Rectangle vs Magnet vs Let's Tile: which Mac window manager should you use?
Rectangle and Magnet are the two names that come up first whenever someone asks how to snap windows on a Mac. But there's a third option that solves the part most people actually struggle with — remembering a shortcut for every layout — and that's Let's Tile. All three move and resize windows from the keyboard; the difference is that Let's Tile gives you a visible grid you point at instead of a set of shortcuts to memorize. Here's how the three compare, honestly, and which one fits you.
The short version
For most people, Let's Tile is the easiest to actually stick with: you summon a grid, glance at it, and tap a region — there's nothing to memorize, thirds are free forever, and Pro is a one-time purchase that works on up to 20 of your devices with no account. Rectangle is the pick if you specifically want free and open source and like fine-tuning shortcuts. Magnet is a fine, minimal paid App Store app if you want set-and-forget snapping. All three are mature and stable — the real question is whether you'd rather memorize shortcuts or just see the layout.
Rectangle vs Magnet vs Let's Tile at a glance
| Rectangle | Magnet | Let's Tile | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (Pro upgrade optional) | One-time, ~$5 on the App Store* | Free tier + one-time Pro |
| License | Open source (MIT) | Proprietary, paid | Proprietary; free thirds forever |
| How you choose a layout | Memorize a shortcut per region | Memorize a shortcut per region | Summon a visible grid, tap a region |
| Halves, quarters, thirds | Yes | Yes | Yes (thirds free) |
| Where to get it | rectangleapp.com / GitHub | Mac App Store only | lets-suite.com/tile |
| Custom shortcuts | Fully remappable | Remappable, more limited | Grid-driven, little to remember |
| Devices per license | Pro: up to ~3 Macs | Tied to your Apple ID | Up to 20 devices per key |
| Account required | No | Apple ID | No — just a license key |
Let's Tile
Let's Tile solves the problem the other two leave on the table: instead of memorizing a shortcut for every region, you press one shortcut to summon a grid overlay, glance at it, and tap a couple of keys to drop the active window into place. Because the grid is on screen, there's nothing to memorize — you learn the layout by using it, which is exactly the step people bounce off with snap-style tools. For most people that's the difference between a window manager they install and forget and one they actually keep using.
The pricing and licensing are deliberately friendly, too: thirds are free with no time limit, so you can find out whether keyboard tiling sticks before paying anything. Let's Tile Pro unlocks the full grid and is a one-time purchase — no subscription, no account, just a license key that works on up to 20 of your devices. That's a more generous device policy than either Rectangle Pro (a few Macs) or Magnet (tied to your Apple ID).
To be fair about the trade-offs: Let's Tile is the newest of the three, and if you specifically want open source, Rectangle is the one to reach for. But if "remember a shortcut for every layout" has never quite clicked for you, the visible grid is the feature that changes that.
Rectangle
Rectangle is free and open source under the MIT license — download it from its site or build it from GitHub. There's an optional Rectangle Pro (a one-time purchase, commonly around $10, license covering a few Macs) that adds power-user features like custom snap zones and saved layouts, but the free version is genuinely complete, not a teaser. Its shortcuts are fully remappable and it exposes granular regions including sixths and asymmetric splits. The trade-off: it's the most configurable of the three, which also means the most settings to wade through, and you still choose layouts by remembering a shortcut for each one.
Magnet
Magnet is a paid app sold only through the Mac App Store as a one-time purchase — usually a few dollars, no subscription, no in-app purchases. For that you get a polished, sandboxed app that updates automatically through the App Store and asks nothing of you afterward. It covers the everyday layouts (halves, quarters, thirds) with sensible defaults and a clean menu-bar interface. Its strength is restraint: there's very little to learn. Its limits are the flip side — fewer custom regions and less shortcut flexibility than Rectangle, and like Rectangle it's a snap tool, so you still memorize a shortcut per layout.
Which should you pick?
For most people, start with Let's Tile: if you've never gotten snapping to stick, a grid you can see beats shortcuts you have to memorize, and free thirds let you try it risk-free. Choose Rectangle if open source matters to you or you enjoy fine-tuning every shortcut and region. Choose Magnet if you just want to buy once from the App Store and get clean, minimal snapping with automatic updates.
The good news: all three are cheap or free, so you can try before committing. If you're not sure, start with the visible grid — it's the fastest way to find out whether keyboard tiling belongs in your workflow.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rectangle better than Magnet?
For pure value, Rectangle does more and costs nothing. Magnet wins on App Store convenience and a deliberately minimal interface. Both are snap tools, so the bigger question is whether you prefer memorizing shortcuts or using a visible grid like Let's Tile.
How is Let's Tile different from Rectangle and Magnet?
Rectangle and Magnet ask you to remember a keyboard shortcut for each layout. Let's Tile shows a grid overlay on screen and lets you tap the region you want, so there's nothing to memorize. It also offers free thirds and a one-time Pro license that works on up to 20 of your devices.
Can I switch between these apps?
Yes. They use similar conventions, so the muscle memory transfers, and you can run one alongside another while you decide. Just don't keep two snapping tools active at once, since overlapping shortcuts will conflict — pick one and remove the others.