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Head-to-head · Window Management Software

awesome vs dwm

  • 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
dwm #6 in Window Management Software 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit suckless.org

awesome leads on 1 check, dwm 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 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #6.

awesome offers layout presets; dwm doesn't.

awesome is the better fit for linux users who want Lua customization. dwm is the better fit for linux, OpenBSD, or Solaris users wanting tiling.

  • awesome fits best

    Linux users who want Lua customization

  • dwm fits best

    Linux, OpenBSD, or Solaris users wanting tiling

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Side by side

Feature awesome 9.1/10 Visit ↗ dwm 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.1 8.9
Ranking #4 in Window Management Software #6 in Window Management Software
Best for Linux users who want Lua customization Linux, OpenBSD, or Solaris users wanting tiling
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Linux Linux
Integrations 4 integrations 3 integrations
Features awesome 4/4 · dwm 3/4
Layout presets ✓ (best) —
Application rules ✓ ✓
Window grouping ✓ ✓
Virtual desktop controls ✓ ✓
Specs
Platforms linux linux, openbsd, solaris
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.
  • Offers tiled, monocle, and freely movable floating layouts
  • Uses tags, multi-tag views, and application-specific placement rules
  • Supports Xinerama and RandR multi-monitor controls
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.
  • Configuration is compiled from source rather than changed in a settings interface
  • Focused on X window management rather than a broad desktop suite
  • Requires comfort building and customizing software
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 →

dwm is a lightweight dynamic window manager for the X Window System, aimed at Linux, OpenBSD, and Solaris users who want direct control over window placement. Its layouts cover tiled windows arranged in master and stacking areas, a monocle…

Read the review →
  1. awesomeWindow Management Software 9.1Free plan
  2. dwmWindow Management Software 8.9Free 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.

  • dwm — where it wins

    • Offers tiled, monocle, and freely movable floating layouts
    • Uses tags, multi-tag views, and application-specific placement rules
    • Supports Xinerama and RandR multi-monitor controls

    Where it doesn't

    • Configuration is compiled from source rather than changed in a settings interface
    • Focused on X window management rather than a broad desktop suite
    • Requires comfort building and customizing software

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