Dexpot vs MaxTo (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, MaxTo grades higher than Dexpot: 2.4 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Dexpot grades higher on the free plan. MaxTo grades higher on features and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
MaxTo
Custom screen zones with hotkey and drag snapping for Windows and Mac
Which one is for you
Pick Dexpot if
- Fits if you run an older Windows version and want several desktops with their own wallpapers
- Works for private users who want a free desktop pager
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you are on Windows 10 or 11, because the download page doesn't list them and the vendor's 2016 news says compatibility problems are known
- Not for you if you use it at work, as the free version is for private use only and a license is EUR 24.90 per computer
- Watch out: the latest release is 1.6.14 from September 2014, so don't expect new features or fixes
- Skip it if you use macOS or Linux, since there is only a Windows version
Pick MaxTo if
- Fits if you use several monitors and want your own zone layout
- Works for people on both Windows and Mac
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a free tool, since there is only a 14-day trial
- Not for you if you work on a company computer with a Home licence, as Business is €39 per computer a year
- Watch out: Home updates stop when the yearly subscription ends
- Watch out: prices were in euros and the page showed no dollar figures
How we grade them
| 2.2GPADexpotFair | 2.4GPAMaxToFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BFree for private use, and the one-time business license is EUR 24.90 per computer, about $27.50, which is above the category's $19 middle one-time price. Business use is not free. | B€19 a year for up to 5 personal computers, in the cheaper quarter. Lifetime is €79. |
| Free plan and trial | BVersion 1.6 is free for private, non-commercial use with no stated cap, and one person could live on it. Companies have to buy a license. | CA 14-day trial and no free plan; the listing doesn't say a card is needed. |
| Features | CPreview of all desktops, a pager, per-desktop icons and wallpapers, window rules and a task switcher. It does the job, but it hasn't been updated since 2014. | BCustom grid zones, hotkey snapping, drag-to-snap, remembered window positions and multi-monitor support. No gap shown in the job. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. It is a program to install, but the rules, Dexgrid and per-desktop settings take some setting up. | CNo rating on record. You design your own zone layouts first. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only, and the download page lists XP through 8.1 rather than current versions. | CWindows and Mac desktops, with a Shortcuts hook; no phone or web version. |
| Best for | virtual desktops on older Windows | snapping windows to custom zones on Windows and Mac |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Dexpot and MaxTo. How we grade
Where they differ
- MaxTo can be bought with a one-time purchase.
At a glance
| Dexpot | MaxTo | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | EUR 24.90 per computer, one-time | €19 per year (Home, personal use) |
| Free plan | Free for private use only, per the download page. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 14-day free trial |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Dexpot GbR | Domi.no AS |
| Price read from | dexpot.de | maxto.net |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Dexpot
- The current version is 1.6.14 from September 2014, and the download page lists Windows XP through 8.1; Windows 10 and 11 are not listed.
- The vendor's newest news item, from February 2016, says Windows 10 compatibility problems are known and an update will follow.
- The free edition is for private use only; business use needs a paid license.
- Prices are shown in euros, with an approximate dollar conversion.
MaxTo
- Home licenses do not work on work-managed computers; those need the Business license, billed per computer.
- There is no free plan, only a 14-day trial.
- Prices were read in euros; the page showed no US dollar figures.
- Home updates stop when the yearly subscription ends, while Lifetime keeps updating.
Key features
Dexpot
- Full-screen preview
- A live overview of all desktops where windows can be dragged between them or copied, tiled and closed.
- Switching tools
- A desktop manager toolbar, a taskbar pager, a Dexgrid row-and-column layout and hotkeys such as Alt+1 to Alt+4.
- Per-desktop backgrounds and icons
- Each desktop can have its own wallpaper, color and set of desktop icons, including different backgrounds per monitor.
- Power rules
- Rules act on newly created windows, with actions such as always on top, minimize to tray or a transparency value.
- Application assignment
- Binds an application to one desktop or to all desktops and can launch programs on a chosen desktop.
- Task switcher
- DexTab replaces Alt+Tab with a list of windows across all desktops.
MaxTo
- Custom grid zones
- Build the rows and columns you want on each monitor, differently per monitor, and save frequently used layouts as presets.
- Hotkey snapping
- Move a window into a preset zone from the keyboard, with Page Up and Page Down sending it to another monitor.
- Drag-to-snap
- Shows live zone highlighting while a window is dragged and snaps it on release.
- Remembered window positions
- Version 3.1 can remember where an application's windows go, and recall windows into place after a presentation or undocking.
- Multi-monitor support
- Handles monitors with different resolutions and scaling.
- Translations
- The interface is translated into 32 languages, including right-to-left support.
Plans
Dexpot
Private use$0
Dexpot 1.6 is free for private, non-commercial use.
Single licenseEUR 24.90
one-time, per computer (EU price includes VAT)
Pro license for one computer or client, with support and updates for the 1.6.x series. Packages of 5 or more cost less per copy.
MaxTo
Home Yearly€19
per year, for up to 5 personal computers
Unlimited presets and monitors for personal use, with updates during the subscription. Does not activate on work-managed computers.
Home Lifetime€79
one-time, for up to 5 personal computers
Same as Home Yearly with updates for life and no renewal.
Business Yearly€39
per computer / year
Required for work or school computers, including those joined to Active Directory or Entra ID or enrolled in MDM; volume licensing is offered.
Ways to pay less
Dexpot
No public discounts listed.
MaxTo
- Lifetime license
Lifetime Home license
A single payment of €79 for Home with updates for life, as an alternative to the €19 yearly subscription.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Dexpot or MaxTo?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Dexpot starts at EUR 24.90 per computer, one-time, and MaxTo starts at €19 per year (Home, personal use).
Which has a free plan, Dexpot or MaxTo?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Dexpot has a free plan. MaxTo does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Dexpot and MaxTo run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only MaxTo lists a macOS app. Both list a Windows app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.