Gridly vs Rectangle
Title-bar trackpad gestures vs the Mac's default free window manager.
Rectangle is the go-to free Mac window manager — keyboard shortcuts and drag-to-edge snapping that millions of people already rely on. Gridly takes a different path: one two-finger swipe on the title bar, no shortcut table to maintain. This page compares both so you can decide which workflow fits how you actually use your Mac.
Why people compare Gridly and Rectangle
Rectangle is free, open source, and does the job well. But every snap starts either with a keyboard shortcut you had to learn, or by dragging a window across the screen to an edge. If your hands are already on the trackpad, that means leaving the surface or reaching for keys.
Gridly was built for people who want window management to feel as natural as scrolling. Two fingers on the title bar, swipe in a direction, see a preview of where the window will land, release. No shortcut table, no cross-screen drag.
Quick comparison
| Gridly | Rectangle | |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | One gesture from the title bar. Direction picks the target; extra swipes refine width or corner. Built around the trackpad staying under your fingers. | Keyboard shortcuts and snap areas. Each action is either a key combo or dragging the window to a screen edge or corner — the classic Spectacle-style workflow. |
| Input model | Two-finger swipe on the title bar — the same motion every time | Customizable keyboard shortcuts plus optional drag-to-edge snapping |
| Width | 12 columns from the title-bar swipe: allocate any share from 1/12 to full, one column at a time — including in corners | Halves, thirds, and quarters via shortcuts or custom snap areas (Pro); not a continuous 12-column title-bar step |
| Multi-window | Auto-fill: place one window, then Gridly fills the remaining space with recent windows. Or pick each one manually from a list. | One window per action. No built-in workflow for filling a screen with multiple windows in sequence. |
| Preview before commit | Coloured overlay follows your fingers until you release — change your mind any time before lifting | Shortcuts commit immediately. Dragging shows a target only once the window reaches the edge. |
| Undo | Press Esc within 5 seconds to undo every window Gridly just moved | No built-in undo |
| Price | $3.99 one-time | Free (open source). Rectangle Pro is a separate $9.99 upgrade |
| Free trial | 14 days, full features, no card | Free forever for the core app. Rectangle Pro includes a 10-day trial |
| License | One Mac per license, every future update included | MIT open source (free app). Rectangle Pro: one license, up to 3 devices at a time |
| macOS requirement | macOS 14.0+ | macOS 10.15+ |
| Chip support | Intel and Apple Silicon (universal) | Intel and Apple Silicon |
Pricing and licensing, plain
Gridly costs $3.99 once and includes every future update, with a 14-day full-feature trial that needs no credit card. Rectangle's core app is free and open source — halves, quarters, thirds, and edge snapping cost nothing. Rectangle Pro is a separate $9.99 one-time purchase for custom snap areas, window cycling, and more; it includes a 10-day trial.
If free and open source is non-negotiable, Rectangle wins on price. If you would rather pay once and never think about shortcuts again — and you want a preview before every snap — that is the gap Gridly fills.
When to choose each
Rectangle is the right default for keyboard-first Mac users. Gridly is for people whose hands rarely leave the trackpad.
Choose Gridly if you want
Gesture-first- Your hands to stay on the trackpad — no shortcut table to memorise
- A live preview before the window moves, so you never commit to the wrong spot
- To place one window and fill the rest of the screen automatically
- 12-column widths — keep swiping sideways to allocate any share from 1/12 to full
- A single paid app with every future update included — no Pro tier to think about
Choose Rectangle if you want
- A free, open-source window manager with no upfront cost
- Keyboard-driven snapping — Spectacle-style shortcuts out of the box
- Drag-to-edge snapping when you prefer the mouse
- Compatibility with macOS 10.15 through 13 (Gridly needs 14.0+)
- Optional Pro upgrade for custom snap zones and window cycling
Frequently asked
Is Gridly a good Rectangle alternative?
If you want title-bar trackpad gestures instead of keyboard shortcuts, yes. Gridly keeps one motion for every snap — swipe on the title bar, direction picks the spot, Esc undoes it. If you live in Rectangle's shortcut vocabulary and prefer free open-source software, stay with Rectangle.
Does Gridly replace Rectangle's keyboard shortcuts?
No. Gridly does not register global keyboard shortcuts. It only listens for two-finger scrolls on a window's title bar. If keyboard-driven snapping is how you work, Rectangle (or another shortcut-based tool) is the better fit.
Is Rectangle really free?
Yes. The core Rectangle app is free and open source under the MIT license, distributed from rectangleapp.com. Rectangle Pro is a separate paid upgrade ($9.99 one-time) with a 10-day trial — it is not required for standard halves, quarters, thirds, and edge snapping.
Can I run Gridly and Rectangle at the same time?
You can install both, but only one should move windows at a time. Two apps responding to the same window can fight over placement. Use the 14-day Gridly trial side by side to decide, then disable one.