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Rectangle VS Barrier

Compare Rectangle VS Barrier and see what are their differences

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Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Videos
  3. ยป Reviews
  4. ยป Alternatives

Rectangle logo Rectangle

Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.

Barrier logo Barrier

Barrier is a cross-platform software for sharing your mouse and keyboard between multiple computers...
  • Rectangle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-20
  • Barrier Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-07

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.

Barrier features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    Barrier works on various operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD, making it versatile for users with multiple devices.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, users can review and modify the code, contributing to transparency and security while fostering a community-driven project.
  • Cost-Free
    Barrier is free to use, unlike some alternatives that require purchasing a license, making it accessible to a wider audience.
  • Unified Control
    Allows seamless control of multiple computers using a single keyboard and mouse, enhancing productivity and convenience.
  • Customizability
    Offers various customization options such as hotkeys, screen edges, and clipboard sharing, adapting to user-specific workflows.

Possible disadvantages of Barrier

  • Setup Complexity
    Initial setup can be complex for non-technical users, involving network configurations and firewall adjustments.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Occasional compatibility problems with certain versions of operating systems or hardware, potentially requiring troubleshooting.
  • Lag and Latency
    Users may experience slight lag or latency, especially over wireless networks, which can affect the fluidity of control.
  • Limited Technical Support
    As a community-driven project, it lacks the dedicated support of commercial alternatives, relying mostly on community forums for help.
  • Security Concerns
    Network-based connectivity might expose systems to security risks if not properly configured, necessitating careful network management.

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.

Analysis of Barrier

Overall verdict

  • Barrier is generally considered a good option for individuals looking for an open-source solution to seamlessly share peripherals across multiple computers. It has a positive reception within the tech community, especially among those who value open-source projects for their flexibility and community-driven support.

Why this product is good

  • Barrier is an open-source software application that allows users to share a single keyboard and mouse setup across multiple computers, which can be particularly useful for those who use multiple machines for work or development. It is a fork of the earlier project Synergy and focuses on providing a simpler, streamlined setup process with improved stability. The software is lightweight, easy to configure, and supports cross-platform functionality (Windows, macOS, and Linux), making it versatile for different operating systems.

Recommended for

  • Users with multiple computers who want to use a single keyboard and mouse setup.
  • Cross-platform users who work with Windows, macOS, and Linux machines.
  • Developers and IT professionals seeking open-source tools for better control over their working environment.
  • Individuals who prefer community-driven projects and are comfortable with a more hands-on approach to software setup and troubleshooting.

Rectangle videos

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SKYWALKER RECTANGLE TRAMPOLINE REVIEW!!!

More videos:

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Barrier videos

+ Add

Reviews In a Flash: Barrier

More videos:

  • Review - ๐ŸŒŠKraveBeauty Great Barrier Relief โ€ข Everything you need to know!
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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Rectangle and Barrier)

Rectangle

Barrier

Mac Tools
100 100%
Mac Tools
0% 0
Remote PC Access
0 0%
Remote PC Access
100% 100
Window Manager
100 100%
Window Manager
0% 0
Mouse Tools
0 0%
Mouse Tools
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 Rectangle and Barrier

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.
Source: www.maketecheasier.com
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.
Source: www.makeuseof.com

Barrier Reviews

Top spacedesk Alternatives & Similar Software (2020)
For Barrier to work, all that is needed is a network connection. You can also copy content from one clipboard to another between computers. Like all other software that let you work on multiple computers, Barrier too helps you control all of them with a single mouse or keyboard. Barrier is free to use and itโ€™s an open-source software. As in the other software that weโ€™ve...
Source: www.winosbite.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Rectangle might be a bit more popular than Barrier. We know about 479 links to it since March 2021 and only 348 links to Barrier. 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.

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 / 2 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 / 3 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 / 3 months ago
View more

Barrier mentions (348)

  • So I made a WebRTC powered VNC client in Vue/Rust ๐Ÿฆ€
    I used to and still do use and recommend Barrier for sharing a mouse and clipboard and keypresses across OS's. It works for Mac, Windows, and Linux. They have a fork input-leap... It doesn't work, and there is a paid on from the same original developers called Synergy that works well too. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • Hrvach/Deskhop: Fast Desktop Switching Device
    Barrier is a Cross-Plattform, open source Synergy fork that works quite well without any additional HW too [0] [0] https://github.com/debauchee/barrier. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Hrvach/Deskhop: Fast Desktop Switching Device
    Synergy is open core, these portions are licensed as GPL: https://github.com/symless/synergy-core/#License-1-ov-file. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Hrvach/Deskhop: Fast Desktop Switching Device
    Prior to Synergy going to closed source, it was forked into Barrier[0], which then was forked into input-leap[1]. Both open source. [0] https://github.com/debauchee/barrier. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Wayland vs. X โ€“ Overview
    Libei looks useful. But IDK why libei is necessary to run Barrier with Wayland? For client systems, couldn't there just be a virtual /dev/inputXYZ that Barrier forwards events through And for host systems, it looks like xev only logs input events when the window is focused. Is xeyes still broken on Wayland, and how to fix it so that it would work with Barrier? With Barrier, when the mouse cursor reaches a screen... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Synergy - Cross-platform software for sharing your mouse and keyboard between multiple computers

Magnet Window Manager - Magnet Developers

Input Director - Control multiple windows systems with one keyboard/mouse. Share a keyboard and mouse across multiple windows system.

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

Ultramon - UltraMon is a piece of software built to help with the management of multiple screens on the same computer system. Without software like this, taking full advantage of an expanded desktop space can be difficult.

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