Alternatives to rofi
A keyboard-driven window switcher, application launcher and dmenu replacement for Linux desktops. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
rofi
A keyboard-driven window switcher, application launcher and dmenu replacement for Linux desktops.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as rofi.
wofi
A GTK-based launcher and menu program for wlroots Wayland compositors such as Sway.
wofi is a GTK-styled launcher and dmenu replacement for wlroots Wayland compositors, widely used with Sway, but it is not actively maintained.
fuzzel
An application launcher and fuzzy finder for Wayland compositors, inspired by rofi and dmenu.
fuzzel is a native Wayland launcher and dmenu-style picker inspired by rofi, but it has no X11 support and lacks a window switcher.
tofi
A tiny, fast dmenu and rofi replacement for wlroots-based Wayland compositors.
tofi is a tiny, very fast launcher and dmenu replacement for wlroots compositors with bundled themes, but it has no plugin system.
bemenu
A dmenu-style dynamic menu and launcher that runs on Wayland, X11 and in a terminal.
bemenu is a dmenu-style menu that works on Wayland, X11 and in a terminal, with a minimal interface lacking icons.
dmenu
A minimal dynamic menu for X that picks from large lists of items using the keyboard.
dmenu is a smaller, faster dynamic menu for X, but it is X only and customizing it means editing source and recompiling.
Ulauncher
Fast, extensible application launcher built for Linux desktops.
Ulauncher is an open-source Linux launcher with a large extension ecosystem, but it lacks rofi's dmenu-style scripting mode.
Walker
A customizable GTK4 application launcher for Linux that also runs commands and does calculations.
Walker is a GTK4 Linux launcher that also runs commands and calculates, with many options to configure, and it is not open source.
Anyrun
A Wayland-native runner in the style of KRunner, built around plugins and customization.
Anyrun is a Wayland-native KRunner-style runner extended with plugins, but it is Wayland only and not open source.
Also worth comparing
These listings name rofi as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
centerpiece
A fast, minimal and plugin-extendable omnibox launcher for Wayland, written in Rust.
rofi combines a launcher, window switcher and dmenu replacement with text-file theming, under the MIT license, for Linux and Unix-like desktops.
Hyprlauncher
A fast, multipurpose application launcher and picker built for the Hyprland Wayland compositor.
rofi is a mature MIT-licensed launcher, window switcher and dmenu replacement for Linux desktops, with theming that takes more effort to set up.
j4-dmenu-desktop
A fast desktop-entry launcher that feeds installed applications into dmenu or a compatible menu.
rofi includes its own desktop-entry launcher mode plus window switching and dmenu replacement, so no separate menu program is needed.
Kickoff
A minimalistic fuzzy program launcher for wlroots-based Wayland compositors, written in Rust.
rofi adds window switching and scriptable menus with MIT licensing, though configuration and theming take more effort.
Kupfer
A keyboard-driven, plugin-based launcher for Linux in the style of Quicksilver.
Rofi is a free MIT-licensed launcher, window switcher and dmenu replacement, scriptable and configured through text files.
nwg-drawer
A searchable full-screen application drawer for sway, Hyprland and other wlroots Wayland compositors.
rofi adds a window switcher and dmenu replacement with theming, and is MIT licensed, but uses a keyboard prompt instead of a graphical app grid.
Onagre
A general-purpose application launcher for X11 and Wayland, built on pop-launcher and iced.
rofi is an MIT-licensed launcher, window switcher and dmenu replacement for Linux desktops that runs without pop-launcher.
Search Light
A GNOME Shell extension that adds a macOS Spotlight-style search and launch popup.
rofi is an MIT-licensed launcher and window switcher configured through text files rather than a GNOME preferences dialog.
sirula
A simple Rust app launcher for Wayland that starts applications from their .desktop files.
rofi adds window switching and scriptable menus with MIT licensing, running on Linux and Unix-like desktops.
wmenu
A dynamic menu for Wayland modeled on dmenu, for picking items from a list piped in.
rofi is an MIT-licensed dmenu replacement that also includes an app launcher and window switcher, with theming support.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
