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Utilities · head to head

Everything vs Magnet

Everything logo

Everything

Utilities

Instant filename search for Windows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Magnet logo

Magnet

Utilities

Mac App Store window manager sold as a one-time paid app, with no free tier

From
$4.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Everything has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Everything searches filenames only, not file contents, which is the deliberate trade for its speed; Magnet there is no free tier at all, so a user cannot try before buying beyond the Mac App Store return window.
  • They diverge on capability: Everything covers Instant results, Magnet covers Keyboard shortcuts.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Everything and Magnet actually diverge.

Attributes where Everything and Magnet differ
AttributeEverythingMagnet
Starting priceFree$4.99/one-time
Pricing modelFree; donations acceptedOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindowsMac

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Utilities).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Everything

  • Instant results
  • MFT-based indexing
  • Tiny footprint
  • Regex and filters

Only in Magnet

  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Drag to snap
  • Multi-display support
  • Mac App Store distribution
  • Menu bar access
  • Third display layouts

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Everything

  • Finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on Windows Searchnot Magnet
  • Locating duplicates and stray files across large drivesnot Magnet
  • Navigating a machine with hundreds of thousands of filesnot Magnet

Magnet

  • A user who wants the App Store handling licensing, family sharing and updates automaticallynot Everything
  • Someone who prefers paying a small one-time fee up front over evaluating a free tool firstnot Everything
  • A less technical user who does not want to install from GitHub or Homebrewnot Everything
  • A family sharing one Apple ID that wants one purchase to cover multiple Macs in the householdnot Everything

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Everything

  • Searches filenames only, not file contents, which is the deliberate trade for its speed
  • Windows and NTFS only: no macOS or Linux build, and non-NTFS volumes fall back to slower indexing
  • Requires administrator rights to read the Master File Table

Magnet

  • There is no free tier at all, so a user cannot try before buying beyond the Mac App Store return window.
  • It offers fewer customisation options than Rectangle, such as fewer configurable snap zones and less granular per-app behaviour.
  • Update cadence has historically been slower than the actively developed open source Rectangle project.
  • It is Mac only and App Store only, so it cannot be scripted, redistributed internally by a company, or installed outside Apple normal channels.
  • Being a small independent app, support depends on the developer responding to App Store reviews or email rather than a dedicated support team.

Pricing, plan by plan

Everything

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core functionality
    • Personal use

Magnet

$4.99/one-time
  • Magnet$4.99/one-time
    • Full app unlocked immediately, no trial gating
    • Mac App Store purchase and family sharing
    • Free updates through the App Store

Which should you pick?

Choose Everything if

  • You need instant results.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want mft-based indexing.
Everything review

Choose Magnet if

  • You need keyboard shortcuts.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want drag to snap.
Magnet review

Questions people ask

Is Everything or Magnet better?
Neither clearly leads. Everything starts at Free and Magnet at $4.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Everything or Magnet?
Everything has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Everything and $4.99/one-time for Magnet.
Does Everything or Magnet run on more platforms?
Everything runs on Windows. Magnet runs on Mac.
Can I use Everything for free?
Yes. Everything has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Magnet starts at $4.99/one-time.
What is Everything best used for?
Everything is most often used for finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on windows search, locating duplicates and stray files across large drives, navigating a machine with hundreds of thousands of files. Of those, finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on windows search and locating duplicates and stray files across large drives are not what Magnet is typically brought in for.
What can Everything do that Magnet cannot?
Everything covers Instant results, MFT-based indexing, Tiny footprint, Regex and filters. Magnet covers Keyboard shortcuts, Drag to snap, Multi-display support, Mac App Store distribution.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Everything: Is Everything free?

Yes, free to use with donations accepted.

Magnet: Does Magnet have a free version?

No. It has always been a paid Mac App Store purchase with no free tier.

Everything: Why is it so much faster than Windows Search?

It reads the NTFS Master File Table directly instead of crawling the filesystem, so indexing a whole volume takes seconds.

Magnet: Can I share one purchase across my family Macs?

Yes, through Apple Family Sharing on the Mac App Store, the same as any other App Store app.

Everything: Can it search inside files?

Only in a limited way. It is built for filename search, and full content search is not what it is for.

Magnet: How is it different from Rectangle?

Magnet is a paid App Store app from the start; Rectangle is free and open source, with paid Pro features sold as a separate app.

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