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Utilities · head to head

Rectangle vs Ventoy

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
Ventoy logo

Ventoy

Utilities

Multiboot USB creator that boots ISO files copied onto an ordinary partition

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.; Ventoy the repository ships prebuilt binaries that are difficult to reproduce from source, so several Linux distributions refuse to package it and security teams in regulated organisations will usually reject it.
  • They diverge on capability: Rectangle covers Keyboard shortcuts, Ventoy covers In-place ISO boot.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Rectangle and Ventoy actually diverge.

Attributes where Rectangle and Ventoy differ
AttributeRectangleVentoy
PlatformsMacWindows, Linux

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Open source, no licence fee), 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 Rectangle

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

Only in Ventoy

  • In-place ISO boot
  • Persistent overlays
  • Plugin configuration
  • Secure Boot support
  • Multi-format boot
  • Non-destructive install

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 Ventoy
  • Anyone replacing Magnet who does not want to pay even a small one-time feenot Ventoy
  • A user who installs software via Homebrew rather than the Mac App Storenot Ventoy
  • A power user who later wants Rectangle Pro extras but does not need them from day onenot Ventoy

Ventoy

  • Field technicians who need one stick carrying several Windows and Linux installers plus a rescue environmentnot Rectangle
  • Labs that reimage machines weekly and want to swap a single ISO rather than rewrite the drivenot Rectangle
  • Testing a new distribution release without destroying the existing set of imagesnot Rectangle
  • Unattended installation runs where answer files sit beside the ISOs on the same partitionnot 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.

Ventoy

  • The repository ships prebuilt binaries that are difficult to reproduce from source, so several Linux distributions refuse to package it and security teams in regulated organisations will usually reject it.
  • Development depends on one maintainer, so a period of inactivity leaves compatibility fixes for new distribution releases unaddressed with no second party able to cut a release.
  • Secure Boot works only after enrolling the Ventoy certificate through MokManager at the machine, which is a manual step at every device and is blocked outright on locked-down corporate firmware.
  • A small number of images still fail to boot in place and need workarounds, so a technician can discover mid-job that the one ISO they need is the one that does not work.
  • The data partition is exFAT by default, which means no file permissions and no journal, so a stick pulled during a copy can corrupt the whole image set rather than one file.

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

Ventoy

Free
  • VentoyFree
    • Full feature set with no paid edition
    • GPLv3 licence
    • Windows and Linux installers

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.
Rectangle review

Choose Ventoy if

  • You need in-place iso boot.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Linux.
  • You also want persistent overlays.
Ventoy review

Questions people ask

Is Rectangle or Ventoy better?
Neither clearly leads. Rectangle starts at Free and Ventoy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Rectangle or Ventoy?
Rectangle starts at Free and Ventoy at Free.
Does Rectangle or Ventoy run on more platforms?
Rectangle runs on Mac. Ventoy runs on Windows, Linux.
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 Ventoy is typically brought in for.
What can Rectangle do that Ventoy cannot?
Rectangle covers Keyboard shortcuts, Drag to snap, Multi-display support, Almost full screen. Ventoy covers In-place ISO boot, Persistent overlays, Plugin configuration, Secure Boot support.

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.

Ventoy: Can I still use the USB stick for ordinary file storage?

Yes. The data partition mounts as normal removable storage and files that are not bootable images are simply ignored by the menu.

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.

Ventoy: Do I need to reinstall Ventoy when a new distribution version comes out?

No. Delete the old ISO and copy the new one. You only rerun the installer to upgrade Ventoy itself.

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.

Ventoy: Is it safe to use in a company that audits open source?

Often not. The unreproducible prebuilt binaries in the repository are a genuine audit finding and have blocked approval at organisations with supply chain review.

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