Cairo Shell AlternativesDesktop Environments and other similar apps like Cairo Shell

Cairo Shell is described as 'Cairo is a desktop environment for Windows. Its goal is to develop a desktop experience that increases productivity and advances current technology standards' and is a popular desktop environment in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Cairo Shell for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, BSD, Mac and Linux Mobile apps. The best Cairo Shell alternative is KDE Plasma, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Cairo Shell are Xfce, Seelen UI, Open Shell and Noctalia.

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Alternatives list

  1. KDE Plasma icon

    KDE Plasma

     469 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
    A typical Plasma desktop looks like this
     
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    Comments about KDE Plasma as an Alternative to Cairo Shell
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    KDE Plasma is for Linux but Cairo is for Windows

    Cairo Shell Icon
    KDE Plasma icon

    • KDE Plasma is the most popular Linux alternative to Cairo Shell.

    • KDE Plasma is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Cairo Shell.

    • KDE Plasma is Free and Open SourceCairo Shell is also Free and Open Source
    • KDE Plasma is Lightweight and Privacy focusedCairo Shell is not according to our users
  2. 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
     
  4. Seelen UI icon

    Seelen UI

     43 likes

    Web-based customizable desktop environment integrated with Windows 10/11 offers tiling window manager, intuitive configuration, widget and menu adjustments, theme personalization, taskbar layout options, wallpaper management, streamlined multitasking, and workflow optimization.

    12 Seelen UI alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Seelen UI screenshot 1
     

    • Seelen UI is the most popular Windows alternative to Cairo Shell.

    • Seelen UI is Free and Open SourceCairo Shell is also Free and Open Source
    • Seelen UI is Lightweight and Privacy focusedCairo Shell is not according to our users
  5. Open Shell icon

    Open Shell

     110 likes

    Open Shell is a fork of the Classic Shell project for Windows that getting back the classic start menu to modern versions of Microsoft Windows.

    41 Open Shell alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Open Shell screenshot 1
     
  6. 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
     
  7. 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
     
  9. LXDE icon

    LXDE

     122 likes

    The "Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment" is an extremely fast-performing and energy-saving desktop environment.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    Screenshot of the LXDE desktop. It's simple, lightweight, fast, modern, internationalized, and standard-compliant.
     
  10. 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.

    29 Budgie alternatives

    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.
     
  11. CoverFlowFinder icon

    CoverFlowFinder

     8 likes

    Brings iconic 3D Cover Flow file browsing to macOS, includes dual pane navigation, Quick Look integration, sidebar access to volumes, instant file sorting, context menus, type-ahead search, familiar Finder-like interface, and open source availability.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    CoverFlowFinder screenshot 1
     

    • CoverFlowFinder is the most popular Mac alternative to Cairo Shell.

    • CoverFlowFinder is Free and Open SourceCairo Shell is also Free and Open Source
    • CoverFlowFinder is Privacy focusedCairo Shell is not according to our users
  12. Tokie icon

    Tokie

     9 likes

    A document, a database, and a browser, all in your folders.

    56 Tokie alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Tokie screenshot 1
     

    • Tokie is the most popular commercial alternative to Cairo Shell.

    • Tokie is Paid and ProprietaryCairo Shell is Free and Open Source
    • Tokie is LightweightCairo Shell is not according to our users
  13. 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. Bloom File Manager icon

    Bloom File Manager

     6 likes

    The finest replacement for Finder with powerful tools to streamline your workflow, enhance productivity, and keep everything organized at your fingertips.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Bloom File Manager screenshot 1
     
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