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Taskbar for macOS VS Rectangle

Compare Taskbar for macOS VS Rectangle and see what are their differences

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Taskbar for macOS logo Taskbar for macOS

Windows-style taskbar for macOS which simplifies multi-tasking and working with many apps and windows as an effective Dock replacement.

Rectangle logo Rectangle

Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.
  • Taskbar for macOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2025-10-15
  • Rectangle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-20

Taskbar for macOS features and specs

  • Quick Task Access from Menu Bar
    Taskbar lives in the macOS menu bar, giving users instant access to their Apple Reminders tasks without needing to open the full Reminders app. This makes it convenient for quick task management throughout the day.
  • Native Apple Reminders Integration
    Taskbar integrates directly with Apple Reminders, meaning users don't need to migrate to a new task management system or maintain a separate database. All tasks stay synced with the native Reminders ecosystem across Apple devices.
  • Lightweight and Minimal
    As a menu bar utility, Taskbar is designed to be lightweight and unobtrusive. It doesn't take up dock space or require a full application window, keeping the workflow distraction-free.
  • Quick Task Creation
    Users can quickly add new tasks and reminders directly from the menu bar without switching context or opening another application, which helps maintain productivity and focus on current work.
  • Simple and Focused Design
    Taskbar provides a clean and focused interface for viewing and managing tasks. Its simplicity makes it easy to learn and use without a steep learning curve, appealing to users who want straightforward task management.

Possible disadvantages of Taskbar for macOS

  • Limited to Apple Reminders
    Taskbar only works with Apple Reminders, so users who rely on other task management systems like Todoist, Things, or OmniFocus cannot use it. This limits its appeal to those already embedded in the Apple Reminders ecosystem.
  • macOS Only
    The app is exclusive to macOS, meaning there is no companion app for Windows or other platforms. Users who work across multiple operating systems cannot benefit from Taskbar on non-Apple machines.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    As a menu bar utility focused on simplicity, Taskbar may lack advanced task management features like project organization, tagging, time tracking, or detailed analytics that power users might expect from a full task manager.
  • Dependent on Apple Reminders Limitations
    Since Taskbar relies on Apple Reminders as its backend, it inherits all the limitations of the Reminders app, such as limited collaboration features, basic recurrence options, and less flexible organization compared to dedicated task management tools.
  • Niche Use Case
    Taskbar fills a very specific niche โ€” menu bar access to Reminders. For users who already find opening the Reminders app or using Siri sufficient, the utility may not offer enough added value to justify an additional app installation or purchase.

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 Taskbar for macOS

Overall verdict

  • Taskbar for macOS by lawand.io is a well-regarded lightweight utility that brings a Windows-style taskbar experience to Mac, offering quick app switching and window management for users who prefer that workflow.

Why this product is good

  • Provides a familiar Windows-like taskbar for easy visual access to open apps and windows
  • Lightweight and unobtrusive, running smoothly without heavy system resource usage
  • Improves multitasking by making it faster to switch between running applications
  • Simple setup and clean interface that integrates naturally with macOS
  • Helpful for users transitioning from Windows who miss the taskbar layout

Recommended for

  • Users switching from Windows to macOS who want a familiar taskbar interface
  • People who frequently multitask and need quick visual window switching
  • Mac users who find the default Dock and app switcher insufficient for their workflow
  • Anyone seeking a lightweight window management tool without complex configuration

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.

Taskbar for macOS videos

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Rectangle videos

SKYWALKER RECTANGLE TRAMPOLINE REVIEW!!!

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Taskbar for macOS and Rectangle)
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Mac Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Web Browsers
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 Taskbar for macOS and Rectangle

Taskbar for macOS Reviews

We have no reviews of Taskbar for macOS 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 Taskbar for macOS. While we know about 479 links to Rectangle, we've tracked only 7 mentions of Taskbar for macOS. 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.

Taskbar for macOS mentions (7)

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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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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Taskbar for macOS and Rectangle, you can also consider the following products

ActiveDock - Application Launcher, improved Dock for macOS, alternative to Apple Dock, uBar, HyperDock

Magnet Window Manager - Magnet Developers

Setapp - The one place for trusted apps. Hundreds of high-quality apps for your Mac and iPhone, including AI tools.

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

Karabiner - Karabiner, previously called KeyRemap4MacBook, is a very powerful keyboard remapper for Mac OS X.

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