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Amethyst vs Magnet

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

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Amethyst
AmethystFree, open-source tiling window manager for macOS inspired by xmonad.
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Magnet
MagnetSnap Mac windows into halves, thirds, and quarters by dragging them to the edge of the screen.
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Overview
Description

Amethyst is a free and open-source tiling window manager for macOS that automatically arranges open windows into layouts such as tall, wide, column, row, and binary space partitioning, similar to Linux tiling managers like xmonad. Windows are controlled entirely from the keyboard, with customizable modifier-key shortcuts for focusing, swapping, and resizing tiles. The project is distributed under the MIT license, installable via Homebrew or a direct download from GitHub releases, and supports multiple monitors and macOS Spaces. Configuration is handled through a YAML file, and advanced users can define custom layouts in JavaScript.

Magnet is a lightweight macOS window manager from CrowdCafe that lets users drag a window to the edge or corner of the screen to snap it into a half, quarter, or third of the display. It can also be controlled from the menu bar or with customizable keyboard shortcuts, and supports layouts for fullscreen, halves, thirds, and corner quarters. The app targets people who juggle multiple windows and want faster, more consistent arrangement than manual dragging and resizing. It is a simple, focused, one-time-purchase utility rather than a full automation suite.

Pricing
Free
Paid (One-time)
Category
Window Management
Window Management
Best for
Developers and power users who want free, keyboard-driven window tiling on macOS
Mac users who want fast, simple window snapping without a steep learning curve
Specifications
deployment
Desktop App
Desktop App
open source
Yes
No
api available
No
No
support options
GitHub issues, community wiki
Mac App Store support page
key integrations
Homebrew
None (standalone utility)
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Completely free and open source with no license fee.
  • Highly keyboard-driven, appealing to users coming from Linux tiling managers.
  • Active GitHub project with over 16,000 stars and regular releases.
  • Simple installation via Homebrew.
  • Simple, focused tool that does one job (window snapping) very well.
  • Low one-time price with no subscription.
  • Menu bar and keyboard shortcut controls fit different working styles.
  • Lightweight with minimal system resource use.
Cons
  • Requires granting accessibility permissions and some manual setup to work smoothly.
  • No official GUI-based preferences panel comparable to paid alternatives.
  • Custom JavaScript layouts are still a beta feature with rougher edges.
  • Lacks the tiling automation and scripting depth of tools like Amethyst or BetterTouchTool.
  • No Windows or Linux version.
  • Layout options are fixed presets rather than fully custom grids.
Community & Metrics
Upvotes
0
0
User rating
Not enough data
Not enough data

More alternatives & similar tools

Alternatives to Amethyst

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AeroSpace
AeroSpace

Tiling window manager for macOS

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Magnet
Magnet

Snap Mac windows into halves, thirds, and quarters by dragging them to the edge of the screen.

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Alternatives to Magnet

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Moom
Moom

A Mac window management app for quickly moving, resizing, and saving window layouts.

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Amethyst
Amethyst

Free, open-source tiling window manager for macOS inspired by xmonad.

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Rectangle
Rectangle

Move and resize any Mac window instantly using keyboard shortcuts or snap areas.

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The Verdict

AI-generated from listing data

Amethyst offers free, highly customizable tiling for power users willing to invest setup time, while Magnet provides a cheap, easy‑to‑use snapping tool for anyone who wants quick window arrangement without learning curves.

Key differences

  • •Amethyst is free and open‑source; Magnet requires a one‑time purchase.
  • •Amethyst uses keyboard‑driven tiling with scriptable layouts; Magnet relies on drag‑to‑snap and preset shortcuts.
  • •Amethyst requires manual accessibility permissions and YAML/JavaScript configuration; Magnet works out‑of‑the‑box via drag or menu bar.
  • •Amethyst supports multiple monitors with independent layouts per screen; Magnet also supports multiple monitors but only with preset snaps.
  • •Amethyst’s support is community‑driven via GitHub; Magnet offers limited support through the Mac App Store page.
DimensionWinner

Pricing & value

Amethyst is free and open source; Magnet costs a one‑time fee.

Amethyst

Ease of use / learning curve

Magnet works immediately with drag‑to‑snap; Amethyst needs keyboard shortcuts and YAML/JS setup.

Magnet

Features & depth

Amethyst provides full tiling, custom scripts, and per‑monitor layouts; Magnet offers only preset snapping.

Amethyst

Integrations & ecosystem

Amethyst integrates via Homebrew and can be version‑controlled; Magnet has no integrations.

Amethyst

Support

Amethyst has community GitHub issues and wiki; Magnet’s support is limited to a Mac App Store page.

Amethyst

Security & privacy

Both have no specified API or data collection details; no differences noted.

Tie

Choose Amethyst if…

Developers or power users who want free, scriptable tiling and are comfortable with manual setup.

Choose Magnet if…

General Mac users who prefer a simple, inexpensive tool that works instantly with drag‑and‑drop snapping.

Common questions

Is there any ongoing cost?

Amethyst is free; Magnet requires a one‑time purchase.

Do I need to write code to use the tool?

Amethyst can use JavaScript for custom layouts (beta) but works with keyboard shortcuts; Magnet needs no coding.

Can both tools handle multiple monitors?

Yes, both support multiple monitors, but Amethyst offers independent per‑screen layouts while Magnet provides only preset snaps.