Free Magnet Alternative for Mac
Magnet charges $9.99 on the Mac App Store. Notchy does window snapping and 10+ extra utilities completely free.
Why is Notchy free compared to Magnet?
Notchy is an open project created by Vishva Variya, supported entirely by optional user coffee donations.
Quick Setup Guide
- 1Install Notchy
Download Notchy from notchy.dev. It installs in seconds and takes up only 50MB of disk space.
- 2Grant Accessibility Permissions
Allow Accessibility access so Notchy can handle keyboard shortcuts, window snapping, and notch interactions.
- 3Open the Island
Hover over the notch at the top of your screen to reveal the interactive island and its built-in widgets.
What you get with Notchy
- Window snapping — drag a window to the notch to tile it
- Command palette (⌃⌥K) — every action one keystroke away
- App Launcher — pin apps to the notch, open with one tap
- Knock — double-tap a modifier key to open the notch
- Fluid Dynamic Island animations on the Mac notch
- Native SwiftUI, tuned for Apple silicon
- 134 languages, fully localized
- Mac clipboard history shelf (password-manager safe)
- Now Playing music controls (Apple Music & Spotify)
Why Notchy leads the pack
While single-purpose utilities charge expensive subscription fees or license costs, Notchy gives you a completely free, native SwiftUI Dynamic Island. It integrates window snapping, clipboard history, Pomodoro timers, file drop shelves, and AI usage tracking directly into your Mac's notch.
Notchy vs Magnet
An honest look at how a free all-in-one notch app compares to a dedicated window manager app.
| Feature | Notchy | Magnet |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free forever | $10 one-time |
| Window snapping & tiling | ✓ Included | ✓ Core feature |
| Keyboard window shortcuts | ✓ Included | ✓ Core feature |
| Clipboard history | ✓ Included | — |
| Pomodoro focus timer | ✓ Included | — |
| File drop shelf | ✓ Included | — |
| Notch widgets & HUDs | ✓ 20+ built in | — |
Where Magnet shines: deeper custom grids, per-app window rules, and multi-monitor profiles that power users swear by — fair is fair. Notchy just happens to bundle window manager tools with 20+ other utilities, free forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Notchy free compared to Magnet?
Notchy is an open project created by Vishva Variya, supported entirely by optional user coffee donations.
Is Notchy free to use?
Yes, Notchy is 100% free with no subscription, no ads, and no data tracking. It is supported purely by optional user coffee donations.
Does it drain my Mac's battery?
No. Because Notchy is built entirely in native SwiftUI, it idles at ~0.1% CPU. It runs no web views or Electron in the background.