Software Alternatives & Startups

AirBuddy VS Rectangle

Compare AirBuddy VS Rectangle and see what are their differences

AirBuddy logo AirBuddy

Bring the same AirPods experience from iOS to Mac

Rectangle logo Rectangle

Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.
  • AirBuddy Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-19
  • Rectangle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-20

AirBuddy features and specs

  • Seamless Integration
    AirBuddy provides seamless integration with macOS, making it easy for users to manage their AirPods and other Bluetooth devices directly from their Mac. It offers a native-like experience, displaying battery levels and connection status with a single click.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The application features a clean and intuitive interface that simplifies the process of connecting and switching between different Bluetooth devices, making it accessible for all types of users.
  • Comprehensive Device Support
    AirBuddy supports a wide range of Apple and non-Apple Bluetooth devices, allowing users to manage multiple devices from a single application, enhancing the overall user experience.
  • Enhanced Battery Notifications
    The app provides detailed battery notifications, helping users to monitor the battery levels of their Bluetooth devices more effectively and avoid running out of charge unexpectedly.

Possible disadvantages of AirBuddy

  • macOS Exclusivity
    AirBuddy is only available for macOS, which limits accessibility for users who operate on Windows or other platforms, restricting its user base to those who own Mac computers.
  • Cost
    Unlike the built-in utilities provided by macOS for Bluetooth management, AirBuddy is a paid application, which may not appeal to users who are reluctant to spend money on additional software for device management.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While AirBuddy excels in ease of use and integration, it may lack some advanced features that power users might expect, such as custom automation based on device proximity or more detailed device usage analytics.

Rectangle features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Rectangle offers an intuitive user interface that makes window management straightforward and user-friendly.
  • Customizable Shortcuts
    Users can easily configure keyboard shortcuts to better suit their workflow, making window management faster and more efficient.
  • Free
    Rectangle is available for free, making it accessible to anyone without the need for a financial investment.
  • Frequent Updates
    The app receives regular updates, introducing new features and ensuring compatibility with the latest macOS versions.
  • Lightweight
    Rectangle is a lightweight application that doesn't consume many system resources, ensuring smooth performance even on older Macs.

Possible disadvantages of Rectangle

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Rectangle lacks some of the more advanced features found in paid window management applications, such as multiple monitor support and more complex window arrangements.
  • MacOS Only
    Rectangle is only available for macOS, so users of other operating systems are unable to take advantage of its features.
  • Occasional Bugs
    Some users report occasional bugs or unpredictable behavior, which might require troubleshooting or waiting for a future update.
  • Learning Curve for Shortcuts
    While customizable shortcuts are a benefit, there is an initial learning curve for users to memorize and effectively use these shortcuts.
  • Basic Aesthetic
    The app's design and aesthetic are quite basic, lacking the polish and visual appeal found in some other similar tools.

Analysis of Rectangle

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Rectangle is highly regarded for its ease of use, extensive customization options, and the fact that it is free and open-source. It provides essential functionality without unnecessary complexity, making it suitable for both casual users and power users who need efficient window management.

Why this product is good

  • Rectangle is a popular window management tool for macOS, known for its simplicity and ease of use. It allows users to efficiently organize and resize application windows using customizable keyboard shortcuts or by dragging windows into pre-defined areas of the screen. This can enhance productivity by minimizing the time spent arranging windows and improving multitasking capabilities.

Recommended for

    Rectangle is recommended for macOS users looking for a straightforward, lightweight solution to manage application windows. It is particularly beneficial for those who frequently work with multiple applications at once, including developers, designers, and anyone who values a tidy and organized desktop environment.

AirBuddy videos

Get the iOS AirPods Experience on your Mac! AirBuddy for Mac Review!

More videos:

  • Review - Airbuddy diving system - OPEN BOX FIRST LOOK
  • Review - First scuba dive with AirBuddy looking for lost treasure

Rectangle videos

SKYWALKER RECTANGLE TRAMPOLINE REVIEW!!!

More videos:

  • Review - Skywalker Rectangle Trampoline Review #1
  • Review - Marvin Malton 160 Rectangle Flying Hour Watch Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AirBuddy and Rectangle)
Mac
11 11%
89% 89
Mac Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Music
100 100%
0% 0
Window Manager
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare AirBuddy and Rectangle

AirBuddy Reviews

We have no reviews of AirBuddy yet.
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Rectangle Reviews

Best 6 Mac Window Managers
Rectangle shows that you don’t need to dip into your bank account to get window resizer tools. This free Mac window manager lets you manage multiple windows using keyboard shortcuts, menu options, or by dragging and dropping. Just like Magnet, you can split your screen up into quarters, thirds, or halves.
Source: mackeeper.com
Top 6 Window Manager Apps for Mac
Most window manager apps for Mac support multiple monitors. They can help you move windows between screens and create custom layouts for each monitor. Many window manager apps – such as BetterSnapTool, Magnet, and Rectangle – offer this functionality.
The 6 Best Mac Window Management Tools
However, it might take some time for you to get used to the shortcuts in the Rectangle app since there are many. Furthermore, you can also add some of your apps to exceptions if you want to keep them away from Rectangle's shortcuts.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Rectangle seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 480 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

AirBuddy mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of AirBuddy yet. Tracking of AirBuddy recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Rectangle mentions (480)

  • Apple introduces M6 and M5 Ultra for a big leap in performance and AI compute
    Rectangle solved my macos window management annoyances. https://rectangleapp.com/ Not involved in dev of this, just a happy user. - Source: Hacker News / 15 days ago
  • Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Released
    As a both old Linux and now decade user of MacOS, after I got used to no middle-click paste and no focus-follows-mouse: 1. Keyboard shortcuts are Emacs, Ctrl-A: start of line, E: end of line, K: kill selected or to end of line, Y to paste, etc. https://support.apple.com/en-au/102650#text 2. Karabiner elements (FOSS) fixes keyboard mappings outside of the Settings: https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/ 3. I have the... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Native Instant Space Switching on macOS
    Every macOS user uses Rectangle.app — https://rectangleapp.com The ones who don't use it is because they don’t know it exists. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Native Instant Space Switching on macOS
    I use https://rectangleapp.com/ and enjoy it. I have shortcuts to move windows to the left/right half of the screen, and cycle between monitors. This, combined with native cmd+tab and cmd+` is enough for me. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Make macOS consistently bad (unironically)
    Rectangle [1] is pretty much essential for me because of this. I use only a few keypresses (maximize window, move to one of the halves of the screen horizontally) but that is enough. My mouse very rately interacts with the borders of any window, or those buttons. I had to click on the green one that you mentioned in order to see what it did (yuck). [1] https://rectangleapp.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing AirBuddy and Rectangle, you can also consider the following products

CAPod - A companion app for AirPods on Android.

Magnet Window Manager - Magnet Developers

AirPodsDesktop - AirPods desktop user experience enhancement program, for Windows and Linux (Linux support is WIP)

yabai - A tiling window manager for macOS based on binary space partitioning

NotchNook - A whole new way of using your Mac

BTT Remote - A remote control for you Mac, using your iPhone or iPad