Albert vs Sway (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Albert and Sway share a 2.6 GPA, both are free, so the choice depends on whether you care more about platforms, where Albert grades higher, or features, where Sway does.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Albert if
- Fits if you live on the keyboard and run a Mac or Linux
- Works for people happy to install from a Homebrew tap
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you need Windows, which is not supported yet
- Skip it if you want window snapping, as it doesn't resize or tile windows
- Watch out: the Mac app is unsigned and installing it disables Gatekeeper for it
- Watch out: its own license allows personal use and bars redistributing modified versions, so it's not open source
Pick Sway if
- Fits if you used i3 and are moving to Wayland
- Works for Linux users who want a plain keyboard-first tiling setup
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use Windows or macOS, as the site gives no version for them
- Not for you if you want graphical settings, since setup is by config file
- Tight if you are new to Linux, because documentation is mainly manpages
- Watch out: it is Wayland only, so X11 sessions need i3 instead
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAAlbertGood | 2.6GPASwayGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree, with optional donations. Nothing in the listing costs money. | AFree to download under the MIT license with no paid edition. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole app is free to use, with no tiers. | AThe whole program is free to download and run, with no cap and no paid edition. |
| Features | CA plugin system with bundled plugins and extension APIs. It launches and searches, and doesn't arrange windows, which is what this category is for. | BAn i3-compatible tiling grid driven from the keyboard, with nothing missing on the listing for a tiling manager. |
| Ease of use | DOn a Mac you install it through a Homebrew tap, and the cask turns off Gatekeeper for the unsigned app. That's a command line job. | DNo rating on record, and it is set up through a config file and manpages. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac and Linux only. No Windows version, as the install page says. | DLinux on Wayland only, with no other operating system and no integrations listed. |
| Best for | a keyboard launcher for Mac and Linux | an i3-style tiling setup on Wayland |
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: Albert and Sway. How we grade
Price against what you get
Albert has no paid plan and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Sway has no paid plan and scores 1.7.
On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score for the same starting price. Of the other window managers and launchers on the chart, none scores higher than Albert for less, and none scores higher than Sway for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
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
Where they differ
- Sway is open source, according to its own site.
- Albert also covers launcher.
- Sway also covers window management.
At a glance
| Albert | Sway | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free; the site accepts optional donations. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Manuel Schneider | Sway project |
| Price read from | albertlauncher.github.io | swaywm.org |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Albert
- No Windows version; the install page says Windows is not supported yet.
- The macOS app is unsigned, installed through a Homebrew tap, and the cask disables Gatekeeper for it.
- Under Albert's own license, not an open-source one: it permits personal use and bars redistributing modified versions, and forbids binaries targeting Microsoft or Apple platforms.
Sway
- Wayland only; the site gives no Windows or macOS version.
- Documentation is mainly manpages, and setup is by config file.
Key features
Albert
- Plugin system
- Functionality comes from plugins, so it can act as an app launcher or a system command palette.
- Bundled plugins
- Ships with a set of maintained plugins out of the box.
- Extension APIs
- Write extensions in C++ or Python.
- Fast keyboard use
- Speed is a stated design goal.
Sway
- i3 compatibility
- Reads existing i3 configuration and supports most i3 features.
- Tiling grid
- Arranges windows logically in a grid by default, controllable from the keyboard.
- Wayland compositor
- Runs as a Wayland compositor rather than on X11.
- Manpage documentation
- Documented through manpages, with a wiki and support chat linked.
Plans
Albert
Free$0
Free to use; donations are optional.
Sway
Free$0
Free software; the project publishes its source and lists no paid edition.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Albert or Sway?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Albert and Sway are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Albert or Sway?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Albert and Sway have a free plan.
Which platforms do Albert and Sway run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Albert lists a macOS app. Both list a Linux app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
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.