Sway vs komorebi

Sway9.3Visit komorebi8.3Visit

Higher score Sway #2 in Window Management Software 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Sway

vs

komorebi #11 in Window Management Software 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit komorebi

• Sway fits best

  Linux users wanting an i3-compatible Wayland option

• komorebi fits best

  Windows and Mac users needing flexible tiling

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Side by side

Feature	Sway 9.3/10 Visit ↗	komorebi 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	8.3
Ranking	#2 in Window Management Software	#11 in Window Management Software
Best for	Linux users wanting an i3-compatible Wayland option	Windows and Mac users needing flexible tiling
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free plan	$110/user/yr
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Linux	Windows, macOS
Integrations	4 integrations	3 integrations
Features Sway 2/4 · komorebi 3/4
Layout presets	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Application rules	✓	✓
Window grouping	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Virtual desktop controls	✓	✓
Specs
Platforms	linux	Windows, macOS
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 BSP, columns, rows, stacks, grid, and scrolling layouts Applies placement and floating rules based on app executable, title, or class Supports monitor-specific workspaces and command-line control
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	Keyboard input requires external hotkey software Commercial use requires a recurring individual license Configuration-driven controls may not suit users seeking a graphical setup
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 →	komorebi is a configuration-driven tiling window manager for Windows and macOS. It is suited to people who want control over window placement, workspaces, and monitor-specific arrangements rather than relying only on manual resizing.… Read the review →

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

• komorebi — where it wins

  • Offers BSP, columns, rows, stacks, grid, and scrolling layouts
  • Applies placement and floating rules based on app executable, title, or class
  • Supports monitor-specific workspaces and command-line control

  Where it doesn't

  • Keyboard input requires external hotkey software
  • Commercial use requires a recurring individual license
  • Configuration-driven controls may not suit users seeking a graphical setup

• Sway9.3/10 · Free plan

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

  Visit SwayFull verdict →
• komorebi8.3/10 · Free plan

  A configurable, command-line window manager with free personal use and paid commercial licenses.

  Visit komorebiFull verdict →