If you’re unsure whether Rectangle or Raycast is the better choice for managing windows on your Mac, this guide is here to help.
Until the macOS Sequoia update, macOS only allowed basic tiling for windows, leaving users without advanced window management. This gap was quickly filled by a variety of apps like Magnet (paid), Rectangle (free), and Raycast (free), among others.
In the free category, Rectangle and Raycast stand out. Rectangle’s simplicity and ease of use make it popular, while Raycast offers a wide range of features beyond window management, like app launching, clipboard management, and more. Here, we’ll take a look at what each app offers and help you decide which one’s the best fit.
Rectangle vs Raycast
Both Rectangle and Raycast are free to use. Both have their own paid versions but those are not required to the window management functions.
While Rectangle is a dedicated window management app while Raycast is much more than that. Raycast is a launcher app for mac, just like the built-in Spotlight, just a lot better and feature rich. Apart from window management, it has a clipboard manager, snippets, file search, AI integration and a thousand others.
In the window management department, while Rectangle comes with nearly forty built in layout options, Raycast comes with around seventy. However, all the common layouts such as putting an app to occupy half, a third, quarter, two-third or maximize area are covered by both the apps, so you aren’t missing anything by going for either of them.
Features Comparison: Rectangle vs. Raycast
Basic Window Management
Both Rectangle and Raycast are free to use with optional paid versions, but the free features are often sufficient for basic window management. Here’s how they stack up:
Rectangle – Focused solely on window management, Rectangle includes around 40 preset layouts that cover all the common arrangements, such as left/right halves, thirds, quarters, and more.
Here’s a list of all the layouts supported by Rectangle in its free version:
Raycast – Primarily an app launcher, Raycast offers roughly 70 layout options in its window management. In addition, it includes features like clipboard history, file search, and customizable AI tools. Although it’s not dedicated solely to window management, Raycast’s options cover all the common layouts you’d need.
Here are just a few of the window management options in Raycast:
Custom Keyboard Shortcuts
Both apps let you set keyboard shortcuts for layouts. Rectangle allows you to assign shortcuts for nearly any layout, making it straightforward for focused window management.
Similarly, Raycast lets you assign custom shortcuts, but it also has an advantage: you don’t have to memorize them. You can simply type the layout initials (e.g., “RH” for right half) into the Raycast launcher, and it’ll apply that layout automatically.
If you are using Rectangle, and you forget a keyboard shortcut, you’d have to go pick up your mouse, go into the menu bar, click on the rectangle app’s icon and then click on the layout you want. A bummer for keyboard ninjas.
If you have a big or wide-screen monitor, you’d do better to assign a few hotkeys to your favorite layouts. I use Raycast and have set custom keyboard shortcuts to five of them:
- Full screen
- Maximize
- Left half
- Right half
- Reasonable size (60% width of screen)
If I need to apply any other layout, I launch Raycast and choose that particular layout.
Extra Functionalities in Free Version
- Rectangle: Offers some unique window handling options:
- Drag a window to screen edges or corners to resize it.
- Choose whether to move the cursor with the window across displays.
- Set a “pinned” window (e.g., a to-do app) that keeps its position, ensuring it won’t get covered by other windows.
- Raycast: Includes extra features for users interested in replacing multiple Mac tools. Beyond window management, it provides a launcher, clipboard manager, snippets, and integrations with hundreds of extensions, covering nearly any task you can imagine.
Paid Versions: Rectangle Pro vs. Raycast Pro
If you find yourself needing more customization, both apps offer paid versions:
- Rectangle Pro: Adds advanced window layouts, custom snap points, and workspace organization features, allowing for more personalized setups. Rectangle’s Pro plan is a one-time purchase, making it a good long-term investment for users who need high customization.
- Raycast Pro: Also includes advanced layouts but on a subscription model. While the Pro plan expands Raycast’s already extensive capabilities, the subscription cost may be a consideration unless you’re looking to take full advantage of its productivity suite.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Choose Rectangle if you’re mainly interested in straightforward window management without extra features. It’s lightweight, highly functional for the essentials, and offers a pay-once model for the Pro version.
- Choose Raycast if you want more than just window management. With its extensive features and growing library of extensions, Raycast could replace several apps like TextSniper and Maccy, streamlining your workflow on Mac.
In the end, both Rectangle and Raycast are powerful in their own right. Rectangle is ideal for users seeking a focused, reliable window management tool, while Raycast is perfect for those interested in a multi-functional app that does much more than organize windows.