Enlightenment AlternativesDesktop Environments & Window Managers like Enlightenment

Enlightenment is described as 'Window Manager, Compositor and Minimal Desktop for Linux (the primary platform), BSD and any other compatible UNIX system' and is a popular desktop environment in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Enlightenment for a variety of platforms, including Linux, BSD, Windows, Linux Mobile and Ubuntu Touch apps. The best Enlightenment alternative is KDE Plasma, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Enlightenment are GNOME, Xfce, Cinnamon and MATE.

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Alternatives list

  1. KDE Plasma icon

    KDE Plasma

     463 likes
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    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
     

    • KDE Plasma is the most popular Linux alternative to Enlightenment.

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

    • KDE Plasma is Free and Open SourceEnlightenment is also Free and Open Source
    • KDE Plasma is Customizable and Privacy focusedEnlightenment is not according to our users
  2. GNOME icon

    GNOME

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

    32 GNOME alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    GNOME 40
     
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    Comments about GNOME as an Alternative to Enlightenment
    munteanzeno
    Positive
    1

    Fully featured, but requires more ram.

    Enlightenment Icon
    GNOME icon
    • GNOME is Free and Open SourceEnlightenment is also Free and Open Source
    • GNOME is Privacy focusedEnlightenment is not according to our users
  4. Xfce icon

    Xfce

     377 likes
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    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
     
  6. MATE icon

    MATE

     144 likes
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    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.

    25 MATE alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    • OpenIndiana
    • GhostBSD
    MATE screenshot 1
     
  7. LXQt icon

    LXQt

     54 likes
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    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 .

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    LXQt screenshot 1
     
  9. Noctalia icon

    Noctalia

     8 likes
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    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.

    37 Noctalia alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Noctalia screenshot 1
     
  11. LXDE icon

    LXDE

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

    30 LXDE alternatives

    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.
     
  12. Budgie icon

    Budgie

     45 likes
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    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

    • Free
    • Open Source

    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.
     
  13. Cairo Shell icon

    Cairo Shell

     52 likes
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    Cairo is a desktop environment for Windows. Its goal is to develop a desktop experience that increases productivity and advances current technology standards.

    37 Cairo Shell alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Cairo Shell screenshot 1
     

    • Cairo Shell is the most popular Windows alternative to Enlightenment.

    • Cairo Shell is Free and Open SourceEnlightenment is also Free and Open Source
    • Cairo Shell is CustomizableEnlightenment is not according to our users
  14. Kera Desktop icon

    Kera Desktop

     9 likes
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    An easy, pleasant, speedy, and exciting way to use your favorite OS.

    36 Kera Desktop alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    Kera Desktop screenshot 1
     

    • Kera Desktop is the most popular Mac alternative to Enlightenment.

    • Kera Desktop is Free and Open SourceEnlightenment is also Free and Open Source
    • Kera Desktop is Privacy focusedEnlightenment is not according to our users
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