KWin Alternatives

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 25 alternatives to KWin for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, BSD and PortableApps.com. The best alternative is Dexpot. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try awesome or Compiz. Other great apps like KWin are VirtuaWin, Xmonad, Preme for Windows and Qtile.

KWin alternatives are mainly Window Managers but may also be Shell Extensions or Desktop Customization Tools. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of KWin.

This page was last updated

KWin

Free • Open Source
Window Manager

Linux
BSD

KWin is a window manager for the X Window System, and is in the process of becoming a Wayland compositor. It is an integral...

Learn more about KWin

Dexpot
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Proprietary
Windows
28 alternatives to Dexpot
Dexpot turns your monitor into up to 20. It creates and manages virtual desktops and enables you to work far more efficiently and comfortably with many simultaneously opened windows on Windows 95/98/ME and NT4/2000/XP/2003/Vista (incl. x64).
Suggest and vote on features
Dexpot Features
Multiple desktops
Discontinued
Dead app. 3 years since the last update. Not compatible with current version of Windows. See changelog: http://www.dexpot.de/?id=changelog
awesome
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Window Manager
Linux
BSD
45 alternatives to awesome
awesome is a highly configurable, next generation framework window manager for X. It is very fast, extensible and licensed under the GNU GPLv2 license.
Suggest and vote on features
awesome Features
X server
Tiling
Extensible window manager
Compiz
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Window Manager
Linux
29 alternatives to Compiz
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 has no features, suggest some!
VirtuaWin
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Windows
PortableApps.com
25 alternatives to VirtuaWin
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’).
Suggest and vote on features
VirtuaWin Features
1. PortableVirtuaWin can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Xmonad
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Window Manager
Mac
Linux
42 alternatives to Xmonad
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Xmonad Features
X server
Tiling
Extensible window manager
Preme for Windows
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Windows
58 alternatives to Preme for Windows
Preme is a free software for Windows which lets you add cool desktop features and enhances the desktop functionality.
Suggest and vote on features
Preme for Windows Features
Touch Bar Manager
Touchbar integration
Configurable
Qtile
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Window Manager
Linux
40 alternatives to Qtile
A full-featured, hackable tiling window manager written and configured in Python.
Suggest and vote on features
Qtile Features
1. Support for Multiple MonitorsQtile supports the use of multiple displays.
2. Support for scriptingQtile supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
3. Command line interfaceQtile either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
Tiling
Extensible window manager
Mission Control
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Window Manager
Mac
27 alternatives to Mission Control
Mission Control, formerly Exposé, is a feature of the OS X operating system.
Suggest and vote on features
Mission Control Features
Bundled with macOS
Window organizer
Skippy-XD
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Shell Extension
Linux
BSD
Xfce
4 alternatives to Skippy-XD
Skippy-XD is a full-screen task-switcher for X11. You know that thing Mac OS X, Compiz and KWin do where you press a hotkey and suddenly you see miniature versions of all your windows at once? Skippy-XD does just that.
Suggest and vote on features
Skippy-XD Features
Window organizer
Bluetile
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Window Manager
Linux
60 alternatives to Bluetile
Bluetile is a tiling window manager for Linux, designed to integrate with the GNOME desktop environment. It provides both a traditional, stacking layout mode as well as tiling layouts where windows are arranged to use the entire screen without overlapping.
Suggest and vote on features
Bluetile Features
Snap windows
Discontinued
The last commit on this software is ten years ago and the GNOME desktop has moved on. Notably, it is now difficult to replace the default window manager in GNOME.

Showing 10 of 36 alternatives

Dexpot Features

awesome Features

VirtuaWin Features

Xmonad Features

Preme for Windows Features

Qtile Features

Mission Control Features

Skippy-XD Features

Bluetile Features