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Utilities · head to head

Magnet vs Starbucks

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
Starbucks logo

Starbucks

Utilities

Starbucks mobile ordering, payment and Starbucks Rewards loyalty app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Starbucks has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Magnet there is no free tier at all, so a user cannot try before buying beyond the Mac App Store return window.; Starbucks loading a prepaid balance onto the app effectively lends Starbucks money interest-free until it is spent, and Starbucks has reported billions of dollars in unredeemed stored value outstanding at any time.
  • They diverge on capability: Magnet covers Keyboard shortcuts, Starbucks covers Mobile order and pay.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Magnet and Starbucks actually diverge.

Attributes where Magnet and Starbucks differ
AttributeMagnetStarbucks
Starting price$4.99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseFree app, revenue from prepaid stored value and purchases
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMaciOS, Android

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 Magnet

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

Only in Starbucks

  • Mobile order and pay
  • Starbucks Rewards
  • Stored value card
  • Personalised offers
  • Delivery integration
  • Order customisation

What people use each for

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

Magnet

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

Starbucks

  • A regular customer wanting to order ahead and skip the in-store queuenot Magnet
  • Someone accumulating Rewards Stars toward free drinks through routine purchasesnot Magnet
  • A customer who prefers paying with a preloaded balance instead of a card at each purchasenot Magnet
  • Someone wanting personalised offers based on their usual ordernot Magnet

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Starbucks

  • Loading a prepaid balance onto the app effectively lends Starbucks money interest-free until it is spent, and Starbucks has reported billions of dollars in unredeemed stored value outstanding at any time.
  • Mobile order pickup often creates its own bottleneck at busy stores, so the convenience of skipping the register queue can be offset by waiting at the pickup counter instead.
  • Rewards redemption values and item eligibility change periodically, so accumulated Stars do not have a fixed, predictable cash value over time.
  • The app collects detailed purchase history to power targeted offers, which is the trade for the free loyalty programme rather than a neutral convenience feature.
  • Auto-reload linked to a card can catch users off guard with unexpected small recurring charges if they are not tracking their balance.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Starbucks

Free
  • Starbucks RewardsFree
    • Free to join
    • Stars earned per dollar spent
    • No cost beyond purchases made

Which should you pick?

Choose Magnet if

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

Choose Starbucks if

  • You need mobile order and pay.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want starbucks rewards.
Starbucks review

Questions people ask

Is Magnet or Starbucks better?
Neither clearly leads. Magnet starts at $4.99/one-time and Starbucks at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Magnet or Starbucks?
Starbucks has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $4.99/one-time for Magnet and Free for Starbucks.
Does Magnet or Starbucks run on more platforms?
Magnet runs on Mac. Starbucks runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Starbucks for free?
Yes. Starbucks has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Magnet starts at $4.99/one-time.
What is Magnet best used for?
Magnet is most often used for a user who wants the app store handling licensing, family sharing and updates automatically, someone who prefers paying a small one-time fee up front over evaluating a free tool first, a less technical user who does not want to install from github or homebrew, a family sharing one apple id that wants one purchase to cover multiple macs in the household. Of those, a user who wants the app store handling licensing, family sharing and updates automatically and someone who prefers paying a small one-time fee up front over evaluating a free tool first are not what Starbucks is typically brought in for.
What can Magnet do that Starbucks cannot?
Magnet covers Keyboard shortcuts, Drag to snap, Multi-display support, Mac App Store distribution. Starbucks covers Mobile order and pay, Starbucks Rewards, Stored value card, Personalised offers.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Magnet: Does Magnet have a free version?

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

Starbucks: Does it cost anything to join Starbucks Rewards?

No, joining and using the app is free; you pay only for what you order.

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.

Starbucks: What happens to money loaded onto the app if I stop using Starbucks?

It remains as a stored balance unless redeemed; Starbucks does not pay interest on it and, subject to local law, unredeemed balances can eventually be treated as breakage revenue.

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.

Starbucks: Can I pay without preloading a balance?

Yes, many stores accept direct card or contactless payment without using the app's stored value feature.

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