1
Docs
picom.appAlso covers desktop customization
The picom manual documents compositor options, window rules, animations, configuration, and examples.
Alternatives
The Best picom Alternatives in 2026
24 alternatives1 free · 17 open source
Looking for something like picom? Here are 24 alternatives, ranked by how closely they match it on purpose, features and platforms. Of these, 1 are free or have a free plan and 17 are open source.
picom composites desktop windows on X11 and includes support for animation effects.
Top picks at a glance
First suggestionDocsThe picom manual documents compositor options, window…Free or freemium optionAuroraAurora is open-source software for controlling RGB lighting…Open source optionBurn My WindowsBurn My Windows adds window animations that visually…
Quick comparison
| # | Alternative | Pricing | Open source | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Docs | — | Not stated | Web, Windows |
| 2 | Burn My Windows | — | Yes | Windows |
| 3 | SwayFx | — | Yes | Windows |
| 4 | MicaForEveryone | — | Yes | Windows |
| 5 | ExplorerBlurMica | — | Yes | Windows |
| 6 | Awesome Wallpaper | — | Not stated | Web, Windows |
| 7 | Aurora | Free | Not stated | Web |
| 8 | After Dark CSS | — | Not stated | Web |
| 9 | NiceTaskbar | — | Not stated | Web, Windows |
| 10 | Arc | — | Yes | Linux |
All picom alternatives
2
Also covers desktop customization · same kind of open-source project · open source
Burn My Windows adds window animations that visually disintegrate windows when they open or close.
3
Also covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
SwayFX extends the Sway compositor with visual effects through changes to its rendering layer.
4
Also covers desktop customization · same kind of open-source project · open source
Mica For Everyone enables backdrop effects on Win32 application title bars in Windows 11.
5
Also covers desktop customization · same kind of open-source project · open source
ExplorerBlurMica adds background blur or acrylic Mica effects to Windows Explorer on Windows 10 and 11.
6
Awesome Wallpaper
awesome-wallpaper.comAlso covers desktop customization
AwesomeWallpaper displays images, animation, video, or system information on a Windows desktop wallpaper.
7
Also covers desktop customization · free
Aurora is open-source software for controlling RGB lighting across brands and integrating game effects.
8
After Dark CSS
bryanbraun.com/after-dark-cssAlso covers desktop customization
After Dark in CSS recreates classic 1990s Mac and PC screensavers using CSS animations and transforms.
9
NiceTaskbar
microsoft.com/en-us/p/nicetaskbar/9pkl2s93xwb5Also covers desktop customization
NiceTaskbar customizes the Windows taskbar with transparency, blur, acrylic effects, colors, and opacity settings.
10
Also covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
Arc provides a flat GTK theme with transparent elements for desktop shells and applications.
11
Also covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
This repository contains the source for wearewaylandnow.com, an opinionated site about the Wayland desktop environment.
12
Also covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
Forge adds window tiling and management controls to the GNOME Shell desktop.
13
Also covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
AeroThemePlasma offers a KDE Plasma shell with a design based on the Windows 7 desktop.
14
Also covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
Superpaper manages wallpapers across multiple monitors on Linux and Windows, with partial support for macOS.
15
Also covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
Awesome Linux Ricing collects themes, tools, and applications for customizing Linux desktops.
16
Also covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
Apply Ant, a flat visual theme for GNOME and other GTK-based desktop environments.
17
Also covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
Polybar provides a desktop status bar with configuration options for displaying system information.
18
Also covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
Waywallen manages dynamic wallpapers on Linux desktops, according to its project description.
19
Also covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
Hidamari lets Linux users set videos as wallpaper backgrounds on their desktop.
20
Also covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
nwg-look edits GTK settings for desktop environments using the wlroots Wayland environment.
21
Also covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
This repository collects aesthetic wallpapers for desktop backgrounds.
22
Kvantum
github.com/tsujan/KvantumAlso covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project
Kvantum supplies Linux desktops with an SVG-based theme engine for Qt applications.
23
Also covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
This repository collects Polybar themes in different styles, colors, and variants for desktop customization.
24
Awesome Ricing
github.com/fosslife/awesome-ricingAlso covers desktop customization and linux · same kind of open-source project
Awesome Ricing curates tools and technology for customizing Linux desktops.
No alternatives match this filter.
Alternatives to similar tools
Arc24 alternativesMicaForEveryone24 alternativesWearewaylandnow24 alternativesSuperPaper24 alternativesExplorerBlurMica24 alternativesThemes24 alternatives
What is the best alternative to picom?
Based on features, tags and platforms, the closest alternatives to picom are Docs, Burn My Windows, and SwayFx.
Is there a free alternative to picom?
Yes. Aurora is free or offer a free plan.
Are there open-source alternatives to picom?
Yes: Burn My Windows, SwayFx, MicaForEveryone, and ExplorerBlurMica.
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