Magnet for Mac

Magnet for Mac is a lightweight window manager that brings fast “snap-to-tile” window organization to macOS.

Instead of manually resizing and aligning apps every time you multitask, Magnet lets you snap windows into halves, quarters, thirds (and more) using drag-to-edge “trigger areas,” keyboard shortcuts, the menu bar icon, or even the macOS green window button menu.



It’s built for people who live in multiple apps—writers, devs, analysts, designers—anyone who wants a clean, repeatable workspace in seconds.

Magnet for macOS also supports external monitors and vertical displays, and it emphasizes a simple one-time purchase model with no subscription and no in-app purchases.

Key Features

• Trigger Areas — Drag windows to screen edges/corners to snap into tiles.
• Keyboard Shortcuts — Use configurable hotkeys to move/resize instantly.
• Menu Bar Control — Snap and manage layouts from a menu bar icon (hidable).
• Green Button Menu — Optional snapping via the macOS window control (green button).
• Halves / Quarters / Thirds — Quickly tile windows for side-by-side work.
• Maximize & Variants — Top edge maximize, bottom edge third-based tiling behavior.
• Custom Commands — Create an unlimited number of custom snapping actions.
• Layout Customization — Configure layout properties and visual expressions.
• Multi-Monitor Support — Designed to work well with external displays.
• Vertical Display Support — Handles portrait/vertical monitor arrangements smoothly.
• iCloud Sync — Optionally sync settings across Macs via iCloud.
• Privacy-Friendly — App Store privacy label indicates “Data Not Collected.”

User Interface

Magnet’s UI is intentionally minimal: most of your interaction happens through snapping gestures, shortcuts, or quick menu selections.

The menu bar icon provides a compact command list, while the optional trigger areas make it feel “invisible” once you build the habit—drag to the corner for quarters, drag to the side for halves, drag to the top to maximize.

The result is less window fuss and more time staying focused on what’s open.

Installation and Setup

Magnet is distributed through the Mac App Store as a small download, and it’s designed to be set-and-forget.

After installing, you’ll typically do two quick setup steps: enable the control method you prefer (shortcuts, triggers, green-button menu, menu bar), and then fine-tune any layout/visual preferences.

If snapping ever stops working after a macOS update, the fix is usually re-authorizing Magnet under Accessibility permissions in macOS settings (the developer documents the steps).

How to Use

• Install this app from the Mac App Store and launch it once.
• Choose your control style: Trigger Areas, Keyboard Shortcuts, Menu Bar, and/or Green Button menu.
• If prompted, allow Magnet in macOS Accessibility so it can control window snapping.
• Drag a window to the left/right edge to snap into a half-screen tile.
• Drag a window into a corner to snap it into a quarter tile.
• Drag a window to the top edge to maximize on the current display.
• Use the bottom edge behavior to create thirds (and expand into two-thirds).
• Assign or adjust keyboard shortcuts for your most-used layouts.
• If you use multiple Macs, enable iCloud sync to keep settings consistent.
• Add custom commands for specialized layouts (ultrawide, vertical monitor workflows).

FAQs

Why won’t a window resize into the selected tile?
Some apps use non-standard or constrained window sizing (or enforce minimum widths), so Magnet can’t force them into certain sizes.

Snapping stopped after a macOS update—what do I do?
Quit Magnet and re-enable it in macOS Accessibility by removing it from the list and launching again to re-grant permissions.

Can Magnet arrange windows across different Spaces (Desktops) at once?
You can arrange windows within the currently active Space, but not across multiple Spaces simultaneously.

Will Magnet work on an older Mac?
It requires macOS 13 Ventura or later—if your Mac can run that, Magnet should run fine.

Does Magnet collect my data?
The App Store listing indicates “Data Not Collected.”

Alternatives

Rectangle — Free, popular window snapping with configurable shortcuts.

Moom — Powerful window layouts with custom grids and advanced controls.

BetterTouchTool — Automation powerhouse; window snapping plus trackpad/keyboard tweaks.

Divvy — Click-and-drag grid positioning for precise window placement.

Amethyst — Tiling window manager style for users who want auto-tiling workflows.

Pricing

The app is a one-time purchase on the Mac App Store for  $4.99, with no subscription and no in-app purchases.

System Requirements

• macOS: 13.0 Ventura or later
• Platform: Mac (App Store distribution)

PROS

• Extremely fast window snapping via drag/shortcuts/menu methods
• Great for multi-monitor and vertical-display setups
• Deep customization (commands, layouts, visuals)
• Optional iCloud sync for consistent setups
• One-time purchase, no subscription

CONS

• Some apps can’t be resized due to their window constraints
• Requires Accessibility permissions, which some users dislike

Conclusion

Magnet is a simple, polished way to bring reliable window snapping to macOS—especially if you juggle lots of apps and displays.

It’s affordable, privacy-friendly, and highly configurable without feeling complicated.