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Alternatives · Windows & Launchers

i3 alternatives

As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded i3 alternative is Vicinae (2.8 GPA). It's also the best free one.

i3 compared with 5 alternatives: Sway, Awesome, Hyprland, Vicinae and Ulauncher.

i3 is free to use. All 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan.

Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
i3This toolFreeFreeLinux
SwayFreeFreeLinux
AwesomeFreeFreeLinux
HyprlandFreeFreeLinux
VicinaeFreeFreemacOS, Windows, Linux
UlauncherFreeFreeLinux

Price against what you get

i3 has no paid plan and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 5 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.

Vicinae scores higher without starting lower.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$0.5$1$2$5$10More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessi3SwayAwesomeHyprlandVicinae

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart of window managers and launchers, and the best at every price

How each one differs from i3

  1. Sway

    i3-compatible tiling Wayland compositor

    • Sway is free.

    Suits: i3 users moving from X11 to Wayland

    Sway vs i3Sway pricing and details

  2. Awesome

    Lua-configurable framework window manager for X

    • Awesome is free.

    Suits: Linux users who want to script their window manager in Lua

    Awesome vs i3Awesome pricing and details

  3. Hyprland

    Dynamic tiling Wayland compositor with animations

    • Hyprland is free.

    Suits: Linux users who want a tiling compositor with visual effects

    Hyprland vs i3Hyprland pricing and details

  4. Vicinae

    Keyboard-driven launcher for Linux, macOS and Windows

    • Vicinae is free.
    • Vicinae also lists macOS and Windows apps.
    • Vicinae also covers launcher, clipboard manager and calculator.

    Suits: Linux users who want a Raycast-style launcher

    Vicinae vs i3Vicinae pricing and details

  5. Ulauncher

    Open-source application launcher for Linux with extensions

    • Ulauncher is free.
    • Ulauncher also covers launcher.
    • Ulauncher does not cover window management, which i3 does.

    Suits: Linux desktop users who want a lightweight launcher

    Ulauncher vs i3Ulauncher pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in i3

  • Works with the X11 server only; Wayland users would look at Sway, which reads i3 configs.
  • Built for advanced users, with configuration done in a text file.
i3 pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to i3?

The alternatives to i3 in this directory are Sway, Awesome, Hyprland, Vicinae and Ulauncher. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with i3.

Is there a free alternative to i3?

Yes. Sway, Awesome, Hyprland, Vicinae and Ulauncher are free to use.

Which i3 alternatives work on Windows?

The i3 listing does not include a Windows app. Vicinae lists one.

Which i3 alternatives work on macOS?

The i3 listing does not include a macOS app. Vicinae lists one.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Nov 12, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.