Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Multitouch VS Rectangle

Compare Multitouch VS Rectangle and see what are their differences

Multitouch logo Multitouch

Easily add more multitouch gestures to macOS, and customize what the gestures do.

Rectangle logo Rectangle

Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.
  • Multitouch Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-23
  • Rectangle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-20

Multitouch features and specs

  • Enhanced User Engagement
    Multitouch provides a more interactive experience for users, allowing them to engage with multiple touchpoints simultaneously, which can lead to increased user satisfaction and engagement.
  • Intuitive Interface
    The app is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, utilizing gestures and multitouch capabilities that users are already familiar with from other devices and applications.
  • Efficient Interaction
    Multitouch allows for more efficient interaction through simultaneous commands or gestures, reducing the time needed to perform tasks compared to single-touch interfaces.
  • Versatility
    The multitouch capabilities can be used across various applications and industries, from gaming to design, enhancing functionality and versatility.

Possible disadvantages of Multitouch

  • Learning Curve
    While multitouch is intuitive for many users, there is still a learning curve involved, especially for those unfamiliar with gestures and touch-based interfaces.
  • Hardware Dependence
    Effective use of multitouch features requires compatible hardware, such as touchscreens that support multiple touch inputs, which might limit accessibility.
  • Increased Hardware Wear
    Constant use of multitouch capabilities may lead to increased wear and tear on hardware, potentially resulting in the need for more frequent replacements or maintenance.
  • Potential for Overcomplexity
    The inclusion of too many multitouch gestures can lead to overcomplexity, potentially overwhelming users and making the application harder to use for simple tasks.

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.

Multitouch videos

REVIEW: Microsoft Touch Mouse - Multitouch Mouse!

More videos:

  • Review - Lofree MT-100 Wireless MultiTouch TouchPad Review:

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 Multitouch and Rectangle)
Window Manager
5 5%
95% 95
Mac Tools
3 3%
97% 97
OSX Tools
8 8%
92% 92
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 Multitouch and Rectangle

Multitouch 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 Multitouch. While we know about 479 links to Rectangle, we've tracked only 17 mentions of Multitouch. 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.

Multitouch mentions (17)

  • Yabai โ€“ A tiling window manager for macOS
    Glad you like my software! A long time ago, I had some RSI issues that were alleviated by using the Magic Trackpad, and this led me to create the Multitouch app[0] to add a bit more functionality to the Magic Trackpad. From there I wanted to add in window management, and ended up rewriting Spectacle as Rectangle. I feel really lucky to have people enjoying the things I've built! [0]https://multitouch.app. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • How to make custom gestures for the mouse and touchpad?`
    Https://multitouch.app/ by Ryan Hanson (Creator of Rectangle window manager). Source: over 3 years ago
  • The Fulcrum, a 20-key keyboard with horizontal 5-way switch joysticks for maximum ergonomic utility
    But realistically tho, I'm a trackpad person. Multitouch is a life-changing app. Source: over 3 years ago
  • 11 MacOS apps to increase productivity with trackpad
    A simpler alternative to BetterTouchTool. It allows you to customize actions for various gestures, touches and swipes. Like BTT, it has a built-in window manager. Site: https://multitouch.app/ Price: $16 Source code: not available. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
  • I am a Mac App Developer. Which app would you like me to build.
    Try Multitouch. I made it first, then made Middle because a lot of people were using Multitouch for just the middle click. You can configure a gesture multiple times, then restrict each instance to a specific app. Source: over 3 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 Multitouch and Rectangle, you can also consider the following products

BetterTouchTool - Nov 5, 2017 - BetterTouchTool is a great, feature packed app that allows you to configure many gestures for your Magic Mouse (1 & 2), Macbook Trackpad and Magic Trackpad (1 & 2) and also Mouse Gestures for normal mice.

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

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

Magnet Window Manager - Magnet Developers

Moom - Move your mouse over the green zoom button in any window, and Moom's mouse control overlay will appear (as seen in the above animation).

Jitouch - Jitouch is a software that adds extra, essential, and the missing gestures to your MacBook...