Mac window managers: choose the right way to arrange windows
Compare Mac window managers for snapping, tiling, shortcuts, and automation, from built-in macOS controls to Rectangle, Magnet, AeroSpace, and Rulr.
The best Mac window manager depends on what you want to do. For occasional side-by-side work, try macOS window tiling first. For dedicated keyboard shortcuts and snap areas, look at Rectangle or Magnet. If you want a keyboard-driven tiling environment with configurable workspaces, consider AeroSpace.
Rectangle is the stronger choice if window management is your main goal: it offers a broad set of shortcuts and drag-to-snap controls out of the box. Rulr is worth considering if you only need a few window adjustments or want those adjustments to be part of a larger automation. This guide is published by Rulr and includes other tools so you can choose the right fit.
Compare Mac window management options
| Option | Best for | How it works | Consider before choosing |
|---|---|---|---|
| macOS window tiling | Occasional side-by-side layouts | Use window edges, the green button, menus, or shortcuts where supported. | Available layouts and controls depend on your macOS version. |
| Rectangle | Free shortcut and drag-based snapping | Move and resize windows using shortcuts or screen-edge snap areas. | Automatic, continuously managed tiling is a different workflow. Rectangle Pro is a separate paid product. |
| Magnet | A dedicated snapping app | Arrange windows by dragging, keyboard shortcuts, or the menu bar. | It is a separate Mac App Store purchase; check current pricing and compatibility. |
| AeroSpace | Keyboard-driven tiling and workspaces | A tiling manager with a text configuration and its own workspace model. | Setup and configuration suit people comfortable with a more technical workflow. |
| Rulr | Simple window adjustments and event-driven Rules | Set a layout, resize or move a window as part of a Rule; also choose an open window with a visual picker. | Requires Rule setup and Accessibility access. It is not a dedicated drag-to-snap or continuous tiling manager. Some Actions require Pro. |
Start with macOS window tiling
On a Mac with window tiling support, drag a window to a screen edge or hover over its green window button and choose an arrangement. You can also check the app’s Window menu for move and resize options. Open another window and place it beside the first. The exact controls vary by macOS version and app; Apple’s window tiling guide describes the available methods.
This is a useful first choice if you only need a few standard arrangements. Check System Settings → Desktop & Dock for available tiling settings if dragging does not produce the layout you expect. Not every app window can be resized freely.
If the built-in arrangements cover your needs, you may not need another app. A dedicated tool becomes more useful when you regularly want additional layouts, customizable shortcuts, or controls that fit your workflow.
Choose a dedicated window manager
Rectangle
Rectangle is free and open source. It moves and resizes windows with keyboard shortcuts or by dragging them to screen edges and corners. Start here if you regularly arrange windows and want more built-in layouts and direct controls without configuring individual Rules. Rectangle supports halves, quarters, thirds and other sizes, plus shortcuts for moving between displays. Rectangle Pro is a separate paid product with more customization and workspace features; see the official comparison for the differences.
Magnet
Magnet is a Mac App Store window manager that supports dragging, customizable shortcuts, and menu-bar controls. It is an option if you prefer a dedicated snapping app and its available layouts suit your screen. Check the App Store listing for current pricing and system requirements.
AeroSpace
AeroSpace is an i3-like tiling window manager for macOS. Its keyboard-oriented workflow and configurable workspaces are useful when you want a tiling environment rather than manually snapping individual windows. Its configuration and workspace model require more setup than using macOS’s built-in controls; review the project’s documentation before installing.
With snapping tools such as Rectangle and Magnet, you choose when to move each window. AeroSpace follows a different model: it manages windows in a tiled layout and provides keyboard-driven workspaces. Choose based on how much control and configuration you want in everyday use.
Rectangle vs. Rulr: which fits your workflow?
| Task | Rectangle | Rulr |
|---|---|---|
| Arrange windows manually | Dedicated keyboard shortcuts, menu-bar commands, and drag-to-snap areas are built in. | Configure Rules with shortcuts and layout Actions; no dedicated drag-to-snap controls. |
| Choose a layout or size | Offers a wide range of built-in layouts; Pro adds custom sizes and positions. | Set halves, corners, maximize, or center, or resize using points or screen percentages. |
| Respond to a display change | Rectangle Pro can restore saved workspaces when a display connects. | A Rule can respond to a display-layout change and run window Actions alongside other Actions. |
| Restore a workspace | Rectangle Pro supports saved multi-application workspaces. | The Actions here do not save or restore a complete workspace. |
Choose Rectangle for a dedicated window manager with less setup. Consider Rulr when a few adjustments are enough or when window changes are part of a broader Rule.
Use Rulr for specific window tasks
Rulr can arrange or resize a window as one step in a Rule. It is useful when a few presets are enough, or when a window change should happen alongside other actions in response to a shortcut or an event. You configure the Rule yourself; it does not provide Rectangle’s dedicated drag-to-snap workflow or its breadth of built-in window commands. You can also use both apps if their shortcuts do not conflict.
The layout and resize Actions described below require a Rulr version that includes Set Window Layout and Resize Window. All window Actions require Accessibility access, and the target app must allow the requested change.
Arrange or resize a window
Move Window to Left Half arranges the focused window with a shortcut. Import the Rule and change its Set Window Layout preset to use a half, corner, maximized, or centered layout. This is useful when you need just a few shortcuts, though each Rule takes setup.
The preview shows the Rule configuration.
Use Resize Window when you want a particular width and height in points or as a percentage of the screen’s visible area. It keeps the top-left position when possible; full-screen windows are not supported. You can combine these Actions with other Actions and Triggers in a Rule, for example arranging a selected app window in response to a display-layout change. These Actions do not continuously tile every window or save and restore a complete workspace.
Choose an open window
To choose an existing window, open a visual picker with a shortcut. The Window Switcher Rule brings the selected window into focus; it does not snap or resize it. You can adjust its shortcut, layout, and app exclusions. The sample is available without Pro.
Move an app window after a display change
When a display layout changes, you can move a selected app’s last-used window to a chosen screen. The Monitor Workspace Rule checks that more than one display is connected before moving the window. Select the app and screen after importing. The Rule requires Rulr Pro; it moves one window and does not restore an entire workspace or tile all apps.
Which should you use?
Try the built-in controls if you occasionally arrange two windows. Choose Rectangle if window management is a frequent task and you want a wider range of shortcuts and drag-to-snap layouts; Magnet is another dedicated snapping option. Consider AeroSpace for a configurable, keyboard-driven tiling workflow. Choose Rulr when a few layouts or sizes are enough, or when changing a window is one step in an automation. Use it alongside Rectangle if you want both workflows.
For other event-driven workflows, see the Mac automation guide.