Awesome vs i3 (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, i3 grades higher than Awesome: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
i3 grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Awesome if
- Fits if you run X11 and are happy to write Lua
- Works for power users who want fine-grained control of their desktop
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use Windows or macOS, as it does not run there
- Not for you if you are on Wayland, because it is X11 only
- Too light on defaults for anyone who will not write Lua
- Watch out: the site shows 4.3 as the stable docs and its page was last edited in 2022
Pick i3 if
- Fits if you run Linux on X11 and want to drive windows from the keyboard
- Works for developers who script their desktop over the IPC
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use Windows or macOS, as it does not run there
- Not for you if you are on Wayland, where the site points to Sway instead
- Too light for anyone who wants menus and settings screens, because configuration is a text file
- Watch out: the project says it targets advanced users and developers
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAAwesomeFair | 2.6GPAi3Good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree to download under GPLv2 with no paid edition. | AFree to download under the BSD license with no paid edition, so it sits well under the category's cheapest quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole program is free to download and run, with no cap and no paid edition. | AThe whole program is free with no cap, and you can download and run it. |
| Features | CTags, multi-monitor and EWMH support, but the listing says you need Lua configuration to get much beyond the defaults. | BTree tiling, modes, IPC, multi-monitor handling and a User's Guide, with no gap in the window-manager job on the listing. |
| Ease of use | DNo rating on record, and it is configured by writing Lua. | DNo rating on record, and setup is by editing a text config file. |
| Platforms and integrations | DLinux on X11 only, with no other operating system and no integrations listed. | DLinux and BSD on X11 only, no other operating system, with no integrations listed. |
| Best for | scripting an X11 window manager in Lua | keyboard-driven tiling on X11 |
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: Awesome and i3. How we grade
Price against what you get
Awesome has no paid plan and scores 1.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. i3 has no paid plan and scores 1.7.
i3 scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other window managers and launchers on the chart, none scores higher than Awesome for less, and none scores higher than i3 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
At a glance
| Awesome | i3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Linux | ||
| Made by | AwesomeWM project | Michael Stapelberg and contributors |
| Price read from | awesomewm.org | i3wm.org |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Awesome
- X11 only; the project site shows 4.3 as the stable docs version and its page was last edited in 2022.
- Needs configuration in Lua to get much beyond the defaults.
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.
Key features
Awesome
- Lua configuration
- A documented API lets you define the window manager's behavior in Lua.
- Tags
- Uses tags rather than workspaces, so a window can sit on several tags at once.
- Multi-monitor
- Supports multiple screens through XRandR, with per-screen tags.
- Keyboard operation
- Everything can be done from the keyboard.
- Freedesktop standards
- Implements EWMH, XDG Base Directory, XEmbed, notifications and system tray.
i3
- Tree-based tiling
- Arranges windows in a tree, allowing more flexible layouts than a column-based approach.
- Modes
- Vim-like modes let a resize mode use different keybindings from the default mode.
- IPC interface
- Other programs can subscribe to events and send commands.
- Multi-monitor handling
- Assigns each workspace to a virtual screen and supports rotated monitors.
- Documentation
- Ships a User's Guide and internal-workings documentation.
Plans
Awesome
Free$0
Free software; the project publishes its source and lists no paid edition.
i3
Free$0
Free software; the project publishes its source and lists no paid edition.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Awesome or i3?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Awesome and i3 are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Awesome or i3?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Awesome and i3 have a free plan.
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.