Rectangle vs Loop: snapping by shortcut or by radial menu
Rectangle snaps windows with shortcuts and screen edges. Loop places them with a radial menu you aim with the pointer. Both are free; which suits your hands?
Loop suits you if you prefer one key and a mouse movement: hold the trigger key, a radial menu appears, move the pointer towards where the window should go, and a preview shows before it lands. Rectangle suits you if you like a shortcut for each size and dragging to screen edges.
How do Rectangle and Loop compare?
| Rectangle | Loop | |
|---|---|---|
| How you snap | Shortcuts, drag to edges | Hold a trigger key, aim at a radial menu; or trigger plus a key |
| Preview before moving | Edge highlight when dragging | Yes |
| Extras | Tile all into rows or columns, ignore chosen apps | Cycle sizes, stash at screen edges, custom frames, undo |
| Settings | Settings window, JSON import and export | Settings window |
| Newest version (4 Nov 2026) | 2.0.4, 20 October 2026 | 1.4.2, 26 January 2026 |
| macOS | 14 or later | 13 or later |
| Licence | MIT, free | GPL 3.0, free |
Is Loop better than Rectangle?
Neither covers more ground for snapping. Loop is quicker to learn because there is one key to remember; Rectangle is quicker once the shortcuts are in your fingers, and has more fixed sizes.
Can Loop tile windows automatically?
No. Like Rectangle, it moves the window you choose. New windows still open wherever their app puts them.
More: ClutterFreeMac vs Loop, Rectangle vs Magnet, free window managers for Mac.
Facts read from the Rectangle and Loop project pages and releases on 4 November 2026.
Questions
Is Loop free?
Yes. Loop is free and open source under the GPL 3.0 licence.
How does Loop work?
Hold its trigger key and a radial menu appears around the pointer. Move towards a direction to choose where the window goes, and let go.
Can I use Loop and Rectangle together?
You can if their keys do not clash, but most people pick one.
Read next
- Compare
ClutterFreeMac vs Loop
Loop snaps a window by holding a key and pointing in a direction on a radial menu. ClutterFreeMac lays every window on a strip that scrolls. How they compare.
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Is macOS's built in tiling enough, or do you need a window manager?
macOS Sequoia tiles windows to halves and quarters. Where that is all you need, where it runs out, and what a scrolling window manager adds.
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Rectangle vs Magnet: which window snapping app to use on a Mac
Rectangle is free and open source with more sizes; Magnet is a paid App Store app with the basics. Both snap windows when you ask and never arrange new ones.
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