Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Rectangle VS KeyCastr

Compare Rectangle VS KeyCastr 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.

Rectangle logo Rectangle

Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.

KeyCastr logo KeyCastr

KeyCastr lets you easily display your keystrokes while recording screencasts.
  • Rectangle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-20
  • KeyCastr Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-13

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.

KeyCastr features and specs

  • Open Source
    KeyCastr is open-source software, which allows users to view, modify, and distribute the source code. This provides transparency and the flexibility to customize the application to fit specific needs.
  • Free to Use
    It is available for free, making it accessible to anyone who needs a keystroke visualization tool without the need for a budget.
  • Lightweight
    KeyCastr is a lightweight application that runs smoothly on most systems without consuming significant resources, ensuring that it doesn't slow down the performance of presentations or recordings.
  • Customizable Appearance
    Users can customize the appearance of keystrokes, making it easier to match the visualization with the design of presentations or personal preferences.
  • Simple UX
    The application has a straightforward user interface, making it accessible and easy to set up even for those with limited technical skills.

Possible disadvantages of KeyCastr

  • Mac-Only
    KeyCastr is only available for macOS, which limits its use for people using other operating systems like Windows or Linux.
  • Limited Features
    Compared to commercial keystroke visualizer tools, KeyCastr may lack advanced features that certain users might require for specific scenarios or professional work.
  • Security Concerns
    Since KeyCastr processes keystrokes, there could be security concerns over sensitive data being captured, especially if the source code is modified or used improperly.
  • Infrequent Updates
    The application may not receive frequent updates, which can be a disadvantage if there are bugs or compatibility issues with newer macOS versions.
  • Not Beginner-Friendly for Installation
    While usage is simple, the installation process might be challenging for non-technical users, as it often involves building from source or adjusting system permissions.

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 KeyCastr

Overall verdict

  • Yes, KeyCastr is a good tool for those who need to display their keystrokes visibly on macOS. Its simplicity, ease of use, and the fact that it is open source contribute to its positive reception among users.

Why this product is good

  • KeyCastr is an open-source keystroke visualizer for macOS. It's particularly useful for educators, software developers, and presenters who need to demonstrate keyboard interactions on the screen. It provides a clear visualization of key presses, making it easier for audiences to follow along during live demonstrations or recordings.

Recommended for

  • Educators who conduct live coding sessions or software training
  • Software developers creating tutorial videos
  • Presenters who need to display keyboard shortcuts during presentations
  • Anyone needing to demonstrate software functionalities involving keyboard inputs

Rectangle videos

SKYWALKER RECTANGLE TRAMPOLINE REVIEW!!!

More videos:

  • Review - Skywalker Rectangle Trampoline Review #1
  • Review - Marvin Malton 160 Rectangle Flying Hour Watch Review

KeyCastr videos

Creativo - SETTING UP KEYCASTR

More videos:

  • Review - Install KeyCastr in Mac Mojave
  • Review - Keycastr - Keycastr ์†Œ๊ฐœ ๋ฐ ์„ค์น˜๋ฐฉ๋ฒ•

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Rectangle and KeyCastr)
Mac Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
0 0%
100% 100
Window Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Rectangle and KeyCastr. 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 Rectangle and KeyCastr

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.

KeyCastr Reviews

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Rectangle seems to be a lot more popular than KeyCastr. While we know about 479 links to Rectangle, we've tracked only 8 mentions of KeyCastr. 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 / 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
View more

KeyCastr mentions (8)

  • Input per second delay
    It would also be benefitial to download a program that shows the keypresses that you are inputing on the screen as you input them. This will show if the problem is really the game's fault or not. A program that can do this on mac is keycastr. If there is a long delay between when the inputs show up on keycastr, and when the attack happens, then its the games fault. If there is no delay, then it might be either the... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Any advice switching to Macbook?
    In the meatime - this has inspired me to install KeyCastr to actually analyse my own usage. This has already shown up that the external keyboard doesn't nicely swap around ctrl and fn ... Source: about 4 years ago
  • Well, NeoVim is better than VSCode in many aspects... E.g. The Tetris-Suite :)
    Https://github.com/keycastr/keycastr open source == good. Source: over 4 years ago
  • NeoZoom.lua: Zoom-in Like a Boss, How? Layout-Preserving Zoomer weighing in ๐Ÿชถ
    It's called KeyCastr that can be installed with homebrew. It's an open-source project, too :). Source: over 4 years ago
  • Keyboard screencasting app
    Hey, I believe you are looking for KeyCastr, an open-source keystroke visualizer for Mac. Source: over 4 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Screenkey - Screenkey is a screencast tool to display your keys inspired by ...

Magnet Window Manager - Magnet Developers

Carnac - A utility to give some insight into how you use your keyboard/

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

Key-mon - Utility to show live keyboard and mouse status for teaching and screencasts.