herbstluftwm

Overview

herbstluftwm is a manual tiling window manager for X, built around layouts the user controls rather than automatic placement. It is best suited to people who want keyboard-led control over windows and are comfortable configuring their desktop. Choose it for flexible tiling and live adjustment; look elsewhere if you want a ready-made, automatic window arrangement.

Key features

Configuration runs through herbstclient and can be changed while the window manager is running, without a restart. That makes experimentation less disruptive, but the approach rewards users willing to shape their own setup. Version 0.9.6 adds a CSS-inspired theme engine and a herbstclient mode that sends multiple commands through one instance.

Each virtual desktop, or tag, combines a tiling layer with a floating layer. The tiling layout splits frames into subframes that can be split again or filled with windows; floating windows can be positioned freely. Both kinds can be moved, resized and focused entirely from the keyboard, so users can keep a keyboard-centered workflow without forcing every window into a tile. Layout presets, application rules and virtual desktop controls extend those choices.

Virtual monitors divide screen space without requiring a one-to-one match with physical monitors, and share a common pool of tags. This gives users another way to organize workspaces, though it assumes they want to manage the arrangement themselves. The project describes using external EWMH panels such as xfce4-panel and dmenu as a run dialog, rather than treating those tools as built-in features.

Pricing

herbstluftwm is free and open source under the Simplified BSD License. Its plan costs nothing and provides the manual tiling window manager for X; users can install it through a package manager or download a source tarball. There is no free trial because the software is already free. This fits individual users who want a no-cost window manager and are comfortable with its manual approach; there is no paid tier to trade features or support for a subscription.

Platforms

The main installation options cover Linux distributions and Mac OS X via MacPorts. The project also confirms that it runs on Cygwin, and the download page offers FreeBSD packages. Released source tarballs and the current development version are available through the project’s download channels. Version 0.9.6 is the latest release, dated 2026-04-03.

Who it's for

Choose herbstluftwm if you use the X window system and want to decide how windows tile, float and move between workspaces. Keyboard control, runtime configuration and virtual monitors make it a strong fit for users who value deliberate control over automation. Its manual model is a poor match for anyone who would rather have window placement handled with minimal intervention.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Runtime configuration through herbstclient avoids restarting the window manager to adjust settings.
• Pro: Tiling and floating layers coexist on each tag, with keyboard control for moving, resizing and focusing windows.
• Pro: Virtual monitors and a shared tag pool allow workspace organization that is not tied to physical monitor boundaries.
• Con: Manual tiling puts arrangement decisions on the user, making it less suitable for people seeking automatic placement.
• Con: It is a window manager for X, so it is not the right choice for users whose needs fall outside that environment.

Alternatives

Window Management Software is a broader category to explore if you want to compare options across the field.

Choose spectrwm instead if you want another free X11 window manager, with Linux, macOS and Windows platform support.

Choose Amethyst instead if you use macOS and want configurable tiling layouts and keyboard shortcuts, with application floating or tiling rules.

Choose IceWM instead if you want a free X11 window manager that supports Linux and self-hosted use.

Dexpot is a freemium option for Windows users.

Launchpad is a free option for Linux, web, API and self-hosted use.

DisplayFusion is a freemium option for Windows users.

4t Tray Minimizer is a freemium option for Windows.

AquaSnap is a freemium option for Windows users.

Verdict

Choose herbstluftwm if you want a free X window manager that lets you direct tiling, floating placement and workspace organization, including live configuration. Its chief limitation is also its defining choice: you must manage the arrangement yourself. Look elsewhere if you want automatic window placement or do not use X.