Magna-Tiles vs Playmags: The Ultimate Comparison Guide

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Magna-Tiles and Playmag are two popular brands of magnetic building tiles that children can play with and build during early childhood. 

The tiles connect via magnets on the sides of the tiles, creating endless options for building, taking apart, and making something new. 

There are many benefits to these toys, including cognitive development and skills that are important for children to develop. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, we understand – and we’re here to help you make the best decision for your kids!

In this article, we’ll cover:

  • The pros and cons of each brand, based on different factors such as durability, versatility, and educational value
  • Reviews by others who have purchased Magna-Tiles and Playmags.

Let’s jump into it!

Magna-Tiles vs Playmags: The Pros and Cons

Magnetic TilesProsCons
Magna-TilesHigh-quality materialsGood customer reviews and trust Great for learning Safe for kidsVersatile with other magnetic tilesMore expensive than other comparable brands Limited specialty pieces and setsConfusing for very young children
PlaymagsHigh-quality materialsGood customer reviewsSafe for childrenVersatile with other magnetic tiles  Magnet strength can be lower than other brandsInconsistent quality controlLack of educational resource add-ons

Let’s Compare These Magnetic Titles by Different Factors in Detail

Now that you’ve got a brief overview, we can elaborate on the factors in the table in greater detail!

Understanding what you’re buying and spending your money on is really important, especially with toys that your kids won’t use past a certain age. In this section, we’ll take a deep dive into the things you should consider.

The factors we will discuss in this comparison are quality, price, versatility, shape and feel, safety, educational value, suitable age groups, and customer reviews. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get straight into it!

Quality

Quality and durability are significant influencing factors when buying magnetic tiles. 

When children are involved, we definitely want to make sure you’re not spending your money on something that’s going to break easily! Both brands strive for high-quality products that are beneficial for kids. 

Both Magna-Tiles and Playmags are made from ABS plastic – short for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene – a durable material often used in children’s toys. It’s also a nontoxic plastic, making it very safe for children. 

The magnet strength in both tiles is also very similar, creating good connections between other tiles. 

Some reviews, which we’ll elaborate on later, have expressed concerns with Playmags’ quality. 

There have been anecdotal cases of magnets falling off and falling out of the plastic casing and needing to be glued back on, as well as not being strong enough to connect securely with other pieces.  

However, both brands are extremely reputable and trustworthy overall, and the quality between them is definitely comparable. As far as durability, quality, and materials go, either brand is great.

Price

The price of the two brands is where things start to separate. Although it is dependent on the size of the set or special edition kits, Playmags tend to be more affordable than Magna-Tiles in general. 

For a small 32-piece set, Magna-Tiles sits at around $30, with 100 pieces at $60 and large sets being anywhere from $100 to $150. 

In these same parameters, Playmags are priced at around $20 for small, $40 for medium and $70 to $100 for large sets. 

Playmags are often considered a good quality and comparable alternative to Magna-Tiles at a more affordable price, whereas Magna-Tiles has a longer history and a trusted reputation (hence the price). 

For special sets and add-ons, prices will naturally increase. For example, the Magna-Tiles Forest Animals set is around $40, and the comparable Playmags Car set is around $17. If you’re looking to stay within a budget, then Playmags is a great choice!

Versatility

Of course, versatility is an important factor when buying magnetic tiles. With endless brands on the market, we often wonder if they’re compatible with each other. It’s even better if they can be used with completely different toys such as dolls or stacking blocks!

First things first: both brands are compatible with each other. They are designed to be compatible, and the magnets work on both tiles. 

This only increases the versatility of both Magna-Tiles and Playmags, as the two brands may have different special sets that your kids might prefer. 

Both are great for building houses, structures, and vehicles, so they can definitely get their little Playmag action figures to live inside Magna-Tile magnetic houses if their imagination wants them to!

Shape and Feel

The shapes of the tiles consist of squares, triangles, and other geometric shapes. 

Magna-Tiles has more triangular shapes including equilateral and right-angle varieties, whereas Playmags only have equilateral triangles. 

Magna-Tiles also has a variety of attachments like windows and doors for building houses. In general, both brands specialize in certain add-ons, such as Playmags’ attachable wheels for vehicles. 

The feel of both products is extremely similar. As previously mentioned, they are made of the same material, so the physical makeup is almost identical! Both brands also have smooth and straight edges, adding to the safety factor for children.

Safety

Safety is at the top of the list when it comes to considering toys for children, and both Magna-Tiles and Playmags pass the test with flying colors. 

They do this through the use of nontoxic materials, smooth edges, soft feel, and magnet attachment. 

Small magnets can be a concern for parents as a choking hazard, which is 100% understandable! It is worth noting that Playmags have had some previous concerns surrounding their magnets, with parents saying they fall off easily. 

Both brands pride themselves on the safety of their toys, and there are certain safety regulations in place that they’re required to follow strictly.

Educational Value

Educational value in toys is something that is so wonderful for young children, enabling them to play and learn at the same time. 

There are specific skill sets that children can learn from these magnetic tiles, including fine motor skills, problem-solving, low-level math, patience, and confidence – just to name a few!

The most beneficial for learning might be problem-solving (such as when certain tiles don’t fit in the right spaces) and maths, where they gain basic knowledge of how angles and shapes fit together – even if they don’t know it at the time!

Both Magna-Tiles and Playmags hold excellent educational value for children. 

Age Groups

Again, the similarities seem to continue with age range. Both brands recommend magnetic tiles for the age of 3 and up, with different options becoming available at different ages that help specify certain skills. 

At age 5, they might learn more and more about balance and physics through building larger and more complex structures. 

From age 8, the designs will only become more intricate, challenging, and entertaining for children! 

Reviews

With the two brands being almost identical apart from the price, the reviews can say a lot about which product might be better for your children. 

In comparing the reviews on Amazon, we compiled the most honest and non-filtered customer experience possible:

Magna-Tiles Reviews

91% of Magna-Tiles reviews are five stars, which says a lot! 7% are four stars, and only 3% of reviews are three stars or below. 

This gives the rating an average of 4.9 stars! The reviews are glowing from parents who have purchased for their children. Overall, we can see that Magna-Tiles is a tried and trusted brand. 

Playmags Reviews

Playmags also has in general good reviews, but not quite as good as Magna-Tiles. 

69% of reviews are five stars, 12% are four stars, and a comparatively larger 19% are three stars and below. 

So, why is this? Some reviews mention some issues with quality, such as the magnets falling off and not being very strong. Some customers state that they “don’t stick to anything”.

Summary: Which Brand is Best? 

Both brands of magnetic tiles have great reputations and are excellent options for children. 

It’s important to take into account that reviews, although it’s important to keep in mind that people can often exaggerate fault if they feel a product hasn’t met expectations. 

It’s hard to decide which brand is best, but in this case, I would say that Magna-Tiles simply has a better, more long-standing trust with customers. This also allows them to charge higher prices for their products.

Playmags are a very close second, with the few complaints of magnet strength and quality being the only thing really deterring me.

I hope this guide has helped, and wish your kids a happy magnetic-building experience!

FAQs

Are Playmags the same as Magna-Tiles?

Playmags and Magna-Tiles are both brands of magnetic building tiles that children use in play and learning. They have the same concept, materials, and colors – just from different companies.

Are Playmags safe to use?

Yes, Playmags are safe to use. Playmags are trusted by their customers and are made of nontoxic and safe materials for kids. 

There are some concerns surrounding their magnets being insecurely attached, but it is a very small percentage compared to the positive reviews.

Which is better: Playmags or Magna-Tiles?

It’s hard to say whether or not one brand is better than the other, but ultimately, Magna-Tiles has a better reputation and better customer reviews. It’s important to read up on which brand suits your kids’ needs the most to make an informed decision!

Are Playmags as good as Magna-Tiles?

Playmags are a very comparable brand to Magna-Tiles, both popular brands for magnetic building tiles for kids. The quality of both brands is excellent, though some concerns have been expressed around the magnet strength and attachment of Playmags’ magnetic tiles.

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