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Head-to-head · Window Management Software

awesome vs XMonad

  • 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
XMonad #5 in Window Management Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit XMonad

awesome leads on 0 checks, XMonad on 0, and 5 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 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #5.

awesome is the better fit for linux users who want Lua customization. XMonad is the better fit for linux users wanting extensible Haskell layouts.

  • awesome fits best

    Linux users who want Lua customization

  • XMonad fits best

    Linux users wanting extensible Haskell layouts

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Side by side

Feature awesome 9.1/10 Visit ↗ XMonad 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.1 9.0
Ranking #4 in Window Management Software #5 in Window Management Software
Best for Linux users who want Lua customization Linux users wanting extensible Haskell layouts
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Linux Linux
Integrations 4 integrations 6 integrations
Features awesome 4/4 · XMonad 2/4
Layout presets ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Application rules ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Window grouping ✓ ✓
Virtual desktop controls ✓ ✓
Specs
Platforms linux linux
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.
  • Configurable Haskell layouts can vary by virtual workspace.
  • Supports floating, tabbed, decorated, and automatically tiled windows.
  • Reload configuration on the fly; extend it with xmonad-contrib.
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 in Haskell is a poor fit for users who want a graphical editor.
  • Designed for X11, not a general-purpose window manager across platforms.
  • Multi-monitor support relies on Xinerama.
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 →

XMonad is a dynamically tiling window manager for X11, written and configured in Haskell. It is aimed at Linux users who want predictable, keyboard-driven control and are comfortable shaping their desktop through configuration. Windows can…

Read the review →
  1. awesomeWindow Management Software 9.1Free plan
  2. XMonadWindow Management Software 9.0Free 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.

  • XMonad — where it wins

    • Configurable Haskell layouts can vary by virtual workspace.
    • Supports floating, tabbed, decorated, and automatically tiled windows.
    • Reload configuration on the fly; extend it with xmonad-contrib.

    Where it doesn't

    • Configuration in Haskell is a poor fit for users who want a graphical editor.
    • Designed for X11, not a general-purpose window manager across platforms.
    • Multi-monitor support relies on Xinerama.
  • awesome9.1/10 · Free plan

    A free, open-source X window manager built for keyboard control and deep customization.

    Visit awesomeFull verdict →
  • XMonad9.0/10 · Free plan

    A free, open-source Linux window manager for keyboard-driven, Haskell-configurable layouts.

    Visit XMonadFull verdict →

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