herbstluftwm

Overview

herbstluftwm is a free, open-source manual tiling window manager for the X window system. It suits people who want to arrange windows deliberately with the keyboard and adjust configuration while the manager is running. Its strengths are control and flexibility; its manual approach makes it a poor fit if you want window placement to happen without your direction.

Key features

Configuration runs through herbstclient and can be changed at runtime without restarting the window manager. That is useful for people who want to refine their setup while keeping their session intact, though it places configuration in the user's hands rather than presenting a hands-off arrangement model.

Each virtual desktop, or tag, has both a tiling layer and a floating layer. Tiling frames can be split into subframes repeatedly or filled with windows, while floating windows remain freely placed. Both kinds of windows can be moved, resized, and focused using only the keyboard. This combination allows a keyboard-driven workflow without forcing every window into a tile.

Screen space can also be divided into virtual monitors that do not have to match physical displays. Monitors share a common pool of tags, offering a flexible way to organize workspaces across screen areas. Layout presets, application rules, and virtual desktop controls add further ways to shape that arrangement.

The project describes external EWMH panels such as xfce4-panel and dmenu for a run dialog as integrations. These let users pair the window manager with separate desktop components rather than relying on an all-in-one desktop environment.

Pricing

herbstluftwm is free: its plan costs nothing and includes the manual tiling window manager for X, installed through a package manager or from a source tarball. The project repository uses the Simplified BSD License. There is no free trial because the software is free to use; no paid tier or seat-based limit is presented.

Platforms

The listed platforms are Linux and macOS. Packages are available for multiple Linux distributions, and Mac OS X installation is offered through MacPorts. The project also confirms it runs on Cygwin and says it runs on many other Linux distributions; FreeBSD packages are listed as well. The latest released tarball is version 0.9.6, dated 2026-04-03. That release adds a CSS-inspired theme engine and a herbstclient mode for sending multiple commands through one instance.

Who it's for

Choose herbstluftwm if you use the X window system and want direct, keyboard-only control over tiling, floating windows, and workspace organization. It is especially suited to people comfortable shaping their own configuration and combining the manager with external desktop components. Look elsewhere if you need a window manager outside its X-focused scope or prefer an approach that does not require manual decisions.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Runtime configuration through herbstclient avoids restarting the manager to apply changes.
• Pros: Keyboard control applies to moving, resizing, and focusing both tiled and floating windows.
• Pros: Virtual monitors need not map one-to-one to physical displays, and share a pool of tags.
• Pros: Free, open-source distribution avoids a purchase cost.
• Cons: The manual tiling model suits users who want to make arrangement decisions, not those seeking automatic placement.
• Cons: Its X window system focus narrows its suitability for users seeking a manager for a different display system.

Alternatives

For a different free X11 window manager, consider spectrwm, which is also free and supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. Mac users looking for tiling with configurable layouts and keyboard shortcuts, plus application floating or tiling rules, can instead choose Amethyst. Linux users seeking another free X window manager can consider awesome, which is available for Linux.

If you need a Windows utility rather than an X window manager, 4t Tray Minimizer has a free plan, while AquaSnap offers a free personal-use plan and a 29.00 USD one-time Standard License. Dexpot has a free plan for private use, and DisplayFusion offers a free version after its trial and a 34.00 USD one-time Pro Standard license per machine. For open-source software project hosting rather than window management, Launchpad has a free plan for open-source projects.

Browse more options in Window Management Software.

Verdict

Its price and flexible workspace model are compelling; its manual approach and X scope are the reasons to look elsewhere if you want automatic placement or a different platform.