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Head-to-head · Window Management Software

awesome vs Amethyst

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score awesome #4 in Window Management Software 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit awesome
Amethyst #10 in Window Management Software 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Amethyst

awesome leads on 1 check, Amethyst on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreawesome · 9.1/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresawesome · 4 of 4

awesome scores higher on our rubric for window management software: 9.1 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #10.

awesome offers window grouping; Amethyst doesn't.

awesome is the better fit for linux users who want Lua customization. Amethyst is the better fit for mac users wanting free tiling with custom layouts.

  • awesome fits best

    Linux users who want Lua customization

  • Amethyst fits best

    Mac users wanting free tiling with custom layouts

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Side by side

Feature awesome 9.1/10 Visit ↗ Amethyst 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.1 8.4
Ranking #4 in Window Management Software #10 in Window Management Software
Best for Linux users who want Lua customization Mac users wanting free tiling with custom layouts
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Linux macOS
Integrations 4 integrations 1 integrations
Features awesome 4/4 · Amethyst 3/4
Layout presets ✓ ✓
Application rules ✓ ✓
Window grouping ✓ (best) —
Virtual desktop controls ✓ ✓
Specs
Platforms linux macos
Maximum displays Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Offers both tiling and floating layouts, with per-screen tags.
  • Lua configuration supports application rules and fine-grained window control.
  • Includes custom widgets, status bars, and D-Bus support.
  • Built-in Tall, Wide, Fullscreen, Column, and BSP layouts
  • App rules can assign applications to float or tile
  • Move windows across screens and Spaces; customize layouts with JavaScript
Cons
  • Designed for X, rather than a general-purpose desktop environment.
  • Lua-based configuration may not suit users seeking a mostly graphical setup.
  • The latest stable release listed by the project is version 4.3, dated 28 January 2019.
  • Available only for macOS 10.15 or later
  • Configuration through YAML or JavaScript may require extra effort
  • No window groups for organizing related windows
Our verdict

For Linux users who want control over how windows are arranged and managed, awesome is a free, open-source window manager for X. It combines tiling and floating layouts with keyboard-driven operation, multiple-screen support, and…

Read the review →

Amethyst automatically arranges application windows on macOS, making it a fit for people who want tiled layouts rather than manually positioning each window. Its free, open-source distribution includes built-in layouts such as Tall, Wide,…

Read the review →
  1. awesomeWindow Management Software 9.1Free plan
  2. AmethystWindow Management Software 8.4Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • awesome — where it wins

    • Offers both tiling and floating layouts, with per-screen tags.
    • Lua configuration supports application rules and fine-grained window control.
    • Includes custom widgets, status bars, and D-Bus support.

    Where it doesn't

    • Designed for X, rather than a general-purpose desktop environment.
    • Lua-based configuration may not suit users seeking a mostly graphical setup.
    • The latest stable release listed by the project is version 4.3, dated 28 January 2019.

  • Amethyst — where it wins

    • Built-in Tall, Wide, Fullscreen, Column, and BSP layouts
    • App rules can assign applications to float or tile
    • Move windows across screens and Spaces; customize layouts with JavaScript

    Where it doesn't

    • Available only for macOS 10.15 or later
    • Configuration through YAML or JavaScript may require extra effort
    • No window groups for organizing related windows

More comparisons

All window management software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update