Comparison · checked November 2026
Transom vs Magnet
Magnet is a long-running paid snapper on the Mac App Store, with drag-to-edge snapping and keyboard shortcuts.
Short answer: choose Magnet if you want the simplest possible snapping from the App Store. Choose Transom if you want the same snapping plus layouts that come back by themselves when you plug in your monitor.
At a glance
| Transom | Magnet | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Snap + scrolling Strip | Snapping |
| Price | $19 once (1 Mac) · $29 (3 Macs) · 14-day free trial | $4.99 (Mac App Store) |
| License | Paid, one-time | Paid, closed source |
| Requirements | macOS 14+, Apple silicon | Recent macOS |
| Restores layouts when you dock/undock | Yes. Desks restore layouts on dock/undock | No |
| Setup | Settings window, no config file needed | Settings or none |
What Magnet does well
- Cheap, simple, polished
- Available on the Mac App Store
- Easy for non-technical users
Where it stops
- Users ask for saved arrangements it doesn't offer
- No per-display layout memory when you dock/undock
- No scrolling or tiling layout
Switching from Magnet
- Snap mode covers Magnet's halves, thirds, maximize and center actions.
- Turn off Magnet's shortcuts or quit it before trying Transom.
We make Transom, so weigh this page accordingly. Spotted something out of date about Magnet? Email support@transommac.com and we'll fix it.