Best Window Management Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Launchpad is ranked #1 of 64 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of spectrwm and Amethyst. The best-ranked option with a free plan is spectrwm. The lowest first paid tier on this page is komorebi at $9.17/mo.
A window manager can help organize open applications around the way you work. Compared on layout presets, window grouping and application rules, these entries also specify platforms and virtual desktop controls. If your setup spans screens, check maximum displays; free-plan availability and paid-from pricing can also inform your choice. Launchpad, spectrwm and Amethyst are among the options, along with awesome and bug.n. Compare the listed controls with your operating system, display setup and preferred approach to arranging windows.
64 window management software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
15 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LaunchpadWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 2 | spectrwmWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 3 | AmethystMac | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 4 | awesomeLinux | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 5 | bug.nWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 6 | DisplayFusionWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 7 | dwmLinux | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 8 | i3Linux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 9 | QtileLinux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 10 | ReloopSelf-hosted | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $10/mo | 6.4 | |
| 11 | yabaiMac | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 12 | RatpoisonLinux | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 13 | RBTrayWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 14 | ShiftItMac | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 15 | WindowWatcherWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 16 | komorebiWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $9.17/mo | 5.5 |
| 17 | ActiveDockMac | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 18 | AeroSpaceMac | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 19 | ScreenFocusMac | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 20 | 4t Tray MinimizerWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 21 | AquaSnapWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 22 | DexpotWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 23 | FancyWMWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 24 | GiMeSpace QuickMenuWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 25 | herbstluftwmMac · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Platforms | Maximum displays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Launchpad | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 2 | spectrwm | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | linux, macos, windows | — |
| 3 | Amethyst | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | macos | — |
| 4 | awesome | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | linux | — |
| 5 | bug.n | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | windows | — |
| 6 | DisplayFusion | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 34 one-time | windows | — |
| 7 | dwm | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | linux, openbsd, solaris | — |
| 8 | i3 | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | linux | — |
| 9 | Qtile | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | linux | — |
| 10 | Reloop | 6.4 | Free plan | $10/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 11 | yabai | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | macos | — |
| 12 | Ratpoison | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Linux | — |
| 13 | RBTray | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | windows | — |
| 14 | ShiftIt | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | — | — | macos | — |
| 15 | WindowWatcher | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | windows | — |
| 16 | komorebi | 5.5 | No | $9.17/mo | Yes | — | Windows, macOS | — |
| 17 | ActiveDock | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | macos | — |
| 18 | AeroSpace | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | macos | — |
| 19 | ScreenFocus | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | macos | — |
| 20 | 4t Tray Minimizer | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | 19.95 one-time | windows | — |
| 21 | AquaSnap | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | 29 one-time | Windows | — |
| 22 | Dexpot | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows | — |
| 23 | FancyWM | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | windows | — |
| 24 | GiMeSpace QuickMenu | 5.2 | No | — | No | — | windows | — |
| 25 | herbstluftwm | 5.2 | No | — | — | — | linux, macos | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which window management software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Launchpad is ranked #1 of 64 with a score of 6.5. spectrwm is second and Amethyst third.
How many of these have a free plan?
15 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, komorebi has the lowest first paid tier we found: $9.17/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.