Is Rectangle or VLC better?

Neither clearly leads. Rectangle starts at Free and VLC at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, Rectangle or VLC?

Rectangle starts at Free and VLC at Free.

Does Rectangle or VLC run on more platforms?

Rectangle runs on Mac. VLC runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.

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 VLC is typically brought in for.

What can Rectangle do that VLC cannot?

Rectangle covers Keyboard shortcuts, Drag to snap, Multi-display support, Almost full screen. VLC covers Media playback, Codec support, Streaming, Conversion.

Utilities · head to head

Rectangle vs VLC

Rectangle

Utilities

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

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

VLC

Entertainment

The free and open source media player

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

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.; VLC vLC is completely free open source software with no paid tier, ads, or vendor support contract
They diverge on capability: Rectangle covers Keyboard shortcuts, VLC covers Media playback.
Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Rectangle and VLC actually diverge.

Attributes where Rectangle and VLC differ
Attribute	Rectangle	VLC
Pricing model	Open source, no licence fee	free
Platforms	Mac	Windows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web
Category	Utilities	Entertainment
Founded	Unknown	1998

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 VLC

Media playback
Codec support
Streaming
Conversion
Plugins
Network streaming
DVD playback
Open source

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

VLC

Media playbacknot Rectangle
Video conversionnot 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.

VLC

VLC is completely free open source software with no paid tier, ads, or vendor support contract

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

VLC

Free

FreeFree
- All codecs
- No ads
- Open source

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 VLC if

You need media playback.
You want to start without paying.
You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
You also want codec support.

VLC review

Questions people ask

Is Rectangle or VLC better?: Neither clearly leads. Rectangle starts at Free and VLC at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Rectangle or VLC?: Rectangle starts at Free and VLC at Free.
Does Rectangle or VLC run on more platforms?: Rectangle runs on Mac. VLC runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
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 VLC is typically brought in for.
What can Rectangle do that VLC cannot?: Rectangle covers Keyboard shortcuts, Drag to snap, Multi-display support, Almost full screen. VLC covers Media playback, Codec support, Streaming, Conversion.

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.

VLC: Is VLC media player free to use?

Yes. VLC is completely free and open source software with no subscription or licensing fees.

Source

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.

VLC: Can VLC be used commercially?

Yes. VLC explicitly states there is no spyware, no ads, and no user tracking. As open-source software under permissive licenses, commercial use is permitted within each license's specific terms.

Source

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.

VLC: Does VLC include all features across all platforms without additional purchase?

Yes. All playback features, codecs, cross-platform compatibility, and customization options are included with no additional purchases required for full functionality on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Source

Rectangle vs VLC

Rectangle

VLC

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in Rectangle

Only in VLC

What people use each for

Rectangle

VLC

Where each one falls short

Rectangle

VLC

Pricing, plan by plan

Rectangle

VLC

Which should you pick?

Choose Rectangle if

Choose VLC if

Questions people ask

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Related pages

More on Rectangle

More on VLC

Keep looking

Other head to heads