Magnet alternative: how Macsential compares
Magnet is a long-standing window manager sold on the Mac App Store. Macsential has a window manager too, alongside screen recording, screenshots, file conversion and disk cleanup. Here's an honest comparison.
The short answer
For window snapping alone, Magnet is the cheaper choice: $4.99 on the US Mac App Store, a one-time purchase, no subscription or in-app purchases, and it snaps windows you drag to a screen edge or corner. Choose Macsential if you'd also use its other tools, or if you arrange windows mostly from the keyboard.
Magnet and Macsential compared
| Feature | Magnet | Macsential |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 on the US Mac App Store, one-time purchase, no subscription or in-app purchases | US$29.99 once for every tool, with a year of updates; the first licenses are free |
| Updates | Free updates through the Mac App Store | A year included; renewing is optional, US$9.99 a year |
| Where to get it | Mac App Store only | Macsential.com |
| Requirements | MacOS 13 Ventura or later | MacOS 15 Sequoia or later on Apple Silicon |
| Layouts | Fullscreen, halves, quarters, thirds and two-thirds | Halves, quarters, maximize, maximize height, center, larger, smaller and restore; press a half or corner again to step from one-quarter to three-quarters |
| Drag to snap | Yes: drag a window to a screen edge or corner | No; macOS's own tiling handles dragging |
| Keyboard shortcuts | Yes, keyboard shortcuts you can customize | Defaults on ⌃⌥ for every layout, each one changeable or off |
| Displays | Up to six external displays | Moves windows to the next or previous display |
| Family Sharing | Up to six family members with Family Sharing | No; a license is active on one Mac at a time |
| Other tools | Window management | Screen recorder, screenshots, image and video converter, disk cleaner |
Who should stay with Magnet
- You only need window snapping. Magnet costs $4.99 on the US Mac App Store and does it well.
- You arrange windows by dragging them to edges and corners. Magnet snaps them there; Macsential leaves dragging to macOS.
- Your Mac runs macOS 13 or 14, or has an Intel chip. Magnet needs macOS 13 Ventura or later; Macsential needs macOS 15 on Apple Silicon.
- You share apps with your family: Magnet works for up to six family members with Family Sharing.
Why switch to Macsential
- You also want to record your screen, style screenshots, convert images and videos or clear caches, and would rather pay for one app than several.
- You work from the keyboard. Every Macsential layout, including maximize height, larger, smaller and restore, has a default shortcut you can change, and pressing a half or corner shortcut again steps through other widths.
- Macsential's shortcuts match Rectangle's defaults, which helps if you switch between Macs that use either.
Sources
Everything this page says about Magnet comes from its maker's own pages, checked on the date shown. Prices and features change; tell us at hello@macsential.com if something here is out of date.
- Magnet, price: apps.apple.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Magnet, pricing model: apps.apple.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Magnet, updates: magnet.crowdcafe.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Magnet, where sold: magnet.crowdcafe.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Magnet, requirements: magnet.crowdcafe.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Magnet, layouts: magnet.crowdcafe.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Magnet, drag to snap: magnet.crowdcafe.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Magnet, shortcuts: apps.apple.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Magnet, displays: magnet.crowdcafe.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Magnet, family sharing: apps.apple.com, checked October 31, 2026
- Magnet, spaces: magnet.crowdcafe.com, checked October 31, 2026
Related
- Window Manager Snap windows to halves and quarters, or move them between displays, with keyboard shortcuts.
- Rectangle Rectangle is free and snaps dragged windows. Macsential uses the same shortcuts and adds recording, screenshots, conversion and cleanup.
- Pricing One price for every tool, paid once: what a license includes, how the price steps up, and renewals.
More comparisons
Questions
How much does Magnet cost?
$4.99 on the US Mac App Store, a one-time purchase, no subscription or in-app purchases. App Store prices differ by country.
Can Macsential snap a window when I drag it to the edge?
No. Macsential moves windows from the keyboard and from its Window Manager page. Dragging to an edge uses macOS's own tiling.
Does Magnet work across Spaces?
Magnet arranges windows in the active Space only, not across Spaces. Macsential's Window Manager doesn't move windows between Spaces either.
Can I use Magnet and Macsential together?
Yes. Switch off Macsential's window shortcuts, or change them, so the two apps don't use the same keys.
Which Macs do they run on?
Magnet needs macOS 13 Ventura or later. Macsential needs macOS 15 Sequoia or later on a Mac with Apple Silicon.
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