i3 vs dwm

i39.4Visit Ddwm8.9Visit

Higher score i3 #1 in Window Management Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit i3

vs

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

• i3 fits best

  Linux users wanting configurable tiling

• dwm fits best

  Linux, OpenBSD, or Solaris users wanting tiling

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Side by side

Feature	i3 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Ddwm 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	8.9
Ranking	#1 in Window Management Software	#6 in Window Management Software
Best for	Linux users wanting configurable tiling	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
Features i3 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	Switch among tiling, stacking, tabbed, floating, and fullscreen layouts Assign workspaces to screens and windows to workspaces or outputs Save and restore workspace or output layouts with JSON files	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	Aimed primarily at advanced users and developers Designed for X11 rather than a broad range of desktop platforms Requires configuration to define bindings, app rules, and workspace behavior	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	i3 is a free, open-source tiling window manager for X11, aimed primarily at advanced users and developers. It arranges windows in a tree structure and offers horizontal and vertical splits, stacking and tabbed containers, plus floating 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 →

Strengths and trade-offs

• i3 — where it wins

  • Switch among tiling, stacking, tabbed, floating, and fullscreen layouts
  • Assign workspaces to screens and windows to workspaces or outputs
  • Save and restore workspace or output layouts with JSON files

  Where it doesn't

  • Aimed primarily at advanced users and developers
  • Designed for X11 rather than a broad range of desktop platforms
  • Requires configuration to define bindings, app rules, and workspace behavior

• 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

• i39.4/10 · Free plan

  A configurable X11 window manager for Linux users who want precise tiling and workspace control.

  Visit i3Full verdict →
• Ddwm8.9/10 · Free plan

  A focused tiling manager for users comfortable configuring and compiling source code.

  Visit suckless.orgFull verdict →