Tenon vs Magic Utilities.
Magic Utilities is the established option for Apple's Magic peripherals on Windows, and it works well. The differences: Tenon covers all your devices for one price, adds AirPods battery levels and custom gesture-to-action mapping, and keeps a permanent free tier.
Device details: Magic Mouse · Magic Trackpad · Magic Keyboard · FAQ
| Feature | Tenon Pro | Magic Utilities |
|---|---|---|
| Price model | $50/yr, or $90 for two years (planned) | Per device, ~$15/device/yr |
| Devices covered | All your Apple devices on one plan: Magic Mouse, Trackpad, Keyboard, plus AirPods battery | Magic Mouse, Trackpad, Keyboard — licensed individually; no AirPods |
| Free tier | Yes — battery + status in the tray for mouse, trackpad & keyboard, forever (keyboard battery over USB) | No permanent free tier |
| Trial | 30-day full trial in the app (planned) — no card, no account — then drops to Free | 28-day trial |
| Auto-renew | Subscription; auto-renews, cancel anytime | Term licenses; renew manually when they expire |
| AirPods support | Yes — battery level only (Pro); no auto-pause or tap controls | Not supported |
| Custom gesture mapping | Bind any recognized mouse or trackpad gesture to any action — shortcut, media key, window action, app launch. One global set in 1.0; per-app profiles are on the roadmap. | Gesture customization within its own options |
| Keyboard battery | Yes — over USB, in the free tier. Over Bluetooth the Magic Keyboard exposes no battery to Windows. | Yes — with a keyboard license |
When Magic Utilities is the right choice.
If you have a single device and want something you can buy today, get Magic Utilities. It's solid, and Tenon's beta hasn't opened yet. Tenon also starts with the current USB-C generation, so check the supported devices list before you decide to wait. If you have several Apple devices, or you want custom gesture-to-action mapping or AirPods battery levels, wait for Tenon.
Frequently asked
What is the best alternative to Magic Utilities?
Tenon (free beta opening soon) plans one flat $50/year covering your mouse, trackpad, keyboard, and AirPods battery together, plus custom gesture-to-action mapping and a free tier. If you only have one device, Magic Utilities is cheaper at about $15/device/year.
Does Magic Utilities have a free version?
Magic Utilities offers a 28-day trial but no free version. Tenon will have one — battery and status in the tray for Magic Mouse, Trackpad, and Keyboard — plus a 30-day full trial of the paid features that runs in the app, with no card needed.
Is Magic Utilities a subscription?
Magic Utilities sells 1- and 2-year licenses that do not auto-renew — you buy again when they expire. Tenon Pro will be a flat annual subscription ($50/year, optional 2-year) that auto-renews and covers all your devices at once.
Try Tenon free when the beta opens.
Every Pro feature is free for the first 30 days. Join the waitlist and we'll email you when it's ready.