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Utilities · head to head

Maccy vs Rectangle

Maccy logo

Maccy

Utilities

Free open source clipboard history manager for macOS with no account, sync fee or subscription

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: Maccy there is no iPhone or iPad app and no sync between machines, so clipboard history does not follow a user to another device.; 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: Maccy covers Clipboard history, Rectangle covers Keyboard shortcuts.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Maccy and Rectangle actually diverge.

Attributes where Maccy and Rectangle differ
AttributeMaccyRectangle

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Open source, no licence fee), free tier (Yes), 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 Maccy

  • Clipboard history
  • Keyboard navigation
  • Local-only storage
  • Password exclusion
  • Lightweight footprint
  • Open source

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.

Maccy

  • A developer or writer who copies and pastes constantly and wants fast, searchable history on one Macnot Rectangle
  • Anyone who wants clipboard history but does not want their clipboard data touching any cloud servicenot Rectangle
  • A user who tried Paste and does not need iPhone or iPad sync, only wants the Mac functionality for freenot Rectangle
  • Someone installing via Homebrew who wants a minimal, single-purpose menu bar utilitynot Rectangle

Rectangle

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

Where each one falls short

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

Maccy

  • There is no iPhone or iPad app and no sync between machines, so clipboard history does not follow a user to another device.
  • It has no snippets, templates or organised boards, so a user wanting structured reusable text needs a different tool as well.
  • It is Mac only, so it offers nothing for a Windows machine in the same workflow.
  • As a volunteer-maintained open source project, there is no guaranteed support response time if something breaks.
  • Very large clipboard histories with many images can still use meaningful memory, though far less than a heavier commercial equivalent.

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

Maccy

Free
  • MaccyFree
    • Free and open source under the MIT licence
    • Unlimited local clipboard history
    • No account or sync required

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 Maccy if

  • You need clipboard history.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want keyboard navigation.
Maccy 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 Maccy or Rectangle better?
Neither clearly leads. Maccy 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, Maccy or Rectangle?
Maccy starts at Free and Rectangle at Free.
Does Maccy or Rectangle run on more platforms?
Both run on Mac, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Maccy for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Maccy best used for?
Maccy is most often used for a developer or writer who copies and pastes constantly and wants fast, searchable history on one mac, anyone who wants clipboard history but does not want their clipboard data touching any cloud service, a user who tried paste and does not need iphone or ipad sync, only wants the mac functionality for free, someone installing via homebrew who wants a minimal, single-purpose menu bar utility. Of those, a developer or writer who copies and pastes constantly and wants fast, searchable history on one mac and anyone who wants clipboard history but does not want their clipboard data touching any cloud service are not what Rectangle is typically brought in for.
What can Maccy do that Rectangle cannot?
Maccy covers Clipboard history, Keyboard navigation, Local-only storage, Password exclusion. Rectangle covers Keyboard shortcuts, Drag to snap, Multi-display support, Almost full screen.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Maccy: Is Maccy free?

Yes, entirely. It is open source under the MIT licence with no paid tier.

Rectangle: Is Rectangle really free?

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

Maccy: Does Maccy sync across devices?

No. It stores clipboard history only on the local Mac, with no iPhone, iPad or cross-Mac sync.

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.

Maccy: Is my clipboard data sent anywhere?

No. Maccy stores everything locally and does not upload clipboard content.

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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