dmenu vs Ulauncher
dmenu
tools.suckless.orgUlauncher
ulauncher.ioSide by side
| Figure | dmenu | Ulauncher |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · App Launcher Software | 8.7 (#5) | 7.7 (#20) |
| Spec score · App Launchers | 8.6 (#7) | 8.2 (#14) |
| Spec score · App launchers | 8.6 (#7) | 8.0 (#15) |
| License | dmenu uses the MIT/X Consortium License, which permits use, copying, modification, redistribution, sublicensing and sale subject to notice requirements. | The project README identifies the license as GNU GPL v3.0. |
| Purpose | dmenu is a dynamic menu for X that manages large numbers of user-defined menu items efficiently. | Ulauncher describes itself as an application launcher for Linux. |
| Support | The suckless community page identifies the dev mailing list as a place for dmenu users, development discussion, bug reports, and general discussion. | The project README directs users with issues to its Troubleshooting discussion category, other discussions and issue tracker. |
Plans
In their own words
dmenu
dmenu is a free dynamic menu for X that handles large sets of user-defined menu items and can launch commands. It runs on Linux and was originally designed for the dwm window manager. Community scripts apply it to tasks such as browsing directories, managing clipboard contents, accessing passwords, and controlling music; contributed modifications are available in a patches collection. The project provides a browsable source repository and a Git clone command. Building requires Xlib header files, and the README describes building and installing with `make clean install`, with files placed in the `/usr/local` namespace by default. The listed release is dmenu 5.4, dated 2025-08-09. Its source uses the MIT/X Consortium License, which permits use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale of copies subject to its conditions, while disclaiming warranties. The suckless dev mailing list is identified as a venue for user questions, development discussion, bug reports, and general discussion.