Actual Window Manager vs VirtuaWin (2026): which should you pick?

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 VirtuaWin if

• Fits if you want virtual desktops on Windows and don't want to pay
• Works for people who like to read or change the source

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you use macOS or Linux, since it is Windows only
• Watch out: the latest release is 4.5 from January 2021, and a release note says taskbar support should be rechecked on newer Windows
• Tight if you want hand-holding, because help comes from the project's SourceForge page, not a company
• Not for you if you hate fiddling, since some apps need a window rule to follow desktop changes

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.

VirtuaWin

• Windows only; the site says it supports all recent versions without naming them.
• The latest release is 4.5 from January 2021, and a release note says dynamic taskbar support should be rechecked on newer Windows versions.
• The FAQ lists known quirks, such as applications that stay visible after a desktop change until a window rule is set.
• There is no company support; help comes from the project's SourceForge page.

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.

VirtuaWin

Up to nine desktops

Organizes applications across as many as 9 virtual desktops, in the way many Linux desktops do.

Hotkeys

Desktop switching and window actions can be assigned to keys, with a manual hotkey editing guide for combinations the setup dialog rejects.

Window rules

Rules tell VirtuaWin how to treat applications that use unusual window types and would not otherwise follow desktop changes.

Modules

Add-on modules extend the base program, and the project has a module API.

Mouse-wheel switching

Can be set up to change desktops with the wheel, as described in the FAQ.

Portable install

The FAQ explains how to run it from a memory stick or install without admin rights.

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).

VirtuaWin

• Free$0

  The full program, with the source code published.