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Rectangle VS Open Contexts

Compare Rectangle VS Open Contexts and see what are their differences

Rectangle

Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Alternatives Is it good?
Open Contexts

Free, open-source Mac window switcher with a persistent app bar and saved window groups.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source Free Free trial
Alternatives Is it good?
PromptBrake
Automated AI security testing for agents, chatbots, and APIs. Find prompt injection, data leaks, and unsafe behavior before launch. sponsored

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
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 5

Base details

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

Rectangle
Open Contexts
Website rectangleapp.com opencontexts.zshnb.com
Pricing
Open source
Open source Free Free trial
Platforms —
MacOS Mac
Company — 2026
Listed in
Mac Tools Window Manager Mac Developer Tools +1
OSX Window Manager Productivity Window Manager Mac +1

About Rectangle and Open Contexts

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Rectangle
Open Contexts

No description of Rectangle yet.

Open Contexts is a free, open-source window switcher for macOS that combines keyboard navigation, a persistent app bar, and saved window groups. Switch directly between individual windows, including multiple windows from the same app. The keyboard switcher lists windows in most recently used...

Read more about Open Contexts

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Rectangle 5 features
Open Contexts 6 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.
  • Individual Window Switching
    Switch directly between individual windows, including multiple windows from the same app.
  • Recent Window Ordering
    Navigate windows in most recently used order.
  • Screen Edge App Bar
    Place the app bar on the left, right, or bottom edge, always visible or revealed at the screen edge.
  • Saved Window Groups
    Organize windows from different apps into named groups and restore matching window assignments after restarting.
  • Drag-and-Drop Organization
    Move windows between groups, reorder windows and groups, and pin positions in the list.
  • Customizable Shortcuts
    Set separate keyboard shortcuts for switching across all windows or within the current app.

Analysis

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

Rectangle
Open Contexts

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 Open Contexts yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Rectangle 3 videos + Add
Open Contexts 1 video + Add

SKYWALKER RECTANGLE TRAMPOLINE REVIEW!!!

More videos

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

I build a free MacOS window switcher & window manager app.

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
Open Contexts
100% 100%
Mac Tools
0% 0%
0% 0%
OSX Window Manager
100% 100%
99% 99%
Window Manager
1% 1%
0% 0%
Productivity
100% 100%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Rectangle and Open Contexts.

What makes your product unique?

Open Contexts's answer:

Open Contexts combines a keyboard window switcher with a persistent screen-edge app bar and saved custom window groups. You can switch directly to individual windows and keep related windows from different apps together by task. It is free and open source, with no account or subscription required.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Open Contexts's answer:

Open Contexts is a good fit for Mac users who want a compact window list, a persistent app bar, and task-based window groups in a free, open-source app. It supports customizable shortcuts and drag-and-drop organization. Users who need window search or trackpad switching gestures should compare those requirements with other tools, as Open Contexts does not currently provide them.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Open Contexts's answer:

Mac users who regularly work with multiple windows across several apps, especially developers, researchers, writers, and people managing several tasks at once. It is particularly useful for workflows that involve multiple windows from the same app or groups of related windows spread across different apps.

What's the story behind your product?

Open Contexts's answer:

Open Contexts is an open-source recreation of the app bar and window-switching experience of Contexts. It builds on that approach with saved custom window groups, allowing users to organize windows around their tasks. The project makes this workflow available as a free native macOS app and welcomes contributions through GitHub.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Open Contexts's answer:

Open Contexts is built with Swift, AppKit, and SwiftUI. It uses macOS Accessibility APIs to discover and activate windows, Sparkle for in-app updates, and Swift Package Manager for dependency management. Window groups and preferences are stored locally on the user's Mac.

User comments

Share your experience with using Rectangle and Open Contexts. 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
Open Contexts 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
    www.maketecheasier.com · May 2023

    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 Open Contexts 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
Open Contexts 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 Open Contexts since Oct 2026.

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