Drag to snap | Yes: drag a window to a screen edge or corner; it can be turned off | No; macOS's own tiling handles dragging |
| Spaces | Rectangle can't move windows to other Spaces (Rectangle Pro can) | No |
| Other tools | Window management | Screen recorder, screenshots, image and video converter, disk cleaner |
Who should stay with Rectangle
- You only need to arrange windows. Rectangle is free, and paying for tools you won't use makes no sense.
- You snap windows by dragging them to the screen's edges and corners. Rectangle does that; Macsential only moves windows from the keyboard and leaves dragging to macOS.
- Your Mac has an Intel chip or runs macOS 14. Rectangle supports macOS 14 or later (older versions remain for macOS 10.13 to 13); Macsential needs macOS 15 on Apple Silicon.
- You want Rectangle Pro's extras: window throw, custom snap targets, custom sizes and positions, workspace arrangements, stashing windows at screen edges, and iCloud sync.
Why switch to Macsential
- You'd otherwise install separate apps to record your screen, take styled screenshots, convert images and videos and clear caches. Macsential does all of that, plus window management, for one payment.
- Your shortcuts carry over. The default keys for halves, maximize, center, the top-left quarter, the next display and restore are the same as Rectangle's.
- Press a half or corner shortcut again to step the window through two-thirds, three-quarters, one-quarter and one-third. Maximize height also has its own shortcut, and every shortcut can be changed or switched off.
Switching from Rectangle
Rectangle's defaults are ⌃⌥← / ⌃⌥→ for halves, ⌃⌥↩ to maximize, ⌃⌥C to center, ⌃⌥U for the top-left quarter, ⌃⌥D for the first third, ⌃⌥⌘→ for the next display, ⌃⌥⌫ to restore. Macsential's Window Manager uses the same keys for these actions, so there's nothing to relearn.
Quit Rectangle (and remove it from your login items) before you use Macsential's shortcuts, so the two apps don't compete for the same keys. Like Rectangle, Macsential needs the Accessibility permission to move other apps' windows, and opens the right System Settings pane for you.
Sources
Everything this page says about Rectangle comes from its maker's own pages, checked on the date shown. Prices and features change; tell us at hello@macsential.com if something here is out of date.
- Rectangle, price: rectangleapp.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Rectangle, license: github.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Rectangle Pro, price: rectangleapp.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Rectangle, requirements: github.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Rectangle, layouts: github.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Rectangle, drag to snap: github.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Rectangle, spaces: github.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Rectangle Pro, features: rectangleapp.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Rectangle, shortcuts: github.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Rectangle Pro, trial: rectangleapp.com, checked October 31, 2026
Related
- Window Manager Snap windows to halves and quarters, or move them between displays, with keyboard shortcuts.
- Magnet Magnet is an inexpensive window snapper from the Mac App Store. Macsential adds keyboard layouts and four more tools.
- Pricing One price for every tool, paid once: what a license includes, how the price steps up, and renewals.
More comparisons
Questions
Is Rectangle free?
Yes. Rectangle is free and open source under the MIT License. Rectangle Pro, with extra features, is US$9.99, and is free for 10 days.
Does Macsential use the same shortcuts as Rectangle?
For the common actions, yes: halves, maximize, center, the top-left quarter, the next display and restore have the same default keys. Every Macsential shortcut can be changed.
Can Macsential snap a window when I drag it to the edge?
No. Macsential moves windows from the keyboard and from its Window Manager page. Dragging to an edge uses macOS's own tiling, which works alongside it.
Can I use Rectangle and Macsential together?
Yes, if you switch off Macsential's window shortcuts so the two don't compete for the same keys. Everything else in Macsential works the same.
Which Macs do they run on?
Rectangle supports macOS 14 or later (older versions remain for macOS 10.13 to 13). Macsential needs macOS 15 Sequoia or later on a Mac with Apple Silicon.
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