# Magnet vs Amethyst

Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026

Magnet and Amethyst are both window managers on a Mac, so the pick depends on workflow. Choose Magnet for polished, on-demand snapping without changing how your desktop behaves. Choose Amethyst for free, automatic tiling that arranges your. As of September 2026, both install with brew install --cask magnet and brew install --cask amethyst.

Re-verified August 2026: Magnet (App Store, US$7.99) and Amethyst 0.24.3 (MIT, free) remain clean examples of the manual-versus-automatic split in Mac window management. Magnet wins on zero-learning-curve polish and App Store simplicity; Amethyst wins on free automation, layout density, and keyboard-native tiling, especially on ultra-wide and multi-monitor desks. Scores cluster near 8.5/10 because declaring a universal winner would misrepresent the product split. If your complaint is 'I just need quick halves and thirds,' buy Magnet or install Rectangle. If your complaint is 'I babysit window frames all day,' give Amethyst a committed week.

## Head to head

| Factor | Magnet | Amethyst |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Paid | Free |
| Open Source | No | Yes |
| Replaces | — | Magnet ($4.99) |
| Best for | window management, productivity, utilities | window, tiling, management |
| Install | brew install --cask magnet | brew install --cask amethyst |
| Category | Productivity | System Utilities |

## Magnet

Window manager for Mac that snaps windows into organized tiles with keyboard shortcuts.

Install: `brew install --cask magnet`

[Magnet on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/magnet)

## Amethyst

Automatic tiling window manager

Install: `brew install --cask amethyst`

[Amethyst on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/amethyst)

## Features

- **Window Management Philosophy.** This is the real purchase decision. Want control on demand? Magnet. Want the system to organize itself? Amethyst.
- **Layouts & Snap Positions.** Amethyst offers algorithmic layout flexibility; Magnet offers a simpler, fixed snap grid.
- **Ease of Use & Learning Curve.** Magnet wins day-one usability by a wide margin; Amethyst requires deliberate onboarding.
- **Multi-Monitor Support.** Both handle multi-monitor well; Magnet is simpler, Amethyst is more keyboard-native for frequent throwers.
- **Customization & Shortcuts.** Amethyst customizes the tiling structure itself; Magnet customizes a smaller set of snap actions.
- **Pricing & Licensing (2026).** Amethyst is free forever; Magnet is cheap but still a paid purchase.
- **Maintenance & Tahoe 26.x / Apple Silicon Fit.** Both remain viable on 2026 hardware and OS. Amethyst shows more transparent commit activity; Magnet relies on App Store cadence.

## FAQ

### What is the main difference between Magnet and Amethyst in 2026?

Magnet manually snaps one window at a time when you drag or press a shortcut. Amethyst automatically tiles every window into a grid that reflows on open/close/focus. Magnet is about on-demand control; Amethyst is about automation. That philosophy gap has not closed.

### How much do Magnet and Amethyst cost today?

Amethyst is free and MIT-licensed (GitHub, Homebrew). Magnet is US$7.99 one-time on the Mac App Store with Family Sharing and no subscription. Always confirm App Store pricing at checkout as regional taxes vary.

### Which is easier to learn for a new Mac user?

Magnet. It works seconds after install and matches Windows Snap intuition. Amethyst needs an afternoon to configure float rules and learn tiling chords, and its first two days feel disruptive if you have never used a tiling manager.

### Can I run Magnet and Amethyst together?

No. Both compete for the same Accessibility window frames and will flicker or fight. Quit one completely before enabling the other.

### Do both support Apple Silicon and macOS Tahoe 26.x?

Yes. Magnet is a notarized App Store binary and Amethyst ships as a native Swift app (0.24.3+). Both require you to re-grant Accessibility permission after major macOS upgrades.

### Is Amethyst abandoned?

No. The 0.24.2 (March 2026) and 0.24.3 (April 2026) releases and ongoing GitHub activity show active maintenance, not abandonment. Issue volume is high because tiling edge cases on macOS are inherently complex.

### When does it make sense to pay for Magnet over free Amethyst or Rectangle?

When you want the most polished, zero-configuration snapper with App Store sandboxing and you do not want tiling at all. If you only need basic halves/thirds, free Rectangle is a closer zero-cost alternative to Magnet; if you want tiling, Amethyst is free and more powerful.

### Which is better for ultra-wide or multi-monitor desks?

Amethyst's multi-column, wide, and BSP layouts usually win for dense, multi-pane grids. Magnet is reliable across up to six displays but still requires you to place each window manually — fine for two windows, tedious for six.

## Sources

- [Magnet — CrowdCafe official site](https://magnet.crowdcafe.com/)
- [Magnet on the Mac App Store (US$7.99)](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/magnet/id441258766)
- [Amethyst official site](https://ianyh.com/amethyst/)
- [Amethyst GitHub releases (v0.24.3)](https://github.com/ianyh/Amethyst/releases)
- [Homebrew cask: amethyst](https://formulae.brew.sh/cask/amethyst)
- [Macworld — Magnet review and pricing context](https://www.macworld.com/article/677532/magnet-review.html)
- [Amethyst vs Magnet — AlternativeTo comparison overview](https://alternativeto.net/software/magnet-vs-amethyst/)

## Related

- [Rectangle vs Magnet](https://bundl.run/compare/rectangle-vs-magnet)
- [Amethyst vs Rectangle](https://bundl.run/compare/amethyst-vs-rectangle)
- [Amethyst vs AeroSpace](https://bundl.run/compare/amethyst-vs-aerospace)

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