Amethyst vs Magnet

Amethyst

• Mac users who want windows arranged automatically as they open
• People coming from xmonad who want similar key bindings
• Those who want tiling with a settings window rather than only a config file

Magnet

• Mac users who want simple window snapping for a small one-time price
• People who arrange windows by dragging them to screen edges
• Multi-monitor setups, including vertical displays

Amethyst

• macOS only; the site says it is supported on macOS 10.15 or later.
• It needs Accessibility permission, granted under Privacy & Security in System Settings.
• The site advises turning off the macOS setting that rearranges Spaces by recent use, or keyboard navigation between Spaces becomes unpredictable.
• Custom JavaScript layouts are labeled beta, and not every layout responds to the resize commands.

Magnet

• macOS only and sold solely through the Mac App Store; it requires macOS 13 Ventura or later.
• The pages read mention no free version or trial; the app is a paid download.
• Windows can be arranged within the active Space but not across different Spaces.
• Non-standard windows cannot be resized, and Adobe Creative Suite and Creative Cloud apps older than the 2017 versions are not supported.

Amethyst

Automatic tiling layouts

Windows are placed by the active layout: Tall, Wide, Two Pane, three-column variants, Column, Row, Fullscreen, Widescreen-Tall and binary space partitioning. Layouts can be removed from the cycle.

xmonad-style shortcuts

Two modifier combinations, Option-Shift and Control-Option-Shift by default, cycle layouts, resize the main pane, move focus and swap windows.

Spaces and screens

Shortcuts throw the focused window to a numbered Space or to another screen, and move focus between screens.

Floating windows

Toggle floating for the focused window, list apps that should always float or always tile, and let windows under a size threshold float by default.

Mouse options

Optional settings make focus follow the mouse, move the pointer to the focused window, swap windows by dragging one onto another, and update the layout after a mouse resize.

YAML config and custom layouts

A file at ~/.amethyst.yml sets layouts, margins, padding and shortcuts, and overrides the app's settings window. Custom layouts written in JavaScript are in beta.

Magnet

Drag-to-snap trigger areas

Drag a window to a screen corner to snap it into a quarter, or to a side edge for a half. The top edge maximizes the window and the bottom edge creates thirds.

Keyboard shortcuts

Window commands can be run from keyboard shortcuts, which are optional and customizable.

Menu bar and green button menus

Commands are also available from a menu bar icon, which can be hidden, and from the menu on a window's green button.

Custom commands

Beyond the built-in set of commands, the App Store listing describes an unlimited number of custom commands and configurable layout properties.

External and vertical displays

Supports up to six external displays. On a vertical screen, thirds are created along the sides, with quarters and halves in the corners and on the bottom edge.

iCloud sync

Settings can optionally be synchronized through iCloud, according to the App Store listing.

Amethyst

• Amethyst$0

  Every layout, keyboard shortcut and configuration option, as a direct download or through Homebrew. MIT licensed.

Magnet

• Magnet$4.99

  one-time purchase (US Mac App Store price)

  A perpetual license with free updates, no subscription and no in-app purchases. The listing supports Family Sharing.