Alternatives

The Best dunst Alternatives in 2026

6 alternatives1 free · 2 open source

Looking for something like dunst? Here are 6 alternatives, ranked by how closely they match it on purpose, features and platforms. Of these, 1 are free or have a free plan and 2 are open source.

About dunstdunst-project.org
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Dunst is a notification daemon for X11 and Wayland on Linux and other Unix-like systems. It replaces the notification daemon provided by most desktop environments.

PricingNot confirmed
PlatformsLinux

Top picks at a glance

Quick comparison

#AlternativePricingOpen sourcePlatforms
1cmus —Not statedLinux, macOS, Windows
2Waydroid FreeYesLinux
3MOC —Not statedLinux
4Scrot —YesLinux
5Plan9Port —Not statedLinux, macOS, Web
6SystemRescue —Not statedLinux, Web, Windows
6 shown

All dunst alternatives

1

cmus

cmus.github.io
Also covers linux · same kind of app

cmus plays music from a console on Unix-like operating systems, according to its project description.

3

MOC

moc.daper.net
Also covers linux · same kind of app

MOC plays music through a text console on Linux and Unix systems, according to its project page.

No alternatives match this filter.

Alternatives to similar tools

All alternatives
What is the best alternative to dunst?
Based on features, tags and platforms, the closest alternatives to dunst are cmus, Waydroid, and MOC.
Is there a free alternative to dunst?
Yes. Waydroid is free or offer a free plan.
Are there open-source alternatives to dunst?
Yes: Waydroid and Scrot.

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