1MachineTool vs Magnet
A $4.99 window snapper, or window snapping with saved layouts inside a wider toolkit.
Checked against Magnet’s own site, 18 October 2026
Short answer
If snapping is all you want, Magnet is cheap and good. 1MachineTool adds saved layouts per display setup, and it is one of eleven tools.
- Both snap to halves, thirds and corners by shortcut or by dragging to the edge.
- 1MachineTool remembers a layout for each display setup and restores it when you plug in. Free covers halves and maximise.
- Magnet is $4.99 once on the Mac App Store and collects no data.
Two ways to do the job.
1MachineTool
Window snapping to every target, next display, saved layouts per display setup, drag to edge and dimming background windows. Halves and maximise are free; the rest is Pro.
Magnet
A window snapper on the Mac App Store: drag-to-edge snapping to halves, quarters, thirds and maximise, keyboard shortcuts, menu bar control, and up to six external displays. $4.99 one-time; macOS 13 or later.
magnet.crowdcafe.comSide by side.
| Feature | 1MachineTool | Magnet |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Price | Free, or Pro $29 once (one year of updates) | $4.99 one-time (Mac App Store) |
| Runs on | macOS now; Windows (v1.1) and Linux (v1.3) on the same licence | macOS 13 or later |
| What it covers | Eleven tools: launcher, clipboard, windows, monitor, clean, power, battery, menu bar, network, security, VMs (when shipped) | Window snapping |
| Tells you why the machine is slow, hot, full or draining | Yes: one sentence, the evidence, the fix and an undo | No |
| Windows | ||
| Halves, thirds, corners, maximise | Halves and maximise free; the rest in Pro | Yes |
| Drag to edge | Yes | Yes |
| Move to next display | Yes | Up to 6 external displays |
| Saved layouts per display setup | Pro | No |
| Dim background windows | Yes | No |
| Everything else | ||
| Launcher, clipboard, monitor, cleaner | Included | No |
| Windows and Linux | Windows in v1.1, Linux in v1.3; your Pro licence covers them | No |
| Data collected | Local-first; no account | None, per the App Store label |
Scroll the table sideways.
Which one is for you.
Choose 1MachineTool if
- You switch between a laptop screen and a desk setup and want layouts to come back.
- You want snapping as part of one app with a launcher and clipboard.
- You also use Windows, where 1MachineTool arrives in v1.1.
Choose Magnet if
- You only want snapping, for $4.99.
- You prefer buying through the Mac App Store.
- You don't need saved layouts.
Questions.
Is window snapping free in 1MachineTool?
Halves and maximise are free. Thirds, corners, saved layouts and the rest are in Pro.
Doesn't macOS snap windows now?
macOS 15 added basic tiling. Dedicated snappers, Magnet included, add keyboard shortcuts and more targets; 1MachineTool adds layouts that follow your display setup.
How much is Magnet?
$4.99 one-time on the US Mac App Store in October 2026, with no in-app purchases.
Magnet’s column comes from its own site on 18 October 2026. Prices and plans change; if something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
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