Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

JoyToKey VS Rectangle

Compare JoyToKey VS Rectangle and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

JoyToKey logo JoyToKey

JoyToKey enables users to control the keyboard using any USB compatible controller (Dualshock 3, Xbox 360, etc.)

Rectangle logo Rectangle

Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.
  • JoyToKey Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-11-18

JoyToKey (or Joy2Key) enables PC game controllers to emulate the keyboard and mouse input, so that windows applications and web games can be controlled with your favorite joysticks! Whenever buttons and sticks are pressed on the controllers, JoyToKey converts them into keyboard strokes and/or mouse movements so that the target application will work as if a real keyboard and a mouse were used.

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

JoyToKey features and specs

  • Customizability
    JoyToKey allows for a high degree of customization, enabling users to map keyboard and mouse inputs to their game controller based on their personal preferences.
  • Ease of Use
    The software is user-friendly and easy to set up, making it accessible even for beginners who want to utilize their controllers efficiently.
  • Compatibility
    It supports a wide range of controllers and can run on different versions of Windows, ensuring broad usability.
  • Offline Functionality
    JoyToKey can be used without the need for an internet connection, providing flexibility in various situations.
  • Profile Switching
    The program allows users to create multiple profiles for different games or applications and switch between them effortlessly.

Possible disadvantages of JoyToKey

  • Paid Software
    Although there is a free trial, the full version of JoyToKey requires a purchase, which may be a downside for some users.
  • Outdated Interface
    The user interface appears somewhat outdated compared to more modern software, which can be less appealing to new users.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    While it's generally easy to use, some advanced features may require additional time and effort to master.
  • Lack of Mac Support
    JoyToKey is only available for Windows, which limits its availability to users on other operating systems like macOS.
  • Potential for Compatibility Issues
    Some users may experience issues with certain games or applications not working perfectly with the software, necessitating further troubleshooting.

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 JoyToKey

Overall verdict

  • Yes, JoyToKey is generally considered good. It is reliable and offers robust features for mapping inputs, making it helpful for gamers and users who prefer using controllers for non-game applications. It's particularly appreciated for its user-friendly interface and lightweight installation.

Why this product is good

  • JoyToKey is a popular software that allows users to map keyboard and mouse inputs to a game controller. It is widely used due to its flexibility, ease of use, and support for a wide range of controllers. Many users appreciate its ability to customize and save different configuration profiles for various applications or games, making it a versatile tool for enhancing their gaming or program interaction experience.

Recommended for

  • Gamers who want to use controllers for PC games that do not have built-in controller support.
  • Individuals who prefer using a game controller for regular desktop applications.
  • Users looking for a customizable and flexible input mapping solution across various applications.

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.

JoyToKey videos

How to use any Controller on a PC - JoyToKey Guide/Tutorial

More videos:

  • Review - JoyToKey Review
  • Tutorial - [REVIEW]์ •๋ง ๊ฐ„๋‹จํ•˜๊ฒŒ ์กฐ์ด์Šคํ‹ฑ์œผ๋กœ ๋ฆฌ๋“ฌ๊ฒŒ์ž„ ํ•˜๋Š” ๋ฐฉ๋ฒ•! JoyToKey๋ฅผ ์•Œ๋ ค๋“œ๋ฆฝ๋‹ˆ๋‹ค!(How to Play Rhythm Game with Joystick)

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 JoyToKey and Rectangle)
Gaming
100 100%
0% 0
Mac Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Controller Mapping
100 100%
0% 0
Window Manager
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using JoyToKey and Rectangle. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

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

JoyToKey Reviews

Top 5 REWASD Alternatives in 2021
Overall, JoyToKey is a great tool, and youโ€™re going to like it because of how simple and essential it is. And it serves its purpose of providing free key mapping well. So, getting it is undoubtedly going to be a good decision for you. On the other hand, if youโ€™re looking for advanced editing, perhaps you should choose another one of the tools in this list.
Fantastic Controller Mappers and Where to Find Them
JoyToKey is a fairly good and functional controller mapper with a bit weird interface, and lots of hidden treasures. The hierarchy is the following: you create the profile, then add your joysticks with different configs. You also can change stuff in Button mapping (which Iโ€™ve called a hidden treasure because it took me some time to find that useful section). This gamepad...
Source: www.rewasd.com

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 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.

JoyToKey mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of JoyToKey yet. Tracking of JoyToKey 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 / about 18 hours 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 / 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 / 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 / 5 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

Pinnacle Game Profiler - Pinnacle Game Profiler enables the use of virtually any game controller (gamepad, joystick, etc.) with any PC game. It's preconfigured for most game titles and controllers. Just download and play.

Magnet Window Manager - Magnet Developers

Xpadder - Xpadder simulates the keyboard and mouse using your gamepad What does Xpadder let you do?

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

DS4Windows - DS4Windows is an open-source gamepad input mapper and virtual emulator designed to use and connect your PlayStation controller (DualShock 3/4 and DualSense 5) to a Windows 10 & 11 PC.

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