Bayview vs Rectangle

Rectangle is free and open source. It moves windows to preset spots, like halves, thirds and quarters, with a keyboard shortcut or by dragging the window to the edge of the screen. Bayview costs $3 and lets you drag out any area on a grid, then save it as a shortcut.

Local shortcuts

Every Rectangle shortcut is global. It works in any app, so it has to include modifier keys, and each window position needs its own combination: ⌃⌥←, ⌃⌥→, ⌃⌥U, ⌃⌥I and so on. Like any global shortcut, Rectangle's can clash with shortcuts in the apps you use. Rectangle's fix for a clash is to ignore that app, which turns off all of Rectangle's shortcuts while the app is in front.

Bayview shortcuts can be local instead. A local shortcut only works while the Bayview grid is open, so it can be a single key. Open the grid with one shortcut you pick, like ⌃⌥Space, then press a single key to place the window. You decide which key does what. For example, you could set up H for the left half, L for the right half and F to fill the screen, or use any other keys you like. You remember one modifier combination, and the rest are single keys you picked yourself. Local shortcuts only listen while the grid is open, so they never get in the way of your other apps.

To place several windows in a row, turn on "Keep grid open until dismissed" in the Grid tab and the grid stays up between key presses.

Presets or a grid

Each Rectangle shortcut sends the window to one preset spot, such as the left half or the top-right quarter. If the size you want is one of its presets, Rectangle gets the window there in one keystroke.

Bayview starts from a grid instead. Open it, drag across the cells you want, and the window fills them. That can be the left 5 of 12 columns, a strip along the bottom of a tall monitor, or anything else that isn't a preset. While you drag, a translucent preview shows where the window will land. If you keep coming back to an area, save it as a position with its own shortcut.

Other keyboard controls

Bayview has keybinds that grow or shrink the front window by one grid cell, or move it one cell in any direction. These can be local too. Pressing the same shortcut twice moves the window to your next display, at the same spot on the grid.

When Rectangle fits better

If halves, thirds and quarters cover how you work, Rectangle does that for free. It also does things Bayview doesn't: it snaps a window when you drag it to the edge of the screen, it can tile or cascade all your windows at once, and Rectangle Pro can arrange a whole set of apps with one shortcut.

Switching from Rectangle

Bayview doesn't come with any positions set up, so you choose the shortcuts. You can keep the keys you're used to, switch to single-key local shortcuts, or mix the two:

1. Quit Rectangle, so the two apps aren't both moving windows on the same keys.
2. In Bayview's General tab, set an Activate Bayview shortcut to open the grid.
3. In the Positions tab, add a position and drag across the left half of the grid.
4. Record ⌃⌥← and choose Global to keep Rectangle's keys, or record a single key of your choice, like H, and choose Local.
5. Repeat for the other spots you use.

Getting started covers positions and keybinds in more detail.