Sway review (2026): is it any good?
i3-compatible tiling Wayland compositor
Sway report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for an i3-style tiling setup on Wayland
Sway is a free tiling Wayland compositor that reads existing i3 configs. It runs only on Wayland, and setup is a config file with manpages for documentation.
Who Sway is for
- Fits if you used i3 and are moving to Wayland
- Works for Linux users who want a plain keyboard-first tiling setup
Who Sway is not for
- 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
Why Sway gets a 2.6
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree to download under the MIT license with no paid edition.
- AFree plan and trialThe whole program is free to download and run, with no cap and no paid edition.
- BFeaturesAn i3-compatible tiling grid driven from the keyboard, with nothing missing on the listing for a tiling manager.
- DEase of useNo rating on record, and it is set up through a config file and manpages.
- DPlatforms and integrationsLinux on Wayland only, with no other operating system and no integrations listed.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from the Sway project's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/sway#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/sway.svg" alt="Sway: 2.6 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Sway stands among window managers and launchers
Sway'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).
Sway 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. Sway’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 17 of 48, level with 31
- AFree plan and trialAbove 23 of 48, level with 25
- BFeaturesAbove 35 of 48, level with 12
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 48, level with 7
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 48, level with 34
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 29 window managers and launchers. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep Sway, or make your own?
Keep it
Sway 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.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Sway’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.
What is Sway?
Sway is a tiling Wayland compositor presented as a drop-in replacement for the i3 window manager. It works with an existing i3 configuration and supports most of i3's features plus some extras. It is documented through manpages and published under the MIT license.
Worth knowing
- Wayland only; the site gives no Windows or macOS version.
- Documentation is mainly manpages, and setup is by config file.
Key features
- 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.
Sway pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Sway is free to use.
- Starts at
- 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 swaywm.org on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Sway before you buy.
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Common questions
Does Sway have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Sway is listed for Linux.
Does Sway have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Sway is listed for Linux.
Is Sway open source?
Yes. Sway is open source, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.