LXDE AlternativesDesktop Environments and other similar apps like LXDE

LXDE is described as 'The "Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment" is an extremely fast-performing and energy-saving desktop environment' and is a very popular desktop environment in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to LXDE for a variety of platforms, including Linux, BSD, Windows, Mac and Linux Mobile apps. The best LXDE alternative is KDE Plasma, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like LXDE are GNOME, Xfce, Cinnamon and LXQt.

More about LXDE
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
LXDE alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. KDE Plasma icon

    KDE Plasma

     470 likes

    Plasma is a cross-device work environment by the KDE Community where trust is put on the user's capacity to best define their own workflow and preferences.

    30 KDE Plasma alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • postmarketOS
    • Wayland
    • Fedora
    • FreeBSD
    • SteamOS
    • openSUSE
    • Arch Linux
    A typical Plasma desktop looks like this
     
    |
    2
    Comments about KDE Plasma as an Alternative to LXDE
    Oktay Mercan
    Positive
    0

    Windows GUI experience. Modern design and not lightweight.

    Guest
    Negative
    1

    The main goal of LXDE is to be light, fast and energy efficient, thing that KDE wasn't ever.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    KDE Plasma icon
    KDE Plasma icon
    • KDE Plasma is Free and Open SourceLXDE is also Free and Open Source
    • KDE Plasma is Customizable and Privacy focusedLXDE is not according to our users
  2. GNOME icon

    GNOME

     503 likes

    An easy and elegant way to use your computer, GNOME is designed to help you have the best possible computing experience.

    31 GNOME alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    GNOME 40
     
    |
    1
    Comments about GNOME as an Alternative to LXDE
    Guest
    Negative
    4

    The main goal of LXDE is to be light, fast and energy efficient, thing that GNOME wasn't ever.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    GNOME icon
    GNOME icon
    • GNOME is Free and Open SourceLXDE is also Free and Open Source
    • GNOME is Privacy focusedLXDE is not according to our users
  4. Xfce icon

    Xfce

     379 likes

    Xfce (pronounced as four individual letters) is a free software desktop environment for Unix and other Unix-like platforms, such as Linux, Solaris and BSD. It aims to be fast and lightweight, while still being visually appealing and easy to use.

    29 Xfce alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    Xfce 4.14
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Xfce as an Alternative to LXDE
    Oktay Mercan
    Positive
    1

    Good alternative for LXDE.

    Xfce icon
    Xfce icon
    • Xfce is Free and Open SourceLXDE is also Free and Open Source
    • Xfce is Customizable and Privacy focusedLXDE is not according to our users
  6. LXQt icon

    LXQt

     54 likes

    LXQt is the Qt port and the upcoming version of LXDE, the Lightweight Desktop Environment. It is the product of the merge between the LXDE-Qt and the .

    27 LXQt alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    LXQt screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Comments about LXQt as an Alternative to LXDE
    Oktay Mercan
    Positive
    2

    Good alternative lightweight desktop envoirement. But not a LXDE. LXDE better than all.

    LXQt icon
    LXQt icon
    • LXQt is Free and Open SourceLXDE is also Free and Open Source
    • LXQt is Privacy focusedLXDE is not according to our users
  7. Noctalia icon

    Noctalia

     12 likes

    Noctalia is a beautiful, minimal desktop shell for Wayland built with Quickshell. It’s designed with a “quiet by design” philosophy, providing a complete desktop experience that stays out of your way.

    38 Noctalia alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Noctalia screenshot 1
     
  9. MATE icon

    MATE

     144 likes

    Many users of GNOME 2 dislike GNOME 3. MATE is a fork of the good old GNOME 2. It provides an intuitive and attractive desktop environment using traditional metaphors for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.

    24 MATE alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    • OpenIndiana
    • GhostBSD
    MATE screenshot 1
     
  11. Budgie icon

    Budgie

     46 likes

    The Budgie Desktop is a feature-rich, modern desktop designed to keep out the way of the user. It consists of a number of components to provide a more complete desktop experience.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    A screenshot of the Budgie desktop running on Solus Linux. The Budgie settings manager is on the right, made specifically to customize the desktop. The rest of the settings are handled by the Gnome settings manager.
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Budgie as an Alternative to LXDE
    Guest
    Negative
    3

    The main goal of LXDE is to be light, fast and energy efficient, thing that Budgie wasn't ever.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Budgie icon
    Budgie icon
    • Budgie is Free and Open SourceLXDE is also Free and Open Source
    • Budgie is Privacy focusedLXDE is not according to our users
  12. Enlightenment icon

    Enlightenment

     52 likes

    Enlightenment is a Window Manager, Compositor and Minimal Desktop for Linux (the primary platform), BSD and any other compatible UNIX system.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Enlightenment screenshot 1
     
  14. IceWM icon

    IceWM

     11 likes

    IceWM is a Window Manager for X Window System. It is fast and memory-efficient, and it provides many different looks including Windows'95, OS/2 Warp 3,4, Motif.

    70 IceWM alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    IceWM screenshot 1
     
12 of 30 LXDE alternatives