Alternatives to Openbox
Manage X11 windows with a configurable stacking window manager. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Openbox
Manage X11 windows with a configurable stacking window manager.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Openbox.
awesome
Build a keyboard-driven X11 desktop with a window manager configured in Lua.
awesome supports both floating and tiling layouts on X11 with programmable widgets and window rules, but it is configured in Lua instead of Openbox's menus and rule files.
i3
Arrange X11 windows in a keyboard-controlled tiling workspace.
i3 swaps Openbox's stacking windows for keyboard-controlled tiling on X11, using a tree-based layout with workspaces and configurable key bindings.
dwm
Use a small dynamic window manager for X11 with tiling and floating layouts.
dwm is a small dynamic X11 window manager with tiling and floating layouts, but many customizations require editing and recompiling its source code.
bspwm
Manage X11 windows as the leaves of a binary tree.
bspwm manages X11 windows as leaves of a binary tree and is controlled through shell commands, needing separate tools for key bindings and panels, much like Openbox.
Qtile
Configure a tiling window manager using Python.
Qtile is a tiling window manager configured in Python, with X11 and Wayland back ends, programmable layouts and built-in widgets, which Openbox leaves to separate tools.
LeftWM
Arrange Linux windows with a tiling manager written in Rust.
LeftWM is an MIT-licensed tiling window manager written in Rust that separates layout logic from appearance, and like Openbox it needs bars configured separately.
labwc
A lightweight wlroots-based stacking Wayland compositor inspired by Openbox.
labwc is a lightweight stacking compositor inspired by Openbox, but it runs on Wayland only, so you move off X11 while keeping a familiar approach.
IceWM
A lightweight X11 window manager with a taskbar, workspaces and a familiar Windows-like layout.
IceWM stays on X11 but includes its own taskbar, tray and menu, so you need fewer separate tools than an Openbox setup requires.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Openbox as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
FVWM3
A highly configurable X11 window manager, the successor to fvwm2, with multi-monitor support.
Openbox is a configurable X11 stacking window manager with custom menus and window rules, needing separate panels and launchers for a complete desktop.
JWM
Joe's Window Manager, a lightweight stacking window manager for X11 written in C.
Openbox is a configurable X11 stacking window manager with custom menus and window rules, needing separate panels and launchers for a complete desktop.
Window Maker
An X11 stacking window manager that reproduces the look and feel of NeXTSTEP.
Openbox is another configurable X11 stacking window manager with custom menus and window rules, but drops the NeXTSTEP look and needs separate panels and launchers.
Xfce
Use a modular desktop environment built around traditional panels and windows.
Openbox is a configurable stacking window manager only, so moving from Xfce means assembling separate panels, launchers and other utilities yourself for a complete desktop.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
BunsenLabs Linux
A Debian-based distribution with a preconfigured, lightweight Openbox desktop, continuing CrunchBang Linux.
Tint2
Lightweight panel and taskbar for Linux and BSD window managers.
Polybar
Build a configurable status bar for an X11 desktop.
Lemonbar
Featherweight, scriptable status bar for X11 built on xcb.
rofi
A keyboard-driven window switcher, application launcher and dmenu replacement for Linux desktops.
