JWM Alternatives

Apps similar to JWM include Hyprland, which is free and open source. Other options are niri, Sway, i3 and Openbox. You're spoiled for choice with Window Managers like JWM: we list more than 50 alternatives for Linux, Mac and Windows.

Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Alternatives
JWM alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Cocoa-Way icon
     Like

    Native macOS Wayland compositor in Rust using Smithay, providing seamless Linux app streaming and display with OpenGL rendering, HiDPI Retina support, hardware acceleration, polished UI, server-side decorations, direct Wayland protocol, and zero VM overhead.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2026

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Wayland
    • Homebrew
    Good alternative?
     
  2. A Wayland Tiling Compositor Inspired by Ratpoison.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2024

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Wayland
    Good alternative?
     
  3.  Like

    Mahogany is a tiling window manager for Wayland modeled after StumpWM. While it is not a drop-in replacement for StumpWM, StumpWM users should be very comfortable with Mahogany. Its planned features are:

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2024

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Wayland
    Good alternative?
     
  4. MagmaWM icon
     Like

    A versatile and customizable window manager / Wayland compositor, currently in development and actively seeking contributions from the community.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2024

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Wayland
    Good alternative?
     
  5. Cage is a kiosk compositor for Wayland. A kiosk is a window manager (in the X11 world) or compositor (in the Wayland world) that is designed for a user experience wherein user interaction and activities outside the scope of the running application are prevented.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Since

    • Since 2024

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Wayland
    Good alternative?
     
  6. Window manager for X inspired by DWM, i3, and other tiling window managers. Windows are assigned to tags, and are automatically arranged on the screen in a stacked layout making the most of your monitor.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2025

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • X11
    Good alternative?
     
  7. Xlambda icon
     Like

    Xlambda is an X window manager that is extensible in Guile.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2019

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  8. Way Cooler is a tiling Wayland window manager, written in Rust, configurable using Lua, and extendable with D-Bus.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2018

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  9. free, open-source scrolling window manager (niri/PaperWM style) for macOS.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Since

    • New

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Good alternative?
     
  10.  Like

    Weston is a Wayland compositor designed for correctness, reliability, predictability, and performance.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2024

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  11. sxwm icon
     Like

    tiling window managers dont have to be difficult.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2025

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • X11
    • GB flagUnited Kingdom
    sxwm screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  12.  Like

    Making dwm as beautiful as possible!.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2025

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
You are at page 6 of JWM alternatives