Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Rectangle VS Pastel

Compare Rectangle VS Pastel 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.

Pastel logo Pastel

Sticky note-based feedback collection tool for live websites
  • Rectangle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-20
  • Pastel Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-23

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.

Pastel features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Pastel offers a user-friendly interface that makes it simple for users to navigate and utilize its various tools without a steep learning curve.
  • Real-time Collaboration
    Allows multiple team members to comment and give feedback in real time, enhancing collaborative efforts and improving productivity.
  • Visual Feedback
    Enables users to leave visual feedback directly on design elements, making it easier for designers and developers to understand and implement changes.
  • Browser-based
    Pastel is a web-based tool, meaning there is no need for downloads or installations, and it can be accessed from any browser.
  • Integrations
    Offers integrations with popular project management tools like Asana and Trello, streamlining workflow and enhancing productivity.

Possible disadvantages of Pastel

  • Cost
    Pastel can be expensive for small teams or individual freelancers, as it is a subscription-based service.
  • Limited Offline Functionality
    The platform is heavily dependent on an internet connection, which may be a disadvantage for users who need to work offline.
  • Feature Limitations
    While Pastel is great for feedback and collaboration, it lacks advanced design and development features that some comprehensive tools offer.
  • Slow Performance with Large Projects
    Users have reported that Pastel can be slow to load and navigate when handling very large projects with numerous visual elements and feedback points.
  • Learning Curve with Integrations
    While it offers integrations, setting them up and getting them to work seamlessly can sometimes be a bit complex and require a learning curve.

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 Pastel

Overall verdict

  • Pastel is generally considered a good tool for teams looking to improve their feedback and review processes. Its user-friendly interface and practical features make it a valuable addition to digital project management workflows. Most users appreciate the way it simplifies gathering and organizing feedback, which ultimately can save time and reduce project turnaround.

Why this product is good

  • Pastel (usepastel.com) is a collaborative tool designed to streamline the feedback process for websites and digital projects. It allows users to seamlessly add comments and annotations directly on the webpage, making it easier for teams to communicate and implement changes without sifting through emails or lengthy documentation. The tool's ease of use, integration capabilities with other project management platforms, and real-time commenting features make it highly convenient for teams that need efficient and effective collaboration.

Recommended for

  • Web Designers
  • Developers
  • Project Managers
  • Marketing Teams
  • Agencies
  • Freelancers
  • Remote Teams

Rectangle videos

SKYWALKER RECTANGLE TRAMPOLINE REVIEW!!!

More videos:

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

Pastel videos

Soft pastel review Jackson's, Unison, Rembrandt, etc

More videos:

  • Review - What Pastels Should I Buy?
  • Demo - Mungyo Soft Pastel 64 set review and pastel demonstration

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Rectangle and Pastel)
Mac Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Customer Feedback
0 0%
100% 100
Window Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
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 Rectangle and Pastel

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.

Pastel Reviews

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Rectangle seems to be a lot more popular than Pastel. While we know about 479 links to Rectangle, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Pastel. 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 / 4 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 / 4 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

Pastel mentions (2)

What are some alternatives?

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

Magnet Window Manager - Magnet Developers

BugHerd - BugHerd: The Website Feedback Tool for Agencies

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

Marker.io - Visual feedback and bug reporting tool for websites

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

Ruttl - ruttl is the fastest website feedback tool to add comments & make edits on live websites & web apps, so that you can give precise change values to your developers. You can also collect feedback from your clients without login or sign-up!