Rectangle vs Magnet: Which Window Manager Wins on Mac?

Overview: Two Leading Mac Window Managers

Rectangle and Magnet are the two window managers Mac users encounter most often. Both snap windows to halves, thirds, quarters and other positions using keyboard shortcuts. Both are well-maintained, trusted by millions of users and compatible with all recent macOS versions. At their core functionality — positioning windows via keyboard — they are closely matched. The differences that determine which one is right for a given user come down to price, open-source availability, advanced features and a few workflow-specific capabilities.

This comparison covers the free version of Rectangle app against Magnet, with notes on what Rectangle Pro adds. Both applications have been evaluated on macOS Sonoma for this article. The verdict at the end is based on which is better for different user types — there is no universally correct answer between these two well-made tools.

Shortcut Systems Compared

Both Rectangle and Magnet use a modifier key plus directional keys for the most common positions, and both allow full shortcut remapping. The default modifier and key assignments differ between the two apps. Importantly, both can be configured to use the same shortcuts — so if you switch between the two, you can maintain muscle memory by matching the key assignments.

The defaults for halves and full screen are identical between rectangle app and Magnet, which means the learning curve for switching between them is minimal. The main divergences appear in the thirds and two-thirds shortcuts. Rectangle provides a center float shortcut that Magnet lacks by default; Magnet's Preferences include additional drag-to-snap zones that Rectangle handles differently.

Feature Comparison

Both applications share the same core feature set for standard window management. The differences are in the advanced features and the overall experience design.

The most significant feature difference is custom saved layouts, which only Rectangle Pro offers. This allows you to define named workspace configurations — for example, a "writing" layout with your editor and reference source, and a "communication" layout with email and calendar — and switch between them with a single shortcut. Neither Rectangle free nor Magnet offers this.

Price and Licensing

Rectangle free costs nothing. Rectangle Pro is a one-time purchase available from the developer's website or the App Store. Magnet is a one-time purchase from the App Store. For teams or firms purchasing multiple licenses, both Magnet and Rectangle Pro support volume purchasing through the App Store's business programs.

The practical pricing question is whether you need Rectangle Pro's additional features. For the majority of users — including professional users doing demanding knowledge work — Rectangle mac free is sufficient and there is no financial reason to upgrade. If custom saved layouts or window history would genuinely benefit your workflow, Rectangle Pro's upgrade is good value. Magnet's price is comparable to Rectangle Pro but does not include those advanced features.

Privacy and Open Source

Rectangle app free is open source. The complete source code is publicly available on GitHub, has been reviewed by the developer community and has no analytics, telemetry or remote communication in the free version. For security-conscious users — IT professionals, lawyers, those handling sensitive data — the ability to independently verify what the application does is a meaningful advantage.

Magnet is a closed-source commercial application. Its privacy policy describes standard App Store analytics practices. There is no evidence of data collection beyond what is standard for App Store applications, but the code is not auditable. For most users this distinction is irrelevant; for users with strict security requirements, it matters.

Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

Choose Rectangle free if: you want a no-cost solution that covers all standard window management, you value open-source software, or you're evaluating window managers before committing to a paid tool.

Choose Rectangle Pro if: you want custom saved layout profiles that switch your entire workspace configuration with one shortcut, or you want window history to track and restore previous window positions.

Choose Magnet if: you already have App Store credit and prefer App Store purchases for consistent update management, or you work in an environment that manages software via Apple Business Manager.