At a glance
Yabai requires a scripting language (shell + skhd or similar), optional SIP changes, and a configuration file you author yourself. Rectangle App installs in 30 seconds and works out of the box.
Where they differ
Yabai's strength is its scripting API: every window action — move, resize, focus, reorder — is exposed as a shell command. Combined with skhd for hotkeys, you can build an i3-like experience on macOS that reacts to any condition you can express in a script.
Rectangle App trades that flexibility for immediacy. Install it, accept the default shortcuts (or change them in a clean preference pane), and you're done. No config files, no SIP tweaks, no shell dependencies. For the majority of Mac users, this is the right trade-off.
Rectangle — strengths
- Free, open source, zero-config install
- Works without SIP changes
- GUI preference pane — no config files
- Maintained for every new macOS version
✕ Rectangle — trade-offs
- No scripting API
- Cannot build fully automatic dynamic layouts
Our take
Rectangle for 95%, Yabai for the scripting obsessed
Rectangle App covers virtually every real-world window management need without touching your security settings or learning a configuration DSL.
Yabai is extraordinary — but it's a project, not a utility. If you enjoy building your environment the way a craftsperson builds tools, go for it. Otherwise, start with Rectangle.
Get Rectangle freeFrequently asked questions
Does Rectangle need SIP disabled?
No — Rectangle works with System Integrity Protection fully enabled. It only requires Accessibility permissions, which macOS prompts you to grant on first launch.
Can Rectangle be scripted?
Rectangle Pro exposes some URL scheme actions. For full shell-level scripting, Yabai remains the only option on macOS.
Is Yabai safe?
Yabai is open source and widely used, but disabling SIP does reduce system protection. Many users run Yabai without full SIP disable, accepting reduced feature coverage as the trade-off. Rectangle App has no such concern.