Best dwm Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 tools from window management software ranked against dwm on the same published basis.
- 1dwm vs DisplayFusion
- 2dwm vs Launchpad
- 3dwm vs spectrwm
- 4dwm vs awesome
- 6dwm vs Qtile
- 7dwm vs Reloop
- 8dwm vs Amethyst
- 9dwm vs i3
- 10dwm vs komorebi
- 11dwm vs Ratpoison
- 12dwm vs bug.n
- 13dwm vs WindowWatcher
- 14dwm vs yabai
- 15dwm vs Actual Multiple Monitors
- 16dwm vs AeroSpace
- 17dwm vs RBTray
- 18dwm vs ShiftIt
- 19dwm vs HazeOver
- 20dwm vs ActiveDock
- 21dwm vs ScreenFocus
dwm alternatives compared
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DisplayFusion | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Windows |
| 2 | Launchpad | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | API, Linux, self-hosted, Web |
| 3 | spectrwm | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 4 | awesome | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Linux |
| 6 | Qtile | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Linux, self-hosted |
| 7 | Reloop | 6.9 | Free plan | $10/mo | self-hosted |
| 8 | Amethyst | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Mac |
| 9 | i3 | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Linux, self-hosted |
| 10 | komorebi | 6.8 | No | $9.17/mo | Mac, Windows |
| 11 | Ratpoison | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Linux |
| 12 | bug.n | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Windows |
| 13 | WindowWatcher | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Windows |
| 14 | yabai | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Mac |
| 15 | Actual Multiple Monitors | 6.6 | No | — | Windows |
| 16 | AeroSpace | 6.6 | No | — | Mac |
| 17 | RBTray | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Windows |
| 18 | ShiftIt | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Mac |
| 19 | HazeOver | 6.5 | No | — | Mac |
| 20 | ActiveDock | 6.4 | No | — | Mac |
| 21 | ScreenFocus | 6.3 | No | — | Mac |
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Questions about dwm alternatives
What is the best alternative to dwm?
DisplayFusion, number 1 in window management software with a score of 7.4 out of 10. The others here: Launchpad, spectrwm, awesome and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to dwm?
DisplayFusion is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 14 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.