Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

DockApp VS Rectangle

Compare DockApp VS Rectangle and see what are their differences

DockApp logo DockApp

Live window previews, a real switcher, window snapping, and a Dock you can shape into almost anything. A native Dock replacement for macOS.

Rectangle logo Rectangle

Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.
  • DockApp Live Window Previews
    Live Window Previews //
    2026-08-04
  • DockApp Reshape your Dock + Add Custom Icons
    Reshape your Dock + Add Custom Icons //
    2026-08-04
  • DockApp Reshape the Dock
    Reshape the Dock //
    2026-08-04
  • DockApp Snap windows and customize individual layouts
    Snap windows and customize individual layouts //
    2026-08-04
  • DockApp Real Cmd+Alt Tab or whatever keystroke you want
    Real Cmd+Alt Tab or whatever keystroke you want //
    2026-08-04

DockApp is a native replacement for the macOS Dock โ€” a whole suite of Mac utilities in one app. Hover any icon to see its open windows full-size and live, and pick one without leaving the Dock. Flip through every window across every app with a real โŒ˜Tab switcher. Snap windows to halves, thirds, quarters or a grid, then save an entire arrangement as a layout and restore it in one click. Reshape the Dock however you like: transparent, tinted, bordered, custom app icons, groups and folders, unread badges, a drop shelf, and live widgets. Built in AppKit, notarized, no SIP changes, no tracking. One-time $9.99.

  • Rectangle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-20

DockApp

$ Details
paid $9.99 / One-off (One purchase. One time. 14 Day money back guarantee)
Platforms
MacOS Mac OSX
Release Date
2026 August
Startup details
Country
United States
State
Michigan
Founder(s)
SKJ. APPS
Employees
1 - 9

Rectangle

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

DockApp features and specs

  • Window Management
    Complete window managemnet and customization tool
  • macOS Native App
    Built for macOS 26+
  • Productivity Enhancement
    Enhance and customize your productivity

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.

DockApp videos

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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 DockApp and Rectangle)
macOS
100 100%
0% 0
Mac Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Window Manager
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing DockApp and Rectangle.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

DockApp's answer

Built for macOS on macOS

What makes your product unique?

DockApp's answer

DockApp combines a customizable Dock replacement, live window previews on hover, a real window switcher, and window snapping with saved layouts โ€” in one native, notarized app with no SIP hacks and no tracking. It does what three or four single-purpose utilities do, for a one-time price.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

DockApp's answer

One app does what three or four single-purpose tools do โ€” and they actually work together โ€” for a one-time price, not a subscription. It's native and notarized (no SIP disabling, no injection), fully private (no accounts, no tracking), runs on up to 3 Macs, and comes with a 14-day no-questions refund.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

DockApp's answer

Mac power users โ€” developers, designers, writers and multi-monitor multitaskers โ€” who already use window managers or Dock tweaks and prefer native, private, one-time-purchase apps over subscriptions. macOS 26, Apple silicon.

What's the story behind your product?

DockApp's answer

The Mac Dock launches apps and not much else, so I was juggling separate tools for window previews, switching, snapping and restyling โ€” none aware of each other. I built DockApp to do all of it in one native app, on public APIs only, with nothing to disable and nothing leaving your Mac. It's one of SKJ APPS, a small family of Mac utilities I build and support solo.

User comments

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Reviews

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

DockApp Reviews

We have no reviews of DockApp yet.
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Rectangle Reviews

Best 6 Mac Window Managers
Rectangle shows that you donโ€™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 โ€“ such as BetterSnapTool, Magnet, and Rectangle โ€“ 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 479 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.

DockApp mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of DockApp yet. Tracking of DockApp recommendations started around Aug 2026.

Rectangle mentions (479)

  • 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 / 4 months ago
  • Native Instant Space Switching on macOS
    Every macOS user uses Rectangle.app โ€” https://rectangleapp.com The ones who don't use it is because they donโ€™t know it exists. - Source: Hacker News / 4 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 / 4 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 / 5 months ago
  • Make macOS consistently bad (unironically)
    I use Rectangle [1] for window management. I only use three shortcuts: full screen, left half of the screen, and right half of the screen. My editors and chrome are always running in one of these modes. But for other apps like Messages, Notes, Music, etc - yeah I don't usually expand them to full screen. [1] https://rectangleapp.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

uBar - The Dock replacement for the Mac.

Magnet Window Manager - Magnet Developers

DockDoor - Window peeking and alt-tab functionality for macOS

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

Swish - Insanely great window management

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