Utilities · head to head
Rectangle vs Shottr
Rectangle
Utilities
Free open source window snapping for macOS, with a separate paid Rectangle Pro for extra features
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Shottr
Utilities
Free Mac screenshot tool with annotation and OCR, with an optional paid tier for extra features
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Rectangle rectangle Pro is a separate app rather than an in-app purchase, so upgrading means installing and managing a second piece of software.; Shottr it lacks CleanShot X cloud link hosting and self-cleaning desktop features, so teams that share links constantly may find it thinner.
- They diverge on capability: Rectangle covers Keyboard shortcuts, Shottr covers Pixel-precise annotation.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Rectangle and Shottr actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Rectangle
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Drag to snap
- Multi-display support
- Almost full screen
- Rectangle Pro extras
- Open source core
Only in Shottr
- Pixel-precise annotation
- Built in OCR
- Scrolling capture
- Colour picker
- Quick resize and export
- Free core functionality
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Rectangle
- A developer who wants source-available window management with no cost and no accountnot Shottr
- Anyone replacing Magnet who does not want to pay even a small one-time feenot Shottr
- A user who installs software via Homebrew rather than the Mac App Storenot Shottr
- A power user who later wants Rectangle Pro extras but does not need them from day onenot Shottr
Shottr
- A user who wants OCR and precise annotation without paying anything up frontnot Rectangle
- Someone evaluating whether a screenshot tool is worth paying for before committing money, unlike CleanShot X which requires payment firstnot Rectangle
- A user who occasionally needs a colour picker and is fine with the free tier for everything elsenot Rectangle
- Anyone who wants a lighter alternative to CleanShot X without giving up scrolling capture or annotationnot Rectangle
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
Shottr
- It lacks CleanShot X cloud link hosting and self-cleaning desktop features, so teams that share links constantly may find it thinner.
- Pricing tiers and their exact contents have shifted and are inconsistently reported across sources, making it harder to know exactly what a given tier unlocks before buying.
- The free tier periodically prompts to purchase, which some users find naggy over long term daily use.
- It is Mac only, offering nothing for a Windows machine in a mixed environment.
- Video and GIF recording is more limited than a tool built specifically for that, such as Kap or CleanShot X.
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Shottr
Free- FreeFree
- Full capture and annotation for everyday use
- Built in OCR included
- Occasional prompt to consider purchasing
- Basic$8/one-time
- One-time unlock of extra features
- Removes purchase prompts
- Friends Club$25/one-time
- Higher one-time tier
- Access to experimental features and priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose Rectangle if
- You need keyboard shortcuts.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Mac.
- You also want drag to snap.
Choose Shottr if
- You need pixel-precise annotation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Mac.
- You also want built in ocr.
Questions people ask
- Is Rectangle or Shottr better?
- Neither clearly leads. Rectangle starts at Free and Shottr at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Rectangle or Shottr?
- Rectangle starts at Free and Shottr at Free.
- Does Rectangle or Shottr run on more platforms?
- Both run on Mac, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Rectangle for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Rectangle best used for?
- Rectangle is most often used for a developer who wants source-available window management with no cost and no account, anyone replacing magnet who does not want to pay even a small one-time fee, a user who installs software via homebrew rather than the mac app store, a power user who later wants rectangle pro extras but does not need them from day one. Of those, a developer who wants source-available window management with no cost and no account and anyone replacing magnet who does not want to pay even a small one-time fee are not what Shottr is typically brought in for.
- What can Rectangle do that Shottr cannot?
- Rectangle covers Keyboard shortcuts, Drag to snap, Multi-display support, Almost full screen. Shottr covers Pixel-precise annotation, Built in OCR, Scrolling capture, Colour picker.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Rectangle: Is Rectangle really free?
Yes. The core app is free and open source with no feature gating or trial period.
Shottr: Is Shottr free?
Yes, the core app can be used free indefinitely, with an optional one-time paid tier for extra features and no more purchase prompts.
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.
Shottr: Does Shottr do OCR?
Yes, built in OCR extracts text from a captured screenshot without needing 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.
Shottr: Is there a subscription?
No. Any paid tier is a one-time purchase, not a recurring subscription.
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