GNOME Alternatives

GNOME is described as '3 has been designed from the ground up to help you have the best possible computing experience. Learn about what it has to offer' and is a very popular desktop environment in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to GNOME for a variety of platforms, including Linux, BSD, Windows, Mac and Linux Mobile apps. The best GNOME alternative is KDE Plasma, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like GNOME are Xfce, Cinnamon, Budgie and MATE.

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GNOME alternatives are mainly Desktop Environments but may also be Window Managers or Application Launchers.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of GNOME.
GNOME iconGNOME
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GNOME 3 has been designed from the ground up to help you have the best possible computing experience. Learn about what it has to offer.

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GNOME alternatives page was last updated Apr 11, 2024
  1. Window Maker icon
     6 likes

    Window Maker has a reputation for being fast, efficient and highly stable. Window Maker has been characterized as reproducing "the elegant look and feel of the NeXTstep GUI" and is noted as "easy to configure and easy to use.

    40 Window Maker alternatives
    Window Maker, from www.windowmaker.org

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Window Maker Features

    1.  Unix-like
    Window Maker iconGNOME Icon

    Window Maker VS GNOME

    Is Window Maker a good alternative to GNOME?
     
  2. Komorebi Window Manager icon
     2 likes

    komorebi is a tiling window manager that works as an extension to Microsoft's Desktop Window Manager in Windows 10 and above.

    76 Komorebi Window Manager alternatives
    Komorebi Window Manager screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Ad-free

    Features

    1.  Support for scripting
    2.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Tiling Window Manager
    Komorebi Window Manager iconGNOME Icon

    Komorebi Window Manager VS GNOME

    Is this a good alternative to GNOME?
     
  3. Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE) icon
     3 likes

    KDE 3.5 fork. A computer desktop environment for Unix-like operating systems with a primary goal of retaining the function and form of traditional desktop computers.

    24 Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE) alternatives
    Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE) screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Privacy focused
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions

    Features

    1.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    2.  Dark Mode
    Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE) iconGNOME Icon

    Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE) VS GNOME

    Is this a good alternative to GNOME?
     
  4. hikari icon
     1 like

    hikari [ja. Light] is a stacking Wayland compositor which is actively developed on FreeBSD but also supports Linux.

    75 hikari alternatives
    hikari screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD

    hikari Features

    1.  Tiling Window Manager
    hikari iconGNOME Icon

    hikari VS GNOME

    Is hikari a good alternative to GNOME?
     
  5. CDE (Common Desktop Environment) icon
     9 likes

    The Common Desktop Environment was created by a collaboration of Sun, HP, IBM, DEC, SCO, Fujitsu and Hitachi. Used on a selection of commercial UNIXs, it is now available as open-source software for the first time.

    26 CDE (Common Desktop Environment) alternatives
    CDE (Common Desktop Environment) screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    CDE (Common Desktop Environment) iconGNOME Icon

    CDE (Common Desktop Environment) VS GNOME

    Is this a good alternative to GNOME?
     
  6. UKUI icon
     2 likes

    UKUI is a lightweight desktop environment based on pluggable framework for Linux and other Unix-like Distributions. It is developed using GTK and Qt.

    24 UKUI alternatives
    UKUI screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Ubuntu Kylin

    UKUI Features

    1.  Windows-like
    UKUI iconGNOME Icon

    UKUI VS GNOME

    Is UKUI a good alternative to GNOME?
     
  7. GNUstep icon
     4 likes

    GNUstep's core framework provides open source version of the Cocoa's (formerly known as OpenStep from NeXT) APIs and tools for as many platforms as possible.

    25 GNUstep alternatives
    GNUstep screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    GNUstep Features

    1.  Unix-like
    2.  Free API
    GNUstep iconGNOME Icon

    GNUstep VS GNOME

    Is GNUstep a good alternative to GNOME?
     
  8. Bluetile icon
     8 likes

    Bluetile is a tiling window manager for Linux, designed to integrate with the GNOME desktop environment. It provides both a traditional, stacking layout mode as well as tiling layouts where windows are arranged to use the entire screen without overlapping.

    89 Bluetile alternatives
    Bluetile screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Bluetile Features

    1.  Snap windows
    Discontinued

    The last commit on this software is ten years ago and the GNOME desktop has moved on. Notably, it is now difficult to replace the default window manager in GNOME.

    Bluetile iconGNOME Icon

    Bluetile VS GNOME

    Is Bluetile a good alternative to GNOME?
     
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