Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Rectangle VS RedNotebook

Compare Rectangle VS RedNotebook and see what are their differences

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Rectangle logo Rectangle

Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.

RedNotebook logo RedNotebook

RedNotebook is a software that format, tag and search entries and add pictures, links and customizable templates, spell check notes, and export to plain text, HTML, Latex or PDF.
  • Rectangle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-20
  • RedNotebook Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-22

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.

RedNotebook features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    RedNotebook offers a user-friendly interface, making it simple for users to quickly jot down notes and organize them efficiently.
  • Tagging and Searching
    The application allows for tagging of entries and comes with a robust search functionality, which helps in efficiently finding past notes.
  • Journal Capabilities
    RedNotebook provides features specifically designed for journaling, including calendar navigation and templates for daily entries.
  • Cross-Platform
    The software runs on multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, offering flexibility to users across different platforms.
  • Backup and Export
    Data can be backed up and exported in various formats such as plain text, PDF, HTML, and LaTeX, making it easy to share and preserve entries.
  • No Internet Requirement
    RedNotebook works completely offline, ensuring privacy and allowing access to notes without an internet connection.
  • Open-Source
    Being open-source, RedNotebook is free to use and allows users to contribute to its development and customize it to their needs.

Possible disadvantages of RedNotebook

  • Limited Media Integration
    The tool lacks advanced media embedding options, restricting users primarily to text-based notes without rich multimedia support.
  • Basic Formatting
    While it supports basic text formatting, RedNotebook does not offer as many advanced formatting options as some other note-taking applications.
  • No Mobile App
    RedNotebook does not have a dedicated mobile app, limiting its accessibility on smartphones and tablets.
  • Potential Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues and lag when dealing with very large databases or entries.
  • Less Frequent Updates
    Compared to other note-taking applications, RedNotebook receives less frequent updates, potentially leading to slower fixes and feature additions.
  • Lack of Syncing
    The application does not natively support cloud syncing, which can be inconvenient for users who need their notes across multiple devices.
  • Learning Curve for Customization
    Although customizable, some users may find the process of personalizing RedNotebook's features and templates to be non-intuitive and time-consuming.

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 RedNotebook

Overall verdict

  • RedNotebook is a good choice for users looking for a straightforward, reliable journal application. Its open-source nature allows for community involvement in development and potential cost savings, considering it is free. However, it may lack some of the more advanced features found in paid alternatives, which could be a consideration for power users.

Why this product is good

  • RedNotebook is a free and open-source journaling application that offers users a way to keep a digital diary. It is equipped with features like a calendar navigation, customizable templates, and backup options. The simple and intuitive interface makes it easy for users to record their thoughts, ideas, and experiences. It also supports text formatting, tagging, and the ability to search entries, which adds to its functionality and user-friendly experience. The application is cross-platform, available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, which broadens its accessibility.

Recommended for

    RedNotebook is recommended for individuals who are interested in maintaining a simple digital journal without requiring advanced features. It is effective for those who prioritize a no-frills approach to journaling, appreciate cross-platform functionality, and enjoy the benefits of using open-source software.

Rectangle videos

SKYWALKER RECTANGLE TRAMPOLINE REVIEW!!!

More videos:

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

RedNotebook videos

RedNotebook - App Reviews

More videos:

  • Review - RedNoteBook to keep tabs of your 2018 new year resolutions
  • Review - RedNotebook

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Rectangle and RedNotebook)
Mac Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100
Window Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Task Management
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 RedNotebook

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.

RedNotebook Reviews

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

Social recommendations and mentions

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

  • software wise, what's going to be my best approach? Two screens with a list of jobs and appointments.
    Possibly https://rednotebook.sourceforge.io/ could be a starting point if you want to hack about in Python. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Writing is physically painful
    As for a digital journal on your computer, take a look at RedNotebook. I liked it when I used it, before going back to physical journaling. Source: about 4 years ago
  • TraderSync - A trading journal that I use
    I was using Microsoft Excel and Rednotebook. I still use Rednotebook as log for research info but no longer use Excel which Excel was being used for viewing my P/L on my trades. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Time tracking
    (by the way I use Red Notebook for my journal. It's spectacular. https://rednotebook.sourceforge.io/). Source: over 4 years ago
  • Please have mercy and just kill me
    What helped me to develop gratitude towards life in spite of everything happening was to start a journal. Get a diary where each day has a separate page. I like to do this in paper, but there are apps or a desktop version of a journal: https://rednotebook.sourceforge.io/. Source: over 4 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

Magnet Window Manager - Magnet Developers

Evernote - Bring your life's work together in one digital workspace. Evernote is the place to collect inspirational ideas, write meaningful words, and move your important projects forward.

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

OneNote - Get the OneNote app for free on your tablet, phone, and computer, so you can capture your ideas and to-do lists in one place wherever you are. Or try OneNote with Office for free.

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

Simplenote - The simplest way to keep notes. Light, clean, and free. Simplenote is now available for iOS, Android, Mac, and the web.