RibbonFancyZones for Mac: the closest options
FancyZones is part of Microsoft PowerToys, which is Windows-only, so there's no Mac version. Which replacement fits depends on why you used it. For a few fixed zones on a big monitor, a snapping app with custom areas comes closest. For thirds on an ultrawide, Rectangle's thirds may be enough. If you used zones to fit more windows than halves allow, a scrolling window manager solves the same problem differently.
What FancyZones does
FancyZones lets you draw a layout of zones on each monitor (columns, rows, a grid, or your own shapes), then snap windows into a zone by holding Shift while you drag, or, with its override option on, with Win plus an arrow. It's most popular on ultrawide and large monitors, where Windows' own halves waste space.
What macOS has built in
macOS 15 Sequoia and later snaps to halves and quarters by dragging to edges and corners, or with Fn⌃ plus an arrow. There's no way to define your own zones. See how to tile windows on a Mac.
The closest Mac apps
| App | Custom zones | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rectangle | No; fixed halves, thirds, quarters, sixths | Free, open source | The usual first install; covers most FancyZones layouts on a single monitor |
| Rectangle Pro | Yes, snap areas you draw | $9.99 once | Also saves layouts of apps and restores them with one shortcut |
| Magnet | Fixed areas | Paid, Mac App Store | Simple drag-to-snap and shortcuts |
| Raycast | No; window commands with hotkeys | Free for personal use | A launcher that also places windows |
If you liked FancyZones because you could draw zones, Rectangle Pro is the closest match. If you only ever used three columns, Rectangle's thirds may be enough.
Ultrawide monitors
FancyZones is popular on ultrawides because halves are too wide there. On a Mac ultrawide, the same thinking applies: three or four columns beat two. The ultrawide window manager guide compares the options in detail.
A different answer: no zones at all
Zones are a fixed number of slots. That works until you need one more window than you have zones, and then something gets covered.
A scrolling window manager drops the slots. In Ribbon, every window is a column on a horizontal strip that can be wider than the screen. Each column keeps the width you gave it (⌃⌥R cycles through a quarter, a third, a half, two thirds, three quarters and full width by default, and you can change the presets). On an ultrawide, four columns might be visible at once; open a fifth and the strip scrolls rather than squeezing the others. There's no layout to draw, and nothing to snap: windows are placed as they open.
You can try the strip in the live demo. Ribbon is $9.99 once for macOS 13 or later on Apple silicon.
Coming from Windows: other things to know
- Win plus an arrow becomes Fn⌃ plus an arrow on macOS 15 and later. See Windows Snap on a Mac.
- Alt-Tab switches apps on a Mac, not windows. See Alt-Tab on a Mac.
- Virtual desktops are called Spaces. See multiple desktops on a Mac.
FAQ
Is there FancyZones for Mac?
No. PowerToys is Windows-only. Rectangle Pro's custom snap areas are the closest match; Rectangle covers fixed layouts for free.
What's the best FancyZones alternative for an ultrawide Mac monitor?
For fixed columns, Rectangle or Rectangle Pro. For more windows than columns, a scrolling window manager like Ribbon, which lets the layout extend past the screen edge.
Can macOS snap to thirds?
Not by itself. Built-in tiling does halves and quarters. Rectangle, Raycast and window managers add thirds.