1
herbstluftwm
herbstluftwm.orgAlso covers desktop customization and git · same kind of website
herbstluftwm arranges windows through a manual tiling window manager for the X window system.
Alternatives
The Best awesomewm Alternatives in 2026
24 alternatives0 free · 10 open source
Looking for something like awesomewm? Here are 24 alternatives, ranked by how closely they match it on purpose, features and platforms. Of these, 10 are open source.
Awesome is a highly configurable and extensible window manager for X, described as fast and framework-based.
Top picks at a glance
First suggestionherbstluftwmherbstluftwm arranges windows through a manual tiling…Open source optionLivelyLively Wallpaper is free, open-source software for animated…Another optionChezmoiManage and synchronize dotfiles across multiple machines…
Quick comparison
| # | Alternative | Pricing | Open source | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | herbstluftwm | — | Not stated | Web, Windows |
| 2 | Chezmoi | — | Not stated | Web |
| 3 | Arch Wiki | — | Not stated | Web |
| 4 | Fetch | — | Not stated | Web |
| 5 | HydraPaper | — | Not stated | Linux, Web |
| 6 | Lively | — | Yes | Web, Windows |
| 7 | Wearewaylandnow | — | Yes | Linux |
| 8 | GUI | — | Yes | Linux, Windows |
| 9 | Elkowar's Wacky Widgets | — | Not stated | Linux |
| 10 | LWP | — | Yes | Linux |
All awesomewm alternatives
2
Also covers desktop customization and git · same kind of website
Manage and synchronize dotfiles across multiple machines with chezmoi, which emphasizes secure handling.
3
Arch Wiki
wiki.archlinux.org/title/SwayAlso covers desktop customization and git · same kind of website
Sway is an i3-compatible tiling compositor for Wayland, documented in the ArchWiki.
4
Fetch
asdesai.com/p/fetchAlso covers desktop customization and git · same kind of website
Fetch renders a distribution’s ASCII logo as a rotating 3D object alongside live system information.
5
HydraPaper
hydrapaper.gabmus.orgAlso covers desktop customization and git · same kind of website
HydraPaper manages wallpaper collections and supports multi-monitor setups.
6
Also covers desktop customization and git · same kind of website · open source
Lively Wallpaper is free, open-source software for animated desktop wallpapers and screensavers.
7
Also covers desktop customization and git · open source
This repository contains the source for wearewaylandnow.com, an opinionated site about the Wayland desktop environment.
8
Also covers desktop customization and git · open source
Catppuccinifier recolors wallpapers using a command-line or graphical interface on Linux and Windows.
9
Elkowar's Wacky Widgets
elkowar.github.io/ewwAlso covers desktop customization and git
Eww is a Rust widget system for creating custom desktop widgets, including configurations similar to those in AwesomeWM.
10
Also covers desktop customization and git · open source
LWP creates layered parallax wallpapers whose layers move with the mouse cursor.
11
Also covers desktop customization and git · open source
Fetch turns a terminal’s ASCII distribution logo into a rotating 3D object and displays live system information.
12
theme.sh
github.com/lemnos/theme.shAlso covers desktop customization and git
theme.sh changes terminal color schemes, with hundreds of themes and support for terminals using OSC color controls.
13
Rosé Pine
rosepinetheme.comAlso covers desktop customization · same kind of website
Rosé Pine provides a color scheme for digital interfaces, described by its site as inspired by pine, fur, and Soho style.
14
Also covers desktop customization · open source
The awesome project provides a window manager for the desktop with a Lua configuration interface.
15
Also covers api and desktop customization · open source
i3 is a tiling window manager for X11 with documented code and Xinerama support.
16
Window Manager Index
wiki.archlinux.org/title/Window_managerAlso covers desktop customization · same kind of website
The ArchWiki explains window managers and links to a comparison of tiling window managers.
17
Qtile
qtile.orgAlso covers desktop customization · same kind of website
Configure Qtile with Python and use its full-featured tiling window manager for arranging windows.
18
xmonad
xmonad.orgAlso covers desktop customization · same kind of website
xmonad provides a dynamically tiling window manager for X11, written and configured in Haskell.
19
Reference Card
i3wm.org/docs/refcard.htmlAlso covers desktop customization · same kind of website
This i3 reference card lists keyboard shortcuts for common window manager actions.
20
dwm
dwm.suckless.orgAlso covers desktop customization · same kind of website
Manage windows on X11 with dwm, a dynamic window manager from suckless.org with customization information.
21
Extension Manager
mattjakeman.com/apps/extension-managerAlso covers desktop customization · same kind of website
Extension Manager browses, installs, and manages GNOME Extensions, with search and extension details in the app.
22
Also covers desktop customization · open source
Awesome Linux Ricing collects themes, tools, and applications for customizing Linux desktops.
23
Also covers desktop customization · open source
Awesome Wayland collects resources related to the Wayland display system.
24
Also covers desktop customization · open source
Awesome Hyprland curates a list of community resources for the Hyprland compositor.
No alternatives match this filter.
Alternatives to similar tools
Chezmoi24 alternativesWearewaylandnow24 alternativesWindow Manager Index24 alternativesArch Wiki24 alternativesHydraPaper24 alternativesGUI24 alternatives
What is the best alternative to awesomewm?
Based on features, tags and platforms, the closest alternatives to awesomewm are herbstluftwm, Chezmoi, and Arch Wiki.
Are there open-source alternatives to awesomewm?
Yes: Lively, Wearewaylandnow, GUI, and LWP.
Alternatives are suggested from the purpose and features described in our listings. Different pages for the same product appear once. Read each description to check whether it fits your task. How we choose alternatives · Suggest an alternative