1
Also covers desktop customization · same kind of website
Manage and synchronize dotfiles across multiple machines with chezmoi, which emphasizes secure handling.
Alternatives
The Best dwm Alternatives in 2026
24 alternatives2 free · 7 open source
Looking for something like dwm? Here are 24 alternatives, ranked by how closely they match it on purpose, features and platforms. Of these, 2 are free or have a free plan and 7 are open source.
Manage windows on X11 with dwm, a dynamic window manager from suckless.org with customization information.
Top picks at a glance
First suggestionChezmoiManage and synchronize dotfiles across multiple machines…Free or freemium optionDynamic ThemeDynamic Theme updates Windows wallpaper or lock screen…Open source optionWinDynamicDesktopWinDynamicDesktop brings macOS Mojave-style dynamic desktop…
Quick comparison
| # | Alternative | Pricing | Open source | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chezmoi | — | Not stated | Web |
| 2 | Dynamic Theme | Free | Not stated | Web, Windows |
| 3 | WindowsCustomization | — | Not stated | Web, Windows |
| 4 | Taskbar Tweaker | — | Not stated | Web, Windows |
| 5 | WinClassic | — | Not stated | Linux, Web, Windows |
| 6 | Arch Wiki | — | Not stated | Web, Windows |
| 7 | awesomewm | — | Not stated | Web |
| 8 | Window Manager Index | — | Not stated | Web, Windows |
| 9 | Qtile | — | Not stated | Web, Windows |
| 10 | xmonad | — | Not stated | Web, Windows |
All dwm alternatives
2
Also covers desktop customization · same kind of website · free
Dynamic Theme updates Windows wallpaper or lock screen images from Bing or Windows Spotlight.
3
WindowsCustomization
windowscustomization.comAlso covers desktop customization · same kind of website
WindowsCustomization collects Windows themes, icons, wallpapers, cursors, Rainmeter skins, and customization tutorials.
4
Taskbar Tweaker
tweaker.ramensoftware.comAlso covers desktop customization · same kind of website
7+ Taskbar Tweaker configures Windows taskbar behavior through a range of customization options.
5
WinClassic
winclassic.netAlso covers desktop customization · same kind of website
WinClassic hosts discussions about classic Windows themes, shell customization, and related modifications.
6
Arch Wiki
wiki.archlinux.org/title/HyprlandAlso covers desktop customization · same kind of website
Hyprland is a tiling Wayland compositor with dynamic tiling and a custom renderer, documented in the ArchWiki.
7
Also covers desktop customization · same kind of website
Awesome is a highly configurable and extensible window manager for X, described as fast and framework-based.
8
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.
9
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.
10
xmonad
xmonad.orgAlso covers desktop customization · same kind of website
xmonad provides a dynamically tiling window manager for X11, written and configured in Haskell.
11
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.
12
herbstluftwm
herbstluftwm.orgAlso covers desktop customization · same kind of website
herbstluftwm arranges windows through a manual tiling window manager for the X window system.
13
Hyprland
hypr.landAlso covers desktop customization · same kind of website
Hyprland provides dynamic tiling and Wayland features through a compositor with plugin support.
14
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.
15
Also covers desktop customization · open source
WinDynamicDesktop brings macOS Mojave-style dynamic desktop wallpapers to Windows, with themes and scheduling.
16
Also covers desktop customization · open source
This repository collects Polybar themes in different styles, colors, and variants for desktop customization.
17
Also covers desktop customization · same kind of website · free plan
backiee provides Windows wallpaper downloads, live wallpapers, and interactive widgets.
18
Also covers desktop customization · open source
Arrange desktop windows as leaves in a binary tree with bspwm, a tiling window manager that responds to X events.
19
Also covers desktop customization · open source
These dotfiles configure Hyprland with a dynamic tiling setup for Arch Linux and Fedora.
20
Also covers desktop customization · open source
Waywallen manages dynamic wallpapers on Linux desktops, according to its project description.
21
Also covers desktop customization · open source
i3 is a tiling window manager for X11 with documented code and Xinerama support.
22
Also covers desktop customization · same kind of website
dotfiles.github.io explains how dotfiles can help back up, restore, and synchronize preferences and settings.
23
river
github.com/riverwm/riverAlso covers desktop customization
river separates the Wayland compositor from the window manager, allowing a compatible manager to be chosen.
24
Also covers desktop customization · open source
The awesome project provides a window manager for the desktop with a Lua configuration interface.
No alternatives match this filter.
Alternatives to similar tools
backiee24 alternativesChezmoi24 alternativesDynamic Theme24 alternativesawesomewm24 alternativesdotfiles24 alternativesWindow Manager Index24 alternatives
What is the best alternative to dwm?
Based on features, tags and platforms, the closest alternatives to dwm are Chezmoi, Dynamic Theme, and WindowsCustomization.
Is there a free alternative to dwm?
Yes. Dynamic Theme and backiee are free or offer a free plan.
Are there open-source alternatives to dwm?
Yes: WinDynamicDesktop, Themes, BSPWM, and Simple Config.
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