Rectangle VS Shiftit

Compare Rectangle VS Shiftit and see what are their differences

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Rectangle

Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.

Shiftit

fikovnik has 62 repositories available. Follow their code on GitHub.

Landing page //
2023-05-20

Landing page //
2023-09-19

Rectangle

Website: rectangleapp.com
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Shiftit

Website: github.com
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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.

Shiftit features and specs

Open Source
ShiftIt is an open-source project, meaning that it is free to use and its source code is publicly available for review and modification. This allows users to customize the application to their needs and contributes to a larger community of developers and users.
Window Management
ShiftIt provides powerful window management capabilities, enabling users to easily resize, move, and rearrange windows using keyboard shortcuts. This enhances productivity and helps maintain an organized workspace.
Lightweight
ShiftIt is a lightweight application that does not consume significant system resources, making it a good choice for users who need efficient window management without sacrificing performance.
Customizable Shortcuts
Users have the flexibility to customize keyboard shortcuts to their preferences, allowing for a more personalized and efficient window management experience.
Consistent Updates
Being a maintained open-source project, ShiftIt receives consistent updates and improvements from the community, ensuring enhanced features and bug fixes over time.

Possible disadvantages of Shiftit

Limited to macOS
ShiftIt is only available for macOS, which limits its usability to users of Apple's operating system and excludes users on other platforms such as Windows and Linux.
Potential Bugs
As with many open-source projects, bugs and issues may surface occasionally. Though the community actively works on improvements, users might encounter stability issues or unexpected behavior.
Dependency on System Preferences
ShiftIt requires accessibility permissions to function correctly, which may be cumbersome for some users to set up initially. Certain macOS updates may also affect these permissions, requiring users to reconfigure the application.
Lack of Advanced Features
Compared to some commercial window management solutions, ShiftIt may lack some advanced features and customization options that power users might require.
User Interface
ShiftIt does not have a polished graphical user interface, which might not appeal to users who prefer a more visually refined application. Most configuration and usage are done through menus and keyboard shortcuts.

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 Shiftit

Overall verdict

Shiftit is generally regarded as a useful and efficient tool for users who seek enhanced window management capabilities on macOS. Its lightweight design and straightforward functionality make it a solid choice for improving workflow and organization.

Why this product is good

Shiftit is a window management tool for macOS that allows users to quickly and easily arrange their windows using keyboard shortcuts. It seamlessly improves productivity by optimizing screen real estate without requiring manual dragging and resizing of windows.

Recommended for

macOS users looking for improved window management
Individuals who prefer using keyboard shortcuts over mouse-driven tasks
Professionals seeking increased productivity through better screen organization
Users who want a free and open-source solution for managing windows on their desktop

Rectangle videos

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SKYWALKER RECTANGLE TRAMPOLINE REVIEW!!!

Shiftit videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Rectangle and Shiftit)

Rectangle

Shiftit

Mac Tools

98 98%

Mac Tools

2% 2

Window Manager

91 91%

Window Manager

9% 9

OSX Tools

88 88%

OSX Tools

12% 12

Mac

100 100%

Mac

0% 0

User comments

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

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Rectangle and Shiftit

Rectangle Reviews

Best 6 Mac Window Managers

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 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 – such as BetterSnapTool, Magnet, and Rectangle – offer this functionality.

Source: www.maketecheasier.com

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.

Source: www.makeuseof.com

Shiftit Reviews

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Rectangle seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 479 times since March 2021. 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 / 4 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 / 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