KDE Plasma AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Window Managers

The best Window Manager alternative to KDE Plasma is GNOME, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to KDE Plasma and 13 are Window Managers so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Window Manager alternatives to KDE Plasma are Xfce, Cinnamon, COSMIC and LXQt.

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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

     478 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
    GNOME 40

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    GNOME 40 with a couple programs opened
    GNOME 40 Activities
    +9
    GNOME 40 Calendar and Notifications Menu

    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

     371 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

     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
    Cinnamon 4.2

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Desktop Environment
    3.  High-dpi support
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    6.  Ad-free
    Cinnamon iconKDE Plasma Icon

    Cinnamon VS KDE Plasma

    Is Cinnamon a good alternative to KDE Plasma?
     
  5. COSMIC icon
    COSMIC icon

    COSMIC

     13 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?
     
  6. 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
  7. 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
  9. 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
  10. Kera Desktop icon
    Kera Desktop icon

    Kera Desktop

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

    34 Kera Desktop alternatives
    Kera Desktop screenshot 1

    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 iconKDE Plasma Icon

    Kera Desktop VS KDE Plasma

    Is Kera Desktop a good alternative to KDE Plasma?
     

    • Kera Desktop is the most popular Windows alternative to KDE Plasma.

    • Kera Desktop is Free and Open SourceKDE Plasma is also Free and Open Source
    • Kera Desktop is Lightweight and Privacy focusedKDE Plasma is not according to our users
  11. DDE icon
    DDE icon

    DDE

     4 likes
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    DDE (Deepin Desktop Environment) is a Desktop Environment (DE) written in Qt for Deepin

    24 DDE alternatives
    DDE screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Ubuntu
    • Deepin
    DDE iconKDE Plasma Icon

    DDE VS KDE Plasma

    Is DDE a good alternative to KDE Plasma?
     
  12. Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE) icon
    Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE) icon

    Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE)

     3 likes
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    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

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE) screenshot 1
    Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE) screenshot 2

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE) iconKDE Plasma Icon

    Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE) VS KDE Plasma

    Is this a good alternative to KDE Plasma?
     
10 of 13 KDE Plasma alternatives