Window Maker AlternativesWindow Managers & Desktop Environments like Window Maker

Window Maker is described as 'Has a reputation for being fast, efficient and highly stable. Window Maker has been characterized as reproducing "the elegant look and feel of the NeXTstep GUI" and is noted as "easy to configure and easy to use' and is a desktop environment in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Window Maker for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, BSD, Mac and Ubuntu apps. The best Window Maker alternative is KDE Plasma, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Window Maker are GNOME, Xfce, Open Shell and Cinnamon.

Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Window Maker alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. KDE Plasma icon
     463 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    30 KDE Plasma alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • postmarketOS
     
    • KDE Plasma is the most popular Linux alternative to Window Maker.

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

    • KDE Plasma is Free and Open SourceWindow Maker is also Free and Open Source
    • KDE Plasma is Customizable, Lightweight and Privacy focusedWindow Maker is not according to our users
  2. Xfce icon
     377 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    29 Xfce alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
     
  3. Open Shell icon
     110 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Open Shell is a fork of the Classic Shell project for Windows that getting back the classic start menu to modern versions of Microsoft Windows.

    40 Open Shell alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
    • Open Shell is the most popular Windows alternative to Window Maker.

    • Open Shell is Free and Open SourceWindow Maker is also Free and Open Source
    • Open Shell is Lightweight and Privacy focusedWindow Maker is not according to our users
  4. Noctalia icon
     9 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Noctalia is a beautiful, minimal desktop shell for Wayland built with Quickshell. It’s designed with a “quiet by design” philosophy, providing a complete desktop experience that stays out of your way.

    37 Noctalia alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  5. MATE icon
     144 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    25 MATE alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    • OpenIndiana
    • GhostBSD
     
  6. LXQt icon
     54 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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 .

    27 LXQt alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
     
  7. LXDE icon
     122 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    The "Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment" is an extremely fast-performing and energy-saving desktop environment.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
     
  8. Cairo Shell icon
     52 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Cairo is a desktop environment for Windows. Its goal is to develop a desktop experience that increases productivity and advances current technology standards.

    38 Cairo Shell alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  9. Budgie icon
     45 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    29 Budgie alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
12 of 43 Window Maker alternatives