awesome AlternativesWindow Managers and other similar apps like awesome

awesome is described as 'Highly configurable, next generation framework window manager for X. It is very fast, extensible and licensed under the GNU GPLv2 license' and is a Window Manager in the os & utilities category. There are more than 50 alternatives to awesome for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Wayland, BSD, Mac and Windows apps. The best awesome alternative is Hyprland, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like awesome are i3, Sway, niri and Loop - Window Management.

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Alternatives list

  1. Hyprland icon

    Hyprland

     37 likes

    An independent tiling Wayland compositor written in C++. Noteworthy features of Hyprland include dynamic tiling, tabbed windows, a clean and readable C++ code-base, and a custom renderer that provides window animations, rounded corners, and Dual-Kawase Blur on transparent windows.

    26 Hyprland alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • openSUSE
    • Arch Linux
    • Gentoo
    • Fedora
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    • FreeBSD
    • Alpine Linux
    • Slackware
    • Wayland
    Screenshot of a preconfigured setup
     

    • Hyprland is the most popular Linux alternative to awesome.

    • Hyprland is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to awesome.

    • Hyprland is Free and Open Sourceawesome is also Free and Open Source
    • Hyprland is Customizableawesome is not according to our users
  2. i3 icon

    i3

     71 likes

    i3 is a dynamic tiling window manager with clean, readable and documented code, featuring extended Xinerama support, usage of libxcb instead of xlib and several improvements over wmii.

    79 i3 alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    i3 with VIM, git, MPlayer, i3bar
     
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  4. Sway icon

    Sway

     22 likes

    Sway is a Tiling Wayland Compositor and a drop-in replacement for the i3 window manager for X11. It works with your existing i3 configuration and supports most of i3's features, plus a few extras.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Sway screenshot 1
     
  5. niri icon

    niri

     10 likes

    Windows are arranged in columns on an infinite strip going to the right. Opening a new window never causes existing windows to resize.

    77 niri alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Wayland
    niri screenshot 1
     
  6. Loop - Window Management icon

    Loop - Window Management

     14 likes

    Loop is a macOS app that simplifies window management for you! You can effortlessly choose your window direction using a radial menu triggered by a simple key press, and customize it according to your preferences with personalized colors and settings.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Loop - Window Management screenshot 1
     

    • Loop - Window Management is the most popular Mac alternative to awesome.

    • Loop - Window Management is Free and Open Sourceawesome is also Free and Open Source
    • Loop - Window Management is Privacy focusedawesome is not according to our users
  7. Openbox icon

    Openbox

     78 likes

    Openbox is a highly configurable, next generation window manager with extensive standards support.

    75 Openbox alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    BlackWhite theme by lyrae @ box-look.org
     

  9. KWin

     9 likes

    KWin is a window manager for the X Window System, and is in the process of becoming a Wayland compositor. It is an integral part, and the default window manager of the Plasma Workspaces, but it can also be used on its own or with other desktop environments.

    56 KWin alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    KWin's desktop cube.
     
  11. dwm icon

    dwm

     24 likes

    dwm is a dynamic window manager for X. It manages windows in tiled, monocle and floating layouts. All of the layouts can be applied dynamically, optimising the environment for the application in use and the task performed.

    79 dwm alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    dwm screenshot 1
     
  12. yabai icon

    yabai

     8 likes

    yabai started as a C99 rewrite of chunkwm, originally supposed to be its first RC version.

    110 yabai alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    yabai screenshot 1
     
  13. Fluxbox icon

    Fluxbox

     33 likes

    Fluxbox is a window manager for X that was based on the Blackbox 0.61.1 code. It is very light on resources and easy to handle but yet full of features to make an easy, and extremely fast, desktop experience. It is built using C++ and licensed under the MIT license.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • C++
    fluxbox with a custom theme
     
  14. Xmonad icon

    Xmonad

     26 likes

    xmonad is a dynamically tiling X11 window manager that is written and configured in Haskell. In a normal WM, you spend half your time aligning and searching for windows. xmonad makes work easier, by automating this.

    77 Xmonad alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    Xmonad screenshot 1
     
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