A Rectangle alternative for Mac that arranges every window at once
Rectangle places one window at a time. Pivot arranges every open window with one shortcut and lets you save the result.
Both apps are window managers for macOS, but they start from different ideas. This page explains the difference, what stays free in Pivot, and when you should keep using Rectangle.
What Rectangle does well
Rectangle is free and open source. You move and resize a window with a keyboard shortcut, or drag it to a screen edge or corner to snap it into place. Repeating a shortcut cycles through sizes. It supports both Intel and Apple silicon Macs. According to its GitHub repository, the current version supports macOS 14 and later, and older releases remain available for earlier versions of macOS.
If you think in halves, quarters, and thirds, and you are happy placing each window yourself, Rectangle does that job well and costs nothing. A separate paid app, Rectangle Pro, is built on top of it.
How Pivot differs
Pivot is aimed at the moment when you have several windows open and do not want to place them one by one.
- Auto Layout (Pro). One shortcut arranges every open window into a balanced workspace. Trigger it again to get a different arrangement.
- Smart Dot (Pro). Drag the point where windows meet to resize the connected group together. Rotate, Swap, and Flip rearrange windows without breaking the layout.
- Grid (free). Draw the region you want and Pivot moves and resizes the frontmost window to fit it.
- Saved Layouts (free). Save an arrangement, then restore it from the menu bar or with a shortcut. The number of layouts is not limited.
- Infinity Layout (free, beta). Group windows into horizontal zones on one display and scroll between them.
Rectangle and Pivot side by side
| Feature | Rectangle | Pivot |
|---|---|---|
| Main idea | Place one window at a time with shortcuts or snap areas | Arrange every open window with one shortcut (Auto Layout, Pro) |
| Placing a window by hand | Drag to a screen edge or corner, or press a shortcut | Grid: draw a region and the frontmost window fits it (free) |
| Price | Free and open source. Rectangle Pro is a separate paid app. | Free download with a free tier. Pro is a one-time $4.99 beta price (listed at $9.99). |
| Processor | Intel and Apple silicon | Apple silicon only |
| macOS version | Current version: macOS 14 or later. Older releases cover earlier systems. | macOS 14 or later |
When Rectangle is the better choice
- You use an Intel Mac. Pivot requires Apple silicon. Rectangle supports both.
- You are on macOS 13 or earlier. Pivot requires macOS 14 or later. Rectangle keeps older releases available for earlier systems.
- You want open source software. Rectangle’s source code is public and anyone can read or contribute to it.
- You want a dedicated shortcut for each half, quarter, and third. Rectangle is designed around exactly that. Pivot’s manual tool is Grid, where you draw the region instead.
What Pivot costs
Pivot is a free download, and every installation starts with a 5-day Pro trial that needs no payment card. After the trial, Grid, unlimited Saved Layouts, layout restore shortcuts, display-aware auto-restore, and Infinity Layout stay free. Pro adds Auto Layout and Smart Dot. It is a one-time purchase at a beta price of $4.99 (listed at $9.99), with one Mac per license. See what is free and what is Pro.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pivot free like Rectangle?
Partly. Grid, unlimited Saved Layouts, and Infinity Layout stay free after the 5-day Pro trial. Auto Layout and Smart Dot need Pivot Pro, a one-time purchase at a beta price of $4.99. Rectangle is free and open source.
Does Pivot run on Intel Macs?
No. Pivot requires an Apple silicon Mac running macOS 14 or later. Rectangle supports both Intel and Apple silicon Macs.
Do I need a payment card to try Pivot Pro?
No. Every download starts a 5-day Pro trial without a payment card. When the trial ends, the free features keep working.
Try Pivot on your own windows
Open the apps you normally work in, press the Auto Layout shortcut, and see whether the result suits you. The trial covers every Pro feature.
Download Pivot for macOS ↓Free download. Requires an Apple silicon Mac running macOS 14 or later. No card needed for the trial. Prefer to look first? See the demos on the Pivot page.