Software Alternatives & Startups

Rectangle VS Dockaroo

Compare Rectangle VS Dockaroo and see what are their differences

Rectangle

Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Dockaroo

Dockaroo gives each display and each desktop its own dock, showing only the apps that have windows there. Free to use. Pro is a one-time purchase. For macOS 14 or later.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Freemium Free trial $14 / One-off (Pro)

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Rectangle seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 480 times since March 2021.

social mentions
480 vs 0
Mac Tools popularity
99% vs 1%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 7

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Rectangle
Dockaroo
Website rectangleapp.com dockaroo.com
Pricing
Open source
Freemium Free trial $14 / One-off (Pro) Official pricing
Platforms —
Mac MacOS Mac OSX
Company — 2026
Listed in

About Rectangle and Dockaroo

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Rectangle
Dockaroo

No description of Rectangle yet.

macOS shows the Dock on one display at a time. On your other screens you end up opening Mission Control or cycling through ⌘⇥ to find a window you know is there. Dockaroo fixes that by giving every display, and every desktop (Space), its own dock. Each bar shows only the apps that have windows on...

Read more about Dockaroo

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Rectangle 5 features
Dockaroo 10 features
  • 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

  • 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.
  • Dock on every display
    Each display gets its own floating bar of app icons
  • Dock on every desktop
    Each Space gets its own bar with only that desktop's apps
  • Per-screen app filtering
    Shows only the apps with windows on that screen
  • Live window previews
    Hover an icon to see that app's windows, with titles
  • Click to send back
    A second click restores whatever was in front before
  • Notification badges
    Same red badges and unread counts as the macOS Dock
  • Pinned and recent apps
    Pin apps and relaunch recently quit apps from a stack
  • Flexible placement
    12 snap positions on the top, bottom, left or right edge
  • Auto-hide options
    Auto-hide, fade until hovered, or hide when covered
  • Native and lightweight
    Swift/AppKit, about 20 MB of memory when idle

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Rectangle
Dockaroo

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.

No analysis of Dockaroo yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Rectangle 3 videos + Add
Dockaroo 0 videos + Add

SKYWALKER RECTANGLE TRAMPOLINE REVIEW!!!

More videos

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No Dockaroo videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Rectangle
Dockaroo
99% 99%
1% 1%
0% 0%
100% 100%
99% 99%
1% 1%
0% 0%
100% 100%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Rectangle and Dockaroo.

What makes your product unique?

Dockaroo's answer:

Dockaroo gives every display and every desktop (Space) its own dock, and each bar shows only the apps that have windows on that screen. The macOS Dock lives on one display and lists every running app, so on a second monitor you end up in Mission Control or ⌘⇥ looking for a window you know is there. With Dockaroo, the app you need is on the screen you are looking at.

It also behaves like a real Dock: click to bring an app forward, click again to send it back, live window previews on hover, notification badges, pinned apps and a recent apps stack.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Dockaroo's answer:

  • Per-screen and per-desktop: each bar is filtered to the apps with windows on that display and Space, not a copy of the same app list everywhere.
  • Native and light: built in Swift and AppKit, not Electron. About 20 MB of memory and around half a percent of one CPU core when idle on Apple silicon.
  • Respects your privacy: Strict Mode works with no extra permissions. Accessibility and Screen Recording are optional and only unlock exact window control and previews.
  • Fair pricing: Dockaroo Lite is free forever. Dockaroo Pro is a one-time purchase, not a subscription, and every install gets a 14-day Pro trial with no account or key.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Dockaroo's answer:

Mac users who work with two or more displays, or who use several desktops: developers, designers, writers, analysts and anyone who connects a laptop to an external monitor. They want the apps for each screen on that screen, without reaching for Mission Control or ⌘⇥.

What's the story behind your product?

Dockaroo's answer:

Dockaroo started from a simple annoyance: macOS shows the Dock on only one display, so on every other screen you hunt for windows with Mission Control or ⌘⇥. Dockaroo is built as a native Mac app that gives each screen and each desktop a dock of its own, showing only what is actually there. Version 1.0 launched in October 2026.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Dockaroo's answer:

  • Swift and AppKit (native macOS, no Electron or web views)
  • macOS Accessibility APIs for exact window control in Normal Mode (optional)
  • macOS Screen Recording permission for live window previews (optional)

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

Dockaroo's answer:

Dockaroo launched in October 2026 and is sold to individual Mac users rather than to companies. Its users are people who work with multiple displays or desktops every day.

User comments

Share your experience with using Rectangle and Dockaroo. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Rectangle no reviews yet
Dockaroo no reviews yet
  • Best 6 Mac Window Managers
    mackeeper.com · Sep 2023

    Rectangle shows that you don’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...

  • 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 – such as BetterSnapTool, Magnet, and...

  • The 6 Best Mac Window Management Tools
    www.makeuseof.com · Apr 2023

    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...

We have no reviews of Dockaroo yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Rectangle 480 mentions
Dockaroo 0 mentions
  • 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 2 months 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... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Native Instant Space Switching on macOS
    Every macOS user uses Rectangle.app — https://rectangleapp.com The ones who don't use it is because they don’t know it exists. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago

View more

Tracking Dockaroo since Oct 2026.

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