Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Hookshot VS Rectangle

Compare Hookshot VS Rectangle and see what are their differences

Hookshot logo Hookshot

Cursor movement window snapping on macOS

Rectangle logo Rectangle

Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.
  • Hookshot Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-12
  • Rectangle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-20

Hookshot features and specs

  • Enhanced Productivity
    Hookshot allows users to efficiently manage and manipulate their windows, enhancing overall productivity by reducing the time spent on rearranging and organizing workspace.
  • Ease of Use
    The app provides an intuitive interface that makes it easy for new users to understand and utilize the window snapping functionality without a steep learning curve.
  • Customizability
    Hookshot offers options for customizing window management gestures and shortcuts, catering to users' personal preferences and workflows.
  • Seamless Integration
    It integrates seamlessly with the macOS environment, maintaining performance and extending native capabilities without introducing lag or instability.

Possible disadvantages of Hookshot

  • Limited to macOS
    Hookshot is only available for macOS users, which excludes those on other platforms like Windows or Linux from utilizing the app's features.
  • Potential Overwhelm
    The extensive customization options might overwhelm users who prefer simple, out-of-the-box solutions without needing to configure multiple settings.
  • Cost Factor
    While it provides valuable features, Hookshot is a paid application, which might deter users looking for free alternatives or those with a limited budget.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    Although basic features are intuitive, mastering the advanced functionalities and custom shortcuts may require additional time and effort for less technical users.

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.

Hookshot 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 Hookshot and Rectangle)
Window Manager
9 9%
91% 91
Mac Tools
6 6%
94% 94
OSX Tools
13 13%
87% 87
Mac
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 Hookshot and Rectangle

Hookshot Reviews

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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 a lot more popular than Hookshot. While we know about 479 links to Rectangle, we've tracked only 23 mentions of Hookshot. 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.

Hookshot mentions (23)

  • macOS Setup after 15 Years of Linux
    Rectangle and its paid cousin, Hookshot (https://hookshot.app) are great. I use Hookshot. They are the best window managers I've used on MacOS, because the resize features work flawlessly every single time. Other ones I've tried (e.g. bettertouchtool) have occasional issues with that. They'd be perfect if they supported full customization of drop zones. They have some limited customization, including via the... - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • macOS Setup after 15 Years of Linux
    Since a few people already have mentioned Rectangle for Window management, I wanted to point out that there is also a payed version of it called Hookshot (https://hookshot.app/). The same developer also offers a great app called Hyperkey (https://hyperkey.app/) which defines CAPS as your hyper-key. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • MacBook apps you can't live without!
    Hookshot - A mouse/gesture-based window manager. I always have one installed and then almost never use it. This I started using right away. Then I realized the only things I used it for were built into Raycast. Still, it's my favorite of the window management tools that I've tried. Source: over 4 years ago
  • My new Setup! Ultra Wide Monitor ans 16โ€œ M1 Max ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿคฉ
    I've got the same setup. Hookshot and SwitchResX are essential. Source: over 4 years ago
  • LG 34WK95U review (from MBP 16" 2021 perspective)
    The LG software is trash, I bought Hookshot.app to better manage my windows. Source: over 4 years ago
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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 / 3 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 / 3 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 / 3 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 / 4 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 / 4 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

Magnet Window Manager - Magnet Developers

LayAuto - Automated window management for Mac โœจ

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

Better Window Manager - A tiny window management app for the Mac

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

Spectacle App - Move and resize windows with ease.