Are magnetic stud finders better than electronic ones?

It depends on the job. Across specialist communities, magnetic finders (StudBuddy, CH Hanson, StudPoP) are praised as cheap, battery-free and reliable because they lock onto the screws and nails already driven into studs, with no false reads from pipes or wires. The tradeoff reviewers note is that they only find fasteners, not the stud itself, and struggle on thick plaster. Electronic multi-sensor scanners like the Franklin ProSensor line are favored when you need to see the full width and exact center of a stud, especially on double drywall or tile.