Last updated: July 29, 2026
Tiles vs Magnet: an honest comparison
Magnet has been the go-to window manager on the Mac App Store for over a decade, and it earned that place — it made drag-to-snap and keyboard tiling mainstream on macOS. Tiles was actually built by a long-time Magnet user. This page compares the two honestly, including the places where Magnet is still the better pick.
The short version
Pick Magnet if you want to buy through the Mac App Store with one tap and you never want to think about the app again. It is mature, stable, and cheap.
Pick Tiles if you want to try before you buy (Magnet has no trial), want custom layouts you draw yourself, care about size cycling and multi-display moves that preserve window proportions, or use your Mac in a language other than English.
Feature comparison
| Tiles | Magnet | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9 one-time, unlimited free trial | $4.99–9.99 one-time, no trial |
| Distribution | Direct download, notarized by Apple | Mac App Store |
| Drag to snap with live preview | Yes | Yes |
| Halves / quarters / thirds | Yes | Yes |
| Size cycling (1/2 → 2/3 → 1/3 on repeated press) | Yes | No |
| Custom layouts (draw any size on a grid) | Yes | No |
| Restore window to original position | Yes, one key | Yes |
| Move between displays keeping relative size | Yes | Yes (basic) |
| Fully remappable shortcuts | Yes | Yes |
| Interface languages | 11 | ~10 |
| Download size | ~2 MB | ~4 MB |
| Updates | Instant (Sparkle) | Via App Store review |
Where Magnet is better
- One-tap purchase. Buying through the App Store with your Apple ID is the smoothest possible experience. Tiles is a direct download — you get the app first and pay later, but checkout is a separate step.
- Track record. Magnet has 10+ years of reviews. Tiles launched in 2026. If longevity is what you buy on, Magnet wins today.
- Price. Magnet is usually a few dollars cheaper.
Where Tiles is better
Try it before paying anything
Magnet has no trial — the App Store makes that practically impossible. Tiles gives you the entire app, free, with no time limit. Buy a license when you've decided it earns a place on your Mac.
Size cycling
Press ⌃ ⌥ ← once and the window fills the left half. Press it again: two thirds. Again: one third. One shortcut covers three widths, which is how tiling actually gets used on wide displays.
Layouts you define yourself
Tiles has a grid editor in Settings: drag out any rectangle — say, a 70% editor area with a narrow strip for chat — save it, and assign a shortcut. Magnet limits you to its preset positions.
Localization
Tiles ships in 11 languages: English, Japanese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Russian — the app, the website, and the documentation.
Why isn't Tiles on the Mac App Store?
App Store rules require sandboxing, and sandboxed apps cannot use the macOS Accessibility API that all window managers need. Magnet predates that rule and is exempt; new apps cannot join. Tiles is signed with an Apple Developer ID certificate and notarized by Apple, so Gatekeeper verifies it on your Mac like any trusted app. More in the FAQ.
Tiles is free to try — no time limit, no signup.
Download Tiles for FreeMagnet is a trademark of CrowdCafé. This comparison was last checked in July 2026 — if anything here is out of date, let us know.