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Head-to-head · Window Management Software

Sway vs awesome

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Sway #2 in Window Management Software 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Sway
awesome #4 in Window Management Software 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit awesome

Sway 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 scoreSway · 9.3/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresawesome · 4 of 4

Sway scores higher on our rubric for window management software: 9.3 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #4.

Sway is the better fit for linux users wanting an i3-compatible Wayland option. awesome is the better fit for linux users who want Lua customization.

  • Sway fits best

    Linux users wanting an i3-compatible Wayland option

  • awesome fits best

    Linux users who want Lua customization

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Side by side

Feature Sway 9.3/10 Visit ↗ awesome 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 9.1
Ranking #2 in Window Management Software #4 in Window Management Software
Best for Linux users wanting an i3-compatible Wayland option Linux users who want Lua customization
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Linux Linux
Integrations 4 integrations 4 integrations
Features Sway 2/4 · awesome 4/4
Layout presets Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Application rules ✓ ✓
Window grouping Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Virtual desktop controls ✓ ✓
Specs
Platforms linux linux
Maximum displays Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Offers tiling, stacked, tabbed, and floating layouts
  • Places matched apps on chosen workspaces or outputs
  • Supports i3 configurations and X11 apps through Xwayland
  • 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
  • Linux only, so it does not fit cross-platform setups
  • Requires familiarity with window-manager configuration
  • Not suited to users seeking a graphical window-management interface
  • 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

Sway is a tiling Wayland compositor for Linux, designed as a drop-in replacement for the i3 window manager. It is aimed at people who want to arrange application windows with keyboard-driven rules and workspaces rather than rely on a…

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. SwayWindow Management Software 9.3Free plan
  2. awesomeWindow Management Software 9.1Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Sway — where it wins

    • Offers tiling, stacked, tabbed, and floating layouts
    • Places matched apps on chosen workspaces or outputs
    • Supports i3 configurations and X11 apps through Xwayland

    Where it doesn't

    • Linux only, so it does not fit cross-platform setups
    • Requires familiarity with window-manager configuration
    • Not suited to users seeking a graphical window-management interface

  • 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.
  • Sway9.3/10 · Free plan

    A free, open-source Wayland compositor for configurable window layouts and i3 users.

    Visit SwayFull verdict →
  • awesome9.1/10 · Free plan

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

    Visit awesomeFull 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