Alternatives to Tiling Shell

A GNOME Shell extension that adds FancyZones-style tiling layouts and Windows 11 style snap assistance. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Tiling Shell.

  • Tiling Assistant

    A GNOME Shell extension that adds Windows-style snap assist and expands GNOME's tiling layouts.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Tiling Assistant is a GNOME Shell extension adding Windows-style snap assist and extra tiling layouts, maintained under the Ubuntu organisation, without FancyZones-style custom zones.

  • Pop Shell

    A keyboard-driven GNOME Shell extension from System76 that adds automatic tiling window management.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Pop Shell is a System76 GNOME Shell extension that tiles windows automatically with keyboard navigation, instead of Tiling Shell's custom FancyZones-style zones and snap assistant.

  • Forge

    A GNOME Shell extension that adds i3 and sway style tiling window management to the desktop.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Forge is a GNOME Shell extension adding i3 and sway style tiling rather than custom zones, and its project is looking for a new maintainer.

  • PaperWM

    A GNOME Shell extension that tiles windows side by side on a horizontally scrolling strip.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    PaperWM is a GNOME Shell extension that tiles windows on a horizontally scrolling strip, a different layout model from Tiling Shell's fixed zones.

  • COSMIC

    Use System76's desktop environment with configurable workspaces and window tiling.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    COSMIC is System76's full desktop environment with built-in tiling and floating workflows, replacing the GNOME session rather than extending it as Tiling Shell does.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.