GNUstep AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Desktop Environments

The best Desktop Environment alternative to GNUstep is KDE Plasma, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to GNUstep and many of them are Desktop Environments so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Desktop Environment alternatives to GNUstep are GNOME, Xfce, Cinnamon and COSMIC.

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GNUstep alternatives are mainly Desktop Environments but may also be Window Managers or Mobile OSs.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of GNUstep.
GNUstep iconGNUstep
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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.

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GNUstep alternatives page was last updated Jul 18, 2023
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Alternatives
  1. KDE Plasma icon

    KDE Plasma

     431 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.

    26 KDE Plasma alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • postmarketOS
    A typical Plasma desktop looks like this

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Desktop Environment
    2.  Themes
    3.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    4.  Transparency
    5.  Blurry transparency
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    10.  Full-Text Search
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Support for scripting

    KDE Plasma VS GNUstep

     

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

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

    • KDE Plasma is Free and Open SourceGNUstep is also Free and Open Source
    • KDE Plasma is Customizable, Lightweight and Privacy focusedGNUstep is not according to our users
  2. GNOME icon

    GNOME

     487 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.

    30 GNOME alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    GNOME 40

    Properties

    1.  Clean design
    2.  Optimal performance
    3.  Privacy focused
    4.  Lightweight
    5.  User friendly

    Features

    1.  Desktop Environment
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Rolling Release
    9.  Themes

    GNOME VS GNUstep

     
  4. Xfce icon

    Xfce

     372 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.

    26 Xfce alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    Xfce 4.14

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Customizable
    3.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Desktop Environment
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Modular System
    4.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  No Tracking

    Xfce VS GNUstep

     
  5. Cinnamon icon

    Cinnamon

     192 likes
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    Cinnamon is a Linux desktop which provides advanced innovative features and a traditional user experience. The desktop layout is similar to GNOME 2. The underlying technology is forked from GNOME Shell.

    24 Cinnamon alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • IE flagIreland
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    Cinnamon 4.2

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  High-dpi support
    3.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Ad-free

    Cinnamon VS GNUstep

     
  6. COSMIC icon

    COSMIC

     17 likes
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    COSMIC is the name for the main shell components in Pop_Shell.

    33 COSMIC alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Linux
    COSMIC screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    4.  Dock
    5.  No registration required
    6.  No Tracking

    COSMIC VS GNUstep

     
  7. MATE icon

    MATE

     141 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.

    23 MATE alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    • OpenIndiana
    • GhostBSD
    MATE screenshot 1

    MATE VS GNUstep

     
  9. LXDE icon

    LXDE

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

    27 LXDE alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • TW flagTaiwan

    Platforms

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

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  X server

    LXDE VS GNUstep

     
  10. LXQt icon

    LXQt

     49 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 .

    26 LXQt alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    LXQt screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Desktop Environment
    2.  QT Based
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No registration required
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  X server

    LXQt VS GNUstep

     
  11. Budgie icon

    Budgie

     44 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.

    25 Budgie alternatives

    License model

    • 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.

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts

    Budgie VS GNUstep

     
  12. Kera Desktop icon

    Kera Desktop

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

    34 Kera Desktop alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Portable
    3.  Separated workspaces
    4.  Workspaces

    Kera Desktop VS GNUstep

     

    • Kera Desktop is the most popular Windows & Mac alternative to GNUstep.

    • Kera Desktop is Free and Open SourceGNUstep is also Free and Open Source
    • Kera Desktop is Lightweight and Privacy focusedGNUstep is not according to our users
  13. Cairo Shell icon

    Cairo Shell

     48 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.

    43 Cairo Shell alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Cairo Shell screenshot 1

    Cairo Shell VS GNUstep

     
  14. Enlightenment icon

    Enlightenment

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

    25 Enlightenment alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Enlightenment screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Wayland Support
    2.  X server

    Enlightenment VS GNUstep

     
12 of 21 GNUstep alternatives