The Best Free Magnet Alternative for Mac in 2026
Magnet is a great $4.99 window snapper — but you can get window snapping for free, and ideally without installing a separate app for every little thing. Here's what to use instead.
Why look for a Magnet alternative?
Magnet is the famous Mac window manager — drag a window to a screen edge and it snaps into halves, thirds, or quarters. It's a one-time $4.99 on the App Store and it just works. So why look elsewhere?
- You want window snapping for free.
- You'd rather not install a separate app for every little thing — a snapper, a clipboard manager, a screenshot tool.
- You prefer keyboard shortcuts over edge-dragging (or want both).
Top pick: FlowShelf (free snapping + a lot more)
FlowShelf includes Magnet-style window snapping built in — hold ⌃⌥ (Control-Option) and tap an arrow to snap the focused window to the left or right half, the arrows for top/bottom, U I J K for quarters, and Return / C to maximize or center. It needs Accessibility permission, like every window manager.
The difference is that snapping is just one of FlowShelf's tools. The same free, ~7 MB menu-bar app also gives you a self-cleaning shelf for everything you copy, live window previews, a notch shelf, snippets, screenshot annotation, and private on-device AI. So instead of buying Magnet and a clipboard manager and a screenshot tool, it's one app.
Get FlowShelf free
One private menu-bar app — shelf, window tools, screenshots, snippets & on-device AI. macOS 14+ · Apple Silicon & Intel.
Download FlowShelf — FreeThe dedicated free option: Rectangle
If all you want is a pure window manager and nothing else, Rectangle is the community favorite — free, open-source (MIT), and the app most Reddit threads recommend over Magnet in 2026. It does edge-drag snapping and keyboard shortcuts, with more layout options than Magnet. There's a paid "Rectangle Pro" with extra features, but the free version is complete. Choose Rectangle if you only need window management; choose FlowShelf if you want snapping bundled with clipboard, shelf, and screenshot tools.
Quick comparison
| App | Cost | Snapping | Also does | Open source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlowShelf | Free | Keyboard | Clipboard, shelf, screenshots, AI | Source-available |
| Rectangle | Free | Drag + keyboard | Windows only | Yes (MIT) |
| Magnet | $4.99 | Drag + keyboard | Windows only | No |
| Moom | $10 | Drag + grid | Windows only | No |
Verified June 2026. Check each developer's site for current pricing.
Bottom line
For a free, dedicated window manager, Rectangle is the gold standard. But if you'd rather snap windows and stop juggling a pile of other utilities, FlowShelf gives you Magnet-style snapping plus a whole toolkit in one free, private app.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free version of Magnet?
No — Magnet is a paid one-time purchase ($4.99). For free window snapping, use Rectangle (dedicated) or FlowShelf (snapping plus other tools).
Is Rectangle better than Magnet?
For most people, yes — Rectangle is free, open-source, and does everything Magnet does and more. Magnet's only edge is being on the App Store.
Does FlowShelf snap windows by dragging to the edge?
Today FlowShelf's snapping is keyboard-based (⌃⌥ + keys). If you specifically want mouse edge-dragging, Rectangle is the better pick.