Wofi

Free plan Linux

What Wofi is

Wofi is free, GPL-3.0 software for Linux users running wlroots-based Wayland compositors such as sway. It is a launcher and menu program with three built-in modes: run searches PATH for executables, drun searches desktop files, and dmenu reads options from standard input and returns the selected option to standard output. The combi feature can display multiple modes together, loading each at most once. Search supports contains, multi-contains, and fuzzy matching, with case-insensitive search available. Users can style Wofi with CSS and optional configuration, CSS, and colors files. It uses the wlr-layer-shell protocol; without that protocol, or outside Wayland, it must be started with --normal-window or it will crash. Wofi does not provide window switching itself, though dmenu can work with swaymsg for that purpose. Building requires PkgConf, Wayland, GLib2, GObject, GTK3, and CMake or Meson.

Who it suits

Wofi suits Linux users of wlroots-based Wayland compositors, particularly those wanting configurable launch and menu modes. It is intended for environments where the wlr-layer-shell protocol is available.

What it does well

Free and GPL-3.0 licensed
Includes run, drun, and dmenu modes
Supports fuzzy and case-insensitive search
Offers CSS-based customization
Can combine multiple modes

What to know first

Linux and Wayland focused
Needs --normal-window outside supported layer shell
Does not provide window switching alone
Building requires several development dependencies

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Wofi	GPL-3.0 licensed software	Free

As github.com lists them, read 5 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

Wofi provides configurable launching and menu behavior for wlroots Wayland desktops. Its modes and search options are broad, but users outside that environment must account for the required window option or risk a crash.

Facts from Wofi's own pages

Build requirements: Building requires PkgConf, Wayland, GLib2, GObject, GTK3, and either CMake or Meson. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Combinations: The combi feature lets users show multiple modes together, with each mode loaded at most once. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Customization: Wofi is described as highly customizable, with CSS styling and optional configuration, CSS, and colors files. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Integration: Wofi is designed for wlroots and uses the wlr-layer-shell protocol; without that protocol or outside Wayland it must be run with --normal-window or it will crash. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Intended users: The project describes Wofi for users of wlroots based Wayland compositors such as sway. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
License: The repository includes the GNU General Public License version 3. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Modes: Its built in modes are run, which searches PATH for executables; drun, which searches for desktop files; and dmenu, which reads options from standard input and writes the selected option to standard output. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Purpose: Wofi is a launcher and menu program for wlroots based Wayland compositors such as sway. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Search: Search matching can use contains, multi-contains, or fuzzy modes, and case insensitive search is available. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Security: GitHub reports that the project has no SECURITY.md policy file and no published security advisories. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Support and contribution: The README directs bug reports about newer software behavior and patches to the upstream SourceHut project because this fork is not connected to mainstream Wofi. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Sway: Wofi does not provide window switching on its own, but its dmenu mode can be used with swaymsg to implement it. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026