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Head-to-head · Window Management Software

Hyprland vs awesome

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Hyprland #3 in Window Management Software 9.2/10 Open source ✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Hyprland
awesome #4 in Window Management Software 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit awesome

Hyprland leads on 0 checks, awesome 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 scoreHyprland · 9.2/10
  • Free planonly awesome
  • Most featuresawesome · 4 of 4

Hyprland scores higher on our rubric for window management software: 9.2 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #4.

Hyprland is the better fit for linux users seeking dynamic tiling and plugins. awesome is the better fit for linux users who want Lua customization.

  • Hyprland fits best

    Linux users seeking dynamic tiling and plugins

  • awesome fits best

    Linux users who want Lua customization

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Side by side

Feature Hyprland 9.2/10 Visit ↗ awesome 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 9.1
Ranking #3 in Window Management Software #4 in Window Management Software
Best for Linux users seeking dynamic tiling and plugins Linux users who want Lua customization
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Open source Free plan
Free plan Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Linux Linux
Features Hyprland 3/4 · awesome 4/4
Layout presets Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Application rules ✓ ✓
Window grouping ✓ ✓
Virtual desktop controls ✓ ✓
Specs
Platforms linux linux
Maximum displays Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Offers Dwindle, scrolling, master, and monocle layouts.
  • Supports per-workspace settings, special workspaces, and tabbed groups.
  • Includes window and monitor rules, plugins, and socket-based IPC.
  • 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.
Cons
  • Requires users to build and configure their own desktop environment.
  • Limited to Linux.
  • It is a compositor, not a complete desktop environment.
  • 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.
Our verdict

Hyprland is an open-source Wayland compositor for Linux that manages windows with dynamic tiling as well as floating, pseudotiling, and fullscreen modes. It is aimed at people who want to configure their own desktop environment rather than…

Read the review →

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 →
  1. HyprlandWindow Management Software 9.2Open source
  2. awesomeWindow Management Software 9.1Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Hyprland — where it wins

    • Offers Dwindle, scrolling, master, and monocle layouts.
    • Supports per-workspace settings, special workspaces, and tabbed groups.
    • Includes window and monitor rules, plugins, and socket-based IPC.

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires users to build and configure their own desktop environment.
    • Limited to Linux.
    • It is a compositor, not a complete desktop environment.

  • 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.

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