Is LayoutLock free?
Its site says 3 layouts are free and Pro is $14.99 once.
Comparison
LayoutLock alternative with automatic restore.
LayoutLock and SnapState solve the same core problem: save the apps and window positions you set up, then bring them back. The differences are price, automatic triggers and browser tabs.
Verdict: LayoutLock is a good free start if three layouts and manual restore are enough. SnapState costs less than LayoutLock Pro, covers three Macs, and can restore on its own when you wake the Mac or plug in a monitor.
How do they compare?
| LayoutLock | SnapState | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 3 layouts free, Pro $14.99 once | $9.99 once for up to 3 Macs |
| Restore | Dashboard, menu bar or a per-layout shortcut | Menu bar, Control-Command-1 to 6, or automatic |
| Automatic restore on wake or monitor connect | Not listed on its site | Yes, optional |
| Relaunches apps | Yes, when possible | Yes |
| Browser tabs | Saves URLs with a window | All open tabs in Safari, Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc, Chromium |
| Spaces and full screen | Not listed on its site | Yes |
| Minimum macOS | macOS 14 | macOS 15.7 |
Where does LayoutLock fall short?
The free tier stops at 3 layouts, and Pro is $14.99, more than SnapState. Its site describes restoring from the dashboard, menu bar or a shortcut, with no automatic restore on wake or monitor connect listed, and it does not list Spaces or full screen windows.
Where does SnapState fit better?
If your windows move every morning when the Mac wakes or a dock reconnects, pressing restore each time gets old. SnapState can arm a workspace to restore on wake, when a monitor connects or disconnects, or when a matching display layout appears. It also returns apps to the Space they were saved on and puts full screen windows back in full screen.
See SnapState restore a workspace
The 40 second demo shows a workspace saved from the menu bar and restored with one click: apps relaunch and windows return to their displays, positions and sizes.
What are SnapState's honest limits?
SnapState is not a tiling or snapping tool. It does not save tab groups, history or form data, Firefox is not supported, and it does not change the display arrangement, menu bar or Dock. It needs Accessibility permission, and Automation permission for browser tabs. See SnapState.
Frequently asked questions
Does LayoutLock restore automatically when I plug in a monitor?
Its site describes restoring from the dashboard, the menu bar or a shortcut. It does not list an automatic trigger.
Does SnapState have a free tier?
No. It is $9.99 once for up to three Macs, with a 14-day refund.
What macOS does SnapState need?
macOS 15.7 or later, on Apple Silicon or Intel.
Get SnapState for $9.99One-time purchase · up to three Macs · 14-day refund