Xfce AlternativesTop Desktop Environments & Window Managers like Xfce

Xfce is described as '(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' and is a very popular desktop environment in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Xfce for a variety of platforms, including Linux, BSD, Windows, Mac and Linux Mobile apps. The best Xfce alternative is KDE Plasma, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Xfce are GNOME, Cinnamon, MATE and LXQt.

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Alternatives list

  1. KDE Plasma icon

    KDE Plasma

     465 likes
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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.

    30 KDE Plasma alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • postmarketOS
    A typical Plasma desktop looks like this
     
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    Comments about KDE Plasma as an Alternative to Xfce
    yofaw78034
    Negative
    -2

    Whilst KDE and XFCE are both highly customisable, KDE is much more prone to bugs and is also uses a significantly larger amount of resources relative to XFCE.

    Xfce Icon
    KDE Plasma icon

    • Most users think KDE Plasma is a great Xfce alternative.

    • KDE Plasma is the most popular Linux alternative to Xfce.

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

    • KDE Plasma is Free and Open SourceXfce is also Free and Open Source
  2. GNOME icon

    GNOME

     502 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.

    32 GNOME alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    GNOME 40
     
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  5. MATE icon

    MATE

     144 likes
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    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
    MATE screenshot 1
     
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    Comments about MATE as an Alternative to Xfce
    John Fastman
    Positive
    4

    MATE is a good alternative to XFCE because it is similarly light on system resources (runs well on computers that aren't the fastest/newest) but MATE has slightly more intuitive configuration for the desktop appearance (e.g. moving icons on panels, making panels transparent).

    John Fastman
    Positive
    2

    Mate is light on system resources. Perhaps not as light as XFCE, but still good on old computers. Additionally, the Mate desktop panels are more customizable than on XFCE. Under-rated desktop environment.

    Xfce Icon
    MATE icon

    • Almost everyone thinks MATE is a great Xfce alternative.

    • MATE is Free and Open SourceXfce is also Free and Open Source
  6. LXQt icon

    LXQt

     54 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 .

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    LXQt screenshot 1
     
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    Comments about LXQt as an Alternative to Xfce
    hathas
    Positive
    0

    It's like if it's XFCE's Qt-based sibling

    Xfce Icon
    LXQt icon

    • Almost everyone thinks LXQt is a great Xfce alternative.

    • LXQt is Free and Open SourceXfce is also Free and Open Source
  7. Noctalia icon

    Noctalia

     11 likes
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    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
    Noctalia screenshot 1
     
  9. LXDE icon

    LXDE

     122 likes
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    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
    Screenshot of the LXDE desktop. It's simple, lightweight, fast, modern, internationalized, and standard-compliant.
     
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    Comments about LXDE as an Alternative to Xfce
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    This dektop enovriment for older pc and arm pc desktop enovriment

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Xfce Icon
    LXDE icon

    • Almost everyone thinks LXDE is a great Xfce alternative.

    • LXDE is Free and Open SourceXfce is also Free and Open Source
  11. Budgie icon

    Budgie

     46 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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    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.
     
  12. Cairo Shell icon

    Cairo Shell

     52 likes
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    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
    Cairo Shell screenshot 1
     
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    Comments about Cairo Shell as an Alternative to Xfce
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Cairo Shell is for Windows, XFCE is for Windows

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Xfce Icon
    Cairo Shell icon

    • Cairo Shell is the most popular Windows alternative to Xfce.

    • Cairo Shell is Free and Open SourceXfce is also Free and Open Source
  13. Kera Desktop icon

    Kera Desktop

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

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    Kera Desktop screenshot 1
     

    • Kera Desktop is the most popular Mac alternative to Xfce.

    • Kera Desktop is Free and Open SourceXfce is also Free and Open Source
  14. Enlightenment icon

    Enlightenment

     52 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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Enlightenment screenshot 1
     
12 of 29 Xfce alternatives