The Sway Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Sway 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.
Sway
The Insider’s Guide
i3-compatible tiling Wayland compositor
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among window managers and launchers, read from Sway’s own pages.
Made by Sway project · 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 Sway’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Sway’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
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Sway, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No rating on record, and it is set up through a config file and manpages.
- 1
Best for an i3-style tiling setup on Wayland
It runs only on Wayland, and setup is a config file with manpages for documentation.
- 2
It is free
Sway has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on Linux
Linux.
- 4
i3 compatibility
Reads existing i3 configuration and supports most i3 features.
- 5
Tiling grid
Arranges windows logically in a grid by default, controllable from the keyboard.
- 6
Wayland compositor
Runs as a Wayland compositor rather than on X11.
- 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
Sway is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Sway at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Linux
- Made by
- Sway project
- Category
- Window Managers & Launchers
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free to download under the MIT license 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 | B | An i3-compatible tiling grid driven from the keyboard, with nothing missing on the listing for a tiling manager. |
| Ease of use | D | No rating on record, and it is set up through a config file and manpages. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Linux on Wayland only, with no other operating system and 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 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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- i3 users moving from X11 to Wayland
- Linux users who want a plain, keyboard-first tiling setup
Worth knowing
- Wayland only; the site gives no Windows or macOS version.
- Documentation is mainly manpages, and setup is by config 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
Sway is free to use.
Free to download under the MIT license with no paid edition.
Free
$0
Free software; the project publishes its source and lists no paid edition.
Read from swaywm.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
i3-compatible tiling Wayland compositor. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, keyboard-first, window management.
Linux on Wayland only, with no other operating system and no integrations listed.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Sway is made by Sway project.
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
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
- 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. Sway 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
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
i3, Hyprland, Awesome, Vicinae and Albert
The 5 tools Sway is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
i3
Free
- 2.6GPA
Hyprland
Free
- 2.4GPA
Awesome
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
Albert
Free
Plugin-based keyboard launcher for Linux and macOS.
- Only Albert lists a macOS app.
- Sway is open source, according to its own site.
- Sway also covers window management.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 Sway free?
Yes. Sway is free to use.
How much does Sway cost?
Sway lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Sway work on?
Sway is available on Linux.
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.
Who makes Sway?
Sway is made by Sway project.
What are the alternatives to Sway?
The closest alternatives to Sway in our directory are i3, Hyprland, Awesome, Vicinae and Albert.
How does Sway compare with other 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.
Is Sway good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Sway A for value for money. Sway has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Sway?
Sway 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 Sway’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 Sway 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 Sway project. Prices change, so check swaywm.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
- Sway, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/sway
- 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, "Sway: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/sway
Know someone choosing between window managers and launchers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/sway/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded window managers and launchers after Sway, 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 Sway’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. Sway is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Sway project. Prices and plans change: check swaywm.org before you buy.