A Skylight alternative that runs on the tablet you already own
We make Magnetday. Check the sources at the bottom. As of October 24, 2026.
Apps for iPhone, Android and the web are in development. No date yet.
Skylight is a good product. It’s a 15-inch touchscreen you plug in, and the family’s week shows up on it. Most people who look for an alternative like the idea and balk at the price: $299.99 for the screen, plus $79 a year for the features many families want.
Magnetday is the same idea, without the box. Your family’s Google Calendar, on the old tablet in the drawer, on everyone’s phone, and optionally on a color e-ink panel on the fridge. Everyone gets a color. You type an event the way you’d text it. No ads, and no subscription.
Side by side
| Skylight Calendar 15″ | Magnetday | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $299.99 | $0 on a tablet or phones you own. Optional Magnetday Panel, $199 (not on sale yet). |
| Yearly cost | Optional Plus, $79/yr: Rewards, Meal Planning, Photo Screensaver, Magic Import, Disney Mode | None. No subscription to buy. |
| The screen | 15″ touchscreen, built in | The tablet you have, everyone’s phone, and an optional 7.3″ color e-ink fridge panel (no touch) |
| Where your events live | Skylight’s cloud | Your own Google Calendar. Your events never touch our servers. |
| Google Calendar | Syncs with Google Calendar | Built on it: two-way sync, so the phones and the kitchen agree |
| Color per person | Yes | Yes |
| Adding an event | In the app or on the screen | Type it the way you’d text it: dentist thu 3pm leo |
| Open source | No | Yes, Apache-2.0 |
| Can you buy it today? | Yes | No. Apps in development, no date. |
Skylight prices checked on myskylight.com on October 24, 2026. Vendors change prices often.
Get one email when it’s ready.
No spam, no countdown. One email when there’s something you can install.
Three years, added up
- Skylight Calendar 15″ with Plus ($299.99 + 3 × $79)$536.99
- Skylight Calendar 15″ without Plus$299.99
- Magnetday on a tablet you already own$0
- Magnetday on a new 10″ tablet with a mount (see what to buy)about $103 to $168
- Magnetday with the fridge panel$199
Where Skylight wins
Be honest with yourself about these before you wait for us.
- You want it working this week. Skylight ships today. Magnetday doesn’t.
- You want a big touchscreen in a box. Our fridge panel is 7.3 inches, e-ink, and has no touch. A tablet you own is the touch screen.
- You want it giftable. A boxed Skylight is an easy present for grandparents. “Use your old iPad” isn’t.
- Chore rewards, meal planning and photo frames matter more than the price. Skylight does all three. We’re starting with the calendar.
- Your family is on iCloud only. We start with Google Calendar. iCloud and Outlook support is planned.
Where Magnetday wins
- You already own the screen. An old iPad or Android tablet, or just phones.
- You don’t want another subscription for a calendar.
- You want the calendar to stay yours. It’s your Google Calendar. Leave Magnetday and nothing moves, because nothing moved in.
- You’d rather have paper-like e-ink on the fridge than another glowing screen in the kitchen.
- You want to see the code. Everything that runs on your devices is open source.
Questions.
Is Magnetday made by Skylight?
No. Magnetday is an independent project, not affiliated with Skylight.
Can I use it now?
Not yet. Apps for iPhone, Android and the web are in development, with no date. Join the waitlist and we’ll send one email when there’s something you can use.
Do I need Home Assistant?
No. A Home Assistant edition is coming for households that already run it, but the apps don’t need it.
Will it work with my partner’s iPhone?
Yes, if your family calendar is in Google. The iPhone app is in development. iCloud and Outlook support is planned.
Is it really free?
Two options. Bring your own screens: free, no ads, no subscription. Or get the Magnetday Panel, a color e-ink screen for the fridge, for $199 (not on sale yet).
Get one email when it’s ready.
No spam, no countdown. One email when there’s something you can install.
Sources
- Skylight Calendar product page: $299.99, Plus $79/yr and its features, checked October 24, 2026.
- Magnetday hardware prices.
- Skylight is a trademark of its owner. Magnetday is not affiliated with Skylight.