XMonad vs dwm

XMonad9.0Visit Ddwm8.9Visit

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

vs

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

• XMonad fits best

  Linux users wanting extensible Haskell layouts

• dwm fits best

  Linux, OpenBSD, or Solaris users wanting tiling

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Side by side

Feature	XMonad 9.0/10 Visit ↗	Ddwm 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.9
Ranking	#5 in Window Management Software	#6 in Window Management Software
Best for	Linux users wanting extensible Haskell layouts	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
Integrations	6 integrations	3 integrations
Features XMonad 2/4 · dwm 3/4
Layout presets	Not checked yet	—
Application rules	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Window grouping	✓	✓
Virtual desktop controls	✓	✓
Specs
Platforms	linux	linux, openbsd, solaris
Maximum displays	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	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.	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	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.	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	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 →	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

• 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.

• 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

• XMonad9.0/10 · Free plan

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

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

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

  Visit suckless.orgFull verdict →