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Utilities · head to head

McDonalds vs Rectangle

McDonalds logo

McDonalds

Utilities

McDonald's mobile ordering and MyMcDonald's Rewards app used to drive app-exclusive deals and first party data

From
Free
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

  • Each has a real cost: McDonalds many of the best prices are app-exclusive, so customers who avoid the app or its data collection systematically pay more than app users for the same items.; 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: McDonalds covers Mobile order and pay, Rectangle covers Keyboard shortcuts.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which McDonalds and Rectangle actually diverge.

Attributes where McDonalds and Rectangle differ
AttributeMcDonaldsRectangle
Pricing modelFree app, revenue from purchasesOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsiOS, AndroidMac

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 McDonalds

  • Mobile order and pay
  • MyMcDonald's Rewards
  • App-exclusive deals
  • Geofenced drive-thru timing
  • Delivery ordering
  • Order customisation and favourites

Only in Rectangle

  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Drag to snap
  • Multi-display support
  • Almost full screen
  • Rectangle Pro extras
  • Open source core

What people use each for

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

McDonalds

  • A customer wanting the best available deal price, since many discounts are app exclusivenot Rectangle
  • Skipping the counter or drive-thru queue by ordering aheadnot Rectangle
  • Accumulating Rewards points toward free menu items through regular visitsnot Rectangle
  • Ordering delivery through an integrated third party partner from inside the appnot Rectangle

Rectangle

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

Where each one falls short

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

McDonalds

  • Many of the best prices are app-exclusive, so customers who avoid the app or its data collection systematically pay more than app users for the same items.
  • It uses location tracking to time drive-thru food preparation, which means granting fairly precise location access for the feature to work as intended.
  • Points values and redemption thresholds are set by McDonald's and its franchisees and can change without the transparency of a fixed loyalty currency.
  • App-exclusive promotions are often only available at participating locations, which is not obvious until checkout, since franchise ownership varies by store.
  • Delivery ordered through the app still routes through third party delivery partners, so delivery fees and reliability issues are unchanged from ordering those platforms directly.

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

McDonalds

Free
  • MyMcDonald's RewardsFree
    • Free to join
    • 100 points per dollar spent
    • No cost beyond items ordered

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 McDonalds if

  • You need mobile order and pay.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want mymcdonald's rewards.
McDonalds review

Choose Rectangle if

  • You need keyboard shortcuts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want drag to snap.
Rectangle review

Questions people ask

Is McDonalds or Rectangle better?
Neither clearly leads. McDonalds starts at Free and Rectangle at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, McDonalds or Rectangle?
McDonalds starts at Free and Rectangle at Free.
Does McDonalds or Rectangle run on more platforms?
McDonalds runs on iOS, Android. Rectangle runs on Mac.
Can I use McDonalds for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is McDonalds best used for?
McDonalds is most often used for a customer wanting the best available deal price, since many discounts are app exclusive, skipping the counter or drive-thru queue by ordering ahead, accumulating rewards points toward free menu items through regular visits, ordering delivery through an integrated third party partner from inside the app. Of those, a customer wanting the best available deal price, since many discounts are app exclusive and skipping the counter or drive-thru queue by ordering ahead are not what Rectangle is typically brought in for.
What can McDonalds do that Rectangle cannot?
McDonalds covers Mobile order and pay, MyMcDonald's Rewards, App-exclusive deals, Geofenced drive-thru timing. Rectangle covers Keyboard shortcuts, Drag to snap, Multi-display support, Almost full screen.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

McDonalds: Is the McDonald's app free?

Yes, joining and using it costs nothing beyond what is ordered.

Rectangle: Is Rectangle really free?

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

McDonalds: Do I need the app to get the best prices?

Often yes; a significant share of current discounted and free-item offers are app exclusive and unavailable at the counter.

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.

McDonalds: Does the app track my location?

Yes, for drive-thru order timing and store locating; this can be limited in phone settings at the cost of that feature.

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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