macOS can now tile windows on its own, but it is still basic. That is why so many Mac users install a window manager to snap windows into halves, thirds, and quarters with a drag or a shortcut.
Magnet is the best-known paid option. This guide starts with Magnet and its price, then covers the best free Magnet alternatives for Mac, plus a couple of paid ones worth knowing.
What is Magnet and how much does it cost?
Magnet snaps windows into tiles by dragging, shortcuts, or the menu bar. Image: Magnet
Magnet is a window manager sold on the Mac App Store.
Shotbase is a comprehensive tool designed to capture and manage all your screen-based content effortlessly. With features like stunning screenshot capabilities, recording options that include cinematic effects, and an intuitive organizational structure powered by local AI, you can easily keep your multimedia assets organized and accessible. Shotbase not only allows you to capture specific areas, windows, or full screens on your Mac but also enables you to edit and enhance your captures with backgrounds, frames, and annotations. The integrated AI ensures your captures are automatically named and tagged for easy searching, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to enhance their productivity and creativity in one seamless workspace.
SoftwareCreativemacOS
DeskMinder
For Easily Distracted Minds
Freemium
DeskMinder is a productivity software application designed for Mac users who struggle with distractions. It provides a straightforward interface for creating desktop pop-up reminders and tasks, helping users manage urgent to-dos, short breaks, and fleeting ideas. With features like full-screen notifications and Apple Reminders integration, DeskMinder aims to enhance focus and time management for i
- With features like easy-to-create desktop pop-ups for reminders and tasks, it simplifies the process of staying on top of urgent to-dos, short breaks, or fleeting ideas.
- Users can benefit from full-screen notifications, Apple Reminders integration, and flexible widget placement, making it ideal for anyone requiring a little extra help to maintain focus.
- The app includes additional shortcuts for quick reminder setups and customizable widget options, along with a history tracking feature to monitor daily progress.
Designed specifically for Mac users, DeskMinder aims to facilitate better time management and productivity for those with attention challenges, providing a seamless user experience without unnecessary complexity.
SoftwareProductivitymacOS
Klack
Satisfying sound with every keystroke
Paid
Klack is a macOS application designed to enhance the typing experience through high-fidelity sound for each keystroke. It provides features such as immersive spatial audio, instant feedback, and customizable sound options, making it suitable for writers, developers, and anyone who values an engaging typing environment. The app is easily accessible from the menubar and offers extensive configuratio
- Provides immersive spatial audio for enhanced typing feedback.
- Allows customization of keystroke sounds, pitch variations, and volume settings.
- Features a menubar interface for quick access to configuration options.
- Supports instant feedback with each keystroke for a more engaging experience.
- Designed for writers and developers seeking auditory feedback while typing.
Klack enhances the typing experience on Mac by providing high-fidelity sound for each keystroke.
SoftwaremacOS
TypoTab
TypoTab, the ultimate AI writing assistant for
Paid
TypoTab is a macOS application that functions as an AI-driven writing assistant. It enhances writing efficiency by providing tools for grammar correction, text rephrasing, and content generation, all accessible from the menu bar without needing to switch applications. This tool is designed for writers, students, and professionals looking to streamline their writing process and improve productivity
- Provides grammar correction and text rephrasing directly from the menu bar.
- Allows text refinement in any application without switching contexts.
- Offers customizable actions to meet individual writing needs.
- Streamlines repetitive writing tasks for improved efficiency.
- Supports a wide range of applications, enhancing workflow across platforms.
TypoTab is a macOS application that enhances writing efficiency by providing grammar correction, text rephrasing, and content generation directly from the menu bar. It allows users to refine text in any application without switching contexts, offering customizable actions to suit individual writing needs.
SoftwareProductivitymacOS
DaisyDisk
A visual disk space analyzer for Mac, with a lifetime license.
One-time
DaisyDisk is a Mac disk space analyzer that shows your drive as an interactive sunburst map, so you can find the largest files and folders and drag them to the Trash.
- Scans the startup disk in seconds and works with internal, external, and network volumes, plus cloud folders in the full version.
- An interactive map with Quick Look for file previews, and in-app deletion.
- Detects hidden and purgeable space. The stand-alone edition can reveal that space, purge it, and scan as an administrator.
- A one-time lifetime license for up to 5 personal Macs, with minor updates included and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- A free trial can scan and browse the map. Deleting files, admin scans, and cloud scans need a license.
DaisyDisk is sold on daisydiskapp.com for $9.99, and also on the Mac App Store. The stand-alone edition has a few features the App Store edition cannot include.
SoftwareUtilitiesmacOS
Sol
A free, open source Mac launcher focused on speed and simple tools.
Free
Sol is a free, open source app launcher for macOS. It is made for speed, with little setup, and it is released under the MIT License.
- Launch apps, run calculations, pick emoji, and bind global shortcuts from one palette.
- A clipboard manager, a keyboard-driven window manager, calendar integration, and quick notes.
- Translation, a process manager, media key forwarding, a MacBook notch hider, and developer commands such as cleaning derived data.
- Install with Homebrew using brew install --cask sol, or download a release from the official site.
Sol has no paid plan or subscription. It is a good fit if you want a Raycast-style launcher without paying for a Powerpack or a Pro plan.
SoftwareProductivitymacOS
LaunchBar
A keyboard launcher for Mac that finds apps, files, and actions from short abbreviations.
Freemium
LaunchBar 6 is a long-running Mac launcher from Objective Development. You press a shortcut, type an abbreviation, and use it to open apps, browse files, run actions, and more, without taking your hands off the keyboard.
- Abbreviation search for applications, documents, bookmarks, contacts, and system items.
- Clipboard history, snippets, a calculator, a file manager, web search with live suggestions, and script-based actions.
- Built-in indexing rules for Finder tags, emoji, Shortcuts, Reminders, Safari lists, and more.
- A 30-day trial. After that, LaunchBar can still be used for free, with occasional short breaks that invite you to buy a license.
- A Single License is $35 or €35, depending on the store region. A Family License is €59 and covers up to 5 computers in one household, for personal use.
LaunchBar suits people who already like typing short abbreviations, and anyone who wants a one-time license instead of a subscription.
SoftwareProductivitymacOS
NotchNook
Turn the MacBook notch into a hub for music, files, calendar, and live activities.
Paid
NotchNook turns the MacBook notch into a panel (the Nook) for music, calendar, files, widgets, and live activities. On Macs without a notch, a slim handle at the top of the screen opens the same Nook.
- NotchNook Pro is the rebuilt edition, with a Liquid Glass or classic black notch, lyrics, a file converter, clipboard and Pocket, a teleprompter, a terminal, and approvals for AI agents such as Claude Code and Codex.
- NotchNook Classic is the original app: media controls, calendar, Nook widgets, and a file Tray, and it still runs on Intel Macs.
- Both editions have a 48-hour free trial (no card), cover up to 2 Macs, and include updates while the license is active.
- Pro is $19 for a lifetime license or $3 a month. Classic is $15 for a lifetime license or $2 a month.
- Pro needs Apple silicon and macOS 14.6 or later. Classic also runs on Intel Macs with macOS 14.6 or later.
NotchNook is a good fit if you want the notch to hold everyday controls, not just music, in one paid app.
SoftwareUtilitiesmacOS
Monument Valley
Surreal puzzle adventure with optical illusions
One-time
Monument Valley is a puzzle game where players manipulate fantastical architecture to guide the silent princess Ida through mysterious monuments.
- Hand-crafted worlds inspired by minimalist 3D design and optical illusions
- Reshape environments by twisting and dragging to uncover hidden paths
- Audio adapts to in-game actions to create a surreal soundscape
- iCloud support allows gameplay synchronization across devices
- Animated iMessage sticker pack included for iOS 10 and above
- Optional separate purchase of eight additional chapters in Forgotten Shores
Monument Valley requires iOS 15.0 or later and is priced at $3.99 with optional in-app purchases for extra chapters. A compatible iOS device is required.
SoftwareCreativeiOS & iPadOS
Price (checked Nov 9, 2026): $4.99 once on the Mac App Store, with free updates.
Key features:
Snap windows by dragging them to edges and corners, by keyboard shortcuts, or from the menu bar.
Fullscreen, halves, quarters, and thirds.
Up to six external displays, including vertical displays.
Supports macOS 13 Ventura and later.
MagnetSnap Mac windows into halves, thirds, and quarters.Visit WebsiteMagnet is a long-running window manager for Mac that snaps windows into organized tiles. You drag a window to a screen edge or corner, use a keyboard shortcut, or pick a layout from the menu bar.
- Halves, thirds, quarters, and full screen layouts.
- Drag to edges and corners, or use customizable keyboard shortcuts.
- Custom commands and configurable layouts.
- Supports up to six external displays and vertical screens.
- Optional iCloud sync of settings.
Magnet is a one-time purchase on the Mac App Store with a perpetual license and no subscription.Visit Website
How do the best free Magnet alternatives compare?
Prices below were checked on Nov 9, 2026.
App
Price
Style
macOS
Best for
Magnet
$4.99 once
Snap to halves, thirds, quarters
13+
Simple snapping
Rectangle
Free, Pro $9.99
Snap with shortcuts and drag
14+
Best free Magnet alternative
Loop
Free
Radial menu
13+
Fast, mouse-friendly snapping
ChainYourMac
$19.99 lifetime
Scrolling tiling
13+
A scrolling strip of windows
OmniWM
Free
Scrolling and BSP tiling
26+
Hyprland and Niri fans
ScreenPlace
Free, Ultra $29 once
Saved workspaces
14+
Restoring window layouts
Rectangle: best free Magnet alternative
Rectangle moves and resizes windows with shortcuts or snap areas. Image: Rectangle
Price: free and open source. Rectangle Pro is $9.99.
Rectangle is the most popular free window manager for Mac and the successor to Spectacle.
Key features:
Keyboard shortcuts for halves, thirds, quarters, and more.
Drag windows to screen edges and corners to snap, like Magnet.
Portrait display layouts.
Install with Homebrew or from the website. Needs macOS 14 or later.
Rectangle Pro adds custom snap targets anywhere on screen, a snap panel, and layouts that activate when displays connect or disconnect.
Better or worse than Magnet? Rectangle does everything Magnet does for free. Magnet's only edge is that it is on the Mac App Store.
RectangleMove and snap windows with shortcuts or dragVisit WebsiteRectangle is a free, open-source window manager that adds Windows-style snapping to macOS, using keyboard shortcuts or screen-edge snap areas.
- Snap windows to halves, thirds, quarters, or full screen.
- Drag a window to an edge or corner to snap it, like Windows Snap.
- Move windows between displays with a shortcut.
- Free. Rectangle Pro is a one-time upgrade with more features.
Rectangle suits people who want fast window layouts without the setup of a tiling manager.Visit Website
Loop: best free Magnet alternative with a radial menu
Loop is open source and available on GitHub. Image: Loop
Price: free and open source.
Loop picks a window direction with a radial menu. Hold a trigger key, move your mouse toward a direction, and let go.
Key features:
Radial menu for picking a window position.
A preview of where the window will go.
Keyboard shortcuts for every position.
Compatible with macOS 13 and later.
Better or worse than Magnet? Faster if you prefer gestures over remembering shortcuts, and it is free. It is less familiar if you are used to dragging windows to corners.
LoopWindow management made elegant.Visit WebsiteLoop is a Open source macOS app that simplifies window management for you.
- You can effortlessly choose your window direction using a radial menu triggered by a simple key press, and customize it according to your preferences with personalized colors and settings.
- Easily move, resize, and arrange your windows with just a few clicks, saving you valuable time and energy.
Loop is constantly evolving, with new features and improvements added regularly to enhance your window management experience on macOS.Visit Website
ChainYourMac: best scrolling window manager for Mac
ChainYourMac lines windows up on a strip that scrolls. Image: ChainYourMac
Price: $19.99 lifetime for 1 Mac, or $49.99 for 3 Macs. It needs macOS 13 and Apple silicon.
ChainYourMac is a tiling window manager that scrolls instead of shrinking. It is not free, but it is the easiest way to try scrolling tiling on Mac.
Key features:
New windows open beside the focused one instead of squeezing the others.
The strip scrolls to follow your focus, from the keyboard or a trackpad swipe.
Stacks, tabbed columns, and preset widths.
Your layout comes back after a restart, per display and per Space.
A settings window instead of a config file.
Better or worse than Magnet? A different way of working. Pick it if you have more windows than screen space. Stick with Magnet or Rectangle if you just want halves and quarters.
ChainYourMacArrange windows on a scrolling stripVisit WebsiteChainYourMac arranges windows on a horizontal strip that scrolls beyond the edges of your display, keeping each window at its chosen width.
- Navigate with keyboard shortcuts or three- and four-finger trackpad swipes.
- Group windows into stacks or tabbed columns.
- Set preset widths, gaps, and per-app floating rules.
- Keep separate layouts for each display and Space.
- Restore window order and stacks after restarting.
Requires macOS 13 Ventura or later on Apple silicon. A lifetime license for one Mac costs $19.99 and includes future updates; multi-Mac licenses are available.Visit Website
OmniWM: best free tiling window manager for Mac
OmniWM brings Hyprland and Niri style layouts to macOS. Image: OmniWM
Price: free, under the GPL-2.0 license. It needs macOS 26 Tahoe and Apple silicon.
OmniWM is a full tiling window manager for people who want their Mac to feel like a Linux desktop.
Key features:
Niri layout: a scrolling strip of columns or rows.
Hyprland layout: dwindle tiling, where each new window splits the focused tile.
An overview of every window on every workspace.
A built-in Ghostty quake terminal and a command palette.
Install with Homebrew using `brew install --cask omniwm`.
Better or worse than Magnet? Far more powerful and free, but it takes time to learn, and it only runs on the newest macOS.
OmniWMFree niri-style scrolling and Hyprland-style tiling for macOS.Visit WebsiteOmniWM is a free, open-source window manager that brings niri-style scrolling columns and Hyprland-style Dwindle tiling to macOS, chosen per workspace. It keeps System Integrity Protection on.
- Niri layout scrolls columns sideways, or rows on a portrait display.
- Dwindle layout splits the focused tile for classic BSP tiling.
- Includes a quake-style terminal, scratchpads, an overview, and a command palette.
- Trackpad gestures scroll columns with two, three, or four fingers.
- The omniwmctl CLI and IPC allow full automation.
OmniWM requires macOS 26 Tahoe or later on Apple silicon, plus the Accessibility and Input Monitoring permissions. It is licensed GPL-2.0 and installs with Homebrew.Visit Website
ScreenPlace: best free app to restore window layouts on Mac
ScreenPlace saves where your windows go and puts them back. Image: ScreenPlace
Price: free, with ScreenPlace Ultra at $29 once. It needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
ScreenPlace remembers window positions and puts them back.
Key features:
Unlimited workspaces, with per-display configurations.
Auto-apply and global shortcuts for workspaces and window positions.
Reusable templates.
A floating badge next to each window to snap it back into place with one click.
Better or worse than Magnet? Better for multi-monitor setups where windows get scrambled when you plug in a display. Magnet is better for quick, one-off snapping.
Yes. macOS Sequoia and later can tile windows. Drag a window to the edge of the screen, or choose Window, then Move & Resize, in the menu bar. You can also use Fn-Control with the arrow keys to move windows to halves.
The built-in tiling covers halves and quarters, but it has no thirds, fewer shortcuts, and no saved layouts. That is where Rectangle and the others come in. For more free fixes, see our guide to the best Mac apps for Windows switchers.
FAQ
What is the best free window manager for Mac?
Rectangle. It snaps windows with shortcuts and by dragging, like Magnet, and it is free and open source.
Is Magnet worth $4.99?
It is a fair price for a simple, polished app. But Rectangle does the same job for free, and macOS now has basic tiling built in.
Is Rectangle better than Magnet?
For most people, yes, because it covers the same layouts for free and has more shortcuts. Rectangle Pro adds even more for $9.99.
What is the best tiling window manager for Mac?
OmniWM for a free Hyprland and Niri style setup on macOS 26. ChainYourMac if you want scrolling tiling in a native app with a settings window.
How do I snap windows on a Mac without an app?
Drag a window to the screen edge, or use Window, then Move & Resize, in the menu bar. Fn-Control with the arrow keys also tiles windows.
Verdict
Install Rectangle if you want a free Magnet alternative that just works. Choose Loop for a radial menu, ChainYourMac or OmniWM for tiling, and ScreenPlace if you want your layouts restored. Buy Magnet if you prefer a simple App Store app.
Apple's over-ear headphones with the H2 chip, USB-C, and up to 20 hours of listening.
HardwareAudiomacOS & iOS & iPadOS
DaisyDisk
A visual disk space analyzer for Mac, with a lifetime license.
One-time
DaisyDisk is a Mac disk space analyzer that shows your drive as an interactive sunburst map, so you can find the largest files and folders and drag them to the Trash.
- Scans the startup disk in seconds and works with internal, external, and network volumes, plus cloud folders in the full version.
- An interactive map with Quick Look for file previews, and in-app deletion.
- Detects hidden and purgeable space. The stand-alone edition can reveal that space, purge it, and scan as an administrator.
- A one-time lifetime license for up to 5 personal Macs, with minor updates included and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- A free trial can scan and browse the map. Deleting files, admin scans, and cloud scans need a license.
DaisyDisk is sold on daisydiskapp.com for $9.99, and also on the Mac App Store. The stand-alone edition has a few features the App Store edition cannot include.
SoftwareUtilitiesmacOS
Sol
A free, open source Mac launcher focused on speed and simple tools.
Free
Sol is a free, open source app launcher for macOS. It is made for speed, with little setup, and it is released under the MIT License.
- Launch apps, run calculations, pick emoji, and bind global shortcuts from one palette.
- A clipboard manager, a keyboard-driven window manager, calendar integration, and quick notes.
- Translation, a process manager, media key forwarding, a MacBook notch hider, and developer commands such as cleaning derived data.
- Install with Homebrew using brew install --cask sol, or download a release from the official site.
Sol has no paid plan or subscription. It is a good fit if you want a Raycast-style launcher without paying for a Powerpack or a Pro plan.
SoftwareProductivitymacOS
LaunchBar
A keyboard launcher for Mac that finds apps, files, and actions from short abbreviations.
Freemium
LaunchBar 6 is a long-running Mac launcher from Objective Development. You press a shortcut, type an abbreviation, and use it to open apps, browse files, run actions, and more, without taking your hands off the keyboard.
- Abbreviation search for applications, documents, bookmarks, contacts, and system items.
- Clipboard history, snippets, a calculator, a file manager, web search with live suggestions, and script-based actions.
- Built-in indexing rules for Finder tags, emoji, Shortcuts, Reminders, Safari lists, and more.
- A 30-day trial. After that, LaunchBar can still be used for free, with occasional short breaks that invite you to buy a license.
- A Single License is $35 or €35, depending on the store region. A Family License is €59 and covers up to 5 computers in one household, for personal use.
LaunchBar suits people who already like typing short abbreviations, and anyone who wants a one-time license instead of a subscription.
SoftwareProductivitymacOS
NotchNook
Turn the MacBook notch into a hub for music, files, calendar, and live activities.
Paid
NotchNook turns the MacBook notch into a panel (the Nook) for music, calendar, files, widgets, and live activities. On Macs without a notch, a slim handle at the top of the screen opens the same Nook.
- NotchNook Pro is the rebuilt edition, with a Liquid Glass or classic black notch, lyrics, a file converter, clipboard and Pocket, a teleprompter, a terminal, and approvals for AI agents such as Claude Code and Codex.
- NotchNook Classic is the original app: media controls, calendar, Nook widgets, and a file Tray, and it still runs on Intel Macs.
- Both editions have a 48-hour free trial (no card), cover up to 2 Macs, and include updates while the license is active.
- Pro is $19 for a lifetime license or $3 a month. Classic is $15 for a lifetime license or $2 a month.
- Pro needs Apple silicon and macOS 14.6 or later. Classic also runs on Intel Macs with macOS 14.6 or later.
NotchNook is a good fit if you want the notch to hold everyday controls, not just music, in one paid app.
SoftwareUtilitiesmacOS
BenQ MA270S
A 27-inch 5K Nano Gloss monitor with Thunderbolt 4, built for Mac.
HardwareDisplaysmacOS
W.F.A Sleeve for MacBook (14″)
A slim black sleeve with a padded lining for the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
HardwareAccessoriesmacOS
Monument Valley
Surreal puzzle adventure with optical illusions
One-time
Monument Valley is a puzzle game where players manipulate fantastical architecture to guide the silent princess Ida through mysterious monuments.
- Hand-crafted worlds inspired by minimalist 3D design and optical illusions
- Reshape environments by twisting and dragging to uncover hidden paths
- Audio adapts to in-game actions to create a surreal soundscape
- iCloud support allows gameplay synchronization across devices
- Animated iMessage sticker pack included for iOS 10 and above
- Optional separate purchase of eight additional chapters in Forgotten Shores
Monument Valley requires iOS 15.0 or later and is priced at $3.99 with optional in-app purchases for extra chapters. A compatible iOS device is required.
SoftwareCreativeiOS & iPadOS
Discrity
Monitor and control camera and mic access
One-time
Discrity is a menu bar app for Mac that detects and reports which applications are using your camera and microphone. It provides instant alerts and allows you to stop access in one click.
- Displays which app is using the camera/microphone, and lets you stop it immediately
- Notifies you within two seconds when camera or microphone access is activated
- Keeps a local, filterable history of all camera and microphone usage by app, time, and duration
- Monitors and reports activity during lock screen, including keyboard and trackpad input and device changes
- Speaker guard automatically mutes speakers when headphones disconnect
- No account required; history and data stay on your Mac
Discrity is available as a direct download with a 7-day free trial. Continued use requires a one-time purchase of €7.99 per Mac. Requires macOS 14 or later.
Dudu
