KWin AlternativesWindow Managers and other similar apps like KWin
KWin is described as 'Window manager for the X Window System, and is in the process of becoming a Wayland compositor. It integral part, and the default window manager of the Plasma Workspaces, but it can also be used on its own or with other desktop environments' and is a Window Manager in the os & utilities category. There are more than 50 alternatives to KWin for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, Wayland, BSD and Mac apps. The best KWin alternative is Compiz, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like KWin are VirtuaWin, awesome, Qtile and Mission Control.
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KWin alternatives are mainly Window Managers but may also be Wayland Compositors or Virtual Desktop Managers. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of KWin.- Window Manager
- Free • Open Source
- 161 likes27 Compiz alternatives
Compiz is a compositing manager adding fancy effects to your windows, from drop shadows to awesome desktop effects like the Desktop Cube or the Expo view.
Compiz VS KWin
Is Compiz a good alternative to KWin? - 80 likes22 VirtuaWin alternatives
VirtuaWin is a virtual desktop manager for the Windows operating system (Win9x/ME/NT/Win2K/XP/Win2003/Vista/Win7/Win10). A virtual desktop manager lets you organize applications over several virtual desktops (also called ‘workspaces’).
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Windows
- PortableApps.com
VirtuaWin Features
DiscontinuedThe latest version (4.5) is from January 2021.
VirtuaWin VS KWin
Is VirtuaWin a good alternative to KWin? - 34 likes75 awesome alternatives
awesome is a highly configurable, next generation framework window manager for X. It is very fast, extensible and licensed under the GNU GPLv2 license.
awesome VS KWin
Is awesome a good alternative to KWin? - 8 likes68 Qtile alternatives
A full-featured, hackable tiling window manager written and configured in Python.
Qtile Features
Qtile VS KWin
Is Qtile a good alternative to KWin? - 13 likes23 Mission Control alternatives
Mission Control, formerly Exposé, is a feature of the macOS operating system.
Mission Control VS KWin
Is Mission Control a good alternative to KWin? - 48 likes61 Preme for Windows alternatives
Preme is a free software for Windows which lets you add cool desktop features and enhances the desktop functionality.
License model
- Free • Proprietary
Application type
Platforms
- Windows
Preme for Windows Features
Preme for Windows VS KWin
Is Preme for Windows a good alternative to KWin? - 3 likes70 niri alternatives
Windows are arranged in columns on an infinite strip going to the right. Opening a new window never causes existing windows to resize.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Linux
- Wayland
niri Features
niri VS KWin
Is niri a good alternative to KWin? - 24 likes73 dwm alternatives
dwm is a dynamic window manager for X. It manages windows in tiled, monocle and floating layouts. All of the layouts can be applied dynamically, optimising the environment for the application in use and the task performed.
dwm VS KWin
Is dwm a good alternative to KWin? - 26 likes71 Xmonad alternatives
xmonad is a dynamically tiling X11 window manager that is written and configured in Haskell. In a normal WM, you spend half your time aligning and searching for windows. xmonad makes work easier, by automating this.
Xmonad VS KWin
Is Xmonad a good alternative to KWin? - 2 likes16 Labwc alternatives
Labwc stands for Lab Wayland Compositor, where lab can mean any of the following:
Labwc VS KWin
Is Labwc a good alternative to KWin? - 3 likes59 SwayFX alternatives
Sway is an incredible window manager, and certainly one of the most well established wayland window managers. However, it is restricted to only include the functionality that existed in i3. This fork ditches the simple wlr_renderer, and replaces it with our fx_renderer, capable...
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Linux
- Arch Linux
- Gentoo Linux
- Fedora
- Nix Package Manager
- Sway
- FreeBSD
- Wayland
SwayFX Features
SwayFX VS KWin
Is SwayFX a good alternative to KWin? - 1 like64 Gnome Mutter alternatives
Mutter is a Wayland display server and X11 window manager and compositor library.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Linux
- GNOME
- Wayland
Gnome Mutter Features
Gnome Mutter VS KWin
Is Gnome Mutter a good alternative to KWin?