# Awesome review (2026): is it any good? > Lua-configurable framework window manager for X Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. Awesome is a window manager for X that is configured and extended in Lua. It uses tags instead of workspaces, supports multiple monitors through XRandR, and can be driven entirely from the keyboard. It is licensed under GPLv2. - **Category:** Window Managers & Launchers - **Made by:** AwesomeWM project - **Website:** https://awesomewm.org/ - **Runs on:** Linux - **Who should skip it:** Skip it if you use Windows or macOS, as it does not run there. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, Awesome is free to use. - **Pricing model:** Free - **Free plan:** None. - **Free trial:** None listed. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | Free | $0 | Free software; the project publishes its source and lists no paid edition. | Read from https://awesomewm.org/ on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Awesome before buying. ## Key features - **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. ## Good for - Linux users who want to script their window manager in Lua - Power users who prefer X11 with fine-grained control ## Worth knowing - 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. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 2.4 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. Awesome is a free window manager for X that you configure and extend in Lua. It needs Lua work to get far beyond the defaults, runs on X11 only, and its site still shows 4.3 as the stable docs version. - **Value for money: A.** Free to download under GPLv2 with no paid edition. - **Free plan and trial: A.** The whole program is free to download and run, with no cap and no paid edition. - **Features: C.** Tags, multi-monitor and EWMH support, but the listing says you need Lua configuration to get much beyond the defaults. - **Ease of use: D.** No rating on record, and it is configured by writing Lua. - **Platforms and integrations: D.** Linux on X11 only, with no other operating system and no integrations listed. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from the Awesome project's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among window managers and launchers - Awesome's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 11 of the 48 other window managers and launchers we grade, and level with 11. - It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 23 of 48) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0). - Awesome has no paid plan. - On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/window-managers ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** Awesome is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 26 of the 48 other window managers and launchers grade higher. - You could not: Control over other apps' windows. - You could not: A real app for Linux. Something home-made would be a web page. - You could not: An API that other software can build on. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. **Tags:** Window management, Open source, Keyboard-first, Public API ## Alternatives - [i3](https://toolgpa.com/tools/i3): Tiling window manager for X11 on Linux and BSD. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/awesome-vs-i3) - [Sway](https://toolgpa.com/tools/sway): i3-compatible tiling Wayland compositor. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/awesome-vs-sway) - [Hyprland](https://toolgpa.com/tools/hyprland): Dynamic tiling Wayland compositor with animations. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/awesome-vs-hyprland) - [Vicinae](https://toolgpa.com/tools/vicinae): Keyboard-driven launcher for Linux, macOS and Windows. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/awesome-vs-vicinae) - [Ulauncher](https://toolgpa.com/tools/ulauncher): Open-source application launcher for Linux with extensions. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/awesome-vs-ulauncher) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://awesomewm.org/ - https://github.com/awesomeWM/awesome Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/awesome Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).