niri

At a glance

• Editor score
  7.8 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Linux users who like scrollable tiling
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  Free
• Facts checked
  19 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Scrollable columns keep new windows from resizing existing ones.
  • Monitor-specific workspaces, tabs, overview, and application window rules.
  • Live-reloading configuration plus built-in screenshot and screencasting controls.

• Where it doesn't

  • Linux-only, and it does not provide a complete desktop environment.
  • No documented named or persistent window groups.
  • No documented reusable saved window-layout presets.

Our verdict on niri

niri is a free, open-source Wayland compositor for Linux, designed for people who want a keyboard-driven tiling workflow organized around horizontally scrolling columns. Opening a new window adds to the arrangement rather than resizing existing windows. Dynamic and named workspaces, monitor-specific workspaces, and an overview help users navigate across windows and displays. It is a focused window-management component, not a complete desktop environment, so it suits Linux users comfortable choosing and configuring a compositor as part of their desktop setup.

Its standout idea is scrollable tiling, backed by controls for column tabs, configurable gaps, borders, struts, window sizes, animations, and effects. Application-specific rules can control placement, sizing, floating, maximization, and fullscreen behavior. Touchpad and mouse gestures provide another navigation path, while built-in screenshot UI and screencasting controls cover capture tasks. Configuration can reload live, which can make iterative changes less disruptive. The documented integrations include xdg-desktop-portal-gnome and xwayland-satellite.

There is no paid tier: niri is free and open source. The trade-off is scope and grouping: although it supports tabs, its documentation does not describe named or persistent window groups, nor reusable saved window-layout presets. Choose niri if scrollable columns and per-monitor workspace control are more important than a packaged desktop environment or saved layouts. Users looking for a complete desktop environment, or for documented persistent groups and reusable layouts, should consider a different fit.

Your product? Our editors can test niri in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

niri pricing

niri fact sheet

niri integrations

niri lists 2 integrations on its own site.

• xdg-desktop-portal-gnome
• xwayland-satellite

Alternatives to niri

• i3A configurable X11 window manager for Linux users who want precise tiling and workspace control.9.4
• SwayA free, open-source Wayland compositor for configurable window layouts and i3 users.9.3
• HyprlandA flexible Linux building block for users who want to configure their own desktop.9.2

See all niri alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

niri is listed in our Window Management Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/niri/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/niri.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update