Free Wayland AlternativesWindow Managers and other similar apps like Wayland

The best free alternative to Wayland is Compiz, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked six alternatives to Wayland and six of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to Wayland are X11, XQuartz, XLibre and Mir.

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Alternatives list

  1. Compiz icon
     161 likes

    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.

    32 Compiz alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  2. X11 icon
     18 likes

    The X.Org project provides an open source implementation of the X Window System. The development work is being done in conjunction with the freedesktop.org community. The X.Org Foundation is the educational non-profit corporation whose Board serves this effort, and whose Members...

    6 X11 alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
     
  3. XQuartz icon
     15 likes

    This provides a windowing system for some applications that normally run on Linux, as well as for forwarding GUI from the server to your client computer.

    4 XQuartz alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  4. XLibre icon
     1 like

    The XLibre contributors strive to cleanup and strengthen the existing code base while maintaining backward compatibility to make X11 a viable choice for the future. Another goal is to actively enhance the functionality of the Xserver and its drivers.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  5.  1 like

    The purpose of Mir is to enable the development of user interfaces shells. In the case of Ubuntu, Mir will be utilized by next generation Unity. In addition, Mir will be developed in a manner that will retain its flexibility and usability in order that shells other than Unity...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  6. Phoenix is a new X server, written from scratch in Zig (not a fork of Xorg server). This X server is designed to be a modern alternative to the Xorg server.

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
6 of 6 Wayland alternatives