rofi
A keyboard-driven window switcher, application launcher and dmenu replacement for Linux desktops.
These buttons open the developer's own site, repository or store listing in a new tab. wares.gg does not host downloads.
About rofi
rofi opens a searchable menu from a keyboard shortcut. You can use it to start applications, switch between open windows or run commands. Like dmenu, it can also take a list on standard input and return what you pick, so shell scripts can use it as a menu.
Its appearance is set through themes, and it is configured with text files. It is popular with users of tiling window managers who have no built-in launcher.
Strengths
- Launcher, window switcher and dmenu replacement in one tool
- Scriptable menu for your own shell scripts
- Theming support and text-file configuration
Limitations
- Configuration and theming take some effort
- Linux and Unix-like desktops only
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source.
- License
- MIT
- Developer
- The rofi contributors
- Platforms
- Linux
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Tiling window manager users who need a fast keyboard launcher and menu
- Categories
- Window tools, App launchers
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to rofi
Compare allSoftware that can replace rofi for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Albert
Extensible keyboard launcher for Linux and macOS inspired by Alfred.
Albert is an open-source C++/Qt launcher with a plugin architecture that also runs on macOS, though plugins need manual configuration.
Kupfer
A keyboard-driven, plugin-based launcher for Linux in the style of Quicksilver.
Kupfer is an open-source GPL Linux launcher with a Quicksilver-style object-and-action workflow and plugins, developed at a slower pace.
rofi as an alternative
Listings that name rofi as an alternative.
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.
Vicinae
A native, extensible keyboard-driven launcher for Linux desktops, inspired by Raycast.
Rofi is an MIT-licensed Linux launcher, window switcher and dmenu replacement configured through text files, aimed at tiling window manager users rather than a Raycast-style workflow.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
Greenclip
A small clipboard history manager for Linux that is designed to be used through rofi.
