The latest articles on DEV Community by anthonymorrey (@anthonymorrey). https://dev.to/anthonymorrey https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4225125%2F17220dc6-32f0-41c7-acf3-2ac388007eb5.png https://dev.to/anthonymorrey en anthonymorrey Tue, 03 Nov 2026 23:40:05 +0000 https://dev.to/anthonymorrey/fancyzones-for-mac-what-exists-and-how-to-choose-4pi https://dev.to/anthonymorrey/fancyzones-for-mac-what-exists-and-how-to-choose-4pi <p>I make a Mac window manager, so treat this as a disclosure: I am the developer of Zonewell, one of the apps below. I have tried to describe the others fairly.</p> <h2> The problem </h2> <p>On Windows, PowerToys FancyZones lets you draw your own layout, for example three columns with the middle one wider, then drop windows into it. PowerToys is a Windows product, so it does not run on a Mac. If you moved to macOS and miss it, you have a few options.</p> <h2> What macOS does on its own </h2> <p>Recent versions of macOS can tile windows to halves and quarters by dragging to a screen edge. It is fine for two windows side by side. It does not let you define your own zone sizes.</p> <h2> Fixed-layout snappers </h2> <p>Rectangle and Magnet snap windows to halves, thirds, quarters and similar presets, with keyboard shortcuts and drag-to-edge. Rectangle is free and open source. Magnet is a paid app from the Mac App Store. If fixed layouts are enough, either is a good choice and you do not need anything more.</p> <h2> Custom areas and grids </h2> <p>Some apps let you define your own areas or grids. Moom and BetterSnapTool are two long-standing examples, each with its own workflow. Check their current feature lists, since they change.</p> <h2> Tiling window managers </h2> <p>Amethyst and AeroSpace tile windows automatically instead of you placing them. They are powerful, and most people need to learn a keyboard workflow first.</p> <h2> Zonewell </h2> <p>Zonewell is the one I built to match the FancyZones idea on a Mac:</p> <ul> <li>Draw up to nine zones on a live preview of your screen</li> <li>Hold a key while dragging a window to see the zones, then release over one</li> <li>A global shortcut for every zone</li> <li>Separate layouts for each display</li> <li>It remembers which zone each app belongs to</li> <li>No account and no analytics; layouts stay on your Mac</li> </ul> <p>It costs A$14.99 once, with a 14-day free trial: <a href="https://zonewell.au/fancyzones-for-mac.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://zonewell.au/fancyzones-for-mac.html</a></p> <p> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lGCrajVn5Lg" width="710" height="399"> </iframe> </p> <h2> How to choose </h2> <ul> <li>Two or three windows, and you are happy with halves and thirds: Rectangle (free) or Magnet</li> <li>You want your own zone sizes and layouts per display: Zonewell, or one of the custom-grid apps above</li> <li>You want windows to arrange themselves: a tiling manager such as AeroSpace</li> </ul> <p>Whichever you pick, macOS asks you to enable Accessibility access before an app can move other apps' windows. That is expected for all of them.</p> <p>If you use a layout that none of these handle well, tell me in the comments.</p> productivity apple macos