The i3 Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about i3 in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
i3
The Insider’s Guide
Tiling window manager for X11 on Linux and BSD
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among window managers and launchers, read from i3’s own pages.
Made by Michael Stapelberg and contributors · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from i3’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on i3’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 23 of the 48 other window managers and launchers we grade
i3 is a tiling window manager for the X11 display server, aimed at advanced users and developers. Windows sit in a tree layout, modes change keybindings, and an IPC interface lets other programs send commands. It is open source under the BSD license.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about i3, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No rating on record, and setup is by editing a text config file.
- 1
Best for keyboard-driven tiling on X11
It is for advanced users who edit a text config, and it does not run on Wayland.
- 2
It is free
i3 has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on Linux
Linux.
- 4
Tree-based tiling
Arranges windows in a tree, allowing more flexible layouts than a column-based approach.
- 5
Modes
Vim-like modes let a resize mode use different keybindings from the default mode.
- 6
IPC interface
Other programs can subscribe to events and send commands.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 23 of 48
That is against the other window managers and launchers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
i3 is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
i3 at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Linux
- Made by
- Michael Stapelberg and contributors
- Category
- Window Managers & Launchers
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for keyboard-driven tiling on X11
i3 is a free tiling window manager for X11 on Linux and BSD, with tree layouts, modes and an IPC interface. It is for advanced users who edit a text config, and it does not run on Wayland.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free to download under the BSD license with no paid edition, so it sits well under the category's cheapest quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole program is free with no cap, and you can download and run it. |
| Features | B | Tree 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 | D | No rating on record, and setup is by editing a text config file. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Linux and BSD on X11 only, no other operating system, with no integrations listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who i3 is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Linux users who want a keyboard-driven tiling layout on X11
- Developers who script their desktop through an IPC
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
i3 is free to use.
Free to download under the BSD license with no paid edition, so it sits well under the category's cheapest quarter.
Free
$0
Free software; the project publishes its source and lists no paid edition.
Read from i3wm.org on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Linux
Tiling window manager for X11 on Linux and BSD. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, public API, keyboard-first, window management.
Tree tiling, modes, IPC, multi-monitor handling and a User's Guide, with no gap in the window-manager job on the listing.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
i3 is made by Michael Stapelberg and contributors.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
23/48
Other window managers and launchers it is graded above
i3's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 23 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).
i3 has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 49 window managers and launchers we grade, cut by the letter each got. i3’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 17 of 48
- AFree plan and trialAbove 23 of 48
- BFeaturesAbove 35 of 48
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 48
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 48
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 29 window managers and launchers. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. i3 is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
i3 is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- Control over other apps' windows.
- A real app for Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
- An API that other software can build on.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. i3’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Sway, Awesome, Hyprland, Vicinae and Ulauncher
The 5 tools i3 is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Sway
Free
- 2.4GPA
Awesome
Free
- 2.6GPA
Hyprland
Free
- 2.8GPA
Vicinae
Free
Keyboard-driven launcher for Linux, macOS and Windows.
- Only Vicinae lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Vicinae also covers launcher, clipboard manager and calculator.
- 2.6GPA
Ulauncher
Free
Open-source application launcher for Linux with extensions.
- i3 also covers window management.
- Ulauncher also covers launcher.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is i3 free?
Yes. i3 is free to use.
How much does i3 cost?
i3 lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does i3 work on?
i3 is available on Linux.
Does i3 have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. i3 is listed for Linux.
Does i3 have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. i3 is listed for Linux.
Is i3 open source?
Yes. i3 is open source, according to its own site.
Does i3 have an API?
Yes. i3 offers a public API, according to its own site.
Who makes i3?
i3 is made by Michael Stapelberg and contributors.
What are the alternatives to i3?
The closest alternatives to i3 in our directory are Sway, Awesome, Hyprland, Vicinae and Ulauncher.
How does i3 compare with other window managers and launchers?
i3's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 23 of the 48 other window managers and launchers we grade, and level with 11.
Is i3 good value for money?
ToolGPA grades i3 A for value for money. i3 has no paid plan. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4.
Could I make my own version of i3?
i3 is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from i3’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from the i3 project's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Michael Stapelberg and contributors. Prices change, so check i3wm.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- i3, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/i3
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "i3: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/i3
Know someone choosing between window managers and launchers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/i3/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded window managers and launchers after i3, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Window Managers & Launchers Insider's GuideEvery one of the 49 window managers and launchers we grade, compared
- Flow Launcher Insider's GuideFree, open-source app launcher and file search for Windows3.0 GPA
- Launchy Insider's GuideOpen-source keystroke launcher with plugins and skins3.0 GPA
- Cerebro Insider's GuideFree open-source Electron launcher for Windows, Mac and Linux2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what i3’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. i3 is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Michael Stapelberg and contributors. Prices and plans change: check i3wm.org before you buy.