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Utilities · head to head

Magnet vs Rectangle

Magnet logo

Magnet

Utilities

Mac App Store window manager sold as a one-time paid app, with no free tier

From
$4.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Rectangle logo

Rectangle

Utilities

Free open source window snapping for macOS, with a separate paid Rectangle Pro for extra features

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Rectangle has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Magnet there is no free tier at all, so a user cannot try before buying beyond the Mac App Store return window.; Rectangle rectangle Pro is a separate app rather than an in-app purchase, so upgrading means installing and managing a second piece of software.
  • They diverge on capability: Magnet covers Mac App Store distribution, Rectangle covers Almost full screen.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Magnet and Rectangle actually diverge.

Attributes where Magnet and Rectangle differ
AttributeMagnetRectangle
Starting price$4.99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes

Identical on both: platforms (Mac), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Utilities).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Magnet

  • Mac App Store distribution
  • Menu bar access
  • Third display layouts

Only in Rectangle

  • Almost full screen
  • Rectangle Pro extras
  • Open source core

Both cover

  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Drag to snap
  • Multi-display support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Magnet

  • A user who wants the App Store handling licensing, family sharing and updates automaticallynot Rectangle
  • Someone who prefers paying a small one-time fee up front over evaluating a free tool firstnot Rectangle
  • A less technical user who does not want to install from GitHub or Homebrewnot Rectangle
  • A family sharing one Apple ID that wants one purchase to cover multiple Macs in the householdnot Rectangle

Rectangle

  • A developer who wants source-available window management with no cost and no accountnot Magnet
  • Anyone replacing Magnet who does not want to pay even a small one-time feenot Magnet
  • A user who installs software via Homebrew rather than the Mac App Storenot Magnet
  • A power user who later wants Rectangle Pro extras but does not need them from day onenot Magnet

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Magnet

  • There is no free tier at all, so a user cannot try before buying beyond the Mac App Store return window.
  • It offers fewer customisation options than Rectangle, such as fewer configurable snap zones and less granular per-app behaviour.
  • Update cadence has historically been slower than the actively developed open source Rectangle project.
  • It is Mac only and App Store only, so it cannot be scripted, redistributed internally by a company, or installed outside Apple normal channels.
  • Being a small independent app, support depends on the developer responding to App Store reviews or email rather than a dedicated support team.

Rectangle

  • Rectangle Pro is a separate app rather than an in-app purchase, so upgrading means installing and managing a second piece of software.
  • It is Mac only, so it offers nothing for a user who also runs Windows and wants one window manager everywhere.
  • It has no official paid support channel, being a community open source project, so issues are handled through GitHub rather than a vendor support desk.
  • Some very old or unusually built third party apps still resist Rectangle window snapping, a limitation shared with most third party window managers on macOS.
  • Because it is not distributed through the Mac App Store, some users have to manually approve accessibility permissions and updates rather than getting silent App Store updates.

Pricing, plan by plan

Magnet

$4.99/one-time
  • Magnet$4.99/one-time
    • Full app unlocked immediately, no trial gating
    • Mac App Store purchase and family sharing
    • Free updates through the App Store

Rectangle

Free
  • RectangleFree
    • Free and open source, no account needed
    • Keyboard and drag window snapping
    • Multi-display support
  • Rectangle Pro$9.99/one-time
    • Separate paid app, not an in-app unlock
    • Cursor-following snap areas
    • Per-app window size memory

Which should you pick?

Choose Magnet if

  • You need mac app store distribution.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want menu bar access.
Magnet review

Choose Rectangle if

  • You need almost full screen.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want rectangle pro extras.
Rectangle review

Questions people ask

Is Magnet or Rectangle better?
Neither clearly leads. Magnet starts at $4.99/one-time and Rectangle at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Magnet or Rectangle?
Rectangle has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $4.99/one-time for Magnet and Free for Rectangle.
Does Magnet or Rectangle run on more platforms?
Both run on Mac, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Rectangle for free?
Yes. Rectangle has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Magnet starts at $4.99/one-time.
What is Magnet best used for?
Magnet is most often used for a user who wants the app store handling licensing, family sharing and updates automatically, someone who prefers paying a small one-time fee up front over evaluating a free tool first, a less technical user who does not want to install from github or homebrew, a family sharing one apple id that wants one purchase to cover multiple macs in the household. Of those, a user who wants the app store handling licensing, family sharing and updates automatically and someone who prefers paying a small one-time fee up front over evaluating a free tool first are not what Rectangle is typically brought in for.
What can Magnet do that Rectangle cannot?
Magnet covers Mac App Store distribution, Menu bar access, Third display layouts. Rectangle covers Almost full screen, Rectangle Pro extras, Open source core. Both handle Keyboard shortcuts, Drag to snap, Multi-display support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Magnet: Does Magnet have a free version?

No. It has always been a paid Mac App Store purchase with no free tier.

Rectangle: Is Rectangle really free?

Yes. The core app is free and open source with no feature gating or trial period.

Magnet: Can I share one purchase across my family Macs?

Yes, through Apple Family Sharing on the Mac App Store, the same as any other App Store app.

Rectangle: What does Rectangle Pro add?

Cursor-following snap areas, per-app window size memory and some additional layouts, sold as a separate one-time purchase app.

Magnet: How is it different from Rectangle?

Magnet is a paid App Store app from the start; Rectangle is free and open source, with paid Pro features sold as a separate app.

Rectangle: How is it different from Magnet?

Rectangle is free and open source; Magnet is a paid Mac App Store app from the start with no free tier.

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