Loop vs Magnet

Loop

• Mac users who want to place windows with one held key and a cursor movement
• People looking for a free, open-source alternative to paid window snappers
• Those who want to theme the menu and preview to their taste

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

Loop

• macOS only; the README says it is compatible with macOS 13 and later.
• Its own comparison table lists no trackpad gestures, saved workspaces, pinning windows on top or resizing of adjacent windows.
• Using Caps Lock as the trigger key needs a modifier remap in System Settings or another app such as Hyperkey or Karabiner-Elements.

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.

Loop

Radial menu

Hold the trigger key and move the cursor in a direction to move and resize the window. The menu's width, shape and color can be changed, and it can be turned off.

Preview window

An outline shows where the window will land before the action is committed. Its padding, corner radius and border are adjustable, and it is optional.

Keyboard shortcuts

Any key can be paired with the trigger key to run an action: halves, quarters, thirds, maximize, center, grow and shrink, undo, or a move to another screen.

Cycles

Pressing the same key combination repeatedly, or left-clicking repeatedly, steps a window through a sequence of positions.

Stash

Windows can be hidden at the edge of the screen and brought back by hovering near the edge or with a key binding.

URL scheme for scripts

A loop:// URL scheme lets shell scripts and AppleScript trigger window actions, chain several of them, and list the available commands.

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.

Loop

• Loop$0

  Radial menu, preview window, keyboard shortcuts, cycles, stash, theming and URL-scheme scripting. GPLv3 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.