Magnet vs Mosaic (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Magnet if

• Fits if you arrange windows by dragging them to the edges of a Mac screen
• Works for desks with up to six external displays, including a vertical one

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you want to try before you buy, as no free version or trial is mentioned
• Skip it if you move windows between Spaces a lot, because it only arranges them within the active one
• Not for you if you run Adobe apps older than the 2017 versions, or need non-standard windows resized
• Skip it if you're on Windows, Linux or a Mac older than macOS 13 Ventura; it's sold only on the Mac App Store

Pick Mosaic if

• Fits if you want to lay windows out by dragging on a Mac
• Works for people with more than one display

Look elsewhere if

• Watch out: prices are in pounds and the dollar amount is only shown at checkout
• Watch out: the vendor says major upgrades may carry an optional fee
• Tight if you want the Pro tools and use on 5 Macs, as that's the £29.99 edition
• Not for you if you're on Windows, as Mac with macOS 10.13 or higher is required

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.

Mosaic

• Priced in pounds; checkout shows the equivalent in other currencies, so the dollar amount is not on the page.
• Mac only, requiring macOS 10.13 or higher.
• The vendor says major upgrades may carry an optional fee.

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.

Mosaic

Drag and drop layouts

Drop a window on a layout in the panel to resize and move it.

Custom layouts

Create basic or advanced layouts, plus single-use layouts with Quick Layout.

View modes and groups

Choose where layouts appear and assign a different group of layouts to each view mode.

Multiple displays

The layout panel follows a window to another monitor.

Pro tools

The page lists keyboard shortcuts, Quick Positions, Auto Layout, Window Capture and Touch Bar support under Pro features.

iOS remote

A companion app on the App Store can apply a layout from an iPhone or iPad.

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.

Mosaic

• Standard Edition£14.99

  one-time purchase

  Core feature set on a single Mac, with free bug fixes and optional paid upgrades.

• Pro Edition£29.99

  one-time purchase

  Complete Pro feature set on up to 5 Macs; the iOS remote control app needs this edition.