The Best KDE Plasma AlternativesTop Desktop Environments & Window Managers like KDE Plasma

KDE Plasma is described as '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' and is a very popular desktop environment in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to KDE Plasma for a variety of platforms, including Linux, BSD, Windows, Mac and Linux Mobile apps. The best KDE Plasma alternative is GNOME, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like KDE Plasma are Xfce, Cinnamon, MATE and COSMIC.

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KDE Plasma 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 KDE Plasma.
KDE Plasma iconKDE Plasma
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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.

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KDE Plasma alternatives page was last updated Nov 18, 2024
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  1. GNOME icon
    GNOME icon

    GNOME

     475 likes
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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.

    30 GNOME alternatives
    GNOME screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    GNOME screenshot 1
    GNOME screenshot 2
    +5
    GNOME screenshot 3

    Properties

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

    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 iconKDE Plasma Icon

    GNOME VS KDE Plasma

    Is GNOME a good alternative to KDE Plasma?
     
    Comments about GNOME as an Alternative to KDE Plasma
     
       
    Ranogard

    Can't be easily themed anymore, and possibly can't be themed at all in the future. If you don't like the dark adwaita theme because it looks like an ashtray and a graveyard combined, bad luck for you.

    Negative comment •Jan 29, 2023
    2
    LinuxDoge

    Very beautiful DE, modern and stable.

    I prefer KDE for its simple, Windows-like look, as I dont like looking downward all the time and like the customizability of it, but GNOME is by far the best supported, stable and beautiful Linux DE.

    Positive comment •May 4, 2022
    1
    Guest

    slow. draining. inefficient.

    Negative comment •Nov 18, 2024
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    KDE Plasma Icon
    GNOME icon

    • Most users think GNOME is a great KDE Plasma alternative.

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

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

    • GNOME is Free and Open SourceKDE Plasma is also Free and Open Source
    • GNOME is Privacy focused and LightweightKDE Plasma is not according to our users
  2. Xfce icon
    Xfce icon

    Xfce

     370 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
    Xfce 4.14

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    Xfce screenshot 1
    Xfce screenshot 2

    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.  No registration required
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  No Tracking
    Xfce iconKDE Plasma Icon

    Xfce VS KDE Plasma

    Is Xfce a good alternative to KDE Plasma?
     
    Comments about Xfce as an Alternative to KDE Plasma
     
    Guest

    Xfce is good because it's fast lightweight and has almost all of the features of Plasma

    Positive comment •May 11, 2018
    3
    KDE Plasma Icon
    Xfce icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Xfce is a great KDE Plasma alternative.

    • Xfce is Free and Open SourceKDE Plasma is also Free and Open Source
    • Xfce is Lightweight, Customizable and Privacy focusedKDE Plasma is not according to our users
  4. Cinnamon icon
    Cinnamon icon

    Cinnamon

     191 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
    Cinnamon 4.2

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  High-dpi support
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Ad-free
    Cinnamon iconKDE Plasma Icon

    Cinnamon VS KDE Plasma

    Is Cinnamon a good alternative to KDE Plasma?
     
  5. MATE icon
    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
    MATE screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    • OpenIndiana
    • GhostBSD
    MATE screenshot 1
    MATE screenshot 2
    +1
    MATE screenshot 3
    MATE iconKDE Plasma Icon

    MATE VS KDE Plasma

    Is MATE a good alternative to KDE Plasma?
     
  6. COSMIC icon
    COSMIC icon

    COSMIC

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

    33 COSMIC alternatives
    COSMIC screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    COSMIC screenshot 1
    COSMIC screenshot 2
    +5
    COSMIC screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

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

    COSMIC VS KDE Plasma

    Is COSMIC a good alternative to KDE Plasma?
     
  7. LXDE icon
    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
    Screenshot of the LXDE desktop. It's simple, lightweight, fast, modern, internationalized, and standard-compliant.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  X server
    LXPanel Provides the common features of a desktop panel. The panel can generate menu for installed applications automatically from *.desktop files.
    PCManFM - lightweight and feature-rich file manager with tabs and volume-management support
    +1
    LXDE on FreeBSD
    LXDE iconKDE Plasma Icon

    LXDE VS KDE Plasma

    Is LXDE a good alternative to KDE Plasma?
     
    Comments about LXDE as an Alternative to KDE Plasma
     
    Guest

    LXDE Is old and lacking in features

    Negative comment •May 11, 2018
    3
    KDE Plasma Icon
    LXDE icon

    • Most users think LXDE is a great KDE Plasma alternative.

    • LXDE is Free and Open SourceKDE Plasma is also Free and Open Source
    • LXDE is LightweightKDE Plasma is not according to our users
  9. LXQt icon
    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
    LXQt screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    LXQt screenshot 1
    LXQt screenshot 2

    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 iconKDE Plasma Icon

    LXQt VS KDE Plasma

    Is LXQt a good alternative to KDE Plasma?
     
    Comments about LXQt as an Alternative to KDE Plasma
     
    Guest

    LXQt is in two words "Lightweight Plasma"

    Positive comment •May 11, 2018
    5
    KDE Plasma Icon
    LXQt icon
    • LXQt is Free and Open SourceKDE Plasma is also Free and Open Source
    • LXQt is Lightweight and Privacy focusedKDE Plasma is not according to our users
  10. Budgie icon
    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
    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.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    The Budgie Run Dialog provides the means to quickly find an application in a popup window. This window by default is activated with the ALT+F2 keyboard shortcut, providing keyboard driven launcher facilities.
    The main Budgie menu provides a quick and easy to use menu, suitable for both mouse and keyboard driven users.
    +1
    The Raven side panel provides an all-in-one center for accessing your calendar, controlling sound output and input, media playback and more. Raven also enables you to access missed notifications.

    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 iconKDE Plasma Icon

    Budgie VS KDE Plasma

    Is Budgie a good alternative to KDE Plasma?
     
    Comments about Budgie as an Alternative to KDE Plasma
     
    John Fastman

    Budgie is a new desktop environment built on top of Gnome, essentially. It looks and feels nice in principle, but it's not the finished article. Slow and buggy, it might have a bright future but for the moment KDE's Plasma is much better.

    Negative comment •Jan 9, 2017
    -2
    KDE Plasma Icon
    Budgie icon

    • Most users think Budgie is a great KDE Plasma alternative.

    • Budgie is Free and Open SourceKDE Plasma is also Free and Open Source
    • Budgie is Privacy focusedKDE Plasma is not according to our users
  11. Enlightenment icon
    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
    Enlightenment screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Wayland Support
    2.  X server
    Enlightenment screenshot 1
    Enlightenment screenshot 2
    +3
    Enlightenment screenshot 3
    Enlightenment iconKDE Plasma Icon

    Enlightenment VS KDE Plasma

    Is Enlightenment a good alternative to KDE Plasma?
     

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

    • Enlightenment is Free and Open SourceKDE Plasma is also Free and Open Source
    • Enlightenment is LightweightKDE Plasma is not according to our users
  12. Cairo Shell icon
    Cairo Shell icon

    Cairo Shell

     47 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.

    42 Cairo Shell alternatives
    Cairo Shell screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Cairo Shell screenshot 1
    Cairo Shell screenshot 2
    +2
    Cairo Shell screenshot 3
    Cairo Shell iconKDE Plasma Icon

    Cairo Shell VS KDE Plasma

    Is Cairo Shell a good alternative to KDE Plasma?
     
    Comments about Cairo Shell as an Alternative to KDE Plasma
     
    Alexandre ZANNI

    doesn't target the same OS

    Positive comment •May 8, 2018
    0
    KDE Plasma Icon
    Cairo Shell icon

    • Some users think Cairo Shell is a great KDE Plasma alternative, some don't.

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

    • Cairo Shell is Free and Open SourceKDE Plasma is also Free and Open Source
10 of 26 KDE Plasma alternatives