Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Rocket VS Rectangle

Compare Rocket VS Rectangle and see what are their differences

Rocket logo Rocket

Web Framework for Rust

Rectangle logo Rectangle

Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.
  • Rocket Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-31
  • Rectangle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-20

Rocket features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Rocket provides a simple and intuitive user interface, making it easy for users to quickly type emoji and GIFs using simple shortcuts.
  • Speed
    The app significantly speeds up the process of finding and using emojis, allowing for quick and efficient communication.
  • Customization
    Rocket allows users to add their own shortcuts and customize existing ones, providing a personalized experience.
  • Compatibility
    Rocket works smoothly across various text fields and applications, ensuring a seamless experience regardless of the platform.
  • Lightweight
    The application is lightweight and does not consume a significant amount of system resources, ensuring that it doesn't slow down the performance of your computer.

Possible disadvantages of Rocket

  • Limited to macOS
    Rocket is only available for macOS, which means Windows and Linux users cannot benefit from its features.
  • Paid Features
    While Rocket offers a free version, some advanced features require a paid subscription, which may not be ideal for all users.
  • Learning Curve for Customization
    Although customization is a strong feature, some users may find it initially challenging to set up and remember their custom shortcuts.
  • Potential Conflicts
    There can be conflicts with other keyboard shortcut-based applications, which may interfere with Rocketโ€™s functionality.
  • Updates and Support
    The frequency of updates and level of customer support may not be as robust as some users expect, potentially leading to unresolved issues.

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.

Analysis of Rocket

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Rocket is considered a good choice for users looking for a streamlined, efficient Markdown editor.

Why this product is good

  • Rocket by Matthew Palmer is a Markdown writing app designed to offer a sleek and efficient environment for writers and developers. It is appreciated for its minimalistic design, ease of use, and powerful integration with other tools. Its ability to export to multiple formats and its focus on distraction-free writing make it a strong choice for those who need a reliable writing app.

Recommended for

  • Writers who prefer distraction-free writing environments
  • Developers who utilize Markdown for documentation
  • Users who need seamless export options to various formats
  • Individuals looking for a minimalistic yet powerful text editor

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.

Rocket videos

Estes Big Daddy Rocket Launch And Review!

More videos:

  • Review - Rocket Espresso Appartamento | Crew Review 2019
  • Review - Rocket Appartamento Review

Rectangle videos

SKYWALKER RECTANGLE TRAMPOLINE REVIEW!!!

More videos:

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Rocket and Rectangle)
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Mac Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Window Manager
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 Rocket and Rectangle

Rocket Reviews

We have no reviews of Rocket yet.
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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.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Rectangle seems to be a lot more popular than Rocket. While we know about 479 links to Rectangle, we've tracked only 25 mentions of Rocket. 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.

Rocket mentions (25)

  • Tools that keep me productive
    The emoji picker on macOS isn't that great, but Rocket makes it so easy to add emojis. I can't tell you how many times a day I use this. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: What software sparks joy when using?
    In no particular order: Prologue [0] - iOS Audiobook player, used Plex as a media source Overcast [1] - iOS Podcast player CleanShotX [2] - macOS screenshot/video/gif capture with annotation Drafts [3] - iOS/macOS note taking tool Paprika [4] - Cross platform recipe app YNAB [5] - "You Need A Budget" - web/mobile budgeting app 1Password [6] - Cross platform password manager Carrot Weather [7] - iOS weather app... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • How to Build a Semantic Search Engine for Emojis
    Since I discovered this, Iโ€™ve been making major use out of the feature. I add emojis into way more of my messages, blog posts, and other written works than I ever imagined I would. I actually got so accustomed to this means of adding emojis that I installed Rocket โ€” a free app that brings the same emoji searchability to all text boxes and text editors on the computer. Itโ€™s a game changer. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Can't use emoji shortcut in newest version of Arc
    Though, just because I'm that guy, I do recommend using something like https://matthewpalmer.net/rocket/ to insert emojis. Makes life way easier. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Inline emoji picker?
    It really would! I currently use Rocket to provide this functionality, which works great system-wide, but if it were integrated into Raycast natively, that would be so much better. Source: about 3 years ago
View more

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

What are some alternatives?

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

Yii Framework - Yii is a high-performance component-based PHP framework best for Web 2.0 development.

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

Marketing How-to - This is the only resource that you will need about Marketing

Magnet Window Manager - Magnet Developers

Bottle - bottle.py is a fast and simple micro-framework for python web-applications.

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