Actual Window Manager vs Dexpot (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Dexpot grades higher than Actual Window Manager: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Actual Window Manager grades higher on features. Dexpot grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Actual Window Manager
Windows toolset for multi-monitor setups and virtual desktops
Free trial · from $59.95 one-time
Which one is for you
Pick Actual Window Manager if
- Fits if you run several monitors on Windows
- Works for people who want a taskbar on each screen
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a free tool, as there is no free tier past the 60-day trial
- Pricey if you only need one piece, since the vendor also sells those as separate products
- Watch out: the licence includes only one year of free updates
- Not for you if you use a Mac, Linux or Windows on ARM64
Pick Dexpot if
- Fits if you run an older Windows version and want several desktops with their own wallpapers
- Works for private users who want a free desktop pager
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you are on Windows 10 or 11, because the download page doesn't list them and the vendor's 2016 news says compatibility problems are known
- Not for you if you use it at work, as the free version is for private use only and a license is EUR 24.90 per computer
- Watch out: the latest release is 1.6.14 from September 2014, so don't expect new features or fixes
- Skip it if you use macOS or Linux, since there is only a Windows version
How we grade them
| 2.0GPAActual Window ManagerFair | 2.2GPADexpotFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$59.95 one-time is the top of the category's $4.99 to $59.95 one-time range, and the middle is $19. | BFree for private use, and the one-time business license is EUR 24.90 per computer, about $27.50, which is above the category's $19 middle one-time price. Business use is not free. |
| Free plan and trial | CA 60-day free trial, and the listing doesn't say a card is needed. No free tier. | BVersion 1.6 is free for private, non-commercial use with no stated cap, and one person could live on it. Companies have to buy a license. |
| Features | BTaskbar on every monitor, virtual desktops, per-window rules, extra title buttons, Desktop Divider and mirroring. No gap shown in the core job. | CPreview of all desktops, a pager, per-desktop icons and wallpapers, window rules and a task switcher. It does the job, but it hasn't been updated since 2014. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. A broad suite with many settings to learn. | CNo store rating on record. It is a program to install, but the rules, Dexgrid and per-desktop settings take some setting up. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only; ARM64 is not supported. Windows only; ARM64 is not supported, and there is no Mac, Linux, phone or web version. | DWindows only, and the download page lists XP through 8.1 rather than current versions. |
| Best for | multi-monitor taskbars and virtual desktops on Windows | virtual desktops on older Windows |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Actual Window Manager and Dexpot. How we grade
Where they differ
- Actual Window Manager can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Actual Window Manager also covers display control.
In commonWindowsWindow management
At a glance
| Actual Window Manager | Dexpot | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $59.95 one-time, per license | EUR 24.90 per computer, one-time |
| Free plan | None | Free for private use only, per the download page. |
| Free trial | 60-day free trial | None listed |
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Actual Tools | Dexpot GbR |
| Price read from | actualtools.com | dexpot.de |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Actual Window Manager
- Windows only; the vendor says ARM64 is not supported.
- The license includes 1 year of free updates; the order page lists the subscription as free for that year only.
- The suite is broad, and the vendor also sells its pieces, such as Actual Multiple Monitors, as separate products.
- There is no free tier; use beyond the 60-day trial needs a license.
Dexpot
- The current version is 1.6.14 from September 2014, and the download page lists Windows XP through 8.1; Windows 10 and 11 are not listed.
- The vendor's newest news item, from February 2016, says Windows 10 compatibility problems are known and an update will follow.
- The free edition is for private use only; business use needs a paid license.
- Prices are shown in euros, with an approximate dollar conversion.
Key features
Actual Window Manager
- Taskbar on every monitor
- Adds a full taskbar to each display, plus separate wallpapers and screen savers for each monitor.
- Virtual desktops
- Unlimited additional desktops, with Classic and Independent modes for multiple monitors.
- Per-window rules
- Sets startup mode, position and priority for individual windows, and can make a window ignore deactivation.
- Extra title buttons
- Adds buttons such as minimize to tray, move to the next monitor, always on top and resize.
- Desktop Divider
- Splits a monitor or the whole desktop into tiles that maximized windows fill, with custom layouts that can be switched on the fly.
- Desktop mirroring
- Shows a window, a monitor or a custom part of the desktop in a separate window on another monitor.
Dexpot
- Full-screen preview
- A live overview of all desktops where windows can be dragged between them or copied, tiled and closed.
- Switching tools
- A desktop manager toolbar, a taskbar pager, a Dexgrid row-and-column layout and hotkeys such as Alt+1 to Alt+4.
- Per-desktop backgrounds and icons
- Each desktop can have its own wallpaper, color and set of desktop icons, including different backgrounds per monitor.
- Power rules
- Rules act on newly created windows, with actions such as always on top, minimize to tray or a transparency value.
- Application assignment
- Binds an application to one desktop or to all desktops and can launch programs on a chosen desktop.
- Task switcher
- DexTab replaces Alt+Tab with a list of windows across all desktops.
Plans
Actual Window Manager
Single license$59.95
one-time, per copy
Includes a 1-year free updates subscription and a 30-day money-back guarantee; volume discounts start at 2 copies (10% off).
Dexpot
Private use$0
Dexpot 1.6 is free for private, non-commercial use.
Single licenseEUR 24.90
one-time, per computer (EU price includes VAT)
Pro license for one computer or client, with support and updates for the 1.6.x series. Packages of 5 or more cost less per copy.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Actual Window Manager or Dexpot?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Actual Window Manager starts at $59.95 one-time, per license, and Dexpot starts at EUR 24.90 per computer, one-time.
Which has a free plan, Actual Window Manager or Dexpot?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Dexpot has a free plan. Actual Window Manager does not, though it has a free trial.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.