The real difference is the interaction model.
FancyZones extends Windows with editable zone layouts. You arrange zones, then move windows into those regions using drag behavior or keyboard shortcuts.
Snappy starts from the window under your pointer. Hold your configured trigger, move toward a target, inspect the live preview, and commit. Scroll during the gesture to cycle through halves, thirds, sixths, and eighths.
Use Snappy when repeated placement is the job.
Snappy is strongest when the same basic moves happen all day: send this window left, put that one in the center third, move another onto the next monitor, or restore it with a downward throw.
- No custom layout editor to open or maintain.
- Preview-before-commit for the exact destination.
- Release, immediate, and click-to-commit modes.
- Per-app format overrides and multi-monitor targeting.
Use FancyZones when the layout itself is the job.
FancyZones is the better fit when you need named, carefully designed arrangements, overlapping zones, or a broad PowerToys toolkit. It is free, maintained by Microsoft, and more configurable as a layout system.
Snappy should not be described as more powerful. Its advantage is a focused motion that can feel faster for common placements.